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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?”
(Source)
A kind advice for the new year: keep an open mind always, there’s always new things to learn even when you thin you know everything.
How open minded are you?
Vapor said:
I try to be open minded as best I can, it doesn't always work out though.
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mrecan said:
whoah so cool
and thanks for the advice friend
happy new year
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stm said:
zen masters can be such smart asses.
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Pawawanpi said:
What wise teaching through a simple action.
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MrRager! said:
im very open minded :)))
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Theta^2 said:
Man, I wish knew people like this in real life. They would always remind me to see the best in life and that I need to change certain aspects of my life to achieve internal happiness. I'll try to be more open-minded during this year!!
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tomi991 said:
thanks for the advice:)
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thenitefalls said:
Zen is Zen. I always look at everything with a new mind. I'm a reader of zen stories 😀
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Pantheon said:
Today I was watching a documentary about buddhism and they talked about this open mind you talk about, such a coincidence
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Les said:
I think Vapor is spot on.
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Suciô Sanchez said:
I emptied quite a few cups over the past week.
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Tal Zahn said:
I can respect most beliefs, but for me to accept a new idea or belief goes under critical judgment. I would like to consider myself rather open-minded, but I know certain cases where I am firmly close-minded.
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erics said:
it definitely helps to always be looking at things from a very outside perspective.
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Tal Zahn said:
I respect other beliefs without to critical of judgment, and wish to consider myself to be open-minded. However, I know of cases where I am quite firmly close-minded on, so I cannot be sure to what degree I can safely say of my receptiveness.
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Tal Zahn said:
Sorry if I posted my response twice, i wasn't sure if it went through since I closed the window accidentally while it was being sent. :X
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Classically Trained Nub said:
This story needs somebody hitting a gong for proper effect.
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Teutorix said:
I think I am pretty open-minded.
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invagrantly said:
i'm closed minded really :< it's hard to convince me something when i already know it.
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Jorje said:
I always try to be open-minded. You could say open-minded is my middle name:)
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Anonymous said:
Uite adevaratul motiv pentru care Arhi s-a certat cu Zoso:
http://pardaf.ro/2011/01/03/motivul-pentru-care-arhi-s-a-certat-cu-zoso/
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daftpat said:
meditative
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cerbulvechi said:
Well, that's nice! I always thought you can have more tea easily, just by drinking one cup at at time. Perhaps the professor wasn't very thirsty afterall!
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