The professor and his thirst for answers

One who goes into questions strays off into the jungle of philosophy. Let questions come and go. Look at the crowd of questions like you look at people moving on the street--nothing to give, nothing to take--with detachment, standing far away...

The more distance there is between you and your questions, the better. Because it is in this gap the answer will arise.

A professor of philosophy went to a Zen Master, Nan-in, and he asked about God, about nirvana, about meditation, and so many things. The Master listened silently--questions and questions and questions--and then he said, "You look tired. You have climbed this high mountain; you have come from a faraway place. Let me first serve you tea." And the Zen Master made tea.

The professor waited--he was boiling with questions. And when the Master was making tea and the samovar was singing and the aroma of the tea started spreading, the Master said to the professor, "Wait, don't be in such a hurry. Who knows? Even by drinking tea your questions may be answered... or even before that."

The professor was at a loss. He started thinking, "This whole journey has been a wastage. This man seems to be mad. How can my question about God be answered by drinking tea? What relevance is there? It is better to escape from here as soon as possible." But he was also feeling tired and it was good to have a cup of tea before he started descending back down the mountain.

The Master brought the kettle, poured tea in the cup--and went on pouring. The cup was full, and the tea started overflowing into the saucer, but he went on pouring. Then the saucer was also full. Just one drop more and the tea would start flowing on the floor, and the professor said, "Stop! What are you doing? Are you mad or something? Can't you see the cup is full? Can't you see the saucer is full?"

And the Zen Master said, "That's the exact situation you are in: your mind is so full of questions that even if I answer, you don't have any space for the answer to go in. But you look like an intelligent man. You could see the point, that now even a single drop more of tea and it will not be contained by the cup or the saucer, it will start overflowing on the floor. And I tell you, since you entered this house your questions are overflowing all over the place. This small but is full of your questions! Go back, empty your cup, and then come. First create a little space in yourself."