The Cracked Water Pot

theist · May 4, 2003

This is a well known story and many have read it already. To me it points to the necessity for accepting the instructions of a genuine siksa guru.

It also shows to me the virtue in recognizing our flaws, our limited capacity to serve, but not allowing those flaws to cause us so much despair that we give up.

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 master's 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 master's 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 apologise 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 master's 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 master's 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 it apologised 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 master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

May 4, 2003

that nothing is in our control, whether we are perfect and flawless or broken down and imperfect. Only the way of doing is in our hands, so I guess accepting things as they are with out desiring anything can relieve one of the suffering caused here.

May 5, 2003

only the dead accept things as they are.

living humans accept thigns/situations if they are agreeable. duryodhanas and asuras do want the world in their way. arjunas cannot accept it.

jai sri prabhupada!

May 5, 2003

Somehow reminds me of Bhagavad-gita 9:22:<blockquote><center>ananyAz cintayanto mAM

ye janAH paryupAsate

teSAM nityAbhiyuktAnAM

yoga-kSemaM vahAmy aham

</center>

ananyAH--having no other object; cintayantaH--concentrating; mAm--on Me; ye--those who; janAH--persons; paryupAsate--properly worship; teSAm--of them; nitya--always; abhiyuktAnAm--fixed in devotion; yoga--requirements; kSemam--protection; vahAmi--carry; aham--I.

But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form--to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.

PURPORT

One who is unable to live for a moment without KRSNa consciousness cannot but think of KRSNa twenty-four hours a day, being engaged in devotional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, rendering other services, cultivating friendship and surrendering fully to the Lord. Such activities are all auspicious and full of spiritual potencies, which make the devotee perfect in self-realization, so that his only desire is to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a devotee undoubtedly approaches the Lord without difficulty. This is called yoga. By the mercy of the Lord, such a devotee never comes back to this material condition of life. KSema refers to the merciful protection of the Lord. The Lord helps the devotee to achieve KRSNa consciousness by yoga, and when he becomes fully KRSNa conscious the Lord protects him from falling down to a miserable conditioned life.

</blockquote>

It would be so nice if Krsna could actually somehow use my weaknesses to His favour, to grow flowers for His service, eventually purifying this crackpot.

gHari