What's in your cup?

Thinking again about our ability to learn and expand, I question what we already carry within us, the knowledge that has a potential to reduce our ability to take in and assimilate, just by being there. My teacher asks us to "empty our cup" before entering the Dojo. What are we to empty, one may ask.


Here is a famous Zen story about that:

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?"

When in learning and study we should remember to actively make room, so we can take in something new. Holding on to what we already know will be in our way of what we are yet to learn. As one approaches a lesson, a class, a Dojo or a school, a moment of emptying the cup, shedding off the day's energies and moods, will clear some new soil, preparing for new seeds to be sewn, allowing fresh knowledge to take root.

The message on the cup

There are messages and reminders for all around us, although we are not always aware of them at all. Often the message is right before our eyes, for a really log time, and yet it is not revealed to us. A few days ago, I experienced a sweet discovery about the messages that are printed on our Dojo's drinking cups. We have had over a dozen of these cups in daily use for over two years. Not reading Japanese, the writing on the cups was merely a decorative element.

Makiko, a friend who came to visit me, looked at one of the cups, and said: "I've been looking for this writing for quite some time...". She said that on those cups, there is a very good information, and she started translating it.

The first cup talks about "The Five Heart Convictions to Have Daily":
A heart of Gratitude, that says "Thank you".
A heart of Repentance and self-reflection, that says "I'm sorry".
A heart of Humility, that says "I am able to do this because of you".
A heart of Service, that says "I will do this".
A heart of Pure Acceptance, that says "Yes".


The text on the second cup is about "Ten Things to Keep in mind for a Healthy Life":
1. Eat raw vegetables rather than meat.
2. Avoid sweets and eat more fruit.
3. Cut on salt and use vinegar.
4. Eat smaller meals, and fill yourself no more than 80%.
5. Less talk and more work.
6. Have some leisure time, like going to picnics, or singing out loud.
7. Don't bundle up too much, and have more exercise.
8. Walk more, and rely less on your car.
9. Don't worry and dwell on things, and have good sleep.
10. Where there is a nice smile, there is a fortune.

Great reminders for daily practice, especially as we break our thirst after a strong training.