Analysis of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki - Essay Example

Zen Buddhist and Number Paper Due Zen Buddhist The value of mediation is immense because it can calm one’s mind and help one to concentrate and to be confident. Still, the modern world is less aware of the importance of mediation because human beings feel that they have no time to look into their inner minds. Within this scenario, Zen Buddhism, especially the meditation techniques put forth by the Zen Buddhist teacher named as Shunryu Suzuki are noteworthy because the same helps to take control of one’s mind and to be responsible for one’s deeds in daily life. Thesis statement: In the work Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, the author (Shunryu Suzuki) tries to prove that to be a good person means to shed one’s ego by concentrating one’s mind through mediation, the worldview and ethics of the Zen Buddhist teacher are based upon the idea of non-duality, and application of the main principles within my personal life proves that adopting role models can enhance one’s ethical development and positively influence one’s ethical behaviour in general. This section of the paper is broadly divided as: Good person: meaning, change: worldview, and application: behavioural change. Good person: meaning In the work, the author tries to provide a clear cut picture on the possibilities of human mind and the influence of mediation on the same. Genuinely, human mind possesses the ability to learn through senses. Shunryu Suzuki stated that, “If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything” (21). But human ego, added with bias, hinders human beings from making use of senses for learning. This limits the scope of human life to be within the present situation because normal people engaged in worldly affairs feel that their deeds are beyond the limit of their thoughts. So as to keep oneself from this problem, an individual must transform his mind into a beginner’s mind like a clean slate. This particular level or state can be attained through mediation. Within this scenario, the author mentions about small mind as the false impression that we are special. On the other side, mediation can help an individual to attain big mind status. To be specific, big mind status is a realization that we are not special, but just like other living things. The writer stated that, “If your mind is related to something outside itself, that mind is a small mind, a limited mind” (35). From a different angle of view, the small mind can be compared as the ego inherent in human mind. On the other side, the concept of big mind is symbolic of unselfishness and the realization of self. The writer stated that, “Big mind experiences everything within itself” (35). When others can hurt one’s ego, one can realize that one possesses small mind. When an individual’s mind is filled with kindness (instead of ego) he/she cannot be hurt by others, but can realize that his/her mind did transform into big mind status. This transformation is not momentary because it is the integral part of self-realization. From a different angle of view, when one’s ego is hurt, it is most difficult to be a good person. The writer stated that, “If you understand the cause of conflict as some fixed or one-sided idea, you can find meaning in various practices without being caught by any of them” (74). When one is verbally abused for a long time, one’s ego will become hurt and the end result will be violence and emotional outburst. If one is ready to consider that other person’s opinion is just an opinion based upon bias, not fact, there is no scope for emotional outburst. If an individual can control his/her mind, it is easier to control emotions. When others realize that their verbal abuse or hate speech is not working, they will be forced to quit. So, it is difficult to be a good person in certain situations in life, but mediation can help one to shed one’s ego and to concentrate mind for better use. Change: worldview The comments or ideas put forth in the work are based upon Shunryu Suzuki’s interactions with the mass. To be specific, one among the followers of the Zen teacher transcribed the main ideas from his speeches and compiled it into a book. First of all, his ideas on space and time disturbed me because my understanding on the same was different. For instance, I considered time and space and different entities because I can feel it as different. The writer stated that, “So when you practice zazen, there is no idea of space and time” (12). On the other side, Suzuki’s ideas were different because he declared that one must live in the present moment and zazen can be helpful to be free from wrong ideas on time and space. Then, I began to think: can an individual be feel time and space as a single whole unit? When an individual starts to go deeper into his/her inner mind through meditation, he/she can feel that time and space as a single entity. Similarly, my world view was based upon my religious faith because I used to follow the same without hesitation. For instance, I used to see life as different from afterlife. The writer stated that, “We die, and we do not die” (25). Besides, religious texts proclaim that one who commits sins is not eligible to enter the threshold of heaven. On the other side, this sort of unwanted importance to one’s deeds force human beings to lead miserable lives. The writer stated that, “And even though we say mind and body, they are actually two sides of one coin” (25). But Suzuki’s world view is entirely different because he asks human beings to look into their own minds by controlling their breath. To be specific, the first chapter in the book deals with the practice of zazen or the Zen idea of meditation. This sort of mediation allows human beings