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The three kinds of defective pots are:

1. over-turned (upside-down) pot
   
2. leaking pot
   
3. poison-containing pot

The First Defect: the Overturned (or Upside-Down) Pot

When we pour water into an overturned, or upside-down, pot, we know that it will never be filled.

This state of affairs is exactly what happens when we listen to the Dharma (teachings; sermons) without our full concentration.

When we have a pre-occupied mind, then we will not listen well, neither will we understand what is being taught. If we listen with a scattered mind that is full of "chattering", or if we listen with disinterest, we will never learn anything.

With an overturned mind, whatever is being taught goes in one ear and out the other.

Padampa Sangye, a renowned yogi once said, "Listen to the teachings like a deer listening to music." In the olden days, when hunters hunt for deer, they would play music to catch the attention of the deer. Listening, the deer would be entranced, making it easier for the hunters to shoot it down with an arrow. Similarly, when we listen to teachings, we should listen to it "like a deer listening to music" -- entranced. Our eyes moist with unshed tears of joy, our hair standing on end, and our palms held together in veneration -- these are the signs of true devotion. According to Patrul Rinpoche, being physically present but with our minds wandering here, there and everywhere, and chatting idly to the person beside you is no use. Just concentrate.

The Second Defect: the Leaking Pot

When we pour water into a pot that has a hole at the bottom, we know that the water will always leak out, and eventually the pot will become empty again.

This is the state of affairs when we have attended Dharma teachings or sermons, even over many years, but have never attempted to think about what was taught, and thus we will forget whatever we have learnt and our mind will become empty again.

Whatever teachings that we listen to, therefore, should be reviewed, analyzed, memorized and practised. If we set the teachings aside, without frequent reviews and contemplation, we will not remember what was taught.

As a shearer would thoroughly study the sheep before shearing its wool, so should we thoughtfully, and meticulously, think about what was taught over and over again, and not just set it aside. We need to "contemplate the teachings like northern nomads shearing sheep" to figure out how best to put the teachings to practice, what we are practising, and how to overcome our wrong doings. Then, we "meditate on them like a dumb person enjoying food," and "practise them like a yak eating grass." Just like a dumb person cannot describe the flavors of the food they are eating, the results of a true meditative experience cannot really be put into words -- it is indescribable. This is how we should meditate on the teachings. And as a hungry yak will not roam from one patch of grass to another looking for food but will consume whatever is in front of them until it is finished, when we practise, we should focus our thoughts and not think about other things.

The Third Defect: the Poison-Containing Pot

When we are thirsty, we reach for a drink of water, but if the water has been poisoned, we will surely die from drinking it.

This is why the right motivation in all our actions is extremely important.

However diligent or devoted we may be, if it is fame and fortune that motivates us, it is like a pot full of poison.

Similarly, if we listen to the Dharma (teachings; sermons) with "poison in our mind", then the teachings cannot really help us because it has been contaminated. It is no longer Dharma. It is like the water that has been poisoned.



      -- Excerpted/Adapted from A Precious Gift (October 2002; May 2004),
          by His Eminence the 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche