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Shunryu Suzuki Roshi (author), Trudy Dixon & Richard Baker (editors), Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice, Weatherhill, 1970. 144 pgs.
“We must exist right here, right now! This is the key point”
—Shunryu Suzuki-roshi
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind immediately prompts the question: what is a beginner’s mind? Imagine engaging in a simple activity such as reading a book, walking, or listening to a song. The first time we perform such an activity, our mind is empty, free, and ready to receive any information. However, with repetition, our mind becomes expert and is no longer as open. This statement encapsulates the essence of the beginner’s mind: a state free from the habits of expertise and filled with innumerable possibilities.
The beginner’s mind is the core of the book’s narrative, permeating the entire collection of talks that the great Zen master delivered to his American students. The book captures the mind of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi (1904–1971) and the legacy of masters before him. As a member of the Soto Zen tradition and a descendant of the renowned Dogen, Suzuki Roshi arrived in America in 1958 at the age of fifty-three. Settling in San Francisco, he founded the Zen Center, which later expanded into seven centres, attracting numerous followers eager to embrace and practice his teachings.
Although Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind did not originate as a written composition; its arrangement creates a cohesive and structured narrative space, guiding the reader and offering a profound inner journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. The text, initially compiled by Marian Derby, one of Suzuki Roshi’s disciples, was later completed by another disciple, Trudy Dixon, and Richard Baker, Suzuki’s successor, who ensured a homogeneous structure to the collection by dividing it into three parts (“Right Practice”, “Right Attitude”, and “Right Understanding”). Dixon and Baker’s meticulous efforts, along with the masterful translation from Japanese to English, preserved the depth and the nuances of the original message while making it accessible and impactful for everyone.
The compilation of Suzuki Roshi’s teachings by his disciples exemplifies the master-disciple relationship—a central aspect of the Buddhist tradition. This dynamic of direct dialogue and personal transmission is a powerful pedagogical method, conveying insightful principles through an intimate perspective. Remarkably, the compilers’ skill in translating spoken words into written text is evident, as the teachings retain their clarity and fluidity, giving the impression of an ongoing conversation. This informal structure allows the words to resonate directly with the reader, akin to a one-to-one interaction. This aspect sheds light on the influence of language, reflecting the noteworthy impact that words can have, and suggesting that the power of language extends beyond mere communication, affecting individual perception.
Suzuki Roshi’s use of simple language is the true cornerstone of his effectiveness, and it is precisely through the use of seemingly simple language that delicate and profound meanings are conveyed. This approach ensures that his teachings can be passed down through generations, adapting to different times and cultures. Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind avoids intricate Buddhist concepts and philosophical jargon, yet it still covers all the essential doctrines of the Buddhist tradition. The abundant use of everyday examples, anecdotes, and metaphors makes it easy for readers to relate to and internalise the message. The water fluidity is pivotal in grasping the Buddhist concept of “impermanence” (Chinese wúcháng 無常; Japanese mujō 無常; Sanskrit anitya) of all phenomena and the notion of “no fixed self”, as well as the metaphor of crossing the river, that stands for the attainment of nirvana— a state of perfect calm, extinction, and liberation.
Suzuki Roshi’s teachings masterfully blend the simplicity of his language with the complexity of life, offering an encouraging reminder to realise one’s true nature and accept change without resistance. The frequently resonating mantra, “here and now”, invites the reader to concentrate on the present moment—a moment that often escapes our attention and is governed by the unchanging rules of transformation. This essential teaching, rooted in the words of Buddha, is distilled into small simple doses in the wisdom of the Zen master.
The “Right Practice” is a profound exploration of the essential elements of Zen practice: freedom, presence, and sincerity. Suzuki Roshi underscores the critical role of correct posture, particularly a straight spine, as a conduit for deeper understanding. Emphasising the interconnectedness of mind and body—with a particular focus on breath awareness—he eloquently explains that true practice emerges when the mind is free from striving and fully anchored in the present moment. This section is a testament to the strength of simplicity and sincerity, urging practitioners to abandon egocentric goals and appreciate the “here and now” invitation.
