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 no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No 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?”
January 4th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
This is a nice “starter-koan” as it makes a nice point about learning Zen koans – namely that you need to clear your mind and learn to think in a different way that you are likely accustomed.
While the koan itself seems pretty straightforward, it is interesting that the professor waits as long as he does before telling the master that the cup is overflowing. The professor is, after all, a teaching professional. He saw the master making what he thought was an error – continuing to pour water into the cup after it was already full. But the professor waited until he could no longer restrain _himself_ before speaking up.
When the professor finally did speak up, he made a very self-assured and definitive statement, admonishing the master for what he thought was an error on the master’s part. But it wasn’t an error – and I doubt that the professor understands that. How is the professor to learn Zen if he already has preconceived notions about what is “right” and what is “wrong,” or what is a mistake and what was intended?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
If a cup can only hold a certain amount of fluid, any fluid added in addition to that amount is going to overflow. Allowing overflow renews the tea in the cup at any moment and keeps it hot and fresh. The overflow spreads and covers everything around it. If you are constantly learning and changing, your mind will stayed renewed and you will always have a fresh outlook and ideas. If your mind is full of Zen-like life, that is also what you will share with others.
March 8th, 2009 at 3:28 am
As a part time martial arts practitioner and avid reader of philosophy I have just realized that it not necessary to EMPTY your cup but rather blend it with old and new. Great comment Rencsi, thanks for the new view of a cup.