| name | shoshin |
| description | Surface assumptions collaboratively before proceeding — beginner's mind, invoked depth |
| argument-hint | [file path | topic | inline content from conversation] |
| allowed-tools | Read Grep Glob Shell SemanticSearch |
Shoshin — Invoked (Workspace)
Deliberately bring beginner's mind to the foreground for this workspace. Follow the portable core process, then apply workspace-specific artifact and frame-check conventions.
Core process
Read and follow submodules/zanshin-pi-extension/skills/shoshin/SKILL.md in full. That file is authoritative for the invoked workflow (collaborative assumption-surfacing, questions before building).
Workspace artifacts
When gathering ground truth (Step 2 of the core process), check these in order of authority:
| Priority | Artifact | Role |
|---|
| 1 | ABOUT.md | Owner identity and priorities — precedes corpus inference |
| 2 | .planning/<project>/BRIEF.md | Authoritative scope (project = most recently modified BRIEF) |
| 3 | BACKLOG.md | Current work state (> State: line) |
| 4 | .planning/<project>/whats-next.md | Session handoff — verify against brief, don't inherit blindly |
| 5 | STYLE.md / .planning/<project>/STYLE.md | Writing conventions when content is involved |
| 6 | Recent git log | When handoff may be stale or work evolved since last session |
If brief and handoff conflict, surface the conflict and ask which framing to use.
Frame-check (invoked)
When the target is a plan, epic, brief, or design doc, also ask:
Is this asking the right question — or a well-written answer to the wrong one?
Audience and purpose (TAGRI): Who reads this? What decision does it enable? If unclear, ask before expanding.
Signals that warrant frame-check (from ambient AGENTS.md):
- External feedback shows fundamental confusion about what the document is trying to do
- A structural choice survives review but still feels off
- Author intent has evolved beyond what the brief can express
- Major transition: first external review, publish, handoff to new contributor
Name the ceiling honestly: shoshin verifies framing against documents; if the document embeds the wrong frame, user pushback or explicit reframing is the exit.
Ordering with spar
Apply shoshin before spar when the problem may be mis-stated. Apply spar after shoshin when framing holds but the solution needs challenge.