26. The Teacup drinks tea

The Way through Baguazhang - 八卦掌道 - A podcast by Peter Hainzl

☳ How many have heard the saying, usually between a master and a disciple: In order for me (the master) to be able to fill your cup, you (the disciple) must first empty your cup. Or words to that effect? ☵ In the movies it is usually accompanied with the scene of the disciple holding his cup while the master keeps pouring and pouring until it overflows. The hot liquid scalds the disciple and suddenly the disciple has an awakening. ☶ Training gets easier for both master and disciple. We see the glorious highlights and the rest is a foregone conclusion. The disciple wins the fight and we wait for the sequel. ☰ If this has ever happened to you, please remember to quietly congratulate yourselves: The deeper meanings behind tea 茶 and Gung Fu 功夫 can be quite profound. Every cup of tea 茶 can be a realisation in itself. ☷ Reality, though, is more like a teacup 茶碗 that never fills up. It is always being on-and-off filled. And more often than not, the cup is closer to empty than full. It is akin to feeling rundown by the external forces that govern our lives rather than anything to do with our martial art way of life. ☱ Hence the "Me Time" of Tea Time equals Me Time. Call it an excuse to take a tiny daily break from the usual. It is literally just a cup of tea, that on one level just fills the body with tea. Then again, it could be a whole lot more. ☲ And to think, what I write is from a teacup 茶碗 that I am just about able to keep regularly half full. Whether it be business, personal life or other stuff. ☴ Which does not mean much because for those you advanced in Reiki 霊気 and Qigong 氣功 et cetera, you will know that as a person's chi 氣 grows, the metaphysical vessel that holds it also expands. Liked what you heard & want to connect with me? Join me at… linkedin.com/in/peterhainzl/