The Posture of Enlightenment

We Do Not Attain Divine Union: We Simply Are.

Shunryū Suzuki (1904-1971), the Japanese-born son of a Sōtō Zen abbot, emigrated to America where he served as the founding abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center. He is the author of one most important books in the literature of American Buddhism, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice — indeed, his concept of “beginner’s mind” has become not only part of the American Buddhist lexicon, but a concept that truly transcends religious boundaries.

In Suzuki Roshi’s words, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.” How often do we think of beginners (not just in spirituality, but in any of life’s endeavors) as simply inexperienced, untrained, of no use except as a learner? And yet, here is a Zen teacher inviting us to turn that prejudice on its head: to be a beginner is to be wealthy, rich with possibilities.

I don’t know about you, but in Suzuki Roshi’s wisdom I hear echoes of “unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

As insightful as this is, it’s not even my favorite teaching from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. That honor goes to this quote:

Enlightenment is not some good feeling or some particular state of mind. The state of mind that exists when you sit in the right posture is, itself, enlightenment. — Shunryū Suzuki

Enlightenment is to Zen what Divine Union or theosis is to western contemplation: the consummation of all spiritual yearning, the fulfillment of the mystical life, the “goal” of the goalless journey. So much of the literature and the lived experience of contemplation would suggest that this is an elusive state indeed: only great mystics receive union with God; only exceptional students of Zen experience enlightenment.

But Suzuki Roshi would probably say something like “balderdash!” to that line of thinking.

Enlightenment and deification are not the end points of the journey: they are the journey. Learn to meditate well (“right posture”) and enlightenment is right here and right now. Enter the silence of contemplation and allow your distracting words and thoughts to come and go as you rest in silence — and here you are, one with God.

If you don’t feel like you’re ready, or you deserve it, that’s probably just your beginner mind talking. Let the humility be there, and then immerse yourself in the possibilities — for they are many.

Quotation source: Shunryū Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice (Kindle Edition), p. 2, 11.