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A Year of Dancing with Life - 52 Teachings from Phillip Moffitt

Don’t Know Mind Week  10

In meditation and in daily life, practice moving into the state described by the Zen master Suzuki Roshi as “beginner’s mind,” and called “don’t know mind” in the Theravada tradition. Beginner’s or don’t know mind is empty of preconceived notions about what it is supposed to be and expectations as to what it can achieve. To achieve beginner’s mind the ego has to give up the idea of its omnipotence.

Dancing with Life, Chapter 6, pp. 60-61

For your reflection: Notice in your daily life if you’re comfortable acknowledging when you don’t know what to do or whether what you’re doing is right. Likewise, when you start to deal with an important task with which you have had previous experience, can you approach it with beginner’s mind as though you were seeing it for the first time and open to new possibilities and insights? 

© Phillip Moffitt 2012

Photographs by Wernher KruteinShare this with a friend »

photo of phillip moffitt: buddhist meditation teacher

Phillip Moffitt

At the peak of his career, former CEO and Editor-in-chief of Esquire magazine, Phillip Moffitt, traded in his worldly aspirations to explore the inner life. He subsequently founded the Life Balance Institute and now teaches vipassana meditation with an emphasis on living the dharma in daily life. Phillip is a co-guiding teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and the author of Dancing with Life. 

 
Dancing with Life Book by Phillip Moffitt:  Buddhist Insights joy & suffering

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Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in Everyday Life

 

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