Mushin: How The ‘No Mind’ State Can Help You

 / 

,

Mushin: The state of no mind is a Zen practice to awaken your consciousness and experience complete awareness of the self.

Do you find your mind busy most of the time? Is your mind always thinking about things that are not even important? Most of us lack awareness of the mind and this leads to a gross lack in awareness of the self. Hence, our mind starts creating stories by imagining ‘what if’ scenarios. What if we took that job? What if we didn’t breakup? What if we left everything behind? These kinds of thoughts are damaging to the self and we need to eradicate them by developing a state of “no mind.”

The no-mind state is a Zen practice of self-awareness. It shows that when the mind ceases to be riddled by thoughts, our genuine self emerges.

Our thinking mind limits and prevents us from existing in a larger reality of the self. No mind is a state of being which enables us to be our whole selves, a self that is free of fear, sorrow, happiness or ecstasy. It is a state where we are nothing, yet everything.

Read Five Zen Stories and What They Can Teach Us

What is a ‘No Mind’ state?

No Mind is a state of pure consciousness and leads to complete awareness of the self. It is a state of mind that challenges you to connect with your inner self by eliminating all thoughts, especially self-limiting beliefs.

It is a state where you are beyond thoughts, notions, beliefs, principles, ideologies, fear, anger or even happiness. No Mind is a state of nothingness. A state of bliss.

Although practicing meditation can help you achieve this state, it is not necessary to spend hours to achieve this state of nothingness. However, you do need to be aware of your mind to identify how it jumps from one thought to another without any purpose.

When you detach from your thoughts and observe them without getting involved or judging them, you will be able to connect with your pure self.

As you detach from everything, even your own thoughts, and emotions, you become pure and observe everything with love and compassion. No mind is a state where there is no attachment or judgment. Where duality doesn’t exist. Where you accept yourself and everyone else as they are. You don’t see anyone as separate. Man & woman, beauty & ugliness, good & bad, birds & animals, stones & gold… all unite as a part of nature. As you see everyone and everything as the same, you become a part of the universe. You become the universe.

Read 7 Signs The Universe Is Guiding You To Your Destiny

Mushin: The Art of No Mindedness

mushin - mind without mind

According to Zen Buddhism philosophies, the state of no-mind operates very fast but without any conscious direction or plan. Hence, it is free, flexible and adaptable like the water and the wind. The concept of no-mind is, in part, derived from the Zen expression Mushin, which is the core essence of Japanese martial arts.

Mushin is a mental state, derived from the word ‘Mu’ means “nothingness” and ‘Shin’ means “heart, mind or spirit.”

Daoist & Zen meditators, as well as trained martial artists, strive to reach this mental state through rigorous training, meditation, and daily activities.

In ancient times, the Samurai warrior wielded his sword in battle without any conscious thought. Thinking would have interrupted the swordsman’s flow and lead to his death. This is the same with modern-day martial artists and athletes. When a martial artist is in a state of no-mindedness and relies solely on his training, meditation, and natural instinct, he can become one with his art form…his sword.

It is when his mind is free from fear, anger, or ego during a battle or in everyday life. As he is free from thought, he is free to instantly act and react without disturbance or hesitation.

“The mind must always be in the state of ‘flowing,’ for when it stops anywhere that means the flow is interrupted and it is this interruption that is injurious to the well-being of the mind. In the case of the swordsman, it means death. When the swordsman stands against his opponent, he is not to think of the opponent, nor of himself, nor of his enemy’s sword movements. He just stands there with his sword which, forgetful of all technique, is ready only to follow the dictates of the subconscious. The man has effaced himself as the wielder of the sword. When he strikes, it is not the man but the sword in the hand of the man’s subconscious that strikes.” – Zen master Takuan Sōhō 

Mushin is the “mind without mind”. However, it is not a state when your mind is empty. It simply means an absence of the ego, distractions, worries & preoccupations. It is when your mind is completely free and present with full awareness of the self. Mushin is not something that you can understand. It is something you need to experience. It is the flawless realization of the self.

