Empty Your Cup!

The Learned Professor came to the house of the Zen Master to ask to learn Zen.

"You are most welcome," said the Master, inviting the Learned Professor in for tea.

They sat on cushions facing each other.

Preparing to make tea, the Master set a pot of water on the charcoal brazier on the floor in front of him, while the Learned Professor began to tell of all of the books he had read about Zen.

The water having boiled, the Master made tea while the Learned Professor told of all the insights about Zen he had gleaned from talking to other great scholars.

The tea made, the Master was about to pour tea into both their cups when the Learned Professor offered to help.

And he continued to talk about Zen, while pouring it. And the more he talked the more the Master nodded. And he nodded and nodded and nodded...while he poured...and poured...and poured, until tea started to spill over for an instance.

"Oops, I'm sorry I made a mess of the table." said the Learned Professor.

"Your mind is like the cup," said the Master. "How can you expect to learn unless you first empty your cup?"