In a time long ago, there was a Zen master that people far and away would seek to enlighten them on the Zen ways. One man, in search of his own meaning of Zen, had a chance to sit down with the Zen master. As the Zen master was sharing his wisdom, the man would be quick to reply with what he’s tried, his successes, his opinions, and so on. Each piece of wisdom was met with an interruption.
In the middle of the discussion the Zen master walks over to grab a pot of tea and starts pouring the man a cup. As the cup filled to the top, the Zen master continued to pour. The man, looking down at his overflowing cup of tea, responds in shock asking him to please stop. As the Zen master stops pouring, he looks at the man. “You are like this cup of tea, so full that nothing more can be added. Come back to me when the cup is empty. Come back to me with an empty mind.”
I first read this story (above contains just highlights) in Be Water, My Friend, written by Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon and see so much alignment with our world today. So many of us are wrapped into our own space, our own world, our own thoughts. When our cup is full it can take no more. When our mind is full of all our personal bias and thoughts on how we may be right, our mind will take in no more.
Take a moment for reflection. When presented with an opportunity to learn, what’s the first reaction? Is it one of willingness to dive into the unknown to grow? Or is there a sense of unwillingness to admit growth is needed? The question often comes down to whether we let our ego tangle with the growth opportunities presented each day.
When we come to an opportunity to learn and our ego is present, that cup is most likely full. The insight and knowledge presented with this growth moment overflows and there’s a lost opportunity to develop for the future. The ego prohibits us from acknowledging the need for continued growth. If we do not see a need to improve, we cannot take deliberate action to better ourselves.
Take your step: this week, work on going into discussions with an empty cup. Regardless of the expertise and insight you may give, consciously bring an empty cup to work on opening the mind to learning moments that present themselves. Work to ensure the ego doesn’t win the fight with growth opportunities.