Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

The professor's overflowing cup

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Wisdom and Stupidity | Ajahn Brahm | 04-02-2011

2 min read

Content note: well-known Zen story (often Nan-in), told without a source

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

is in that old story of the famous philosopher in Japan many, many years ago. He was a professor not just at one university, but of several universities. And he was so well known. He was the biggest intellectual in the country. And just for a bit of fun, but also for a bit of intellectual stimulation, he would hold these debates with all the other philosophers, but he was so sharp, he was so knowledgeable, that no person would enter into a debate with him because he would always win. And so wondering who to debate next, he thought I will debate a Buddhist monk. They are said to be wise, but they're really stupid; he thought, I'll go and debate the most famous monk in the country and see who wins So he found this monk, this meditation monk and he arranged to have a debate with this monk. And so he went to the monastery with all of his students to debate with this monk, and being in Japan, before the debate actually started. It was the task of the host, the monk, to serve tea to the guest, the professor, and as he was serving tea to the professor, he poured the tea into the cup. And when the cup was full, he carried on pouring and so the water went into the saucer, at which point the professor said to the monk, "My cup is full, you can stop now". But, the monk carried on pouring until it went over to the cup into the saucer over the saucer onto the table, at which point, the Professor thought this monk must be a bit hard of hearing or a bit blind. So, he shouted, "Monk, my cup is full! You can stop now!" At which point, the monk smiled broadly and emptied the whole teapot until it went not just over the cup into the saucer, not just over the saucer onto the table, onto the floor as well! At which point, the professor said, "You stupid monk! I've come all this way to debate with you. And you don't even know how to serve a cup of tea. What an idiot, what a fraud. I wasted my whole time." At which point that monk said, if you haven't heard this story before, it's a great story. He said, "Professor, you are just like this cup. You're so full that no one can pour, any wisdom into you." At which point, the professor went down on his knees and said, "You've won."

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 28:38 (to 30:57)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

The monk kept pouring tea until it ran over the table and onto the floor, then told the famous professor he was just like the cup: too full for anything new to go in. We all carry a full cup of opinions. Empty a little, through quiet and meditation, and you'll see things freshly.

In brief (our summary)

Japan's greatest philosopher, whom no one will debate, decides to debate the most famous meditation monk. Serving tea, the monk keeps pouring past the full cup, into the saucer, onto the table and the floor, ignoring the professor's shouts. Called a stupid fraud, the monk smiles: 'Professor, you are just like this cup. You're so full that no one can pour any wisdom into you.' The professor kneels: 'You've won.'

Teaching point

To be wise you have to empty out past knowledge and see freshly with a still mind.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Wisdom and Stupidity | Ajahn Brahm | 04-02-2011 · 2011-02-05 · ▶ watch from 28:38 to 30:57 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: Manual (volunteer) captions; occasional misspellings kept as is.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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