Beginners Mind

RonMartin(deceased)

Lots of truth to this bit of wisdom.

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A half a dozen years ago, I contacted the author of a book on fly fishing asking if he had copies of his book, which were out of print at the time. The book was about a river he'd been flyfishing and guiding on for 30 years. When I received the book he'd inserted his business card. Immediately below his name was "FlyFisher In Training".

My point? Well, why would you choose an interest, like fly fishing or Bonsai training, that has a beginning AND an end!

B.

irene_b

For a person to list that they are a "Master FlyFisher" would imply that they know it all and cannot learn anything else.
The same can be applied to everything "Master Bonsaiist" as well.
As a human, you are designed to be able to learn new things daily.

Why choose an interest like either of those? Simple answer, because there really is no end till you draw your last breath.
Irene

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nsmar4211

"Sadly, many experienced growers adopt the same mind set in thinking because they have been doing bonsai for so long that no one is able to teach them anything new or useful."

I agree with you 100% Vance! Luckily, I've not found any of those people in person in my area-everybody around here I've met is interested in new/useful methods or ideas. At a demonstration by Dorothy on slash pines at the 06 Miami show, the entire room was still as she showed us how to bend and manipulate a tree everyone thought wasn't workable! New techniques, eager listeners... and there were several highly regarded people in the audience .
Learning isn't just at the "beginner" stage.

What was that saying? Check your ego at the door, there's not room for it in here?

lehket

Vance,

In dealing with that, perhaps we could take a lesson from a Zen master. The story goes that one day a student came to the master in a state of great excitement. "Master!" he cried. "I have finally done it! I have finally gotten rid of everything!"

"Excellent!" the master replied. "Now get rid of that, too."

"But master," the student said, "you don't understand. I have gotten rid of everything."

"Very well," the master replied. "If you won't get rid of it, then carry it with you."

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Graydon

Oh come on now - that is being taken a bit too seriously. I do note you used the word imply and that is correct but you are doing the implication - not the bearer of the title.

I have spent my entire life working in the entertainment industry as a fabricator in theatre, film and television. For a long time my title for credit and on the job has been master carpenter. I didn't pick that, it goes with the job and is proper for the department leader or charge person. There are also master electricians, prop masters etc. I have yet to meet a person in the industry that let the master title go to their head. I have always offered helpful guidance to those under my supervision but I appreciate the respect that the title gives. I look at it as I have reached journeyman status by learning under other master carpenters and now pass on the trade to others, sort of like a master to a student.

My point? I can agree it's good to be humble but not to the point where you are misleading, unless it's for the humor as in the fly fisher's card. Self deprecating humor can go a long way. It's also good to know who's in charge and really knows what's going on. I don't mind any title like master when appropriate. It's the bad people that think they know it all that I mind.

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Weevilmd

That reminds me of a quote....... Those who think they know it all, are annoying to those of us who do........ a poster on the wall of my high school speech class.....

irene_b

AMEN!
Irene

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BrianBay9

I think the attitude displayed is dependent on the circumstance. To teach, you need to lead with confidence so that your students will follow. To learn, you need to approach the lesson with humility.

I've taught to, and learned from many black belt martial artists. The good ones, in the student role, can "empty the cup". They discard their previous training during the lesson, and accept what is taught uncritically. If they can't, their "full cup" won't allow anything else to be added. After the lesson there is plenty of time to synthesize new lessons with old knowledge, and keep what you can use.

Brian

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There's a difference between taking your art seriously, and taking yourself too seriously.