MUSHIN

The mind of no mind, a state of mind hidden beneath the conscious mind and not disturbed by external stimuli.

EGO

Self interest as the normal basis of behaviour, selfishness a sense of individuality.

MUSHIN AN ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS

When facing an opponent fear is going to be aroused. This is caused by your opponent or his sword or both, so first you must defeat the fear in the mind and then you can defeat your opponent.

If you feel fear in front of your opponent (sometimes best defence is offence) you feel you can not just stand still and wait for him to cut you but that you must go first and cut him. However you may miss when you cut and start to get frustrated and confused, the conscious mind has now given way to ego and your mind is set totally on self preservation, ego breeds fear, frustration and confusion.

Example 1 

You - Fear                                                             Opponent - Fear

When facing an opponent fear is going to be aroused by your opponent or his sword or both.

First you must defeat the fear in your mind before you can defeat your opponent.

You - No Fear                                                          Opponent - Fear

Example 2

If you feel fear in front of your opponent (best defence is offence) you feel that you can’t just stand still and wait for your opponent to cut you, but that you must go first and cut him.

Opponent - Fear                                                     You - Fear   

 But if you miss when you cut you may start to get frustrated and confused.

Opponent - Fear                                                     You - Fear,frustration   

The conscious mind has now given way to ego and your mind is now set on self preservation, finding it hard to cut your opponent.

Opponent - Fear                                                     You - Fear,frustration,confusion

Ego breeds fear frustration and Confusion.

Opponent - No Fear                                                     You - Ego, self-preservation   

In this kind of situation one of the best things to do is an all out attack also referred to as sutemi (body abandoning) attack.

It is in this situation where ego has had no time to set in and so you may eventually discover mushin, this can only be learned through many months and years of hard practice.