Welcoming New Learning,

by Debbie Rosas.

Akin to most all transformational practices, especially a practice vital to the process of learning, is the term, “Beginner’s Mind.”  The mind loves to create with the brain and with the body, emotions, and spirit. For years I have used the practice of Beginner’s Mind to help students activate a sense of calm and to sustain focused intent for creating a foundation upon which to observe, listen, and guide their learning. Approaching everything by emptying oneself at the start allows for room to experience every moment as new. Filling the brain with new, novel, and fascinating information, is exactly what is needed to grow and sustain a whole being.

Perhaps it’s an important meeting. Maybe a new volunteer opportunity. Or, a travel collective to an unknown destination. Might even be communities gathering for change. Whatever it is, a “Beginner’s Mind” practice will empower you for success.

Entering into a beginner’s mind begins with sensing an empty radiance and then becoming fully present in the moment. It is helpful to say to oneself that, “I know nothing,” in this moment. To say that, “I am empty,” in this moment. To say that, “I consciously forget what I know,” in this moment. And finally, to say that, “I am in the now.” This practice does not ever eradicate the wisdom, knowledge and understanding anyone has accumulated throughout a lifetime of learning, rather, it clears time and space for the addition of the new, novel, and especially the fascinating for stimulation of the brain and for the synthesisation of all my experiences.

Sharing My Beginner’s Mind Meditation:

I sit comfortably upright with my palms up, my hands and arms resting. I breathe and inhale the scent of the present moment. I breathe deeply and easily. I exhale and sense the breath of my body releasing. I sense myself softening and merging with the space of a beginner’s mind where my potential is waiting.  I release my lower jaw and I sense it hanging and relaxed. I sense my neck and shoulders softening. I allow my consciousness to relax as I imagine and sense a flow of energy from my brain out from my body’s fifty trillion cells into the universe, which leaves me sensing readiness and emptiness for anything new, novel, and fascinating to come.

With the tip of my tongue placed up, against the top of my palate, directly behind my teeth, I exhale and release the sound, “Ah…” I then say to myself, “I am stepping into a beginner’s mind. I am empty and ready.”  I become aware, sensing radiance from my beating heart. I sense my body slipping into a tranquil state of a living meditation and becoming aware of the sensation of a beginner’s body, mind, emotions, and spirit.  I exhale and I sense the melting away of any of my thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs that might hinder my attention. I inhale deeply and sense myself filled with gratitude and appreciation for the paths I have walked.

As I exhale, I sense that what remains is inside of myself as a feeling and quality of lightness and curiosity. I have created a space for myself to experience the fullness and richness of learning. As I inhale and sense my body opening to a space of emptiness, I am slowly and tenderly ready to be in the experience of the present moment. As I exhale and sound the vowels a, e i, o and u, I repeat them until I sense my body and breath as one and until the sound of my voice is steady, full, and ready for what is to come. I sense the space inside me growing, expanding, and preparing me to receive new information and new wisdom. 

As I sense the space inside me growing and expanding, I also sense a deeper connection to the world and the people around me, who will learn with me.  I sense the outline of my body growing and expanding as I imagine and see myself as a “center of all centers.”  Using my voice, I might say aloud, “I am prepared in a beginner’s mind.” I then remind myself that I will guide my learning by choosing pleasure. I remind myself that I will remain connected to the sensation of a present and empty curious beginner. I am clear from distraction and my heart is open. I am listening, receiving, even as I am present in this unique moment of time and space.

With my mouth open, my jaw relaxed, and my neck soft, I say, “I am love. I am light. I am abundant. I am whole. I am peace, harmony. I am exactly where I need to be in this moment, in this time, and in this space. I am grateful. I am gracious. I am wise. I am intelligent. I am creative. I am Sacred. I slowly inhale through my nose and exhale the sound, “Ahhh.” I sense a warm and gentle vibration in my chest. When I feel ready, I begin to move slowly, as if in water. I sense my body being nourished. I imagine that the puddles of cluttered thoughts around me have been absorbed into the earth, and what remains is my beginner’s mind.

To end, I exhale deeply and I remind myself to connect to the earth through my feet, that are my hands which touch the earth. I inhale and I remember I have filled myself with a new consciousness to create greatness. I exhale into my heart and I listen to my voice to reach my potential. I fill my spirit with the essence of love. I exhale and awaken to my life lived in the moment. I dance through life into the next moment, relaxed, alert and waiting for what is to come. I say to myself, “I am prepared and I am ready.” My eyes open to see what is new. My body is aware and ready to sense what is new. My whole being is alert and filled with love and light.

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