The Cracked Pot – Story for Ambitious Parents

THE CRACKED POT
STORY FOR AMBITIOUS 
Musings on Parenting

By

VIKRAM KARVE

THE STORY OF THE CRACKED POT

A water bearer had two large pots – one hung on each end of a pole – which he carried across his neck. 

One of the pots had a crack in it – so – some water leaked out of it.

The other pot was perfect and had no leaks – so – this “perfect pot” always delivered a full portion of water. 

At the end of the long walk by the water bearer carrying water from the river to the master’s house – the cracked pot always arrived only half full. 

For two years this went on daily – with the water bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. 

Of course – the “perfect pot” was proud of its accomplishments – fulfilled in the design for which it was made.

But – the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.

The cracked pot felt miserable that it was unable to accomplish what it had been made to do.

The “cracked pot” felt it was a “Loser” – while the “perfect pot” was a “Winner”

After two years of enduring this bitter shame – the contrite Cracked Pot spoke to the Water Bearer one day when he was filling up water from the river.

The Cracked Pot said to the Water Bearer: 

“I am ashamed of myself and I apologize to you.”

The Water Bearer asked the sad Cracked Pot: 

“Why are you feeling so guilty, so penitent, so repentant …? Tell me – Dear Pot – what is it that you are so ashamed of…?”

The Cracked Pot said full of remorse: 

“I feel sorry that for these past two years I have been able 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 extra work and you do not get full value from your efforts.”

The Water Bearer felt sorry for the old Cracked Pot. 

In his compassion – the Water Bearer said to the Cracked Pot: 

“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 flowers on the side of the path – and was consoled somewhat.

But at the end of the trail – the Cracked Pot still felt remorse – shame and a feeling of guilt – because it had leaked out half its water load.

And so again – the Cracked Pot apologized to the Water Bearer for its failure: 

“I have again leaked out half the water. I am sorry...” 

On hearing this – the Water Bearer said to the Cracked Pot:

“Did you not notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path – and not on the other pot’s side…?

That is 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 walked back from the stream – you have 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 – would we have these beautiful flowers on the path – and would I be able to give these lovely flowers to the master – to grace his house.

The “perfect pot” only carries water – but you do two things – you carry water – and – you also help beautify your surroundings too...” 

MORAL OF THE STORY

There are no winners and there are no losers – everyone is a winner in his or her own way.

Yes – you are a winner in your own way 

Each of us has our own unique flaws. 

We all are “cracked pots”. 

But – it is the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding and make you unique. 

You must consider each person for what he naturally is – and look for the good qualities in him.

Every person is useful to society in his own way – just like the cracked pot was useful in its own way.

Most importantly – you must look for the winner within your own self – maybe hiding deep inside you. 

If you introspect – you will realize that you are a winner in your own way.

So – please do not compare yourself with others – and – do not pay too much heed to what other people say. 

The STORY OF THE CRACKED POT is for parents, teachers, mentors – especially for those parents/teachers – who want to achieve their own unfulfilled dreams – vicariously – through their children and protegees. 

Due to this – some ambitious parents force their own unrealized desires and unrealistic ambitions on their children. 

Such people put a lot of pressure on children – they drive the poor kids – and – they overwhelm them with high expectations.

Everyone wants their children to be the best – all parents want their children to stand first in class and excel in all activities. 

Everyone wants to “WIN”

In the “Rat Race” to Success – there is no place for “LOSERS” 

There is no place for even those who come second.

In the competitive world of today – we all adopt the philosophy of life: 

“Winner takes all – and – Loser is left standing small...”

This story is also for those perfectionists – at the workplace and at home – who expect everyone to be perfect like themselves – and this quest for perfection – they make everyone’s life hell…

Most importantly – this story is for you and me – for all of us – who want to be winners in our own way – despite our “imperfections”. 

Yes – like the Water Bearer took advantage of the Cracked Pot’s flaw – shouldn’t we use our so-called “imperfections” to our advantage...? 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
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2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

 

This Story was posted online by me a number of times in my blogs including at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/03/cracked-pot-teaching-story.html andhttp://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/02/are-you-cracked-pot.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/07/are-you-loser-inspirational-story-to.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/03/cracked-pot-teaching-story.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/07/do-you-think-you-are-loser-remember.html and https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/childrens-day-story.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-story-for-parents-to-inspire-their.html etc

Perils of Imitation - A Teaching Story - THE ORIGINAL and THE IMITATOR

Perils of Imitation

THE ORIGINAL and THE IMITATOR

A Teaching Story – Gutei’s Finger

Retold By
VIKRAM KARVE

I always exhort my students to be original and not imitate (or plagiarize) especially while conducting dissertation studies, research work and writing papers and research reports etc

In order to drive home this point I like to tell them one of my favourite teaching stories: GUTEI’S FINGER

 

Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would quietly raise his index finger into the air.

A boy in the village began to imitate this behaviour.

Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei’s teachings, the mischievous boy would interrupt the discussion and raise his index finger.

Gutei heard about the boy’s mischief.

