October Kaiho and The Beginner’s Mind
The October issue of the Bussei Script includes Kenji Sensei’s insightful message, in which he borrows a concept from the late Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki and his book, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.
There are many good aspects to the beginner’s mind, Sensei suggests, and relates the beginner’s mind to the creative ways that Temples have responded to the pandemic. But there is also a benefit to the more developed or evolved mind, such as that of the expert.
“[A]lthough the expert’s mind sees few possibilities,” Sensei writes, “her mature experience can avoid ineffective and dangerous ones.”
The issue is full of our activities — modified to be virtual and online — but which allow us to continue our service to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.