The four cups

As we engage in the quest for spiritual teachers, we desire to find the teacher of the highest quality, with the highest realization and the greatest integrity. To this we are entitled. However, as the quest to find such a person is on, perhaps spiritual teachers too have a shopping list of what they would like to see in a student. Just to keep the perspective, I wish to point this out. So, as we are looking at teachers and get ready to place a quality degree on them, let us take a look at ourselves to determine what kind of seeker we are, if we are.

The other day I read the following by a woman named Sister Khema.

“Lord Buddha compared listeners to four different kinds of clay vessels. The first clay vessel is one that has holes at the bottom. If you pour water into it, it runs right out. In other words, whatever you teach that person is useless. The second clay vessel he compared to one that had cracks in it. If you pour water into it, the water seeps out. These people cannot remember. Cannot put two and two together. Cracks in the understanding. The third listener he compared to a vessel that was completely full. Water cannot be poured in for it's full to the brim. Such a person, so full of views, he can't learn anything new! But hopefully, we are the fourth kind. The empty vessels without any holes or cracks. Completely empty.”