The Parable of the Cup of Tea

There exists in the stories of those who desire enlightenment, an ancient parable of a wealthy and powerful man who heard of a great spiritual teacher who lived on a mountaintop.

This wealthy and powerful man was used to the best of everything and was used to getting whatever he wanted in life.

One day he resolved that he should have the best, not only in life but also in his spiritual teaching. Having made this determination, he journeyed to the mountaintop to seek out the most famous wise man and engage him as his teacher.

When the man finally arrived at the mountaintop, he was dismayed by the rustic and simple nature of the teacher’s home. The guest quarters were not up to his standards. He found himself rethinking his decision to seek enlightenment from this man. Surely, the best teacher would have a better house. Certainly, the place for those who come to study should have more comforts and more amenities. Finally, full of judgments and disapproval, he decided to stay and see what this wise man had to offer.

The man’s frustration began to increase daily as he was told that the master could not see him yet and he would have to wait. He did not like this at all. After all, he was a prominent and successful man. Didn’t the foolish people who served the master know how valuable his time was? Maybe the disorganized and disrespectful way they ran the business of managing the master’s engagements was why they could not afford a better house for the master, and better quarters for their quests. He resolved to provide the master with this insight as soon as he saw him.

As the days passed, the man found himself growing increasingly impatient and angry. He resolved that if he did not see the master the next day and start to get the instruction he had come for, he was going to leave and look elsewhere for his instruction. After all, this was not the only master on the mountain. He had only come here because he had heard this master was the best. He was certainly reconsidering that opinion.

The next morning a messenger came to tell the man that the master could see him. “About time,” he thought, but now that the time was here, he resolved to meet with the master to accomplish his purpose of beginning his enlightenment instruction.

He was delighted that he was served a steaming hot cup of tea. When the master entered, he sat before the man, took up the teapot, and said, “Let me serve you some tea.” He then began to pour. As the teacup began to overflow, the man cried out. “Stop, can’t you see it is overflowing, you fool.”

The master calmly stopped, looked at the man and said,

I cannot teach you. You, like the teacup, are too full.
You are filled with your own opinions and sense of importance.
You must first empty yourself out, to be able to
receive real knowledge or understanding.
– Tea Cup Parable

Ponder on this.

When you decide to grow, to change and transform your life, it is important to open your mind to new ideas and concepts. A part of growth is letting go of old ideas or ways of being, to make room for new concepts that will serve you better.

The journey through life is an adventure. To grow, you must expand your awareness to new thoughts that will serve you as the person you are becoming.

All that is past, both your failures and your successes, are resolved as you open yourself to the power of the present. Open your life to the promise and potential that is unfolding and being created in the miracle and magnificence of an open mind and an open heart as you explore all of the ways you can awaken to the new opportunities and the successes and joys that are in the process of being created for you by life today.

Embrace the possibility of transforming your life as you shed the old and open to new opportunities right here, right now, today.

Namaste,

Genevieve

The Blessing of Love on All That You Do!

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Last updated 9-19-2018

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Key to Freedom and Happiness

Genevieve Gerard

Forgiveness: The Key to Freedom and Happiness

by Genevieve Gerard

I often said I would write an article entitled “Forgiveness, the Ultimate Act of Selfishness.” However, this morning as I sit down to write it seems a more appropriate title would be “Forgiveness: The Key to Freedom and Happiness.” We have all seen the results of a failure to forgive in mean, embittered old people who live lonely lives, blaming others for their misery and their lot in life.

Shakespeare shared his insight on forgiveness’ grace in these lines from the
Merchant of Venice:

“The quality of mercy is not strain’d,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”[1]

Forgiveness may be a blessing to the one you forgive, but to you it offers a healing and freedom to move forward in your life that is much more powerful for you than it is for the one who is forgiven.

When I have said this to people they frequently ask if forgiveness is warranted even when someone has done something that is unforgivable. They ponder whether it is right to forgive someone of a truly heinous act. My answer to this is always a resounding yes. In forgiving someone there is always the possibility that the grace of forgiveness will allow them to truly see the error of their ways and thus bring about transformation.

However, far more important is the grace that forgiveness offers you in freedom from the burdens of anger, hate, resentment, or sorrow that is harbored inside of you. Carrying these old feelings burdens you in the present. If past wrongs are continually brought into present time they are never really over. As long as you carry the burden of your anger, hate and resentment the past is dominating your present. You become inextricably bound to that old wrong as you carry it with you into the present, into the now. By not forgiving and letting go, you allow the old wrong or hurt to color your whole life.

It is reminisant of an old Zen parable from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones called “The Muddy Road” about Tanzan and Ekido, two Buddhist monks, who were renunciates.

Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection. “Come on, girl” said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms he carried her over the mud. Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could no longer restrain himself. “We monks don’t go near females” he told Tanzan, “especially not young and beautiful ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”

“I left the girl there.” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”

So it is with us when we fail to forgive past wrongs. We are required to carry them long beyond their time. If you fail to forgive, the past limits your ability to fully appreciate and experience the gifts of the present, because these old harbored wrongs are filling your present time with useless baggage from another time and place. In order to fully experience the freedom and the happiness that is granted to those who live in the now, it is necessary to let go of what you are bringing with you that is not a part of the now. To do this you must forgive the people who caused all the old hurts, wrongs or resentments you are carrying with you.

Of course, there is often another element that must be faced. In order to fully forgive you must make an honest assessment of any responsibility you may have had in the situation that resulted in your being hurt. If after an honest assessment you find that you share any of the blame in bringing about this situation, you also must forgive yourself.

One final step in any situation where you find mutual responsibility is to allow yourself to be forgiven by the other. All that is required is simply your openness to the energy of forgiveness from the other and does not require their active participation.

Forgiveness of old hurts and forgiveness of yourself is like dropping a heavy load that you have carried for far too long. Once you have let go of it you may well find yourself wondering why you chose to carry it for so long. Once you have let go of the old hurts, resentments and pains you will be free to experience what is happening and what is possible in the now.

There is a tremendous freedom that comes from being able to cope with the challenges of the now, in the now. Burdens are lightened and your perspective becomes clearer. Today’s challenges become sufficient for today. And, at last, you have the freedom to live your life fully, one day at a time, one moment at a time, blessed by the freedom of the eternal now.

About the author: Genevieve Gerard teaches Transformational Consciousness – from first awakening to enlightened awareness. She helps you experience the joy that results from the spontaneous “touch of the soul.” Browse her body of work at www.GenevieveGerard.com.

[1] The Merchant of Venice, Act 4 Scene 1

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