One for Two

My later grandpa had this bizarre way of making coffee.

One teaspoon of instant coffee for two of sugar.

However big the cup is, however much hot water he had, whatever type of coffee he used, he always made his coffee this way. One teaspoon for two of sugar.

Of course I was only a child then and it was only when I reached my teen years when I realized the strangeness of this "mantra".

I vaguely remember asking him, "Wouldn't it taste bad likes this?", especially when he used a bigger cup, and he will always say, "It's always been best this way."

I always wondered why.

Just lately I talked to my mom about the coffee method and she told me about my grandma, who left us a good 20 years earlier than old pops.

While she was still living, she would make coffee for my pops every morning, 7 am sharp. Every time she got too sick to do this, my grandpa would have to do it on his own, but he will always forget the recipe, so he would ask and always get the same response,

"One teaspoon of coffee for two of sugar."

The Danger of Knowing

Once a mind has started thinking it has fully understood, it becomes conceited.

That is the danger of knowing.

When a mind is conceited...

...it refuses to accept new things

...it rejects learning and opinions

...it might even become oppressive

...it dies

How many times have you blurted out at somebody for not knowing how to do things? Simple things, as you thought back then.

Have you ever thought of this: "That you do not know enough of what you thought you knew, even if you invented or created it?"

Has it occurred to you that you've been imposing your "knowledge" to someone who doesn't agree with your point of view?

Reflect.

Think.

Re-learn your ways.

You might just be an inch away from killing your mind.