By Kaz
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are few.”
This famous saying by Suzuki Roshi of the San Francisco Zen Center captures the true essence of maintaining a “Beginner’s Mind.”
It sounds simple, but after practicing Zazen at this Zendo for almost 15 years—sitting nearly every Sunday—I’ve realized how difficult, and how necessary, that mindset truly is.
The Traditional Way
In recent years, as our Zendo has grown and welcomed many new students, I have found myself questioning the fundamentals because I am often the one guiding them. What is the right sitting position? How should we breathe?
Our Zendo’s founder, Rev Ito, used to say, “Steal how to sit, don’t read it,” emphasizing the importance of experience over textbooks. This thinking is common in Japan, making it hard to find classes or online materials offered by temples to help me learn.
Lessons from Kamakura
I decided to do some research—something Rev Ito might not have liked—and I found inspiration in Engakuji, a master Rinzai Zen temple in Kamakura.
The Abbot there, Yokota Roshi, is a fascinating figure. He carries the heavy responsibility of maintaining hundreds of years of tradition dating back to the Kamakura period. Yet, despite his status, he is constantly trying new things.
When I travel to Japan, I visit Engakuji to join their morning Zazen-kai several times during each trip. It is held almost daily at 6:00 AM—it is incredibly rare to find a temple offering such accessible Zazen-kai to the public.
His approach goes far beyond just opening the doors. In a world where many traditional temples remain rigid and closed off, Yokota Roshi is radically open. He learns from monks at other temples to incorporate new techniques into his own training. He hosts Zazen classes outside of the temple grounds to promote Zazen to the public, constantly tweaking and refining the sitting experience. He even shares a daily podcast on YouTube.
The Danger of Stagnation
Why does a Roshi do this? The answer lies in a powerful proverb:
“Flowing water never rots.”
Just as water goes bad when it stops moving, your training and your mind will rot if you become satisfied and stop trying to improve.
If a Roshi thinks, “I am perfect” or “I know everything,” his mind stops. He becomes stubborn and proud. True freshness means always acting like a beginner and always learning. This keeps the mind clear and humble.
Keeping the Water Flowing
We can all learn from this attitude. Whether it is in our Zazen practice—trying new sitting positions or breathing techniques—or in our personal lives, we must resist the urge to settle.
We must find ways to make small changes and let go of what we are used to. We must keep the water flowing.
Hakone Zendo 