Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind summary

Most people don’t notice their hearts beating, yet it’s tremendously beneficial to observe such basic life processes. That’s where Zen breathing cultivates an awareness of our true nature.

This practice focuses simply on bringing attention to the breath. It involves following the air as it is inhaled into our bodies and then exhaled back into the world. By noticing this process, we see that the world is one unified whole, free of boundaries.

Western society is dominated by control freaks, but control is overrated. Most people experience their best ideas when relaxed into a state of flow.

Instead of attempting to micromanage the world, step back and observe what happens without your interference. After all, disorder is beyond human control; it cannot be grasped.

While meditating, it’s not uncommon for people to grow tired, emotional and discouraged. But actually, all of these responses are good.

That’s because encountering adversity in meditation helps you grow. Just think of the mind as if it were a garden full of both flowers and weeds. The weeds naturally appear unsightly, but if you pull them up and bury them near the flowers, the soil will be enriched.

The Western world values people who succeed, especially if they do so effortlessly, like musical and mathematical geniuses. But Zen has a different concept of success.

In Zen, excellence is not the goal, but rather patient perseverance. Just take an example from the Zen scriptures. The Samyuktagama Sutra speaks of very good horses and bad horses. The good horses obey the will of their riders with almost telepathic obedience, while the bad horses must be whipped into following orders.

Nowadays, most people are more or less addicted to information and entertainment that makes them feel some sense of excitement. The practice of Zen offers the opposite of such a lifestyle.

It probably doesn’t come as a shock at this point, but practicing Zen isn’t about excitement. It’s not about big parties, gallery openings, blockbuster movies or dinner dates. Though it doesn’t entirely exclude such activities, Zen is in many ways opposed to them. It’s about bringing focus to our daily routines and the actions we normally perform on autopilot, like eating, cleaning, working and talking.

Have you ever taken a long walk to relax, only to find that you were lost in anxious thoughts the whole time?

It’s just one example of how frustrating it can be when thinking prevents you from living. Zen is a great tool for overcoming this dilemma. That’s because Zen is a practice of pure activity.