In the course of my endeavors at learning the Martial Arts, I had not encountered the term Shoshin until I started learning Aikido.

In Aikido (and as I learnt in all walks of life), it is a greatly coveted state of mind. An old Zen saying goes like this:

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.

And

My Tai Chi teacher often quotes his Master and says --

"Tai Chi is a University I never want to graduate from. For if I think I know something, I stop learning"

So in the field of limitless possibilities (life), we must strive to keep ourselves from becoming "experts". I have my own Tai Chi practice as an example. Back in 2002, I started learning Tai Chi from DVDs (learning the Yang Style 24-form) and thought I knew something about this exquisite system only after a few months..since I was getting better at it with practice. So in 2003 when I met my Teacher for the first time, I had a very "bad" attitude (don't know if it showed because he never made feel that I was being an arrogant fool in those initial encounters). I felt I "knew" something about Tai Chi because I'd learnt those 24 forms.

So I started learning and then decided I knew enough and stopped. Until it dawned on me one day that I didn't really know that much (as one practices, the absurdity of "Mastery" becomes more and more evident...at first subtly and then with a vengeance). So I went back to my Teacher. And learnt again for a longer duration. Then again I felt I had "learnt" the Art. And again after some time had elapsed I realized I hadn't. So the third time I went back to my teacher, I went with the humility and hunger to learn that I should have had right from the beginning. And then I really started learning. But it is a constant struggle -- having to remind oneself that what we know is but the tip of the iceberg and those who have gone before us, and dedicated a large portion of their lives at it know so much more than we do.

Eventually it dawned on me (also with the gentle guidance from my teacher) that learning Tai Chi is like riding the waves in an infinite ocean. There are crests and there are troughs. My teacher says that the crests get getting higher and the troughs keep getting deeper.

When I look back, after my first year of serious learning, just about the time when I felt comfortable with what I did, there was a "phase shift" and suddenly things that seemed so obvious to me became confusing. Tai Chi is learnt in phases --

a) The physical aspect -- Alignments, positioning, forms

b) The energetic aspect -- how different forms affect the flow of energy in different ways

c) the spiritual aspect -- how integrating the physical and the energetic brings forth spiritual development.

So the physical alignments and forms learnt, I had just about hit a sweet-spot when I realized the finer details to the physical alignments (and I till date keep discovering or re-discovering even finer details).
The energetic aspect of the forms dawned with the advent of a sense of tingling all over the body, spread over a large surface area. But then as practice progressed it was evident that the previous experience was superficial. "The cut runs deeper"...and finer. And this is an ongoing process -- the crests do feel higher each time and the troughs deeper.

Isn't it the same case with Life as well. Just when you feel you have "mastered" an aspect of your life, an awkward twist in the tale makes you reconsider your opinion (vis-a-vis your mastery of that aspect thereof).

Isn't it better to go through life with all the humility and sincerity of the Beginner's mind?

That said, how many of those who even realize this fact actually live this way?

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Another course material comes along
written by narensomu, 2008-04-05 02:01:53

Dear Dwai

A thought provoking article.

Once we reach the stage when we [atleast theoratically] realise it isn't possible to master anything, we can relax a bit and start enjoying the learning process.

To use an academic analogy, I think the minute we learn something from one course , we are , by default directed to a higher level course or sometimes to a different course altogether.

Probably some lesson material we need ,but are not really aware of.

I like Soumi's explanation on how some concept or classic is introduced to us in stages, based on our level of understanding.

William Blake sounds like a Vedanthi![ Thanks Soumi, for that info]

Partha's closed box analogy is very interesting.

When the gas molecule realises that both the box and itself are one and the same, questions wont arise .[ This statement again is from theoratical "knowledge".

BuT till then, the molecules can discuss with each other and try to move towards equilibirium.

On a mundane level , each day we keep discovering that we dont know enough .This kind of realisation comes only after experience.[ some good, some not so, but both are lesson material]Only when we are exposed to a new situation, we realise we havent learnt THAT.

Also, our records [ not stories] talk about how devotees/ bhakts who felt he/she had mastered everything ,were taught a gentle lesson by the divine .

That rap on the head removes the last trace of ego in their selves and help them move along at a much faster pace.

Thanks for a wonderful, thought -provoking article.
Regards
ns

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written by dwai, 2008-04-04 12:25:07

Dear Pradip da,

Indeed -- Sri Ramakrishna's words are a constant and steady beacon in the tumultuous seas of our fluctuating psyches (as Soumi so eloquently put it).

Dear Partha,

The analogy between the closed box in equilibrium and Satsang was very enlightening.

Dear Soumi,

It is not necessary to be a philosopher by degree of profession. If we use our intellect to delve into the intricacies of life itself, we automagically become Philosophers.

