shoshin

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 初心 (“beginner's mind”).

Noun

shoshin (uncountable)

1. (Zen Buddhism) An attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even at an advanced level.
   • 1997, Kathleen A. Brehony, Awakening at Midlife:

     Shunryu Suzuki, the first Zen master to establish a Zen training monastery outside of Asia, describes the importance of meditation practice in order to live in the moment and achieve boundless compassion and shoshin, or beginner's mind.

   • 2012, Phong Thong Dang, Lynn Seiser, Advanced Aikido‎^[1], Tuttle Publishing, →ISBN:

     Shoshin is being open and enthusiastic to learn more and cultivate great humility in accepting what knowledge or skills are obtained. Shoshin is an attitude, a state of mind, and a perception that there is always so much more to learn.