The first point is that I believe a more correct initial understanding is ‘no conscious mind’ rather than simply ‘no mind’. More specifically I am talking here about a decrease in the use of the left brain hemisphere and overall brain activity paving the way for a non-conceptual experience by allowing for greater and easier access to the right hemisphere of the brain (which is not conscious of itself). To put it another way, my initial presentation of my understanding of mushin is that it refers to the progressive disuse or quietening of the left hemisphere only (where our consciousness as we know it predominantly resides), rather than the mind as a whole.
Moving on, I do not see this concept as describing something that can be done habitually without the need for conscious thought. From reading various articles and books I have heard mushin used to describe how we do things without conscious thought or effort. For example, walking is something that we do without thinking. My experience though is that while we do not need to concentrate on walking that does not mean we enter a state of mushin. Rather, whereas a toddler learning to walk will be completely absorbed with developing the skill, although we don’t need anything like that level of concentration, we instead replace that mental focus the toddler displays with a focus of our thoughts on something else. In other words, we are still conscious; not of walking but of some other issue that captures our attention. For example, while walking we may be thinking ‘I need to move faster or I am going to be late’ or ‘Hmm, that looks like it’s a good restaurant. I’ll try it this weekend’ or ‘Should I stick with my current job or is it time to move on?’ Whatever we are conscious of while walking is immensely variable, from decisions about what to get for dinner to meditations on life, the Universe and everything. The point is that while we are not conscious of the mechanics of moving we have not quietened our minds. We are not in a state of mushin. We are still conscious of something.
The second point I want to make and what makes my understanding different to what else you will read is that I don’t see mushin as being a one-dimensional state. Rather, I see the experience of ‘no conscious mind’ as progressive and ever-deepening. Experts are able to record the electrical brain output through the use of an Electroencephalography (EEG) machine. Using this data our everyday, conscious mind is labeled as being in the Beta state. However, the Beta state describes a frequency of brain rhythm between 12-30 Hz. In other words, there is no simple ‘Beta’ brain state. We can be busy, stressed out and caught up in problem solving with a higher brain frequency (reaching up to 30 Hz) or we can be relaxing watching a movie (with a brain frequency lowering towards 12 Hz). In both states experts would label our brains as being at the Beta level of output, despite the very obvious differences in overall brain activity. This is important to note because the same observation applies to other brain states.
The EEG apparatus is able to measure the electrical activity on the scalp of the subject, thereby indicating to what extent the brain is being used.
As we relax from the Beta state we enter the Alpha state. We reach this state when we are relaxed and we aren’t thinking of anything difficult or stressful. This is the initial state we enter into through meditation. However, just as the Beta state indicates a brain frequency between 12-30 Hz, so too does the Alpha state describe a band width of brain activity rather than a single level. Here the brain frequency is from 8-12 Hz. Beyond the Alpha state is Theta (4-7 Hz). What this data indicates is that there are deepening levels of meditation or, to relate the observations more directly to mushin, there are varying degrees of ‘no conscious mindedness’. Mushin is not therefore a fixed state that you are either in or you are not in. Two different people, I would argue, can experience two different levels of ‘no conscious mindedness’ or, the same person could have two different experiences of 'no conscious mindedness' at two different times at, say 8 Hz as compared to 4 Hz. I am sure that anyone who has meditated with any degree of success will attest to this. There are just times when you are able to go into a deeper meditation and, with practice, you become more able at entering a deeper Alpha state.
Ultimately the loss of consciousness, for as brief a moment as a second, results in satori, or 'enlightenment'. It is impossible for a functioning human to remain in a state of complete 'no conscious mindedness' as we would be literally unable to do anything, having no ability to conceptualize either ourselves or what is around us. In martial arts practice this is an important factor. If we ever attained full no conscious mindedness we would not perceive (an in conceptualize) an opponent's attack as being dangerous to us. Similarly we would be unable to formulate an appropriate response.
While in 'no conscious mindedness' you are better able to give free reign to your trained techniques depending on the stimulus provided by the opponent. I do not believe however that this is necessarily 'the best' approach to take to combat. To me, you are better off with an intense focus, or a state of zanshin. I will discuss zanshin more thoroughly at a later date but I will say that I believe the experience of mushin leads to, in the context of combat, a greater sense of zanshin.
Turning to the historical record to help clarify the term mushin, I detect that there is some historical misunderstanding here going back several centuries. Takuan Soho, the Zen monk who perhaps did more than anyone to marry Zen with the martial arts and create Warrior Zen, was nevertheless a monk and a non-combatant. His theories make for interesting reading but to me they lack the hands on experience of (deadly) combat.
Takuan Soho had this to say about mushin:
The mind must always be in the state of 'flowing,' for when it stops anywhere that means the flow is interrupted and it is this interruption that is injurious to the well-being of the mind. In the case of the swordsman, it means death. When the swordsman stands against his opponent, he is not to think of the opponent, nor of himself, nor of his enemy's sword movements. He just stands there with his sword which, forgetful of all technique, is ready only to follow the dictates of the subconscious. The man has effaced himself as the wielder of the sword. When he strikes, it is not the man but the sword in the hand of the man's subconscious that strikes.
I think this is an overly romantic portrayal of the mental state of the swordsman and does not reflect reality. I feel that Takuan Soho is selective in his choice of combat art to portray a Zen principle as the use of the sword will lead to, if done correctly, the very fast execution of the opponent. As I noted earlier though with the example of walking, over a prolonged period (which can be as 'prolonged' as a few seconds), our consciousness can shift away from the actual technique to focus on something else; but all the while we remain conscious. We have not entered a true state of no conscious mindedness.
Compare this to what Miyamoto Musashi writes on the technique of Munen Muso No Uchi To Iu Koto (On the Blow Free From Worldly Thoughts - the Spontaneous Blow) found in the Book of Water:
When both you and your opponent decided to strike simultaneously, both (1) adopt the position to strike his body, and (2) concentrate your will to strike. Accelerate your hand naturally and strike hard. This is called the munen muso ['free from worldly thoughts or no mind'] blow, and is a most important stroke. You will encounter it frequently. You must learn and practice it.
In Musashi's explanation it seems that the mind shifts from a state of 'no conscious mindedness' to one that is conscious of what it is doing and of the opponent, resulting in a 'concentrate[d]' hard strike performed at speed. This 'relaxed but conscious' mindset is reflected elsewhere in Go Rin No Sho, such as when Musashi writes 'Calm your mind, and do not cease the firmness for even a second' and 'Even when the body is at rest, do not relax your concentration'. Musashi appears to be talking about entering an Alpha state of consciousness but with the admonition to still be attentive - or conscious - of what is happening around you.
In conclusion then, rather than simply understand mushin as ‘no mind’ I therefore present a new definition and understanding: mushin is the progressive experience of deepening levels of no conscious mindedness.
