The Potter-Master of Amritsar

Once in the beautiful city Amritsar, there lived a potter-master. Everyone called him Ananda, because he always had a so happy expression in his eyes. He manufactured the best formed pottery products in the whole country. Every vase, every jug or plate from him were of rare quality and delicacy and delighted all who saw them. The customers came from far away to buy his precious products. Many wanted to learn the art of pottery under his proved eyes and hands. However he had only space for seven disciples.

Once this potter-master had five less pleasant disciples, whose names were Kama¹, Krodha², Lobha³, Moha⁴ and Ahankar⁵. Every morning Ananda gave his disciples the exercise in modelling, then he turned to his potter’s wheel and his master-work. Soon these five disciples started to neglect their work. They grumbled, talked and gossiped deedlessly.

How can I experience, if Ananda is a real taskmaster?

asked Kama.

If he had not learned by a potter-master, he can’t be qualified as potter-master.

– In certain regions I have heard calling him a deceiver and a renegade,

Krodha chipped in with.

Dispite the facts about Ananda’s master,

Moha grumbled,

I can’t hold my fingers, as he instructed me. Besides, what harm does it to his mass of clay, when I am drinking coffee or eat eggs and meat? I tell you, colleagues, he requires to much!

– Why,

Lobha screamed reluctant,

I can’t see why, I don’t understand it!

– To me he seems like a nutrition fanatic,

Ahankar spoke,

I want to eat, what tastes to me and nevertheless manufacture beautiful pottery products.

– Imagine Ananda’s strictness,

called Kama,

with which he told me, I should repeat special names for hours, to give my forms gracefulness. And now, six weeks later, nothing has occurred nothing has happened. I tell you nothing happens! Pottery products get finished, yes but nothing graceful. Every time Ananda is shaking the head, when he is looking at my pots.

– Maybe you should form dancers … and fall in love with them!

Moha threw in.

Or, does Ananda say, that you would like see success or your freedoms!

Krodha clamoured.

While these five annoyed disciples wasted their precious time and power by useless grumbling, two other disciples were modelling quiet.

Vivek⁶, deaf from birth on, had a sharp eye. He worshipped his potter-master, watched Ananda exactly, did the same moves and soon reached good results. Then Ananda gave Vivek higher instructions.

Vairag⁷, dumb from birth on, had quick hands. The energy, that others wasted in conceited talking he used on his forms. He handled everything with careful grip. He accepted his master’s words as absolute law. That made Ananda really happy, because he knew, that Vairag had the spirit of a expert.

Ananda praised the work of these two disciples and they left the pottery in Amritsar as potter-masters to furnish own workshops, while the other continued, to complain about the way of teaching of their master.

*****

Like these both wise disciples in this Story, we also have to become potter-master, by going on search and find an Ambassador / Representative of Truth, who really lives, what Kirpal once told His disciples, namely: to become Ambassadors of Truth.

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Explanation of the names: 1) Kama = sensual passion; 2) Krodha= anger, hate and maliciousness; 3) Lobha = greed; 4) Moha = worldly attachment; 5) Ahankar = egoism; vanity; 6) Vivek = differentiation, faculty of judgement. See also ‘Anurag Sagar by Kabir – Part I, 1., The revelation of the sixteen Shabdas’ with the according illustrations: ‘The revelation of the sixteen Shabdas’ and ‘The names of the sixteen Shabdas: Fourth Shabda – Vivek.’ 7) Vairag = mental detachment from the world.