My cousin was in Korea for a while, and came back full of enigmatic responses. Listen to this, and see if you can understand.
An American goes to a Zen monastary to learn all there is to know about Zen and the way of life of the monk (excuse my ignorance if Zen's spiritual leaders are not called monks...I don't know what they are called.) Anyway, he sits down with the eldest monk who begins talking to him about Zen. The American keeps interrupting him saying 'In America we do this..." "In America we do that..." etc. The monk gets up and offers the American tea. When he comes back he puts a full cup of tea in front of the American, while he himself has an empty one. He pours some tea into his own cup and then pours more into the American's cup. It begins to overflow,and the American protests. The monk looks at him and says..."how do you expect to drink my tea, if your cup is already full?"
your thoughts?
2007-02-24 09:29:03 · 9 answers · asked by Starjumper the R&S Cow 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The American was so full of his own ideas and assumptions of the (his) world, that he could not hear the wisdom being offered.
2007-02-25 02:55:40 · answer #1 · answered by Sky in the Grass 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First thought is that the monk violated his beliefs and was acknowledging that the American's wisdom was far greater than his. So the monk was trying to figure out why the American would come to him for any answers, seeing as how he knows next to nothing in comparison.
Of course the monk is clueless, I imagine that the American knows why: he is most likely looking everywhere for something more, even if that means going to some remote spot on earth to search. It is the same thing that drives treasure hunters, but instead of gold, they search for a treasure of knowledge (or wisdom). In theory, the American was looking to see if a gem(s) of wisdom could be found.
Well, at least that is what that story sounds like to me, and frankly, that is what the reality looks like to me. Even clueless Americans seem to have a "full cup of tea." Many realize this and are happy not going on such trips, because if your treasure chest is full, do you really need to go out of your way for another gem?
But some Americans seem to not value the gems that they have and think that they need a gem of value. I did not see this addressed in your story per se, other than the fact it might have been the reason for the American being there.
2007-02-24 18:00:12 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn D 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This religion is Buddhism the Zen you are referring to is a ritual meditation "The major influence of Chinese Buddhism ended with the great persecution of 845, although the meditative Zen, or Ch’an (from Sanskrit dhyana, “meditation”), sect and the devotional Pure Land sect continued to be important" Encarta Encyclopedia. (2007).The meaning behind what he was saying "how do you expect to drink my tea, if your cup is already full?" is the American was not learning the Zen instead was contradicting the Zen with the ways of the Americans. This was a way for the Buddhist Monk to get his attention that he was there to learn all there was to know about the Zen and the way of life of a monk...not the ways of the Americans.
2007-02-24 17:50:57 · answer #3 · answered by Shar 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well it's not fair for me to reply since I understand the monk's teaching because I'm Tibetan Buddhist, but I'll share anyway. Nothing enigmatic about it... he's indicating there's no point in the monk teaching the American because the American's mind is not open to anything but his own ideas... it's a tragic problem when Western minds aren't patient to listen after asking a question.
_()_
2007-02-24 17:48:35 · answer #4 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The American didn't want to learn about Zen, the American wanted to teach Zen about America.
God is all knowing. You can't teach God anything.
2007-02-24 17:37:13 · answer #5 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
That you need a willing mind to absorb things. Wisdom can not get in when ones mind is already full. If you go in with your mind already made up, how can you learn?
2007-02-24 17:32:13 · answer #6 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
How can a man seek what he already has.
When the water is pure a man may drink but eat no fish. I like fish so I like dirty water.
Would you like some dirty water too?
PS: Everyone got this wrong.
A man who has fish does not need water but a man with water does need fish.
2007-02-24 17:40:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Same goes with atheists and Christians.
Usually we've already made our choices,,
2007-02-24 17:36:59 · answer #8 · answered by EyeSpeck: [No†hing Less] 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
good point, but whgat is there to explain?
2007-02-24 17:33:20 · answer #9 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