Buddhism for the beginner is more of a process of unlearning certain learned patterns many of which are maladaptive patterns from Buddhism’s lofty perspective.
Not surprising, many of these patterns are part of a normal, accepted culture. Still they are neither conducive to understanding the context of Buddhism nor meeting its real goal which is the attainment of nirvana.
This unlearning also includes unlearning various beliefs and prejudices especially, for example, materialism’s belief in no atman or soul (P., natthattā), or the belief that there is no life after death, or consciousness is brain generated. People who hold tightly to such views do not wish to unlearn their views.
Unlearning what we have learned; trying to understand the general framework of Buddhism, more than often, proves to be too difficult for the bulk of beginners who tend to be dabblers.
Beginners who take up the study and practice of Buddhism have no idea how much they have to unlearn in order to reach the point where they understand the general context of Buddhism. For example, even the most rudimentary form of meditation which consists of sitting on a cushion with the back ramrod straight involves unlearning certain acquired physical habits that cannot sustain sitting for any length of time beyond ten or twenty minutes.
Turning to Zen, one has to unlearn the belief that thought can apprehend pure Mind which is completely beyond thought since thought stems from it. One also has to unlearn and correct the bad habit of falling into the five hindrances (pañca nivāraṇa) which call for 1) abandoning of desire for the world, 2) abandoning ill will and hatred, 3) abandoning sloth and torpor, 4) abandoning restlessness and remorse, and 5) abandoning doubt. Unless thoroughly abandoned these five will always remain a hindrance to realizing pure Mind which is the very source and substance from which thought is formed.
Real Buddhism has very little in common with modern culture since its aims are beyond the sphere of the six senses upon which modern culture rests especially the last sense which is mind (S., manas), which includes the intellect as well as the imagination.
Also, much of Buddhism’s practice has to be done in nature’s solitude away from external distractions which includes the unwashed masses. One must also unlearn the modern life of comfort and leisure in order to get used to a difficult inward struggle going through layer upon layer of self-created deceptions.