Hi Friends,
I met Waldemar Januszczak, the then just becoming famous art critic in a coffee shop at The National Gallery, London. I had no idea who he was, nor he I, obviously, but there we were chatting away like the War had just ended and we had survived to be right there talking to each other.
It was obvious that I was not as well rounded as him but I believe my ability to tell my story and answer his questions honestly without reservations, captured his attention, for he was the same, I could see in so many ways. You see, even though I was not as formally educated as he, we could read people extremely well and had a deep passion for learning. I was also used to being on the streets and being acutely aware of every little detail.
He asked me about my book, All Men are Brothers
by Mahatma Gandhi- that I always carried with me. I told him, and there were deep moments of silence for he had experienced similar tragedies and was searching for deeper truths.
He gave me his phone number and address inviting me over for dinner. But I was 25 and was soon to be whisked off on a triumph through the summer countryside of Gloucestershire.
I was soon to understand the true nature of a woman.
I follow Waldemar Januszczak on the YouTube Channel called Perspective here.
Truly worth a visit my friends. He is quite the character.
| Quotes I’m Pondering |
“In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are a few”
Shunryu Suzuki-
I found that many people struggle with Shunryu Suzuki’s quote.
Many feel the need to present themselves as experts in their field, often believing that expertise equates to control, authority, and a mastery that expands their options.
Yet, expertise can also create rigidity—narrowing focus, reinforcing fixed patterns of thought, and limiting the ability to see beyond established frameworks.
A Beginner’s Mind, unburdened by preconceptions, is free to explore without the constraints of knowing “the right way.” But having a beginner’s mind doesn’t mean being uneducated, inexperienced, or naive.
It’s not about starting from scratch like a child—it’s about maintaining openness even as knowledge deepens.
Another challenge in understanding this quote lies in how success is often measured. While degrees and credentials may open doors, it is emotional intelligence—how one adapts, responds, and perceives—that often determines long-term growth. If expertise is defined only by accumulated knowledge, it risks overshadowing the openness and curiosity that fuel innovation and deeper understanding.
Suzuki’s words remind us that wisdom is not just in knowing, but in remaining open. The more we embrace a beginner’s mind, the more possibilities we allow to emerge.
“The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all possibilities.”
Shunryu Suzuki –
Book I’m re-visiting
This book has been with me for many years.
I first visited Shunryu Suzuki’s San Francisco Zen Center when I was 19.
I heard about it from a friend I was studying Shotokan Karate with and decided to travel up to San Francisco in my deceased grandfather’s green four-door 68 Chevy Impala to work as a carpenter.
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Shunryu Suzuki
*There’s something special about referencing a book you’ve reflected upon for 45 years and now passing the information along in a digital newsletter. Hope it helps.
Things I’ve Learned
Never underestimate the healing power of humor. Gandhi swore by it.
He said on many occasions that it was his saving grace.
I have fallen pray to an overdeveloped sense of seriousness many times throughout my life. It has never really been helpful.
So here it is, at great risk. More of a riddle than a joke 🙂
Question: Where is the best place to hide something?
Answer: In the present moment, for few are ever there.
The Pranayama Podcast
My next podcast interview is this week Thursday with with Alex Kuhtarev.
I will be spending most of the week preparing for this podcast. I feel to really do it justice, I need to do my research, cultivating invigorating questions and making sure I’m grounded, present. I’m nervous and excited. He has a big heart and I say very silly things when I get around big hearts. Especially, when they’re smart as well!
Mr. Kuhtarev is a former KGB agent for Russia.
He is now an Entrepreneur, Husband/Father, Human Experience Guide, Pantheist & Plant Medicine Integration Mentor.
Buckle up for this one friends…
View all past The Pranayama Podcast on the website here. Or on our YouTube Channel here.
Word of the week
Klexos (klk.sds)
(n.) The art of dwelling in the past and reinterpreting it with new meanings.
Music Insight
| Song I’m listening to while gardening: Jesse Cook | Once (Official Music Video)🌻🌞Enjoy |
Stay in the light of love my friends. It’s always worth it. Dennis
