Wednesday, September 24, 2014

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! :)

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