Suzuki presents humility and openness as natural expressions of what he calls “beginner’s mind,” the attitude of approaching each moment as if for the first time. Rather than clinging to knowledge, experience, or spiritual accomplishments, this mind remains curious, flexible, and free of preconceptions. When the sense of being an “expert” softens, the field of possibilities widens, and the heart becomes more receptive. In this way, humility is not self-deprecation but a quiet recognition that understanding is always incomplete and that each situation can reveal something new.

Central to this is the practice of “just sitting,” or shikantaza, in which meditation is undertaken without a gaining idea. One sits not to become special or to accumulate insight, but simply to sit, allowing thoughts and experiences to arise and pass without judgment. By letting go of expectations and goals, the usual drive for personal advancement is gently undermined. This non-striving attitude fosters openness, because nothing needs to be defended or achieved, and humility, because there is no spiritual status to protect.

Suzuki also emphasizes accepting imperfection and difficulty as integral to the path. Mistakes, boredom, pride, or confusion are not treated as failures but as opportunities to see more clearly how the mind operates. When practice is understood in this way, there is less need to appear “good” or “advanced,” and more willingness to learn from whatever arises. Humility then becomes the willingness to be taught by each moment, and openness becomes the readiness to meet experience without rigid judgments.

Finally, Suzuki points toward a simple, “nothing special” way of being, marked by childlike wonder and direct presence. By respecting ordinary activities and engaging them with full attention, spiritual life is no longer separated from daily life or turned into a special achievement. The forms of practice and the rhythm of everyday tasks become occasions to return to fresh attention, free from the weight of fixed views. In sustaining this beginner’s mind—curious, unassuming, and present—humility and openness are not forced but quietly revealed.