"It takes a wise man to learn from his mistakes, but an even wiser man to learn from others." ―Zen Proverb

"The only Zen you find at the top of the mountain is the Zen you bring with you."

"Everything exists in a state of equality because everything is imbued with the same reality of emptiness." ―Traleg Rinpoche

"To understand nothing takes time." ―Zen Proverb

"Happiness in comfort is not real happiness. Happiness in the midst of hardship, one sees the true potential of the mind." ―Huanchu Daoren

Approach it all with a zen mind. A clear mind.

Be the zen in the midst of chaos

Emptying the Mind and Being in the Zone

In the work The Mammoth Book of Tough Guys, by Robin Barratt, he describes being in the zone as being akin to having a state of mindlessness or thoughtlessness. It's a state where you empty the mind and are free to execute without any barriers and stop signs which emerge from dampening and negative thoughts:

The Zen term “Mushin”, meaning empty or no mind and what sports psychologists call “being in the zone” is to me, one in the same. The Japanese maxim “Tatakawa zushite katsu” declared by some Masters to be the true meaning of Budo states, “Winning without fighting by overcoming the enemy within”, for me holds true.

The terms "Mushin" is also something that Lyoto Machida talks about. It's no surprise because Machida grew up in an intense traditional martial arts environment with his Karate background, and with his father having Japanese ancestry, that Japanese concept is something that Lyoto uses right at the moment of combat:



Along the same lines, Icelandic UFC welterweight star Gunnar Nelson, takes a similar approach. He has a remarkably calm disposition that makes those taking a stroll through a park look intensely stress. He has found that when he is not thinking and worrying about competition, he performs best. He realized this when he competed in grappling and didn't realize he was going to be able to compete again in an absolute division bracket and was just hanging out with friends and having a laugh. But then suddenly his name was called to compete and he just went out there and had possibly his best submission grappling match of his life. So Gunnar Nelson stumbled upon a very effective sports psychology tool that day which he continues to use in the UFC:

Felice Herrig on the Zen of fighting in the present moment

All the worries, stresses, and fears of everyday life, dissipate when one steps in the cage and fight. Nothing can be focussed on except your opponent. The fact that fighting takes on to this place mentally is actually a big reason why so many fighters like to fight.

Quotes on Zen Mind (Beginner's Mind)

In Zen Buddhism, the concept of Shoshin (Japanese: 初心), or Beginner's Mind, illuminates the fact that in a beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in an expert's mind there are few. So keeping an original mind, beginners mind, or a "whitebelt mentality", you allow yourself to open the door of knowledge from anywhere and anyone. This is an attitude that UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has adhered to his entire life, and has allowed him to see the entire world as place where he can acquire knowledge. Endless doors to knowledge in every direction.

Eddie Alvarez on keeping a beginner's mind

Eddie Alvarez on being open to learning:

You have to stay open; open-minded and open to new things and to keep learning. Like a child at play, a beginner's mind...I try and keep a beginner's mind because that will always keep me open and learning new things and always staying humble to be able to just continue to improve.  

The concept of "beginner's mind" can be traced back to Zen Buddhism, which uses the word "Shoshin" to describe it. Additionally, a book by the Zen instructor Shunryu Suzuki called "Beginner's Mind", has made this concept more popular.