Read How to Attain Self Realization and Control Your Life

Awaken into the no mind state

The path to a state of no mind is paved with relaxation. It is only by allowing yourself to be who you truly are without judgment, you get into the state of no mind.

Allow all your emotions, thoughts, sensations to just be and accept them unconditionally. Allow and accept it all to a point where you are free to be exactly who you are. When you allow and accept, instead of resisting, you can truly relax and let everything be. Only then, there will be no thinking or doing. Without complete acceptance, there is no state of no-mindedness.

The more you try to fight or suppress your thoughts, the more effort you apply, and the more you will limit yourself from achieving awareness of the self that is true. Resistance will only result in separation from your true self. When you allow the thinking to flow naturally without holding onto them, your awareness is on the allowing of your thoughts and not on the content of the thoughts. Allowing is the key to awareness.

Read How to Develop Self Awareness: 9 Must-See Tips for a Better Life

Although thinking can still occur in this awareness, the content of your thoughts will now become irrelevant. Only your awareness is relevant. And your awareness will recognize the peace that is inside you. With this inner peace, you will realize that thinking is a part of the flow of energy. This energy is peace. This energy is consciousness. Now your mind becomes aware of the flow of peace and consciousness. This is when you attain a state of no mind.

No-mind is not about having no thoughts. It is about identifying and being aware of the source of your thoughts; the source of your mind.

How does “no mind state” apply to modern life?

The state of no mind can certainly help us attain complete awareness of the self, but can it help us in our modern daily lives? Does it have any significance in a practical, non-spiritual way? 

Yes, it does. Our mind is everything as it guides us towards what is good for us, to live a life that is happy, meaningful and fulfilling. Once our basic needs are met, our mind becomes free and limitless to flow without any intention. This can empower us to overcome any challenges or make the most of available opportunities that lie ahead of us. And this can be done with exceptional presence.

When we are able to apply unbound presence in our daily lives, it can help us with having –

  • A clearer vision of reality & existence
  • Enlightened view on what actually matters in life
  • Stronger & healthier romantic relationships
  • Better and more engaging social interactions
  • More meaningful connections with others
  • Enhanced work performance 
  • Improved problem-solving & decision-making skills
  • Dramatically increased levels of confidence
  • Extremely decreased feelings of anxiety, fear, stress & worry
  • Enhanced focus on steady progress with minimal distraction
  • Better human experience
  • Improved flow of energy

As your mind becomes less influenced by emotionally driven thoughts and reflection, you learn to see things exactly as they are. You will become more responsive and less reactive to various circumstances. You will become more emotionally mature and learn to detach yourself from people and situations that don’t serve your best interest. As a result, you will be able gain better control over yourself, gain mental strength, behave rationally, accomplish goals and pursue fulfillment in life.

Read 7 Simple Strategies to Increasing Mindfulness in as Little as 30 Seconds

No-Mind is pure awareness of the self

“I am not my mind, because I can observe my thoughts. So the observer is different from the observed – I am not my mind.” – Osho

The state of no-mind is pure consciousness. Your thoughts will disappear as your awareness becomes stronger and deeper. Nothingness will restore your inner peace. Harmony will resurface through stillness. Consciousness will lead to pure bliss. And the self will become aware of its unbound, limitless nature. The self is present everywhere. It is within you and in the infinite universe. The self is the universe. When we become aware and connect with the self, we feel inner peace.

The state of no-mind may be a difficult concept for some of us to grasp. But when you attain this state, you enter a realm of consciousness and spirituality that only the enlightened and the awakened can experience. As you observe everything from a detached perspective, your pure self emerges. There is no past, present or future. There is just pure existence.

Here is an interesting video on Mushin: no mind state that you may find helpful:

Mushin: How The ‘No Mind’ State Can Help You
Mushin: How The ‘No Mind’ State Can Help You
mushin pin

— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Things People Learn Too Late In Life: 7 Eye-Opening Life Lessons

Things People Learn Too Late in Life Eye Opening Life Lessons

Life is full of unexpected events and sometimes there are things people learn too late. Though some lessons come with age and experience, as time goes by, we often wish we had known some important truths sooner.

