Where Is The Goalbladder

mountaineer empty tea cup

A monk was always a cup of tea beside her bed. At night, before bed, put it upside down and in the morning, I turned. When a novice asked puzzled about the practice, the monk explained that every night symbolically emptied the cup of life, as a sign of acceptance of his own mortality. The ritual reminded him that day had done what they should and therefore was prepared in the event of death surprised him. And every morning put the cup on his back to accept the gift of a new day. The monk lived life day by day, recognizing each morning which was a wonderful gift, but also was ready to leave this world at the end of each day.

(Lou Marinoff)