What are the pitfalls when practicing Zen?
There are many, unfortunately. A very important concept in Zen is what is called “beginners mind”. This means, that you always start with a fresh attitude, as if it were your first time. Not with any expectations, or ideas about how it was the previous time you sat down. Exactly how a beginner would start with Zen meditation. This is very valuable, because you are truly open for whatever might happen, without any ideas or preconceptions. Unfortunately, this beginners mind will start to fade very soon. And you might get all kinds of ideas about what you gained, or how well you may have developed (or how bad you are doing). This is a big disadvantage for your practice, and distracts your attention from what is really going on, right here, right now.