These moments of truth can be very shocking as well as transformative, they help us live authentically, appreciate what truly matters, and make the most of our time. Below are seven crucial life lessons people learn too late and can still change the way they approach life.

7 Things People Learn Too Late In

Up Next

Anger and Emotions: What’s Really Setting Us Off?

Anger and Emotion Whats Really Setting Us Off

Ever wonder what’s really fueling your anger and emotions? Discover how a mindful approach can help you regain inner peace in your life!

Taking a mindful approach to exploring why we are angry.

Key points

Anger is a secondary emotion.

Anger is a warning sign that lets us know there is an issue to address.

Knowing what we are feeling will help us to address the source of our anger.

Anger can hit us when we least expect it. There are some people who get angry and not know what they are angry about. The

Up Next

Master Your Mind: 8 Subtle Clues Extraverted Intuition Is At Work

Is Extraverted Intuition Guiding You Subtle Clues

If you’ve ever wondered how extraverted intuition works or if you might have it yourself, you’re in the right place. Extraverted intuition (often abbreviated as Ne) is a personality trait that shows up as a knack for spotting connections, exploring ideas, and picking up on possibilities others might overlook.

It’s like a mental compass, pointing toward new insights, and it’s often subtle but powerful.

We’re going to look at 8 little-known extraverted intuition signs is at play, helping you spot and harness this amazing skill set in your everyday life.

Let’s first start with what is extraverted intuition.

Related:

Up Next

How I Hacked My Personality: Steps To Be The Better Version Of Myself

How I Hacked My Personality

Can we truly reshape our personalities for lasting change? Discover Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala’s article “How I hacked my personality” and learn how small shifts in mindset and behavior can lead to meaningful transformation in your life.

A Personal Perspective: Science-backed strategies for intentional trait change.

Key points

Research suggests that personality changes over time.

We can speed up personality change by taking intentional action.

Changes that are reinforced by the environment are easier to maintain.

Up Next

Women Empowerment: The Rebecca Effect in “Ted Lasso”

Rebecca Effect In Ted Lasso Women Empowerment

Can women turn negative experiences into empowerment? Discover the “Rebecca Effect” from Ted Lasso and transform your personal trials into powerful self-acceptance!

Personal Perspective: Empowering women to transform shame and betrayal.

Key points

“Ted Lasso” inspired with imperfect, endearing characters whose trials and transformations mirrored our own.

The “Rebecca Effect” is the empowerment and transformation possible when we have been oppressed or shamed.

The “Rebecca Effect” is the process through which women embrace themselves in totality.

Up Next

The Healing Power of Emotional Tears

The Healing Power of Emotional Tears

Ever wondered why we shed emotional tears? Tears serve a healing purpose. Explore how it plays an important role for our well-being.

Emotional tears are an expression of our shared humanity.

Emotional tears, expressed by children, teens, and adults, are a universal experience observed across the globe. Emotional tears play a healing role, leading to our emotional and physical well-being. This post explores the value of emotional tears and the importance of presence and support from family and friends during unexpected

Read More Here: “Why Am I Always On The Verg

Up Next

10 Important Weekly Reflection Questions You Need To Ask Yourself

If you feel stuck and want to keep track of your goals every week, then weekly reflection questions can really help you. Weekly reflection questions can help you check in with yourself and make sure you’re headed in the right direction. These are the questions you need to ask yourself every week to keep growing and moving forward.

Have you ever had a week with so much going on that you end the week feeling overwhelmed and exhausted? I know I have been there. Sometimes, the week goes by so fast that it’s over before I know it, and there is no time left to process it.

A weekly reflection can help evaluate if what you are doing is working. It fosters self-growth. So, pull out that weekly reflection journal and answer the weekly reflection prompts below.