What does shoshin mean?

Shoshin (Japanese: 初心) is a concept in Zen Buddhism meaning 'beginner's mind.' It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying, similar to how a beginner approaches learning, even at an advanced level. The word is a combination of 'sho' (初), meaning 'beginner' or 'initial,' and 'shin' (心), meaning 'mind'^[1]. Shoshin encourages practitioners to counter the hubris and closed-mindedness associated with thinking of oneself as an expert, thus fostering a mindset that remains receptive to new ideas and approaches^[1].