Find Your Middle Ground

* Empty Your Cup

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This is a story told in martial arts circles. When I first heard it I felt like this student!

When we believe we already know a lot, are we truly open to learn new things or see things from a different perspective?

zen cup of tea

“A master was trying to explain something to a senior student, who had already learned much in life.  However, each time the master tried to explain something new to the student, the student held the information up against what he already knew. He was therefore unable to see the lessons in what the master was trying to teach him.
Finally, the master poured a full serving of tea into his own cup, and into the cup of the student. Then he began pouring tea from his cup into the student’s cup, but of course, all the tea from the master’s cup spilled out over the cup onto the surface below.
The student said, “Master, you can’t pour anything into my cup until I empty it to make room for what you are trying to give me.”

The master replied “Yes I know, and I can’t give you any new thoughts or ideas, until you clear out your mind to make room for what I have to teach you…. If you truly seek understanding, then first, empty your cup!”
The student was confused at first and then it dawned on him. He smiled and was ready to receive the lesson.”

This is a lesson in humility for us all 🙏

41 responses to “* Empty Your Cup”

  1. Jill Weatherholt Avatar
    Jill Weatherholt

    Definitely a great lesson…thanks, Val!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Jill 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Kate @ Did That Just Happen? Avatar
    Kate @ Did That Just Happen?

    Such a true lesson! I find myself stopping and taking a breath sometimes so that I can let go of previous knowledge (even in the form of “we’ve always done it this way”) and see what is being presented. It’s not always easy! 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      It isn’t easy Kate .. But what a great awareness 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Sue Dreamwalker Avatar
    Sue Dreamwalker

    I remember this tale.. Loved how you told it here Val.. and this is so true of the world right now.. As we hang onto what we have always known, not letting go of the old.. to make way for the new.. And so we are fearful of change..

    🙂 Love and Blessings.. Have a lovely weekend Val.. Hugs Sue xxx

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Sue for bringing this to a new perspective in our world today. We all have much to learn that’s for sure.
      Have a lovely weekend! 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Sue Dreamwalker Avatar
        Sue Dreamwalker

        ❤ Enjoy your weekend.. 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
  4. J. Avatar
    J.

    The word “humility” seems to be popping up a lot for me these days…I like to think of myself as a flexible and open-minded person, but the truth may be I need to open even more. I mean, do we ever actually “get there”? 🙂 Practice, practice! Thanks for this great reminder!

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you J. The more we are on the path we more we realize everything is a practice 😉
      Humility is one of the greatest lessons of them all.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Paul Handover Avatar
    Paul Handover

    Not heard this one before. Very obvious yet very profound!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I agree Paul. When we first hear it, it’s such an Aha! moment. Thank you for stopping by 😍

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. nrhatch Avatar
    nrhatch

    Reminding the mind to be mindful of THIS moment = the Heart of Zen. Keep pouring out the past to make room for the NOW!

    good share, val.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you my Zen friend ❣

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Noel Avatar
    Noel

    Definitely a big lesson in life…

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Noel. It’s is indeed. It goes against all that our ego craves 💛

      Like

      Reply
  8. Carol Ferenc Avatar
    Carol Ferenc

    That’s a very wise master!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      So true Carol. I’m thinking that we can all learn from him ☺️

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Eric Tonningsen Avatar
    Eric Tonningsen

    Knowledge stacking does not necessarily yield wisdom. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      So true Eric. It also gets heavy to carry it around all the time 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Hariod Brawn Avatar
    Hariod Brawn

    This reminded me of an old Buddhist tale, Val. With your permission:

    The Zen master and his disciple made their way across the sand to the shore. The disciple was carrying a cup and a sieve. At the water’s edge they stood on a rock, the sea breaking around them in great, frothy swirls. ‘Show me how you would fill the sieve with water,’ the master said. The disciple stooped and filled the cup with water. He poured it into the sieve. Cup after cup he poured into the heart of the sieve but no matter how quickly he poured, only the slightest moisture was left in the bottom. Even that soon formed a drop that was then swallowed in the vastness of the ocean. All the time the master watched, saying nothing.

    In the end, the disciple faced the master and shrugged. The task was hopeless. Now, the master spoke: ‘It is like this with the life of the human spirit too,’ he said. ‘So long as we stand on the rock of I, of myself-ness, of selfishness, and try to pour the divine life into that shell, so certainly that life will escape us. This is not the way to fill a sieve with water, nor the human spirit with the life of the divine.’

    Then the master reached out his hand and took the sieve from the disciple. He thrust his arm far behind him then launched the sieve as far as he could, out onto the face of the deep. For a moment, it lay glinting in the morning sunlight on the face of the water. Then it slipped far below. ‘Now, it is full of water,’ the master said. ‘And it will always be so. That is how you fill a sieve with water and the spirit with divine life. You throw the myself, the I, far out and away to sink into the deep sea of the divine life.’

    H _/\_

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I love this powerful story Hariod! Thank you for sharing it here.
      May we all find our way to truly surrender to the deep.
      💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Jewels Avatar
    Jewels

    I love this Val, what a great lesson, and so true…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Julie 💛

      Like

      Reply
  12. Barb Avatar
    Barb

    What a great lesson Val! Letting go of the old in order to let in the new is a must but we don’t always realise it. I guess that’s something we all need to work on if we want to progress,

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Barb for stopping by and joining me in emptying our cup 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature Avatar
    Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature

    Great post. Beginner’s mind. So hard to remember sometimes, seeing through our filters.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      So true Mary. Thank you 💛

      Like

      Reply
  14. Chatter Master Avatar
    Chatter Master

    I shall empty my cup.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Me too 💛

      Like

      Reply
  15. Healing Grief Avatar
    Healing Grief

    Wonderful reminder Val! As
    Mary says, we need the beginners mind each day to see, hear and feel this moment!! ❤️❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Karen! Its such a helpful reminder … Again and again 🙃

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. smilecalm Avatar
    smilecalm

    this reminds me that
    i should get tired
    of that hot tea spilling
    on my lap 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Smiling … 😍

      Like

      Reply
  17. derrickjknight Avatar
    derrickjknight

    Excellent

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Derrick!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. elizabeth2560 Avatar
    elizabeth2560

    a great lesson Val!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Elizabeth 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. Rupali Avatar
    Rupali

    A very good reminder.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Rupali, and thank you for the follow 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Minuscule Moments Avatar
    Minuscule Moments

    Wonderful reminder thanks Val.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Kath. So glad you enjoyed it 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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● About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.

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