Cracked Pots

[Guest guest]

Namaste Everyone,

 

I have been rather silent except for my earlier plea, but wanted to say I am

enjoying seeing so much poetry, humor, scientific and spiritual items on this

mailing list. I have not felt I had a lot to

contribute due to time constraints, but my thoughts go out to all of you. I

would like to share a story that a co-worker sent to me; I enjoy it very much

and hope you all do, too. I don't know where this

story came from.

 

Another thought on humility -- St. Therese's older sister once explained to her

as a child about how each soul, no matter how " little " or " large " could be full

of God: She showed her two cups, a very

little one, and a large one. Then she filled them each to the brim with water

and asked Therese what is the state of each. Of course they were both full. By

this illustration her sister showed how God

fills each according to its capacity. Therese went on to become St. Therese and

was named a Doctor of the Church despite her death at a very young age (in her

twenties), for her Doctrine of the " Little

Way " of faith.

 

With loving regards,

Karen

Westend Ashram

http://home.earthlink.net/~urbanashram

 

Anyway, here is the story:

==================================================================

 

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole

which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while

the other pot was perfect and always delivered a

full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the

masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years

this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only

one and a half pots full of water in his masters house.

 

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end

for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own

imperfection, and miserable that it was able to

accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what

it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by

the stream. " I am ashamed of myself, and I want

to apologize to you. "

 

" Why? " asked the bearer. " What are you ashamed of? "

 

" I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load

because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your

masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to

do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts, " the pot

said.

 

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he

said, " As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful

flowers along the path. " Indeed, as they went up

the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild

flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of

the trail, it still felt bad because it had

leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its

failure.

 

The bearer said to the pot, " Did you notice that there were flowers only on your

side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have

always known about your flaw, and I took

advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day

while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have

been able to pick these beautiful flowers to

decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not

have this beauty to grace his house. "

 

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. Nothing goes to

waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be

the cause of beauty. Know that in our

weakness we find our strength.

[Guest guest]

Wonderful stories! Thanks very much.

 

Westend Ashram at Colorado Springs <urbanashram

Ramakrishna <Ramakrishna >

Monday, August 02, 1999 10:13 AM

[ramakrishna] Cracked Pots

 

 

>Westend Ashram at Colorado Springs <urbanashram

>

>Namaste Everyone,

>

>I have been rather silent except for my earlier plea, but wanted to say I

am enjoying seeing so much poetry, humor, scientific and spiritual items on

this mailing list. I have not felt I had a lot to

>contribute due to time constraints, but my thoughts go out to all of you. I

would like to share a story that a co-worker sent to me; I enjoy it very

much and hope you all do, too. I don't know where this

>story came from.

>

>Another thought on humility -- St. Therese's older sister once explained to

her as a child about how each soul, no matter how " little " or " large " could

be full of God: She showed her two cups, a very

>little one, and a large one. Then she filled them each to the brim with

water and asked Therese what is the state of each. Of course they were both

full. By this illustration her sister showed how God

>fills each according to its capacity. Therese went on to become St. Therese

and was named a Doctor of the Church despite her death at a very young age

(in her twenties), for her Doctrine of the " Little

>Way " of faith.

>

>With loving regards,

>Karen

>Westend Ashram

>http://home.earthlink.net/~urbanashram

>

>Anyway, here is the story:

>==================================================================

>

>A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole

which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and

while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a

>full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the

masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years

this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only

>one and a half pots full of water in his masters house.

>

>Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the

end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own

imperfection, and miserable that it was able to

>accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of

what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one

day by the stream. " I am ashamed of myself, and I want

>to apologize to you. "

>

> " Why? " asked the bearer. " What are you ashamed of? "

>

> " I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load

because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to

your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to

>do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts, " the

pot said.

>

>The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion

he said, " As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the

beautiful flowers along the path. " Indeed, as they went up

>the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful

wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the

end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had

>leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for

its failure.

>

>The bearer said to the pot, " Did you notice that there were flowers only on

your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I

have always known about your flaw, and I took

>advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and

every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two

years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to

>decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he

would not have this beauty to grace his house. "

>

>Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. Nothing

goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you

too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our

>weakness we find our strength.

>

>

>

>

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>Vivekananda Centre London

>http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/

>