Once, a scholar went to a Taoist master to learn about the Tao. The master invited the scholar to have tea with him, and as he poured the tea, the scholar’s cup overflowed. The master continued to pour, and the tea spilled onto the table and the floor. The scholar exclaimed, “Stop! The cup is full, it can’t hold any more!” The master replied, “You are like this cup, so full of your own opinions and beliefs that there is no room for new knowledge. If you want to learn about the Tao, you must first empty your cup.”