To Empathise, We Need Beginner’s Mind

To empathise with others, it is we who have to go back to basics. That’s if we care. Thinking others are wrong because we believe we know better is arrogant and dangerous.

Until we can analyse and understand our own psychology, we cannot empathise with others. We’ll be assuming (like governments 🙂 ) that one size fits all. It doesn’t, and this is a major problem with spiritual traditions (governed people 🙂 ).

We come to a state of confusion, being depressed, anxious, dissatisfied or even angry, and that is the moment when change is possible. Going to books for information and getting stuck there only adds to the problem; we need someone to listen.

Once we’ve given up our books, then what we actually experience is the key to change, or rather, the key to an open mind because of being totally confused. Being partially confused, we still remain in some form of hope. Being totally confused means there is nothing to get hold of. All that remains is awareness or consciousness. It’s a little like having amnesia, when we forget everything but know we are here.

Through meditation (sitting in silent awareness), we realise that there is nothing else – nothing to contaminate the mind – and we arrive at pure consciousness. Beginner’s mind is zen mind is the essence of pure consciousness.

All traditions assume everyone conforms to their type, when realisation is an individual experience. In traditions, there are no individuals, just copies.

This is why the Buddha said, “Don’t take my word for the truth; test it for yourself.”
If the Buddha was right, we have to let go of being a copy, and become the original thing.