Empty Your Cup December 6, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Meditation, Mindfulness.comments closed
I’ve shared this Zen Parable before:
An arrogant man, who felt that no one could teach him anything, visited a Zen master for tea. The Zen master poured the tea until it overflowed the cup, and still he continued to pour.
The arrogant man cried, “Master, stop! Why do you keep pouring? The cup is full.”
The master replied, “You too are full of your opinions and judgments about the world. You must empty yourself of the past, to receive the present.”
Now, let’s take it a step further. Do we “empty the cup” so that we can refill it with Zen wisdom?
No.
We empty the cup so we can mindfully experience THIS moment and all that it offers without looking through the dirty lens of stale judgments.
Zen wisdom is merely the voice that reminds us to empty our cup . . . again and again and again.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Quote: [W]hen we dump out our teacup . . . we make room for the really good tea. Zen is the dumping of the teacup. The really good tea is your life, your existence, your you. ~ The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Zen Living, p. 91.
Spirit Lights The Way 