Four Minds

Introduction

This is a meditation on the state of mind appropriate for martial arts. Or indeed for anything; while I think of them in the context of martial arts, they are --- at least as I understand Zen, which is not very well --- fundamental concepts in Zen.

初心 - shoshin

Shoshin is the beginner's mind. It is an important concept in Zen; in fact one of the better books I've looked at is Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. In a martial arts context, it starts with the concept that you don't know everything. In fact, you should always treat learning and practice as though you don't know anything. Always be ready to learn, to question, to accept new knowledge, even it's about something you've been studying for years.

Over the years I've studied a number of martial arts, Japanese and otherwise. Many of them teach "the same thing" in different ways. I think there are underlying truths that all of those paths are reflecting, and learning each new version can teach something new.

残心 - zanshin

Zanshin is often first encountered in the context of an alert, aware posture, especially at the end of a technique. This is correct, but limited. Zanshin is the concept that one should be aware of their surroundings at all times.

不動心 - fudoshin

I first encountered fudoshin rather poetically; the kanji were translated for me as "the moon on the water". That's a metaphor for the immovable mind (不動心's usual translation). It refers to the concept that one should not be swayed by the transient happenings of the day. The poetic concept is that while the water is flowing and the reflection of the moon wavers and changes as it appears on the water, the moon itself is unchanging.

無心 - mushin

Mushin, more than the other three concepts here, is difficult to summarize. It can be translated as "no mind". One view of this is to be both detached from what is happening and intimately connected with it---at the same time. But in so doing, remaining free of preconceptions; see the world as it is at that instant.

My son describes mushin as the state of maintaining the state of all of the other three at the same time, and I think that is a --- but not the only --- correct view