Teacup overflowsTeacup overflows

Traditional Japanese Music

In ancient Japan, when a new In ancient Japan, when a new student seeks admission into a student seeks admission into a

monastery,monastery,

he is required to have an audience he is required to have an audience with the master.with the master.

One day, a new student appeared One day, a new student appeared before the master for a session.before the master for a session.

As they sat together, the young man As they sat together, the young man started to impress the master with his started to impress the master with his

knowledge and accomplishments.knowledge and accomplishments.

He was so engrossed in his talk that he He was so engrossed in his talk that he didn’t notice the master offering him a didn’t notice the master offering him a

cup of hot tea.cup of hot tea.

Suddenly, he felt something hot dripping Suddenly, he felt something hot dripping down from the table onto his lap.down from the table onto his lap.

““Master!” he shouted. “The cup is Master!” he shouted. “The cup is overflowing!”overflowing!”

The Master continued pouring the The Master continued pouring the hot tea, spilling it onto the floor.hot tea, spilling it onto the floor.

Then the master said, “So are you. Then the master said, “So are you. Please come back when you are Please come back when you are

empty and ready for my teaching.”empty and ready for my teaching.”

Keep your mind humble and open to Keep your mind humble and open to new ideas. new ideas.

You’ll learn much more in the process, You’ll learn much more in the process,

and your knowledge will continue to and your knowledge will continue to grow and develop.grow and develop.

Think of your brain as the cup in the Think of your brain as the cup in the story. story.

If you fill it up with your ego, If you fill it up with your ego,

you’ll never be able to get more you’ll never be able to get more knowledge into it.knowledge into it.

As Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s As Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s once said, “When you are green, you once said, “When you are green, you will grow; will grow;

but when you ripen, you will rot but when you ripen, you will rot and fall.”and fall.”

The EndThe End