Your Cup: Empty or Runneth Over?

A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master.

While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen.
The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring.

The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted.
 
“You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.”

Sigh. I so love this story. In fact, I keep empty china cups and saucers all over my home and office to help me listen, and be open to ideas and others. When I find myself making a prejudgment in my business, I mentally empty my cup. I have to do it often.

How about you? Is your cup overflowing with self imposed limitations like “I can’t”  or self-fulfilling prophecies like “The economy is bad anyhow.”

Perhaps it is time to empty your cup.

Respectfully,
Rina Valan
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