Zen Stories # 1 - Empty your Cup

This month, lets know about Zen Philisophy through some short Zen stories.

Zen is a school of Mahāyāna ("Larger Vehicle") Buddhism that is most famous in Japan. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán (禪), which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as “meditation” or “meditative state”  

Zen emphasizes experiential wisdom in the attainment of enlightenment. As such, it de-emphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct self-realization through meditation and dharma practice. The teachings of Zen include various sources of Mahāyāna thought, including the Prajñāpāramitā literature and the teachings of the Yogācāra and Tathāgatagarbha schools  

The philosophy of Zen and the practice which go with it aim at enlarging our awareness. This is to say awareness of ourselves and our environment. Zen is an exercise in self knowledge in which concentration is the most important method. Now, to our first story.

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?"

Moral - Preconceived ideas and prejudices always prevent us from seeing the truth.

Cheers!