“Once upon a time,” an ancient story tells, “the master had a visitor who came to inquire about Zen. But instead of listening, the visitor kept talking about his own concerns and giving his own thoughts.
“After a while, the master served tea. He poured tea into his visitor’s cup until it was full and then he kept on pouring.
“Finally the visitor could not bear it any longer. ‘Don’t you see that my cup is full?’ he said. ‘It’s not possible to get anymore in.’
“‘ Just so,’ the master said, stopping at last. ‘And like this cup, you are filled with your own ideas. How can you expect me to give you Zen unless you first empty your cup?’” How often do I, in conversation, ask a question and fail to really listen to the response? Am I really open to the response and willing to consider something other than my own preconceived notion?
A part of humility is the recognition that the experiences of others, both young and old, have value and offer an opportunity to learn and grow. If I am not willing to listen and consider with a truly open mind, why then should one be a part of a community?t