Happy New Year! My family and I humbly ask for your continued support and guidance in the coming year.
The Beginner’s Mind
Each time a new year begins, I am reminded of the word, “shoshin,” or beginner’s mind. In our daily lives, we gradually grow accustomed to many things—our work, our families, and our relationships with others. Becoming accustomed is by no means a bad thing. On the contrary, it is an essential ability that supports our everyday lives. If every day were filled only with things we were experiencing for the first time, it would be difficult even to make it through a single day safely. At the same time, however, familiarity can easily give rise to the conceited mind.
The Conceited Mind
The conceited mind does not necessarily mean boasting or thinking too highly of oneself in an obvious way. It can also appear as the subtle belief that “I already understand” or “there is nothing left for me to learn,” leading us to stop listening carefully to others or to assume that our own way of thinking is always correct, leaving no room for different perspectives. Such fixed assumptions are also forms of the conceited mind. It is precisely when we become aware of this self-conceit that the Buddhist teaching of shoshin, beginner’s mind, comes into view.
The word shoshin originates from the Buddhist term shohosshin, meaning “the initial awakening of the aspiration for enlightenment.” It refers to the moment when one first gives rise to the wish to seek awakening.
In the Avataṃsaka Sūtra (Kegonkyō), we find the phrase: “At the moment of the initial awakening of aspiration, one immediately attains perfect enlightenment.” This does not mean that enlightenment is some distant, final destination reached only after a long journey. Rather, it teaches that the moment one deeply realizes, “No matter how far I go, I am a foolish being full of afflictions,” and yet still gives rise to the wish to seek truth, the path toward true awakening is already opened. This expresses just how important beginner’s mind truly is.
In other words, beginner’s mind does not mean ignorance or inexperience. It is the most humble and most precious state of mind—one in which we are aware of our own limitations and shortcomings.
Three Stages of the Beginner’s Mind
This Buddhist spirit of beginner’s mind is deeply rooted in Japanese culture as well. A well-known example is the phrase “Shoshin wasuru bekarazu,” which means “never forget the beginner’s mind.” It is credited to Zeami Motokiyo, who brought the art of Noh theater to its full flowering. It is said that this famous phrase was inspired by passages from the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. Zeami did not view beginner’s mind as something that appears only once. Rather, he taught that there are three stages of beginner’s mind throughout one’s life.
The first is the beginner’s mind of youth. This is the stage when one’s skills are still undeveloped, mistakes are frequent, and learning requires earnest effort and guidance from others. Many people naturally possess this kind of beginner’s mind in their early years. However, as skills improve and recognition from others grows, thoughts such as “I already know” or “I can do this well enough” begin to arise.
Therefore, Zeami taught the importance of a second beginner’s mind—the beginner’s mind at the stage of mastery. Precisely when one becomes capable, one must not forget one’s own immaturity. Zeami keenly understood that this attitude is the strongest safeguard against the conceited mind.
He further spoke of a third beginner’s mind that arises in old age. As physical strength and skills decline and things no longer go as one wishes, a person is once again confronted with their own limitations. This is the beginner’s mind of later life—a mind awakened to the loving support of others and to the realization that one cannot stand alone. It is a renewed awareness of interdependence.
Thus Zeami’s teaching, “Never forget the beginner’s mind,” means never losing sight of one’s own incompleteness at any stage of life.
Good and Bad Evil Actions
This teaching resonates deeply with Buddhism, especially with the words of Shinran. Shinran taught, “Even the good person attains birth in the Pure Land—how much more so the evil person.”
This teaching, known as akunin shōki (the evil person as the true object Amida Buddha’s salvation), is seen as central to Jodo Shinshu, and yet few teachings are more easily misunderstood. Some interpret it to mean that doing wrong is better, or that good deeds are meaningless. However, Shinran’s true intent lies elsewhere entirely.
What Shinran questioned was not the moral value of good or evil actions themselves, but the mindset that assumes, “I am a good person” or “I deserve to be saved.” This self-assured attitude is the form of the conceited mind that places us farthest from Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow. Through it, we can see Shinran’s stern expression of self-reflection. Therefore, in Jodo Shinshu, a “good person” does not mean a morally exemplary individual.
An “evil person” rather is one who honestly recognizes that no matter how they live, they cannot free themselves from afflictions and delusion. Those who do not deceive themselves about their own limitations are able to simply receive Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow just as it is. For this reason, they are embraced and saved through the Nembutsu alone. This is the heart of Shinran’s teaching of akunin shōki. Here too, we find a teaching deeply connected to beginner’s mind.
As we welcome the new year, we have all grown a little older and accumulated more experience.
Always Return to Beginner’s Mind
Precisely because of this, it becomes easier to believe that we already understand. That is why returning to beginner’s mind becomes all the more important. To return to beginner’s mind does not mean accomplishing something extraordinary. It means becoming aware of our own conceited mind. It means listening once again, learning once again, and recognizing that we are not yet complete. To remain a lifelong learner. To accept that within our confusion and uncertainty, the path of the Buddha is opened.
“Never forget the beginner’s mind” is not a slogan meant to make us appear admirable. It is a gentle call from Amida Buddha, inviting those of us who live while carrying our delusions to continue walking humbly on the path. In the coming year as well, I hope to walk together with all of you, continually returning to the beginner’s mind.
In Gassho,
Rev. Yushi Mukojima