"Beginners-Mind" (sho-shin)

[John Conway]

Earlier today I had to give my son a ride to the gym so he could work out. I don't like the gym. My work out comes from cutting and stacking firewood. I usually wait outside and read. Today I forgot to bring a book, but I remembered seeing an old View camera magazine (Jan/Feb 2006) in the back of my pick up. I read the article called "Vision and Craft" by Ken Lee. The article inspired me then (almost the entire article is highlighted) and reminded me today , that we must clear our minds of all clutter and see the wonderful possibilities right there in front of us, waiting to be photographed.

[Kirk Gittings]

....

[Heroique]

...We must clear our minds of all clutter and see the wonderful possibilities right there in front of us, waiting to be photographed.

Very true, and I believe this is the key to understanding Brett Weston’s cryptic remark, “Anything more than 500 yards from the car just isn’t photogenic.”

However, what Brett forgets is that sometimes, I have to hike 500 yards before my sho-shin kicks in, which means that things aren’t photogenic until after I’ve traveled at least 501 yards.

[jcoldslabs]

I believe this is the key to understanding Brett Weston’s cryptic remark, “Anything more than 500 yards from the car just isn’t photogenic.”

I've adopted this as a personal motto, with a slight alteration: "Anything more than 500 yards from my front door just isn't photogenic." For me it holds true most of the time. Whether this is the result of laziness or sho-shin, I have no idea.

Jonathan

[Ken Lee]

For the record, the expression comes from a book entitled Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.

[Laura_Campbell]

Earlier today I had to give my son a ride to the gym so he could work out. I don't like the gym. My work out comes from cutting and stacking firewood. I usually wait outside and read. Today I forgot to bring a book, but I remembered seeing an old View camera magazine (Jan/Feb 2006) in the back of my pick up. I read the article called "Vision and Craft" by Ken Lee. The article inspired me then (almost the entire article is highlighted) and reminded me today , that we must clear our minds of all clutter and see the wonderful possibilities right there in front of us, waiting to be photographed.

Clearing my mind (and life) of clutter is key - to me anyway. Keep it simple, stay away from drama and negativity, and laugh everyday as much as you can...

[Brian C. Miller]

Shutter springs open
The pink blossom is still fresh
Light falls through darkness

[Ivan]

Shutter springs open
The pink blossom is still fresh
Light falls through darkness

I like this ^^ very zen

[sun of sand]

Or you could say "get your head in the game"
But that doesn't sound as poetic, does it.

I think it's funny how sport illustrated probably would use excerpts from an article in such a magazine but would such a magazine ever use excerpts from an article found in sports illustrated

Maybe
maybe not ever


And while this may be a must to perform at ones peak I think of the professional athletes who perhaps have more mastery over their craft than most masters of another
who sometimes can't get their head in the game

and you think reading a passage in a magazine is going to help you
highlighting it
notes in the margins


I don't think you have a shot in hell of "clearing the clutter" until you become very proficient at whatever it is you're doing
that it is actually part of mastery

It ain't about the bike and it ain't about your frame of mind as I don't dont believe you alter it ever
the change comes with mastery
you don't change it hoping for mastery


I don't know what "beginners mind" is but I don't want it
Sounds an awful lot like beginners luck and while the stupid do get lucky sometimes the master will always be dominate
the stupid just won't understand that theyre being played with


after reading this a bit on the net -for 3 minutes on various sites
beginners mind is for those who don't have the guts to seek mastery themselves and need to be taught/guided -by the masterly- in order to get over their personal roadblocks
..if they can be

I believe it always comes from within
never from the outside


I found this
a better site at understanding the process IMO

http://zenhabits.net/how-to-live-lif...eginners-mind/

"I love being a beginner again. I love following impossible instructions. I love failing gloriously!"
“When did we last learn something with such determination and such little obvious success?"
"In the Beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”

that's the progression


later in the site I think he stumbles

[sun of sand]

we must clear our minds of all clutter and see the wonderful possibilities right there in front of us, waiting to be photographed.


That's like pulling up a chair at a poker game and visualizing 4 aces being dealt to you
Inspiring
but won't learn you anything
you have to play the game not just show up "willing"
Learn how to win with lesser cards

You must practice
you will fail
you must practice
and that practice must be what they call perfect practice
you must practice EVERYTHING
then you can start playing well