to realize that enlightenment is not the sudden realization of the secret behind the eternal truth. Instead, it is the realization of the non-dual nature of life and death. If one realizes that death is inherent in life, one cannot be sorrowful, but can enjoy life in its fullness. From a different angle of view, my world view has been expanded from individuality to universality. For instance, right attitude can help an individual to be keep beginner’s mind. To be specific, beginner’s mind is free from bias because there is nothing in there, but vacuum. The writer stated that, “When we become truly ourselves, we just become a swinging door, and we are purely independent of, and at the same time, dependent upon everything” (31). Within this context, one can learn because his/her previous knowledge is not hindering the new information or knowledge. Similarly, expectation leads human beings towards sorrow. If one does not expect something, one can be free from sorrow. This idea can be applied in everyday life. So, this sort of innovative ideas within Zen practice stimulated by thought and helped me to realize that duality is just an illusion because singleness is inherent in duality. Application: behavioural change The most important noticeable change in my behaviour-after a full year of practice and training Zen- will be related to ethical behaviour. For instance, the western ethical behaviour is interconnected with philosophical aspects. On the other side, the Zen idea on ethical behaviour is based upon experience. The writer stated that, “When your life is always a part of your surroundings—in other words, when you are called back to yourself, in the present moment—then there is no problem” (82). Besides, my behaviour is moulded by the norms and regulations related to ethical behaviour in the society. To be specific, individuals cannot take independent decisions in a society based upon religious and philosophical ideas. For instance, religions control the behaviour of individuals by implementing certain regulations. Similarly, ethical behaviour based upon religious and philosophical concepts force individuals to accept certain behavioural norms. If an individual is not ready to accept this sort of ethical behaviour, he/she will be criticized and termed as non-religious or against religion. Still, this sort of ethical behaviour does not help individuals to ask questions and to attain ethical development. In short, my ethical behaviour will undergo transformation and the same will be the most important noticeable change. One can see that zazen will help human beings to view the whole world from a different angle. To be specific, human beings keep away themselves from wrong deeds or sin because they are afraid of the punishment awaiting them in the afterlife. But Zen practice will help and individual to realize that the fear of death and punishment is just an illusion hindering human beings from enjoying their lives. So, another noticeable change will be my view on human life. For instance, Zen practice will help me to realize that life is momentary and one must be live in the present condition. To be specific, meditation will help me to realize that I cannot change my past and I am not responsible for the change in future. So, my responsibility is to be genuine and live in the present condition. If one is ready to accept life as a non-dual entity, one is ready to accept that life is an amalgamation of light and dimness. To be specific, one must be ever ready to accept dimness as the other side of light. So, this sort of realization will help me deal with problems in day to day life with ease. Similarly, my ego will undergo transformation because Zen practice will help me to realize that egotism originates from ignorance. When one is ready to accept everything as a fresher with a fresh mind, egotism will be out focused. The writer stated that, “If you want to appreciate something fully, you should forget yourself” (85). This is important because egotism torments human relationships. Besides, Zen will transform my view on human relationships. To be specific, positive attitude towards duality forces human beings to think that they are different. When one realizes that divinity is inherent in all human beings, one cannot think that one is different from other. This will help one to amalgamate empathy with one’s ethical behaviour. To be specific, I will become more empathetic towards others because sympathy cannot solve problems. On the other side, empathy originates from the realization that human beings are not different because divinity is inherent in them. In short, the noticeable changes in my behaviour will be the outlook on life, non-dual attitude, and empathy. Summing, the Zen Buddhist teacher’s ideas on human life and the importance of mediation are entirely different from the western outlook of human life. Within this context, the author considers that shedding one’s ego is utmost important because it helps to realize the purpose of human life. Besides, the worldview and ethics put forth by the author are unique because it is helpful to go beyond the limits of the illusion of duality. When an individual is led towards the realization that death is inherent in human life, there is less scope for sorrow and related problems. Similarly, daily practicing of zazen can help an individual to realize that human beings are not special, but just like other living things. Besides, this will help one to accept role models in life and to develop positive ethical behaviour in daily life. In short, the work proclaims that right practice can result in right attitude, and the end result will be right understanding of one’s self. Works Cited Suzuki, Shunryu. Zen Mind, Beginners Mind. New York: Weatherhill, Inc., 1995. Print. Read More