AN EMPTI-FULL CUP STORY (Story)

A long time ago there was a mind-full, accomplished, self-certain young monk who arrived at a temple for training. The young monk had an extensive background in Buddhist Studies. He came to study with the master and after making the customary bows, asked 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 young monk's cup until it began to overflow and run all over the floor. The young monk 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."

The “empty cup” becomes a powerful metaphor for personal practice. The “cup” represents your Heart, senses, or mind. At every moment, the Holy, Life itself, wants to pour Itself into you, into your “cup.” When your “cup” is full of your ideas, plans and judgments, there is less room to receive the Holy, the unexpected seeing, Light, or gifts the moment is offering.

It becomes a living practice to consciously “empty your cup,” again and again and again. The cup fills up easily; we want to fill it with the tea we “like.” It takes fierce courage to choose Love over being right or comfortable. It takes a commitment and courage to be empty, open, and receptive. It takes courage to hold out your empty cup to receive something new and unexpected, including what seems to us the dark, not-so-sweet side of the Mystery of Life.