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written by Soumi Basu, 2008-04-04 05:41:16

Dear Dwai,
I am no philosopher but since you asked for everyday examples, let me give you one.
Let's take the example of a good poem or short story, say one of the classics. We are first introduced to it maybe in school textbooks, an abridged version in junior school, then again in senior school and again in graduation or post-graduation. The text remains the same, but the appreciation or level of understanding changes, sometimes drastically, as we delve deeper or go of in a tangent.
Our psyche is in a constant state of flux, constantly re-shaped by our experiences and thoughts. One has to be a beginner first if he ever hopes to become a master. William Blake the pre-romantic metaphysical poet says our consciousness has three phases: innocence, experience, and higher innocence (wisdom). We all are born / start as innocents, go through various levels of learning experiences / consciouness to reach a higher state of consciouness.
But as you pointed out, humility or openness to learn is a must. The more you learn the more you realize howmuch there is to learn, which may not be too bad. A stagnant mind is a dead mind, a 'death in life'.
Here's to happy learning and thanks for another informative and thought-provoking atricle!!

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Seeking Purna
written by P. Desikan, 2008-04-03 23:11:37

Three significant truths, all with reference to experience were enunciated by Dwai and Pradip through the last two comments.
1.Reconciliation of theories in spiritual seeking with actual practices that could be both spiritual and otherwise, is difficult.
2.Complete mastery of a topic for all time to come is impossible.
3.No one can visualize having the final spiritual experience since spirituality is a vast limitless field.
Let me think along with you on all three truths.
1.The spiritual theory which I follow is my Master's. The spiritual and other practices that I follow are mine. If at all and when I know as much as
my Sadguru within the limited scope of these theories,it would be because my experience level would have become a better fit with my Sadguru's than now and my practice will orient better with the theories.
2.Pradip knows about a closed box of gas in equilibrium which can attain constant pressure and temperature under correct conditions. Within the box, I am any one of the gas molecules whose movement does not conform to the equilibrium condition of the whole box. Perhaps I will attain equilibrium.
My Satsang, the box, is in equilibrium in any case which is a matter of some satisfaction.
3. Sri Ramakrishna left something unsaid. When one does have the ultimate spiritual experience by total identification with Brahman, his/her individual experience is irrelevant. In a sense, when you know completely, it is no longer you that knows.
Warm regards. Partha.

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written by Dr. Pradip Gangopadh, 2008-04-03 12:43:38

Dear Dwai,

I understand your feeling. I have had the same feeling as yours that a complete mastery of a topic for all time to come is impossible. This is true even for so called 'experts'. Even today's Physics Nobelists do not know everything about Physics.

This is true even in the spiritual field. Someone asked Sri Ramakrishna whether a Yogi can ever say that he has had the final experience. Ramakrishna told that person that no one can have the final experience since spirituality is a limitless field.

Regards

Pradip da

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Easier said than done
written by Dwai, 2008-04-03 11:11:54

Dear All,


I was hoping to elicit more "personal" remarks with this piece. My greatest difficulty is in reconciling the theory with the practical.

Is that the case with you all? If so, how do you address it?

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wisdom
written by P. Desikan, 2008-04-02 23:13:51

Dear Dwai,
This is an article on a wise quest. It was a pleasure lingering on your steps and our friends'considered comments. Apart from happily agreeing there is precious little I have to do.
If vidya leads to vinaya at any stage the abhyasa has been worthwhile. The vinaya only increases when one is confronted by the limitlessness of knowledge.
Some souls on the quest, somewhere on the quest, have the good fortune of grace finding them and enlightenment reaching them.
Till that happens, it is better to travel then to arrive, I suppose.
Warm regards. Partha.

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written by Dr. Pradip Gangopadh, 2008-04-02 16:49:27

Dear Hatimtai,
You need secular knowledge even to make money and have power. So one could say that knowledge is the goal of mankind even in the secular sense.

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written by dwai, 2008-04-02 16:14:19

Dear Hatimtai,

I think Swamiji's reference was to the Esoteric knowledge that is part of one's spiritual quest.

Extraneous knowledge is indeed acquired from outside, with the help of various props and tools (such as books, labs, schools, so on and so forth).

I think Swamiji's "Knowledge within" is a reference to the true nature of all beings, that is hidden from us by our own ignorance.

There are others I'm sure who disagree with what I've said...

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Question?
written by Sreeparna, 2008-04-02 16:04:26

A question to medhavi readers based on my previous quote.

Do you think Vivekananda's quote on knowledge is valid in this rat race money making world? Is knowledge a primary goal in mankind? Or is it money and power?


Is his quote more relevant to spiritual knowledge or is it eternal for any kind of knowledge?

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Well said!
written by Sreeparna, 2008-04-02 01:17:29

When we think we know it all, we cease to learn. It is the zest for learning keeps us motivated through our lives. And when one comes to a point of complacency for knowledge, he then can easily lead to boredom and frustration. A beautiful quote of Vivekananda on how he perceived knowledge;

'The goal of mankind is knowledge ... Now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.' - By Vivekananda

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