What is an "Empty Cup"?

You may be wondering why I named my blog "Empty Cup".
There is a wonderful Buddhist story that goes along with this name:

The Scholar and the Zen Master

There was a scholar that had an extensive background in Buddhist Studies and was an expert on the Nirvana Sutra. He came to study with the master and after making the customary bows, asked her to teach him Zen. Then, he began to talk about his extensive doctrinal background and rambled on and on about the many sutras he had studied.
The master listened patiently and then began to make tea. When it was ready, she poured the tea into the scholar's cup until it began to overflow and run all over the floor. The scholar saw what was happening and shouted, "Stop, stop! The cup is full; you can't get anymore in."
The master stopped pouring and said: "You are like this cup; you are full of ideas about Buddha's Way. You come and ask for teaching, but your cup is full; I can't put anything in. Before I can teach you, you'll have to empty your cup."

It is a powerful story and one of my favorites.
Be aware today!

And don't forget to empty your cup! :)

What is Buddhism?

I'd like to clarify what Buddhism is.
The heart and main objective of Buddhism as a whole is to end suffering.
This is a universal theme in all variations of Buddhism. In it's purest form, Buddhism is not a religion, but a philosophy. There is no worship of Buddha that takes place. The Buddha taught that all of the answers and solutions come from inside oneself. He says that he is a teacher, a guide to help us find our way to the end of suffering.
Just to clarify, the end of suffering does not refer to death or the afterlife. Buddhists strive to end suffering within themselves and their community in life.

How might we go about ending suffering?
The Buddha gave us a couple of great resources for understanding our mind. I call them resources because the full understanding of our own suffering does not come from sources outside oneself. However it is very unlikely that we will be able to understand our suffering completely without them, therefore they are essential.
Anyways, these great resources are: the four noble truths and the eight-fold path. My favorite versions of them is from http://unconditionalawakening.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-four-noble-truths-twelve-turnings.html.
Please take time to read these resources. They are the foundation of Buddhist practice.
It will take time to understand them. They take some contemplation to fully understand. You will find that it will pertain to any and all suffering you may encounter.

Thank you for your time.
May your day be filled with peace and mindfulness.

And don't forget to empty your cup! :)

Hello and Welcome!

This is my first blog post!
Today I have learned that one cannot simply understand the Buddha's teachings, one must make them into good habits. By using the teachings all of the time, it will create a new understanding, beyond reciting the teachings.
For instance, I have trouble with self blame. I focus on what I have not done (and others judgements of what I have not done) and dwell in that instead of the present moment of what I am doing.  This creates a lot of tension (consciously and unconsciously) that effects those around me also. Therefore, I have found that to solve this reoccurring problem, I should make it a habit to always be mindful and aware of my thoughts. Even when I am not sitting down to meditate.

Be aware today!
Remind yourself that every moment of everyday is an opportunity to practice.