Boto: Beginner's Mind for Joyful Living
- Spunky Mind
- Jan 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 30
In the heart of the Amazon flows a secret treasure, one of nature’s most charismatic beings, the pink river dolphin. Known lovingly in Portuguese as boto rosa, these rare dolphins stretch across the vast Amazon River system, from Brazil to Colombia, Peru, and beyond.
They are the largest river dolphins in the world, with males reaching up to eight feet and 400 pounds, yet they carry themselves with the playful curiosity of a child splashing in puddles.
When adulthood arrives, their skin blossoms into radiant shades of pink.
Sometimes, when they’re excited, they flush even brighter, as if the river itself has gifted them a blush of joy. And with that ever-present curved smile, the boto seems to whisper: Come play, come wonder, come remember what it feels like to be alive.
A Mythical Messenger
Across South America, the boto is surrounded by legend. Revered as magical, respected as wise, and loved for their gentle mischief, these dolphins embody freedom of spirit and a joyful life. They remind us that even in muddy waters, joy can frolic and curiosity can leap.
Agile enough to twirl through submerged trees and quick enough to spin on a whim, the pink river dolphin is proof that flexibility and wonder are timeless teachers.
They are curious about us also, especially children. From riverbanks, you may spot them playing, diving, and creating ripples of laughter in their wake. What a gift to witness joy in its purest, most spontaneous form.
Beginner’s Mind & the Boto
The Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki once said:
"If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything, it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few."
The boto is a living metaphor for beginner’s mind. They never lose their childlike wonder. Even in adulthood, they play. They turn the everyday river into a field of discovery, greeting each current as new.
We, too, can learn this dance. With a beginner’s mind, we loosen our grip on expectations and open to life’s possibilities. This mindset calms the nervous system while sparking creativity, a beautiful balance of energy and ease. Like the dolphin’s effortless spins, our thoughts can become light and fluid, no longer bound by the rigidity of “should.”
The Swim of Our Lives for joyful living
Imagine approaching each day the way the pink river dolphin approaches the river: curious, playful, and open. With practice, this becomes more than a mindset; it becomes a way of being for joyful living. Over time, joy bubbles up spontaneously, like dolphins surfacing from the depths.
A beginner’s mind is like petting a puppy: delightful, surprising, and full of warmth. It is the spark of laughter when nothing special happens, yet everything feels alive. The pink river dolphin invites us to live this way, rewiring—or perhaps unwiring—our patterns into wonder.
So the next time life feels heavy, visualize the boto. See it blush pink in the river sun, twirling with curiosity. It will remind us to smile, to soften, and to have the swim of our lives.
Cheers!
Kether
Spunky Mind
"The goal of practice is always
keep our beginner's mind"
Shunryu Suzuki
🌊 Pink River Dolphin – Beginner’s Mind Field Notes 🌊
Grab these field notes to splash into beginner’s mind. A few notes of wonder can brighten your day and remind you to stay playful, curious, and free.
