When Zen Master Seung Sahn says, “Only go straight, don’t know”, what does that mean?

When Zen Master Seung Sahn says, “Go straight, only don’t know”, what does that mean?

When Zen Master Seung Sahn (ZMSS) says, “Only go straight, don’t know,” he is pointing to a fundamental teaching in Zen, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining a mind that is clear, focused, and free from preconceived notions. The following is a detailed breakdown of what I believe this quote means.

(1) Only Go Straight

First, “Go straight” emphasizes directness in action and perception. It means to act without hesitation, doubt, or unnecessary deliberation. In a sense it means “don’t check” — another phrase ZMSS used, and I interpret as “Don’t second-guess.”

The phrase “go straight” also suggests unwavering dedication to your practice. It means to move forward with single-minded purpose, without being distracted by doubts, fears, or other mental obstacles. (Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj saud that our efforts should be “earnest,” and that’s essentially the same as having unwavering dedication.)

“Go straight” means that we need to lose our self-consciousness. If you have a mind that constantly second-guesses your every move, you need to lose that. Just drop all that second-guessing, and fully commit to whatever you’re doing in the moment, with nothing dividing your attention. In essence, you need to be so committed to what you are doing, there is no room for second-guessing or self-consciousness.

(2) Don’t Know

Second, “Don’t know” points to the Zen concept of “don’t-know mind” or “BEGINNER’S MIND.” This state of mind is free from preconceptions, expectations, and attachments to knowledge or understanding. When we perceive something, we should not try to apply past memories or future expectations to what we perceive; instead, we should perceive it clearly, as a beginner would.

This state is also about being open and humble. It suggests that we should embrace a state of not-knowing, which again, is the concept of a beginner’s mind, without preconceived ideas or judgments.

Together: “Only go straight, don’t know”

When you put these together the combination of these ideas suggests that we should:

1. Act decisively and directly in life, without second-guessing or overthinking.

2. Simultaneously, maintain a state of openness and uncertainty, free from the limitations of preconceived notions or rigid beliefs.

3. Embrace the present moment fully.

4. Approach every situation with fresh eyes, without being clouded by past experiences or future expectations, as if we’re encountering it for the first time.

5. Let go of the need to try to understand everything intellectually. Instead, we need to focus on the direct experience.

In summary, ZMSS is telling is to cultivate a balance between decisive action and mental openness. Our state of mind — 24x7 — should be to have a mind that is both focused-on and receptive-to the present moment.

Apply this during meditation

I generally interpret those phrases as pertaining to daily life, but they also apply to our meditation practice. During meditation, “Go straight, only don’t know” means to sit with full commitment (“go straight”) while maintaining an open, non-grasping awareness (“Only don’t know”).

“Beginner’s mind”

I normally associate the phrase “Beginner’s Mind” with Shunryu Suzuki, but it applies here as well.

ZMSS is telling us that in all things we do, we should keep the state of a “Beginner’s Mind,” which means that any time we sense something — feel, hear, see, smell, taste — we should perceive these things with a completely open mind. Like a child sensing something for the first time, we should not attempt to apply our memories to it, and we should also not try to apply our desires or expectations to it, either.

(As an engineer this is fascinating to me, because it’s saying that we should be like a “sensing machine.” Any time we perceive something we should just observe it in its raw state.)

ZMSS and “Don’t Check”

As I mentioned, another phrase that ZMSS used is “Don’t check.” At its most basic, this means “Don’t second-guess yourself.” We should not constantly evaluate or judge our actions, thoughts, or experiences.

In addition to just avoiding second-guessing, it’s also an instruction to refrain from self-consciousness or self-reflection during practice or action. The advertising slogan “Just do it” comes to mind.

“Checking” involves engaging the discursive, analytical mind — what Zen teachers sometimes call “the thinking mind.” Therefore, the instruction to “not check” is a way to cut through this analytical process, and stay in direct experience.

Lastly, it’s important to note that “Don’t check” DOES NOT mean that we should act recklessly or without any self-reflection. It’s more about telling us not to get caught in excessive self-evaluation during each moment. It’s also NOT about suppressing awareness, but instead, to maintain a clear, uncluttered awareness.

Summary

In summary, I believe ZMSS is telling us to cultivate a mind that is intensely present in the current moment, focused on what we are doing in that moment. We should perform our actions decisively, without self-consciousness or second-guessing ourselves. Simultaneously, our state of mind should also be open and without preconceptions or judgments. Each time we perceive something, we should be like a child with a beginner’s mind, and perceive the event as it actually is, without trying to apply memories or preconceived notions to it.