Beginner's Mind
Suryagupta, chair of the London Buddhist Centre, explores the Zen Buddhist concept of Beginner鈥檚 Mind, which encourages the viewing of the familiar with fresh eyes.
Suryagupta, chair of the London Buddhist Centre, explores the Zen Buddhist concept of Beginner鈥檚 Mind, which encourages the viewing of the familiar with fresh eyes.
She discusses the first time she discovered the benefits of Beginner鈥檚 Mind, at a retreat in Wales. While meditating, Suryagupta became fascinated by the sound of birdsong, feeling as if she was hearing it for the very first time. This meditation encouraged her to experience life anew, through help from texts such as Suzuki Roshi鈥檚 classic title Zen Mind, Beginner鈥檚 Mind, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi鈥檚 Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.
Suryagupta considers the obstacles that can hinder Beginner鈥檚 Mind, such as pressure and the burden of expectations. She suggests that attempting to return to the simple and spontaneous innocence of the child鈥檚 mind can help us overcome these obstructions, in order to experience moments of revelation and wonder. She concludes with a quote from Henry Miller, who celebrates the benefits of sharing these discoveries with others. In doing so, we can connect deeply with one another, and experience an interdependence that is freeing and refreshing.
Presenter: Suryagupta
Producer: Oliver Seymour
A TBI production for 大象传媒 Radio 4
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- Sun 7 Apr 2019 06:05大象传媒 Radio 4
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