'Un Learning'...

Dear Friends

The key to any authentic spiritual path such as Buddhism is the wonderful concept of 'Un Learning' which is deeply paradoxical in nature. The following Zen story illustrates the latter and this is part of the reason why I love working with freshers / freshman's and undergraduates / seniors:

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

I have already identified some future stars and pray that these students and the others cut the mustard!

A toast to Beginners Mind!

Rishi Faisal