This month in kids’ class we’re focusing on kigamae [readiness]. When we think of being ready, we might think of preparing as "filling" the head with knowledge for a test. But emptying the head is also readiness.

The Sword and Tea Masters

In his youth a certain Sword Master was hungry for knowledge and experience but, in the prime of his life, he had won all his battles. No one was his equal with the sword.

The Sword Master felt that he no longer needed to train. His Lord saw this as a problem and ordered the Sword Master to study with a famous Tea Master.

The Sword Master resented the order to study with the Tea Master: What has tea to do with swords? But the Sword Master obeyed and visited the Tea Master.

When the Sword Master entered the Tea Master’s house, the Tea Master could see immediately that the Sword Master was full of himself and resented their meeting.

The Tea Master smiled and offered that they should drink tea before they began their lesson. The Sword Master, relieved that he could put off his "lesson" even a moment longer, agreed.

When the Tea Master poured the tea, he kept pouring, until the tea filled the cup and overflowed onto the floor.

“Stop!” the Sword Master said, you’re spilling the tea.

“Oh,” the Tea Master said, “Yes, that’s you. You’re so full of yourself, you can’t hold any more. But if you truly want to learn, you must first empty your mind of what you think you know. Then you will be ready to learn."