Suzuki Roshi’s book Zen Mind, Beginner’s mind is one of the best introductions to Zen philosophy and a great way to inspire your creativity. In it he writes “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”

The quote below is part of a teaching on Suzuki Roshi’s book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Zenkei Blanche Hartman. It will help you understand the concept of beginner’s mind and how to apply it to your life and enhance your creativity.

“Beginner’s mind is Zen practice in action. It is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgements and prejudices. Beginner’s mind is just present to explore and observe and see ‘things as-it-is.’ I think of beginner’s mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement. ‘I wonder what this is? I wonder what that is? I wonder what this means?’ Without approaching things with a fixed point of view or a prior judgement, just asking ‘what is it?'”

You can read the entire teaching here: http://www.chzc.org/hartman4.htm

I highly recommend Suzuki Roshi’s book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind not only as an introduction to Zen philosophy but as a way to cultivate your creativity though openness to the present moment.