Empty Your Cup
Written by Ron Cacioppe
In order to be fully present and absorb what is in front of us we must learn to 'empty our cup'.
A university professor went to see a Zen master to question him about the nature of Zen and its profound wisdom. When the professor arrived, the Zen master asked if he would like a cup of tea.
As the Zen master began pouring the tea, the professor started asking questions about the value and meaning of Zen. The Zen master kept pouring the tea without answering. The professor impatiently restated his questions and asked for some answers.
The Zen master kept pouring the tea without saying anything. The professor began to grow annoyed and demanded that the master answer his questions.
By now hot tea was running over the cup and onto the professor’s hand. “What are you doing? You fool! How can you tell me about Zen philosophy when you can’t even pour tea!”
The Zen master replied, “That cup is just like your mind, Sir. I cannot tell you about the nature of Zen when your mind, like that cup, is so full!”
Questions to consider
How did the Zen master know that the professor’s cup was full?
How do we know when another person’s cup is full?
How do we know when our own cup is full?
What do you do when you recognise that the person you’re interacting with has a full cup?
What are the lessons in this tale?
Is your inner voice so busy that it is drowning out what another person is saying?
When we think we already know something about a subject, do we really pay attention to another viewpoint? Or are we so busy preparing our response that we don’t even bother listening?
Think about times when you think you might do this. With your partner…..your colleague…..your family……your customer……your client……this course?
Watch out for this in future, and when you become aware that your cup is full, empty it and listen! Listen with curiosity. Ask questions. Observe the difference.
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.”
Shunryu Suzuki