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Clay Buddha


The Master gave the student a hunk of soft clay and said, "You have 12 hours to figure out what is the perfect shape to make with this clay. Once you have decided upon the perfect shape we will fire it in the kiln and you shall have that perfect shape for all of your life. Make sure you choose wisely." Then he abruptly left the student alone to his lesson.

The student made a statue of Buddha and was very pleased. Then he decided the Buddha would have rather had him make something useful. First, he made a plate which could hold his dinners. He even put food on it and ate happily. Then he made a bowl and had a drink of water. Then he made a beautiful vase and filled it with wondrous flowers. This cheered him up greatly. Then he spent hours meticulously making the form of a beautiful woman. This sparked many feelings within him. He stared at it, but decided it was impractical. He had just finished remaking a statue of the Buddha when the Master returned.

"Is this the shape you have decided upon?" he asked.

"No, master." said the student, shamefully. "I was unable to decide."

"Have you not tried to find the right form to make?" The master asked sternly.

"I made a Buddha, a plate, a bowl, a vase, and a woman from it. I simply don't know how to choose which is best." the student confessed.

The Master smiled. "Then you have learned the lesson." he replied seeming quite pleased. "The clay is far more useful when it is soft and pliable. To fire it in the kiln is to remove its pliability, which is its best feature. It is the same with the heart. It is far more useful when it is pliable than when it is baked solid in the fires of obsession. When the heart can adapt and take many shapes we can see the universe in so many ways. Once the heart is fired solid, we can see the universe one way only. We must resist the temtation to make such a foolish decision as to which shape is best."

The master turned and left. The student took the Buddha and rolled him into a tight ball. He realized that no matter what shape he made; plate, vase, bowl, woman or Buddha, the clay was always Buddha. He put Buddha in his pocket and followed the Master out of the room.

 

 

 

 

Author notes

Inspired by the writings of maa.

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1 - 12 of 12
  • Purrsanthema
    February 20

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    I don't know whether I, newbe that I am, pressed the submit comment button or just lost my comment so here it goes again! This sounds very much like something that would be read aloud in our old Unitarian church, back when I was a choir member, before Dad got too week to either go or leave. Wonderful!

  • Purrsanthema
    February 20
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    This is wonderful! It sounds like something that would be read in my old Unitarian church, back when I was a choir member, before my father became too sick to leave.


  • maa gold member
    February 18

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    remember your message to me : "You inspired this. Not sure how, but you did." ?

    well, I have an idea how : did you know that you have telepathic abilities ? you might have tuned into a thougth-stream of mine, since I am contemplating a particular painting for the last two days that intrigued me very much ...

    it is called "the shadow of the buddha" (talk about synchronicity), and only looking at it brought forth some really amazing realizations, and not only for me, my hubby also felt very inspired by it and offered me a very insightful satsang this morning while he took his shower ...
    here is the link to the painting : http://www.artmajeur.com/?go=artworks/display_mini_gallery&mini_gallery_id=1236733&login=barberane&image_id=3501388&artist_id=19248

    by the way, after having read your poem this morning, I have reserved the canvas, because I felt it has transformative powers and will be the perfect gift for my hubby and our 10 years' wedding anniversary ... I hope he will expose it in his doctor's office so the buddha and his shadow can work on the patients ...

    your poem goes right into maa's treasure chest, because as always, you have given me a precious message through your words ... not only can I find the essence of "remember the gold, detach from the form" in your verse, but it teaches me also to "see the divine in each and every form" ...
    what else needs to be added ?

    thank you


    • PerVirtuous
      February 18

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      Yes. To go one step further, the Master tells him we are like the clay. Then he rolls up the clay Buddha and puts it in his pocket knowing it is still Buddha, meaning he knows he is also Buddha because he is like the clay.

      This is a lesson to recognize potential. If he had made a bowl and then waited seven hours for the Master to come fire it, he would not have been kept as a student. It was because he did not want to lose the potential of the clay that he was praised. If we remain pliable, we too retain the potential to become Buddha.

  • Michael P gold member
    February 17
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    BRAVO-great storytelling-seems the master was molding his student...peace


  • roses on fire
    February 17
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    I L-O-V-E IT!!!!!!!!!

    good job daddy i really really etc. like it!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep up the good work!
    Love faith


  • rhondasail
    February 17

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    Lovely story, but I wonder: how is pliable clay useful at all except to fill in holes? And why is it necessary to BE useful? And to whom?...hey! this is a great write-it's making me look deeper...sneaky and well done! Peace, Rhonda

    • PerVirtuous
      February 17
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      Sneaky is what the con artist doesn't tell you. This is brilliant but softly so and opens your eyes slowly. keep with it. You will get it. The last line is the key.


  • transcendental baby gold member
    February 17

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    What a wonderful, wonderful lesson Master

  • Stormraven
    February 17
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    hmmm

    Now that was helpful !!


  • cricketjeff gold member
    February 17

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    Except ...
    Unfired the clay is very rarely useful at all, it isn't any of the things you make with it. If you never decide what to do you will never do anything, if you stay in a virtual state you have made just one decision, that the best thing to be, is nothing at all ...

    discuss

1 - 12 of 12