The Tea Cup Lesson
A senior student, proud of his rank and knowledge, once visited a well-known martial arts master to deepen his training.As the master began to speak, the student repeatedly interrupted. “Yes, I’ve learned that technique already… We do something similar at my dojo… I know this concept too…” After a while, the master said nothing more. Instead, he took a teacup and began to pour tea. He poured until the cup was full then continued pouring. Tea spilled over the edges onto the table.“Master, stop!” said the student. “ The cup is full. No more can go in!” The master looked at him calmly and said: “Exactly. You are like this cup full of opinions, comparisons, and certainty. If you do not empty your cup first, how can you receive anything new?”
Food for thought
In martial arts, true progress begins where ego ends.
A full cup cannot receive.
A rigid mind cannot adapt.
To grow as a fighter and as a person, sometimes we must first unlearn what we think we know.
“Empty your cup so that it may be filled.” Bruce Lee
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