“But first, you must empty your cup…”

Nov 9th, 20093 Comments

In the Zen tradition, Tea Ceremony is the most sacred of ceremonies. The teacher serving tea to the student ultimately signifies that the teacher is being of service to the student. The following story is a teaching passed to me from this oral-tradition, retold, based on my memory and story-telling style.

Many years ago, a Zen teacher was conducting a tea ceremony for his student. The student was very proud of his spiritual accomplishments. When the teacher began pouring tea, the student told the teacher of all of the spiritual truths that he had learned. The teacher quietly listened and poured tea. As the cup became full, the teacher continued to slowly pour tea as it overflowed out of the cup onto the saucer. As the student talked and talked, the saucer slowly became full and the tea began to flow onto the table. About the time that the tea started to spill onto the floor, the student thinking the master a fool said, “Master, can’t you see that you are spilling tea all over the floor!” The teacher said, “Yes, but first you must empty your cup- so there is room for something new.”
My teacher used to tell this story to me when I was not “teachable.” Or he’d just say, “Empty your cup, Mike.” I heard it more than once. I still use it to remind myself to let go of my preconceptions and the things that I “think I know”- so I can learn from a new experience. May it serve you too.
About author:

Michael Hoffman’s passion is guiding people to connect with their natural gifts. He believes that we all have innate gifts that hugely benefit others and the world when we offer them. The purest example of these gifts is the Native American concept of medicine or the gift you offer your people. Michael defines your medicine or gift as the natural effect you have on other people when your heart is open. Unfortunately, the demands of our current culture to comply and fit in often distract people away from their inherent gifts and the natural expression of their being. Michael believes many of us have forgotten our dreams and what we are about. This sadly results in a loss of purpose, passion, and vitality. As an innate gift specialist, Michael offers retreats, classes, and individual sessions to allow people to reclaim their natural gifts. These venues allow people to identify, awaken, and offer their gifts. This experiential work incorporates Zen thought, Native American ceremony, rites-of-passage, and releasing limiting belief systems. Michael also maintains his meta blog to provide knowledge, skills, and awareness for unfolding your natural gifts. He is currently compiling this knowledge and research into a college class and book. Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1987 and Master of Social Work in 1996. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In addition to his formal education, Michael studied and apprenticed with a Zen Master and spiritual teacher for 22 years to learn how to guide people to understand themselves. He has worked with people professionally since 1986 as a psychotherapist and teacher. Michael currently resides in Oceanside, California.

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2 Responses to ““But first, you must empty your cup…””

  1. PamelaM says:

    Mike,
    One of the joys and challenges of living consciously in this life… emptying your cup and leaving space for the teacher/lesson to appear.
    Thanks for the reminder.
    Pam

  2. metablog says:

    Thank you for sharing your comment, Pam.

  3. [...] experience that we have. It is the spirit of exploration. It helps “empty our cup” (see previous blog)- so we can experience what is there. It is non-attachment of Buddhism. It is the mother of [...]

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  1. The inquisitive mind wants to know | Michael Hoffman - Transformational Speaker

    [...] experience that we have. It is the spirit of exploration. It helps “empty our cup” (see previous blog)- so we can experience what is there. It is non-attachment of Buddhism. It is the mother of [...]