Beginners' gift

At our beginners class tonight I noticed that one of the students felt somewhat "off", and was struggling throughout the class. At the end of class I asked him about his experience. He said it was unlike what he had felt so far, in the few weeks since he started. Being an enthusiastic student, this was his first time feeling he was not doing as well as he could. I told him this is yet another state of being, that he may encounter in his practice. I asked him to be ready for all sorts of "weather changes" as he continues, just like it is in life - good days, bad days - yet we keep on going.

All those "firsts" remind us how it felt, when we just started. Being in the unknown, trying to figure it out, getting confused, feeling clumsy and getting to know new muscles and joints in our body. We also used to have this "fresh" feeling, or what is sometimes called "Shoshin" (初心) in Japanese, Beginner's Mind. This refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject. This is the state of mind we want to keep as we advance in our practice, see everything with our eyes alone, and not through the filters of our mind. The ability to tap into this state is a gift.

Another gift that the beginners provide is the practice of compassion. Every time we get to train with a beginner, we can go back to the days we started, and recall the confusion, excitement, fear and new-ness. Doing that, being in their shoes, opens our hearts to be in service, to empower and encourage, and to accept the pure gift of the beginner.