A new monk had joined the lamasery. He had studied law at a leading college and considered himself much brighter than the other monks and novices there. Whenever anyone tried to teach him something, he would quote from the books he had read to show that he knew everything already.
The monks had to go out once a day to seek alms. They ate whatever they received in their bowls. It was intended to make them humble. The novice was also training and had to follow the same routine.
One day an old, senior monk came to know about the novice who was always showing off his knowledge to the others. He wondered how he could teach humility to the novice. One day, he sent a monk to call some of the novices to his room. “I would like to get to know the newcomers,” said the old monk.
Three of the novices came to the room where the old monk sat on a small low stool. They bowed to the old monk before they sat down cross-legged before him. The old monk asked each one of them about his life till now, and what they thought of life in the lamasery.
The old monk then called for some tea. Another monk brought tea in a large kettle along with four bowls. The old monk began to pour tea into the cup of the proud novice first. He poured till the cup was full and then began to overflow!
The novice hurriedly pointed out to the monk that the cup was full and tea was spilling out of it. The monk put the kettle down. Then he folded his hands and looked at the three novices.
“All three of you watched the tea spill out of the cup,” he said, Now tell me what each of you has learnt from it?”
The first novice answered, “Master, we should watch what we are doing.”
“I think we should learn according to our capacity,” said the second one.
“I learnt that the cup must be empty, before you can pour tea into it,” said the proud novice, “I understand what you mean, Master. I’m sorry.”
The Master smiled. “Each of you is right in his own way. But if you beg for alms, your bowl must be empty. Similarly, if you want knowledge and wisdom, you must learn to accept the teaching without pride about all that you know.”
Moral: Be humble to learn more.
