OLLI-UA Offerings

The term “beginner’s mind” has captured the national imagination. A Google search returns some thirty-three million hits. Why? Because who in this turbulent world doesn’t feel the need for a fresh perspective? Who wouldn’t like to be free of confining judgments that stymie possibility and discovery? Who wouldn’t like to greet each day as an eager beginner? As an artist? As a child? The term was introduced by Shunryu Suzuki, the author of “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind,” a modern spiritual classic. This class will explore how his Buddhist teachings enable us to apply “beginner’s mind” to the small events and big disasters of this American life. Through lectures, discussion, and audiovisual aids, this nonsectarian class will provide core teachings useful right now. The emphasis will be on finding and refining our personal questions—not necessarily answering them!

Instructor: Merrill Collett

Merrill Collett was a long-term resident at San Francisco Zen Center and its monastery, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, both of which were founded by Shunryu Suzuki. He is the author of At Home With Dying, A Zen Hospice Approach. After thirty years in print journalism, he retired from The San Francisco Chronicle to live year-round in Tucson. He has degrees in history from Stanford and in international relations from Johns Hopkins.