Moreover, through the introduction in the “Right Attitude” of the concept of Dana prajna paramita—the practice of “wisdom”, one of the “six perfections” in Buddhism—the reader is encouraged to reflect on his actions rather than cling to achievements. Only through this mind is it possible to see beyond the mere value of the attainment of goals. The result is a reflective approach that leads to the necessity to put effort into this action—the present action—escaping from the “right” and “wrong” notions. The incisive metaphor of the “weeds of the mind” transforming into mental nourishment for the mind itself exemplifies this concept of avoiding judging notions by valuing imperfections and transcending this dualistic dialectic to which the human being is prone.
Beginning with the fundamentals of proper physical posture and developing sensitivity, the book gradually leads to a deeper appreciation for calmness and the relentless pursuit of the right mind or “Right Understanding”. Suzuki Roshi illustrates that the mind is both the ultimate goal and an essential companion throughout this inner journey. He underlines embracing each incremental step, maintaining effort without attachment, and discovering within ourselves the key to self-awareness and genuine understanding of the world.
What is most notable is the enduring positivity of Suzuki Roshi toward human beings despite the individual’s apparent loss of direction. The Zen master refrains from criticism and does not exhibit negative judgments of human behaviour; instead, he addresses each person’s mind, meticulously guiding them along the path to awareness, akin to a father supporting his child. Initially, the individual in the text appears as a novice navigating a life marked by suffering and challenges. By the conclusion, however, they emerge as a self-aware and enlightened individual. This introspective journey thus resembles a formative path, in which, under the gentle guidance of Suzuki Roshi’s teachings, the individual undergoes a transformative evolution from a caterpillar to a butterfly.
Suzuki Roshi, with his sensitivity and naturalness, successfully brought Zen Buddhism to the West, bridging two apparently distant worlds, and making Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind one of the most popular books on Zen Buddhism in the West. This convergence and translation of Zen teachings form the driving force behind his words, transcending temporal and geographical boundaries and aiming directly at reaching the minds of individuals. The talks of Suzuki Roshi further go beyond any typological classification, embodying his way of being. They are mind, body, and heart inextricably connected, three yet one at the same time.
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind shows that Suzuki Roshi’s message is directed to everyone, affirming that there is a place for all in Zen practice since everyone possesses “Buddha nature”; one simply needs to find the right key—the beginner’s mind—to recognise, understand, and manifest it. The delicacy and dedication in Suzuki Roshi’s words not only contribute to the dissemination of core concepts of Buddhist tradition and Zen meditation but also foster a profound sense of connection and introspection.
In this fast-paced modern society where the present awareness often appears as a distant illusion, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind offers a crucial gateway to self-discovery. The simplicity of Suzuki Roshi’s teachings, which resonate persistently throughout the entire collection, stands as both a testament and a compelling call to pause, embrace, and comprehend one’s inherent essence without limitations and distinctions. Engaging with this work thus functions not only as a refuge from the relentless force of change but also as an encouragement to fully understand the significant potential of maintaining a beginner’s mind.
How to cite: Dorillo, Maria. “A ‘Here and Now’ Mantra: Shunryu Suzuki Roshi’s Zen Mind.” Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, 8 Aug. 2024, chajournal.blog/2024/08/08/zen.
Maria Dorillo is an MA student in Language and Civilisations of Asia and Mediterranean Africa (curriculum China) at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice in Italy. She graduated with honours from University of Perugia in 2021 and from February 2024 to July 2024 she furthered her studies by attending Peking University in Beijing as a visiting student. Her academic interests centre on medieval Chinese Buddhism and meditation, with more attention on the relationship between Buddhism and medicine. She is currently writing her master thesis on the translation and analysis of the “contemplation of disease” in Zhiyi’s famous work Mohe Zhiguan.