This Saturday my older sister and I went to watch a movie, the Forbidden Kingdom, one of dialogue by Jackie Chan reminded me of this famous oriental Zen stories. This is about emptying your cup or forgetting about previous knowledge, approach or belief about things.
If one truly desires to learn new things, one must have an open mind and not contradict any new lesson because it differs from a previous knowledge. However, I believe this story does not only apply about learning but also about moving on in life. How can you move on if you carry so many baggages with you? If you want to make a fresh start you must learn to let go of everything from your past. Removing all clutter to be able to fill it with new experiences, new memories, new things to achieve the true happiness you desire.
Here is how the story goes:
If one truly desires to learn new things, one must have an open mind and not contradict any new lesson because it differs from a previous knowledge. However, I believe this story does not only apply about learning but also about moving on in life. How can you move on if you carry so many baggages with you? If you want to make a fresh start you must learn to let go of everything from your past. Removing all clutter to be able to fill it with new experiences, new memories, new things to achieve the true happiness you desire.
Here is how the story goes:
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 Learned Professor held up his cup and continued to talk about Zen.
The Master poured tea into the Learned Professor's cup. And he and poured...and poured...and poured, until tea was spilling over the top of the cup and cascading onto the floor.
"What are you doing?" cried the Learned Professor.
"The cup is full. No more will go in!"
"Your mind is like the cup,"said the Master.
"How can you expect to learn unless you first empty your cup?"
"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 Learned Professor held up his cup and continued to talk about Zen.
The Master poured tea into the Learned Professor's cup. And he and poured...and poured...and poured, until tea was spilling over the top of the cup and cascading onto the floor.
"What are you doing?" cried the Learned Professor.
"The cup is full. No more will go in!"
"Your mind is like the cup,"said the Master.
"How can you expect to learn unless you first empty your cup?"
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Chinese philosophies are really awesome, and they always hit the truth between the eyes.
I believe that life is an on-going process and the new things we learn will be added to the rest that we've learned along the way. Old knowledge may become obsolete with the coming of new discoveries, and these we forget.
however, when it comes to life, per se, lessons learned from the past are best remembered. But again, it is easier to carry on without some extra burden, so some things are best left behind.
nice posts, earthlingorgeous!
the "learned" professor had way too much head knowledege and he didnt really seem interested in what the zen master wanted to say. He must be really embarassed when the master said
"Your mind is like the cup, how can you expect to learn unless you first empty your cup?"
Yeah Spinx,
I used to have all books but the cartoon ones but my nephew "borrowed" and never returned. Confuscious is the wisest.
Yeah I also agree that lifes lessons should never be forgotten but the baggages and all the pain, hurt and grudges and a thought at the back of our minds to get "revenge" so we can move on better and not full of angst.
Thanks Wendy,
Yeah sometimes learned people are too arrogant boasting of their knowledge, maybe trying to belittle others or just simply to boast.
Hello Earthlingorgeous,
Very well done. I am at a loss for words so I will just leave it at that.
I finished my garden project, Yah! Come on over to The Urban Gardener and see what I have done. I am so very happy.
See you there!