Shoshin

For the Ryukyuan king, see Shō Shin.

Shoshin (初心) is a word from Zen Buddhism meaning "beginner's mind." It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner would. The term is especially used in the study of Zen Buddhism and Japanese martial arts.^{[citation needed]}

The phrase is also discussed in the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, a Zen teacher. Suzuki outlines the framework behind shoshin, noting "in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few."^[1]

See also

• Fudoshin
• Kensho
• Mushin
• Samyama
• Satori
• Zanshin
• Curse of knowledge

References

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