India, March 30 -- The country was Japan. It was the Meiji era. A professor was keen to learn the teachings of Zen philosophy. He approached an estimable master. The master offered him a cup of tea and poured it into a cup. The tea was filled up to the brim. However, the Zen master kept pouring in tea. Soon, the tea began overflowing. The professor requested the Zen Master not to pour any more tea into the cup. The friar replied that the professor would be able to learn the pristine tenets of Zen only if he cast away all the self-opinionated beliefs, thoughts and emotions like the overflowing cup of tea.

Past baggage and impressions need to be dissolved and a seeker needs to truly become hollow and empty to acquire knowledge, or else we ...