When Gutei saw the naughty boy who had been imitating him in the street, he seized the boy  and cut off the boy's finger.

The stunned and shocked boy howled in pain and totally terrified of Gutei, the petrified boy began to run off, but Gutei called out to the boy.

When the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his index finger into the air.

At that moment the boy became enlightened.

Do tell me if you liked this story…

VIKRAM KARVE

 

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com
 
http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve


vikramkarve@sify.com

From a Mentor to a Mentee - YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO FLOWER WHERE GOD HAS SOWN YOU

FLOWER BLOSSOM BLOOM and FLOURISH

From a Mentor to a Mentee

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Long back I learnt a trick from an eminent trainer on how to get the audience to focus. I too use this technique on a few occasions when I want my audience to settle down to receptive vibes.

The moment you take the stage, you tell the audience to close their eyes for one minute and think of the one person who they consider as their most important mentor.

A few days ago, one of my brilliant ex-students, who attended a motivational lecture in her new organization and was subjected to the same exercise, rang me up and told me that it was my face that came to her mind as a mentor. Then she talked about her work, that she was not very happy with her new workplace which apparently did not measure up to her high expectations. I feel privileged that my ex-student considers me a mentor and I write this “pep talk” especially for her and all my dear mentees, protégées and protégés .

Ou Dieu vous a seme, il faut savoir fleurir

YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO FLOWER WHERE GOD HAS SOWN YOU

Every person, sooner or later, goes through a moment when it seems that he or she is on the wrong road, that his entire way of life is wrong.

Have you ever experienced this feeling?

Think about it.

Do you find yourself stuck in an incongruous career or in an incompatible relationship or in a redundant place?

And sadly there is nothing you can do about it, owing to compulsions and constraints beyond your control.

You cannot turn around and retrace your steps or change your road of life.

It seems you have crossed the point of no return and you have no choice but to keep on travelling on the “wrong” road of life.

Failure follows failure.

And with repeated failure comes the fear of failure.

It is indeed a terrible vicious cycle which gradually overwhelms you with the chill of despondency.

What can you do in such a situation?

Maybe the answer lies in a saying I read somewhere a few years ago and noted in my diary:

“ Ou Dieu vous a seme, il faut savoir fleurir ”

which roughly translated means

“You must know how to flower where God has sown you” or “wherever God plants you, there you must learn how to bloom”.

How does one learn to flower where God has sown you, bloom wherever God plants you?

One may turn to the Enchiridion of Epictetus for guidance.

Epictetus (A.S.55 – A.D. 135), the great Stoic Philosopher, states that happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not in our control.

This is the basic Stoic truth of subjective consciousness and it is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what is in your power from what is not in your power, and know what you can control and what you cannot control, that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.

On analytical reflection we find that the mind alone can be brought under our control. Everything else, the world of events and people’s behaviour, is beyond the scope of our control.

What disturbs you are not events but your attitude towards them. Don’t demand or except that events happened as you would wish them to. Accept events as they actually happen. And you will be at peace with yourself.

Except for extreme physical abuse, other people cannot hurt you unless you allow them to. Don’t consent to be hurt and you won’t be hurt.

You must learn to approach life as a banquet and not as a buffet. Think of your life as if it were a banquet where you would behave graciously, when dishes are pass to you, extend your hand and help yourself to a moderate portion. If a dish should pass you by, enjoy what is already on your plate. Or is a dish hasn’t being passed to you yet, patiently to your turn. Carry on the same attitude of polite restrain and gratitude to your children, spouse, career and money. There is no need to yearn, envy and grab. You will get your rightful share when it is your time.

It then becomes our paramount duty to control the mind and practice total unconcern to externals. “When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it.”

To accept an event is to rise above it, to resent it to be overpowered by it. With acceptance come happens, with resentment, misery.

Acceptance of an event is not to be mistaken for a life of passivity or submission to fatalism characterized by laziness and a sense of helplessness. “Simply doing nothing does not avoid risk, but heightens it.” Epictetus exhorts us, therefore, to brave the storms of life with planned action born of clear thinking. He recognizes, too, the practical necessity of working for worldly gains, but cautions us only against the false belief that happiness depends on the results such endeavours.

Being an integral part of social structure, you cannot live in isolation; social interaction is inescapable. In your relationship with others at home, at work or in society, no matter how people behave, you have to maintain inner tranquility, with unwavering attention on achieving your own merit and excellence. People act under their own inner compulsions over which you can exercise no control. Epictetus advises: “Focus not on what he or she does, but on keeping to your higher purpose.” He assures that if you truly live in tune with your will and resolve, and in harmony with your inner self, nobody’s words or actions (barring extreme cases) can disturb your mental equipoise.

This glorious attitude to life and knowledge of your self makes you free in a world of dependencies and enables you to flower where God has sown you, to bloom wherever God plants you.

" Ou Dieu vous a seme, il faut savoir fleurir "

Wherever God plants you, there you must learn how to bloom.

You must know how to flower where God has sown you.

From a Mentor to a Mentee

By

VIKRAM KARVE

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

vikramkarve@sify.com