The Teachings of the Cup

** One of the old teachings from the Chinese/Asian traditions for students to contemplate in order to keep ourselves on the right track learning and growing, is called the 'teachings of the cup.' I have seen different versions of it, utilizing differing numbers of teacups, even 3 bowls (Tibetan), but they are all similar. Here is a common one, using 5 different types of Chinese tea cups:

- The Empty Cup:

This is the classic symbol for a student ready to receive knowledge: from our teachers, our elders, the Universe, everyone and everything both within and without. We must make a regular practice of 'emptying our cup,' so that we might be able to receive more and continue learning and growing; which oftentimes requires letting go of things which no longer serve our highest good (such as a bad habit). Learning isn’t always about adding more, it may require what T’ai Chi Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching referred to as, “investing in loss.”

- The Full Cup:

This, of course, is a situation which is all too common- we are full of it! lol, and this, that and the other thing: stress, sensory overload, knowledge, information (“TMI”), and that pesky EGO; whatever it might be that needs “emptying.” The Zen Buddhists even have a saying for this, “it stinks of Zen.” In the natural course of life and learning we are always taking on more and more- good and bad- like magnets of light or garbage/junk (negative energy “garbage collectors” as Dr. Maung Gyi humorously put it); thus we must make a concerted effort and regular practice of, 'emptying the cup.’ Of course, there is a positive aspect to “filling the cup,” as well. My martial arts teacher shared that the legendary “Little Dragon” Bruce Lee and the late, great SGM Ed Parker would argue over which is more important, the empty cup or the full cup; with Sijo Lee favoring the empty cup and SGM Parker favoring filling the cup. Which one do you think is more important? Just remember that like yin and yang in T’ai Chi they are both needed or we can’t have balance and harmony.

- The Upside Down Cup:

This is a situation which prevents learning and growth as we are, for whatever reason (history of abuse, extreme stress, and other major inner/outer distractions/hindrances), not in a proper mindset or position to receive, and not because we are 'full,' it is different- mentally we just can't do it, everything just bounces off or washes away; knowledge, insight, learning, wisdom cannot take root and grow.

- The Cup With a Hole In It:

This obviously is a challenging issue, as we may take knowledge in, but nothing stays with us, it all leaks out. Again, as in the upside down cup, the reasons could be many and varied- bad habits, life situation, birth, etc...but it is a signal that something needs to be done/ healed (“patched up”) so that we can continue learning and growing, as people and in our arts.

- The Cup Held Above the Spigot:

This, as it sounds, prevents learning as nothing can be received, in this case due to arrogance of some kind: the student feels superior to the teacher/ life situation, and thus cannot receive knowledge and insight, learning can't take place. I have had students that were for various reasons like this with me- they did not respect me for whatever reason and thus this harmed my ability to teach/share with them, and their ability to learn.

• Beware the Poison Cup (“Darth Vader Syndrome”):

*** A skillful teacher can deal with each of these deficiencies outlined by the cups above, given the student is invested at some level in learning and being responsible for themselves, after all- who is perfect? We all have some of these traits in us. There is one other cup which, unfortunately, is almost impossible to deal with- this is the 'Cup Tainted With Poison,' I refer to it as 'Darth Vader Syndrome.' This represents a student who sadly is beyond redemption, and thus should not be taught. They will only misuse and abuse whatever knowledge they acquire. But of course, in the end even Darth Vader saw the light, so there is hope, for most of us anyway.

** OK, keep after it and happy training.