Karen Restivo
In Other Words....
In a world where competition, accomplishments and mastery of talents is recognized as success, it’s a relief to know that 99.9% of us started with a beginner’s mind.
Granted, there are many variables that come into play, just as there are obstacles that impede our progress; but hear this: understanding the premise of focusing on and staying in your own lane dispels the egoic belief that there’s a finish line awaiting us as we draw our last breath.
Franciscan author, Fr. Richard Rohr, explains the beginner’s mind on the very last page in his book, “Yes, And…,” saying, “Beginner’s mind is using your mind, but then letting go of it a bit and for a while - not trusting it too much to the whole picture, not grasping it too closely, so there’s room for a larger mind to get in.
“You only overdo it when you think it is you doing all the work and all the thinking. Spiritual knowledge is more like retrieving than discovering.”
How refreshing it is to hear that what we seek so desperately on the outside of us, is simply awaiting retrieval from the inside of us.
The seeds have been planted within us and with time and patience, will expand awareness in our beginner’s mind.
Fr. Rohr continues, “Beginner’s mind is an opening to what might just be - and surely is - the Spirit of God, the promised anointing that “teaches you everything,” as St. John writes (1John 2:27).
Spiritual cognition is always a form of re-cognition, because the Divine Spirit knows it in you, and through you, and as you - already.”
Pardon me for fan-girling over Fr. Rohr’s ability to take a message so deeply metaphysical and lay it before us like the morning newspaper on the breakfast table.
We understand where the term small-minded comes from explaining how some individuals seal off any chance of growth due to their limited, finite, closed-mindedness.
It’s ‘this way or the highway’ mentality.
Fr. Rohr continues, “Beginner’s mind is a non-grasping, patient, and compassionate holding of truth with the readiness for God and life to reveal even more of that Truth, and the meaning of that Truth, as your life goes on.
“Beginner’s mind is always a humble mind, always knowing that it does not yet fully know.”
In other words, the beginner’s mind is the initial stage of our ‘becoming’ self-realized from the treasure that was hidden within us all along.
No one was keeping the treasure of self-realization from us.
It’s within our power to humbly acknowledge the presence of beginner’s mind and accepting that there is more to becoming.
Karenrestivo57@gmail.com