Mushin – No Mind

“After quite a while, the grandmaster called out for his eldest son. As was his nature, the number one son was quick to hear his father’s call and came swiftly and gracefully to the door. There was an almost imperceptible pause. The son smoothly pulled the door open to his right, at the same time reaching through and up with his open left hand. Grasping the heavy vase before it had time to fall, he spun clockwise into the room, holding the vase above his head. With a beautiful gesture, he slid the door shut and replaced the vase in its original position above the door. Then, without a word or glance, he bowed humbly to the two old masters. The father’s face beamed as he performed the introductions, saying “This is my eldest son.” His old friend looked deep into the son’s eyes for a long moment. Then with a big smile and a low bow to the father, he replied “I am very happy for you. He has learned everything and is mastering the sword.”

– The Three Sons, from The Karate Dojo, Sensei Peter Urban, 1967

If the previously written-about state of mind bushin indicates a level of conscious competence, then unconscious competence of one’s own actions can be considered mushin, ‘no mind’.

Though not necessarily satori (enlightenment), mushin is a flowing state of mind that is never fixed or preoccupied on self-emotion or external stimuli. It is open to everything, and grasps at nothing. There is no reaction, only appropriate action. Understandably enough, one can’t reach this level without conscious practice enough times in a field of study or training (painting, kendo, cooking, masonry, etc.)

Using our three states of mind, for example:
Shoshin baker: Carefully reads the recipe for cinnamon rolls. 2 tablespoons of cinnamon are needed. Carefully tries to pour the cinnamon little by little from the bag. Then, cinnamon everywhere. Should have used an actual tablespoon. Learns from the experience.

Bushin baker: Already knows the required amount of cinnamon needed for the optimal cinnamon bun batch. Speedily scoops from the bag, and with intense focus adds it to the mix, and is already making conscious, visual notes of what steps come next.

Mushin baker: Is having a conversation about the weather with early party guests while adding just the right amount of cinnamon by hand, not from what the cookbook said, but because the host knows how much cinnamon the guests will like in the rolls. No timer set on the oven, just awareness of multitasking and when cinnamon buns reach their best state.

Of great importance to the martial artist is the absence of deliberation that mushin affords. In an emergency, training doesn’t “kick in”, it just is. Life always is in a state of flux, and one who has trained their mind and autonomic nervous system enough doesn’t look around incredulously in the midst of adversity; they are in control of their environment, and aren’t even conscious of it.

What’s in a name?
That which we call karate. When it was known as “China or T’ang Hand” in the 1920s and was gaining public exposure on mainland Japan in sport festivals and on university campuses, an alternative name was needed due to the geopolitical animosities of the time. The term kara meaning ‘empty’ and –te meaning ‘hand’ had a dual meaning; one, to denote the non-usage of weaponry in the style, and also in keeping with the Zen Buddhist concept of emptiness and detachment…an important element in achieving a state of no-mindedness.

That being said, emptiness and detachment cannot and should not be regarded as negatives. Instead, it can be considered as the apex of sensitivity, and a genuine attachment to the moment that is free of the bondage of ego. In the dōjō, the goal is to train intently to remove ego, little by little, so we may be able to do good without knowing it.