an empty cup - an open mind
every friday, it interests me how many students come to me before class and admit how long it has taken for them to work the courage to come practice in the intermediate class.
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?"
(the cup of tea)
they confess in the minutes just before class begins, that they have neither the skill nor experience to make them worthy students for any advanced class . . . . yet still, they ask if they might try.
are you kidding me? these are the students that make my heart glad - the kind i hope to remain!
because the student who comes to class perform *perfect* asana, may as well practice at home before their mirror - for there is no one else to impress.
and the student who knows everything, knows nothing - with a cup so full of opinions, there's no room for anything new.
so what does it really mean to be an intermediate student?
it simply means you're willing to explore, to test some limits, to discover new things, and empty your cup of what you're sure of, to make room for something you're not.
those who know, do not speak and those who speak, do not know. (lao tzu)DDY, georgetown
6 pm - fridays
intermediate class
just show up.
Posted by peg mulqueen at 5/24/2009 1:58 PM 
Categories: yoga, down dog yoga, discovery
Tags: intermediate class yoga zen
Categories: yoga, down dog yoga, discovery
Tags: intermediate class yoga zen
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