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Mark Peckett · 05-07-2009, 05:50 AM

I like A Cup of Tea:

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. "It is overfull. Nothing more will go in."

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

05-07-2009, 05:50 AM	#3
Mark Peckett Dojo: Aikido Fellowship of Great Britain Location: Birmingham Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84 Offline	Re: Story's, Anecdotes, and Other Stuff of Wisdom I like *A Cup of Tea*: Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. "It is overfull. Nothing more will go in." "Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"