A rich man came to a Zen Master and asked to be taught Zen.

The rich man was invited the into the master's humble quarters and tea was served.

The master began pouring tea into the rich man's cup, but when the cup was full he kept on pouring.

As the tea spilled and began to cover the table on which the cup sat, the rich man shouted, "STOP! STOP! Can't you see the cup is full?'

"Indeed," replied the master, "And like this cup, your mind is full of your own beliefs and ideas. How will ever learn Zen if you do not first rid yourself of the clutter in your mind."

Traditional Zen Koan
Printed in "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones"
By Nyogen Senzaki

By simply opening your mind further to new ideas.

No, you need to empty your head of all ideas.

If you have an idea / preconception then what you see or learn will be tainted.

It is easier said then done.

I wouldn't class this as a kōan though, as the Zen master (is there such a thing?), attempts to answer the mans request and teach him something rather than letting him find out himself.

Ta,

Chris.

I see your point Chris, it would have been better (more koan-ish) if the "master" had let it go at spilling the tea.

But after all, it was the rich man's first lesson. He had to have something for comparison.

If it were a student of even just a little attainment, he would have not have had to say anything at all after spilling the tea.

A monk to Zen master Joshu: "When I travel the countryside, what Dharma (truth) shall I say Joshu teaches?"

Joshu: "Rice is cheap. Salt is expensive"

(800 years ago salt was expensive, often used as currency)