A well-known Zen tale tells of a professor who studied Zen and one day decided to go and visit a Zen master in the hills.
This master was known for his wisdom.
And so the professor arrived,
Notebook and pen in hand.
The Master welcomed him in.
Listen to his journey that he had gone through thus far with sin.
And while listening,
He served tea.
He filled his visitor's teacup and continued to pour and pour and pour.
Of course,
The cup overflowed and the tea spilled onto the table.
Even onto the man's legs.
The professor shouted,
Stop!
Over full No more will go in.
At which the master smiled and said,
Like this cupcake.
You are full of your own opinions and ideas.
How can I show you Zen?
Unless you first empty your own cup.
How often do we betray ourselves thinking we need more,
More knowledge,
More information,
More from the outside to package the self with?
And yet,
Who we are,
At essence,
Carries all that we need.
Our wisdom resides in each and every single cell and particle of our being.
And so before reaching outwards.
Or something to fill you.
Take a moment to pause and connect with your heart.
Quieten your mind.
And ask of yourself,
What is it that you really,
Really need?
If the answer directs you to out of the self.
Reply with Let me be at peace with who I am,
With where I am,
Right now.
And if your answer directed you inward.
Then trust that direction.
Keep following the path within.
The one that knows you.
The one that nourishes you.
And ask yourself this first question.
Regularly.
Noticing from day to day.
Are the responses.
May differ.
Or may remain the same.
This practice strengthens your relationship with yourself.
With yourself,
Your whole self.
And thereby over time.
Patterns of self-sabotage decrease and are replaced by self-love.
May your cup be empty.
And may your heart be open.
