Zen Buddhism invites us to meet life as it is—without clinging to fixed ideas, assumptions, or expectations. In Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki emphasizes the importance of approaching practice with openness and humility. This course introduces Zen Buddhism through that spirit of beginner’s mind, while also drawing on the foundational teachings of the thirteenth-century Zen master Eihei Dōgen, whose writings continue to shape Zen practice today.

Class Summary

Class Time:

12 hours of learning!

Class taught in:
English

Available:

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This class offers an introduction to Zen Buddhism as both a philosophical tradition and a lived practice. Students will explore key Zen concepts such as impermanence, non-attachment, non-dualism, and mindfulness, while examining how these ideas are expressed in Zen texts and practices. Readings and discussions will include selections from Suzuki’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind alongside accessible passages from Dōgen’s writings, including themes from the Shōbōgenzō. Rather than treating Zen as a belief system, the course emphasizes Zen as a way of engaging directly with experience. Students will learn how Dōgen’s teachings deepen and challenge the idea of beginner’s mind, particularly his understanding of practice as inseparable from awakening. Through guided discussion, students will explore how concepts such as time, self, and everyday activity are re-imagined in Zen thought. No prior background in Buddhism or meditation is required; the course is designed for general adult learners who are curious, reflective, and open to discussion. I am uniquely suited to teach this course through my academic background and teaching experience. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies with a minor in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. My training emphasizes religious philosophy, cultural context, and symbolic interpretation, and I have experience creating inclusive, engaging curricula for diverse learners. This allows me to present Zen Buddhism with intellectual rigor while remaining approachable and grounded. The class will be conducted in a live, interactive format that combines short lectures, group discussion, and optional reflective practices. Students may be invited to participate in brief periods of seated awareness or observational exercises to better understand Zen ideas experientially, though participation is always optional. The class environment will be welcoming, thoughtful, and discussion-based, encouraging curiosity and shared inquiry. By the end of the course, students will have a foundational understanding of Zen Buddhism and a clearer sense of how beginner’s mind functions as both a philosophical insight and a practical way of engaging with everyday life.