Empty Cups?

Will_Heath

An old proverb has come back to me from the past that reminded me of some of the recent heated discussions and debates. The following story has been changed slightly to fit the forum.

A bonsaist once sought out the instruction of a master and after many requests that were politely turned down, he finally convinced the master to instruct him.

At the first lesson the master begun to instruct the bonsaist but every time he begun to teach a technique the bonsaist would interrupt him with statements such as, “Yes, I already know that” and “Yes, yes, that is of course basic knowledge.” The bonsaist knowing only one way, set his mind against anything different and debated every point with the master.

After a very short time the master quit instructing and begun to serve tea. He first begun to pour the bonsaists tea and poured until the cup was full. He kept on pouring until the bonsaists cup was overflowing. The bonsaist said, “Enough, my cup is already full!” The master simply replied, “Indeed, so I see, and unless you empty your cup first, how do you expect to taste my tea?”

I think a lot of people tend to forget that the usefulness of a cup is its emptiness. I know that I could use an empty cup; there is one hect of a lot of tea out there that I want to taste.

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RedPine

Thus the sage sets sight on substance and not the surface.

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imyerhukleberry

I don't get it...



Here's a good one...

"One must teach a man as though he were not being taught."

breefe

I am no way qualified and far to tired to deserve to explain this. But I'll take a shot.

When you ask for help, you must forget what you know, in order to properly follow along and actually learn what you are being taught.

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"His government....I think he was talking about two sock puppets and a beanie baby."

dtree

That is definitely an expression used in traditional martial arts to describe someone who is difficult to teach. Shortened now to where you may hear a master remark, "his cup is full."

Pill_Man

The reference, IMHO, is to "the utility of non-existence."

"It is not the clay the potter throws, which gives the pot its usefullness, but the space within the shape, from which the pot is made."
--Lao Tzu

Because of its emptiness.. we may use the cup.

pootsie

It's good to have a beginner's mind.
pootsie

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bonsaial1

Will, very entertaining proverb, but not very truthfull.

This thread has to do with personalities only known from asscociation with the forum. While I have a very outspoken, brash, condesending attitude on the forum, I am the complete opposite in person. I think many in that situation, with the master, would just sit politely while the master talked endlessly about the basics. Not even me would question the master during study.

I have been at many lectures and workshops, demo's and the such. Most people absorb whats useful and let the other stuff just float away to bonsai heaven.

Now the rub, there are many that participate in online forums that feel the need to express their indifference to rudimentary aspects of bonsai. This can be done here simply because you "don't have to look your opponet in the eye". Trust me that makes all the difference.

Al

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Will_Heath

Thank you, I respectfully rest my case.