Beginner’s Mind

[r0ckyreed]

I wanted to remind everyone of a trap I have observed in this work, and that is the importance of cultivating the Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. I have been following Actualized.org since 2017. I have noticed that Leo has once stated the importance of arrogance and how it has helped him to go through BS. But I also see that it has made him locked into a certain awakening paradigm that he is the absolute expert and awakening can only be THIS way.

I have personally noticed myself being more arrogant and thinking of myself as an expert in my field. But I read a Buddhism book, and I reconnected with some of the reasons for why I love philosophy. Beginner’s Mind is a Buddhist concept that has been so helpful for me in being able to have mystical insights. 

I just wanted to make a post to remind people that it doesn’t matter how many awakenings you have had or whether you think you are a master/expert. That is the time where the ego and self-deception come in to stop you from growing and learning. Awakening is infinite. There is no such thing as a final awakening. It is still vital to have an openness. In fact, that is a paradox/contradiction that I notice in Buddhism is that while they have the concept of Beginner’s Mind, they seem to be convinced that there is a “FINAL”Awakening. But this would contradict the concept of Zen Mind. Because learning is a life-long process and so is awakening. You are never done, and you are never an expert. If you think that you can be done and that you can be an expert, then you will not have a beginners mind and you will stunt your growth.

On the ideas of Solipsism and an external world, I apply the beginners mindset and keep the possibility open. Even though, I know that I can only know my experience absolutely, I keep myself open to the possibility of learning something new. I want to keep myself open to experiencing awe. I have found that I cannot do that if I think I know everything and that I am awake. I just wanted to point out this trap that I have noticed in myself. The further you progress in something, the more likely you are to close your mind down. I recommend reading this article on beginners mind. https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-cultivate-shoshin-or-a-beginners-mind

[Razard86]

This entire post is arrogance. To correct anyone or to disagree with everyone is to be arrogance. You cannot escape what you are. ANY PERSPECTIVE is arrogance, because you think something can be improved. So what you just tried to do was not be arrogant by being arrogant. All division is arrogance, all conflict, all disagreement is arrogance and since every perspective is inherently different by virtue each perspective is arrogant by default.

If you want to figure out this thing called life....COMBINE IT!!! Be compassionate and arrogant at the same time. Bow your head either physically or internally in respect for all that you see because all that you see is YOU. But never give away your authority to any part of you so you cannot be swayed to act in a way outside of the path that you choose. Through this process you can be true to yourself both individually and collectively. 

[Razard86]

Think of this.....confidence is birthed where the edge of arrogance and humbleness meet. So you need both.