Tara

27 Learning

1	A famous scholar once went to meet an old and Great Teacher at his simple abode.
2	As a gift, he brought the old Teacher a rare and valuable pitcher of wine.
3	After the scholar introduced himself and spoke of his many accomplishments, the old Teacher asked the scholar:
4	As you are a man of great learning, pray tell me your sense of the meaning of life.
5	The scholar did begin to recite a wide and rich array of claimed facts and knowledge,
6	As the old Teacher placed two cups on a table and began to pour the wine into the cup closest to the Scholar.
7	The scholar did continue to speak as the old Teacher did pour, even after the cup was overflowing,
8	Until he could stand it no longer and said: Wise and Great Teacher, pray tell me?
9	Why did you permit such rare and beautiful wine to overflow when my cup was already full?
10	The old and Great Teacher replied as thus: Indeed you are correct. Your cup is full.
11	And such a beautiful and rare wine this be to waste.
12	Verily, a mind is much like the cup and true wisdom like the fine wine your brought me.
13	Only when the mind is empty of its preconditions and confusions, is it ready to accept such a valuable gift.
14	Behold! I asked not what you thought the meaning of life to be, but your sense of its meaning,
15	Proving to me that while you are an intelligent man, your cup is already full.