The Earthen Pot

I went to a Flea Market a bit unwillingly but then when nephews call to spend time with you, you hardly have a choice. I was supposed to meet them a little early for a Sunday morning but I reached in time. I called one of my nephews only to realize he hadn’t even started from home. He suggested that I go in and look around. I hesitated to take up his suggestion but the greed for materialistic possessions took over good sense and there I was just picking up whatever took my fansy! I infact had no cash with me and so installed PAYTM and paid! Nothing seemed to be a hindrance or a challenge!

One prized possession amidst all the junk was a beautiful earthen pot and it had a nice glazed finish to it! I was informed that I could place it on a gas stove too for cooking! I picked it up thinking I had got it at a throw away price! The next morning as I placed it on the stove to make sambhar, I dreamt of the smell of sambhar in the purest and unsullied form wafting through my house! I was rudely awakened from this blissful dream by the sound of something cracking up and I saw a few pieces flying! The pot, as had been promised couldn’t take the high heat of the stove and so a small flake of the pot went flying!

That day the Earthen pot said to me – Don’t trust anything  and everything promised by people and  External fitness is no sign of internal fitness. Not sure if I will always remember this but the message is loud and clear!

Since the base of the pot had become weak due to cracking I thought of using it for making at least rice!

One morning as I was cleaning up and moving up and down the house. I thought that someone in the neighbourhood was burning idlis and a few minutes later I realized that I had kept rice on the stove and totally forgotten about it. Since it was an earthen pot even the smell of  burning rice was different!

Initially, I was laughing as I kept thinking about the incident but with each passing moment one thought strengthened in my mind - Skewed perceptions of others can be avoided if we can focus on what is happening inside us! Don’t focus on external things, focus on internal!

Last night, I made rice once again and I lifted it off the stove and placed it on the kitchen top! The Earthen pot broke into a million pieces! I deeply regretted what I did! I wish I had waited till the heat had reduced! Well! I am sure I will think twice before putting pressure on anything which is already facing the heat! If this is the fate of something that is brought to life (use)with the help of heat, do human beings stand a chance?