Brainwork: Empty Your Cup

A professor went to visit a Zen master because he wanted to acquire more knowledge about Zen Buddhism. When the professor arrived, the Zen master served his visitor tea. He filled his visitor’s cup and then kept pouring. The professor watched the cup overflow until he could not restrain himself and exclaimed, “It is overflowing, no more will go in!” The Zen master responded, “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

The lesson from this story is to keep an open mind. As you progress through your academic career at Franklin, you will gather more information about your major. It can be difficult not to feel like you already know it all when you are reviewing similar materials from class to class. Why take the time to re-examine something you’ve already mastered? Because there is always a new way to look at things, a new rock to turn over, and different viewpoints to consider. Try always to keep your cup empty. It’s the key to continuous learning – and that’s what keeps you moving forward, in school, at work, and in life.