Shoshin (Beginner's mind), Mushin
(Empty mind), Zanshin (Lingering mind)
(Extracted from Aikido-L)
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002
17:45:11 -0400
From: Dan Botari
Subject: Shoshin, Mushin and Zanshin
Hello Group,
I have been giving some thought to the meaning of shoshin (beginners mind),
mushin (empty mind) and zanshin (unfinished/lingering mind) to my Aikido
training. Can anyone help me with a good definition/example of each concept
and how (or whether) the three concepts relate to each other? Are they
distinct and separate concepts or are they related concepts somehow related
to steps along a ladder of progression (i.e. shoshin to zanshin to mushin).
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Dan Botari
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Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 10:05:58 +0100
From: Simon Watkins
Subject: Re: Shoshin, Mushin and Zanshin
Shosin
Beginners mind a state where you remain open to new ideas and are willing to try
new things without prejudging the outcome.
Is very different from Mushin. No Mind where you dont have to think about what
you are doing.One is like a pianist who is unaware of the notes that he is
playing because they are so familiar.
How can you learn when your fingers are moving automaticly? Well muscians do
and so should you take the technique apart look at at it in a thosand
different ways with new eyes and ears and hand with a beginers mind.
Zanshin remaining mindful. Most often remaining aware of the possibility of
danger after a technique or Kata is over. used also simply to mean aware.
Though there I seem to remember some on the list who used another word for
being generally alert <<Shrug>
A search on the dictionary server reveals. Taikai alert;standby; await an
opportunity; wait for orders;
So it seems that you should be Taiki before an encounter and Zanshin after. Hmm
that server also tells me Zanshin means follow through (e.g. in archery) yes
seem right. People tell you it aint over till the fat lady sings well in Martial
arts You wait till the ushers start moving down the aisles.
This does tie up with presence you must be aware of your suroundings to project
confidence and you must be able to move without concsious thought to to project
confidence. Chew gum and walk.
There is a story of a Teamaster who found himself faced by a warrior
threatening to kill him. watching him the Zen master continued to make tea. The
warrior fled from the Masters display of confidence.
Not knowing that the master could not use a sword but was simply makeing Tea on
autopilot while quitetly thinking shit!
Simon
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Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 09:53:09 -0400
From: "Drysdale, Alan E."
Subject: Re: AIKIDO-L Digest - 30 Apr 2002 - Special issue (#2002-380)
Dan said:
>I have been giving some thought to the meaning of shoshin (beginners mind),
mushin (empty mind) and zanshin (unfinished/lingering mind) to my Aikido
training. Can anyone help me with a good definition/example of each concept
and how (or whether) the three concepts relate to each other? Are they
distinct and separate concepts or are they related concepts somehow related
to steps along a ladder of progression (i.e. shoshin to zanshin to mushin).
Any thoughts?
Rocky Izuma wrote a nice article on these sorts of things for a web
newsletter, the SW Aikido Newsletter, or some similar name. Maybe somebody
else can give an address for it.
Alan
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Last updated on 13 Sep 2002