Only Don’t Know: Selected Teaching Letters of Zen Master Seung Sahn

“Only Don’t Know” is one of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s most central teachings — a phrase that encapsulates the essence of his approach to Zen practice. Rather than chasing intellectual understanding or clinging to fixed ideas, he encourages students to embrace the ‘don’t-know mind’, which is an open and clear awareness, untouched by judgement or expectation.In his dialogues and dharma talks, ‘only don’t know’ is not passive ignorance — it is radical clarity. It invites you to return to the state before thinking and concepts. Whether you are facing a personal dilemma or trying to grasp the nature of enlightenment, Seung Sahn’s often says: put everything down, return to the present moment – return to ‘don’t know’.This teaching recurs throughout his writings, such as Dropping Ashes on the Buddha, The Compass of Zen and The Whole World Is a Single Flower, reminding practitioners that awakening comes not through complexity, but through sincere, grounded practice and presence.