The Zen Attitude Toward Learning
In the beginning you know nothing, you don’t even know that you don’t know [unconscious incompetence]. Then you become aware that you don’t know something [conscious incompetence], for example, because someone or something, brings it to your attention - this is the stage of awareness. Then [presuming the awareness has made you want to learn], you progress through increased knowledge and practice, to become conscious of what you know and what you don’t know [conscious competence] - this stage is often long & difficult – it is the stage of practice. Through consistent and dedicated practice, you begin to do the thing without having to consciously thing about what you are doing [unconscious competence] – this is the stage of mastery. At this stage, everything flows smoothly and easily – at this stage, you naturally begin to discover new techniques and methodologies. A person who wishes to become a Master [Adept], must not rush past the stage of practice, this is the most common mistake: to go too quickly from conscious practice to the stage of unconscious action, before having properly mastered the correct technique.
Writing on this subject, the Swordsman Iyagu Minanori records what he was taught by Zen Master Takwan as follows1:
“You need to realise that when you practice from the state of the beginner all the way to the stage of immutable wisdom, then you must go back to the status of the beginner again. Let me explain in terms of your Martial Arts. As a beginner you know nothing of stance or sword position, so you have nothing in yourself to dwell on mentally. If someone strikes at you, you just fight without thinking of anything. Then when you learn various things like stance, how to wield a sword, where to place the attention & so on, your mind lingers on various points, so you find yourself all tangled up when you try to strike; but if you practice day after day, and month after month, eventually stance & sword play don’t drag on your mind anymore & you are like a beginner who knows nothing. This is the sense in which it is said that the beginning & the end are the same just as 1 and 10 become neighbours when you have counted from 1 to 10. It is also like the highest & lowest notes of a musical scale becoming neighbours below & above a cycle of the scale. Just as the highest & lowest notes resemble each other, since Buddhas are the highest human development they appear to be like people who know nothing of Buddha or Buddhism, having none of the external trappings that people envision of Buddhas. Therefore the afflictions of being unaware in the beginning & the immutable wisdom in the end become one. The cogitating side of your brain will vanish & you will come to rest in the state where there is no concern. Completely ignorant people don’t show their wits, it seems, because they haven’t got any. Highly developed intelligence doesn’t show because it has already gone into hiding. It is because of pseudo-erudition that intelligence goes to one’s head, a ludicrous sight.”
Many thanks to the client who forwarded this to me. This is reflective of part of his journey and experience of learning Pilates as he becomes more body aware. A truely rewarding reflection as a teacher, Thank you.
