Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind Book Summary - Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind summary

Name: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Rating: 4.4 (201 reviews)
Author: Shunryu Suzuki

Shunryu Suzuki

Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

4.4 (201 ratings)

15 mins

Brief summary

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki is a guide to Zen Buddhism. It emphasizes meditation and the importance of approaching every moment with a beginner’s mind, free from preconceived notions.

Topics

Meditation Bedtime Biographies

Table of Contents

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Summary of 7 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 7

What’s in it for me? Abandon ambition.

Do you feel agitated, stressed, or generally anxious in life? In the modern world, it’s easy to get trapped in ruts that feel impossible to escape. We face a constant slew of work emails and obligations, social events and relationships, fitness and weight goals. We juggle all of these and try to be perfect high achievers.

But what if it doesn’t have to be this way? What if society’s priorities are all wrong, and the goal of achieving a certain social status, job title or income bracket is misguided? What if you could bring your focus back to the activities that make up your day and find peace and contentment from them, with no motive beyond that?

In these blinks, you’ll learn

the wisdom of nonduality;
the idea behind pure activity; and
why a bad horse might be better than a good horse.

The Zen meditation posture is a practice unto itself but also has a deeper symbolic meaning.

Lots of modern health gurus promote a particular body posture as a way to feel more confident and happy. Interestingly enough, so does the ancient practice of Zen Buddhism.

The posture Zen practitioners adopt when meditating promotes spirituality in and of itself. Not just that, but taking a certain posture actually constitutes the entire practice, as it enables your mind to automatically tune into the spiritual realm.

As a result, the sole aim of the practice is to sit in this position. So, what exactly is it?

Sit cross-legged, preferably in the lotus position, with your right foot on your left thigh and your left foot on your right thigh. Your spine should be straight, with your chin pressed gently down.

The center of your body, just below your belly button, should also be aiming down, directly toward the floor. This last shift will help with stability.

But this isn’t a purely pragmatic technique. The lotus meditation posture also has a symbolic meaning that relates to the relationship between life and death.

More specifically, it’s a symbolic expression of non-duality, the notion that all things and beings on earth have the same essence. While people tend to think of themselves as having two legs, those two legs “become one” in lotus, when it’s no longer as apparent which leg is right and which is left.

This concept of nonduality is essential as it applies to every aspect of the Zen worldview. Therefore, “life” and “death” don’t exist. Rather, life ends while remaining eternal. You die, yet you do not die. The body and mind dissolve but remain.

Such seeming contradictions are unified by a single, harmonious idea, which is the essence of Zen.

The Zen practice of breathing makes us aware of our true nature while dissolving time and space.

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.

In life as well as meditation, it’s better to observe than to control.

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.

The adversity you encounter in meditation feeds your practice.

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.

In Zen practice, excellence is not the aim, and the worst students are often the best.

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.

Practicing Zen isn’t about excitement or achievement.

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.

Zen entails discovering pure activity, which is, at its core, an act of giving.

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.

Want to see all full key ideas from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind?

Key ideas in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind about?

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind (1970) is a starter’s guide to Zen Buddhism. These blinks explain how Zen is not only a system of meditation, but also a philosophy of life. They describe how to sit, breathe and observe while maintaining a vital connection to the present moment.

Best quote from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

To take this posture is itself the right state of mind.

—Shunryu Suzuki

Who should read Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind?

Overachievers and perfectionists
Students of yoga, Zen or meditation
Seekers of equanimity and balance

About the Author

Shunryu Suzuki was a Japanese monk who came to the United States in 1954. In addition to founding the San Francisco Zen Center, he taught countless Zen students and wrote several books on the subject, including Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness.

Categories with Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

Philosophy Religion & Spirituality Mindfulness & Happiness

Book summaries like Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

The Art of Simple Living

Shunmyo Masuno

100 Daily Practices from a Japanese Zen Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy

20 min

4.6

Buddhism – Plain and Simple

Steve Hagen

The Practice of Being Aware, Right Now, Every Day

The history and core principles of the Eastern philosophy of Zen

23 min

4.5

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching

Thich Nhat Hanh

Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy and Liberation

29 min

4.7

The Wisdom of Insecurity

Alan Watts

A Message for an Age of Anxiety

Zen and the Rediscovery of the Obvious

Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S. N. Goenka

Taoist Philosophy for Peace, Contentment & Balance in Life

On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

17 min

4.5

Welcoming the Unwelcome

Pema Chödrön

Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World

A Guide to Compassionate Living

Elevate Your Mind, Unlock Your Power, Heal Your Soul

A Common Sense Approach to a Continuous Improvement Strategy

17 min

4.3

Emotional Intelligence

Rick Hanson with Forrest Hanson

How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness

26 min

4.5

When Things Fall Apart

Pema Chödrön

Heart Advice For Difficult Times

15 min

4.4

(Article) Why can't the world's greatest minds solve the mystery of consciousness?

Oliver Burkeman

Original article published in The Guardian

Spiritual Minimalism to Live a More Fulfilled Life

How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life

23 min

4.2

The Fine Art Of Small Talk

Debra Fine

How To Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills – and Leave a Positive Impression!

A New Science of Consciousness

Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now

23 min

4.7

Full Catastrophe Living

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness

25 min

4.7

The Power of Neurodiversity

Thomas Armstrong

Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain

20 min

4.5

The Laws of Human Nature

Robert Greene

What affects your day-to-day life

29 min

4.5

The Miracle of Mindfulness

Thich Nhat Hanh

An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation

20 min

4.6

The Longevity Project

Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin

Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study

15 min

3.9

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Unlock the Secrets of the Universe with This Intellectual Masterpiece

The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom

22 min

4.4

The Life-Changing Power of Sophrology

Dominique Antiglio

Breathe and Connect with the Calm and Happy You

20 min

4.2

Ikigai

Hector Garcia Puigcerver and Francesc Miralles

The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

20 min

4.6

7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness

Jim Rohn

Power Ideas from America's Foremost Business Philosopher

Ancient Wisdom For Modern Living

22 min

4.6

The Book of Five Rings

Miyamoto Musashi

A Classic Text on the Japanese Way of the Sword

An uncommon guide to rapid fat-loss, incredible sex and becoming superhuman

How to Boost Your Sex IQ and Own Your Pleasure

Activate Your Full Human Potential

Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?

18 min

4.2

Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement

Rachel Richards

The Secret to Freedom, Flexibility, and Financial Independence (& How to Get Started!)

One of the most important philosophical texts ever written

The Science and Art of Longevity

20 min

4.3

My Morning Routine

Benjamin Spall and Michael Xander

How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired

You Have More Time Than You Think

How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

21 min

4.7

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook

Matthew McKay

Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance

A Four Thousand Year History

Opening Ourselves to Real Love and Intimacy

13 min

4.3

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

Haemin Sunim

How to Be Calm in a Busy World

The False Promise of Optimization

15 min

3.3

The Practice of Adaptive Leadership

Ronald Heifetz

Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World

8 min

3.3

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.