The Three Pots of Knowledge

 The Three Pots of Knowledge

A monk instructed his disciple to place three large pots. The first pot, on the monk’s left, had a lid. The second was left open. The third had a tap attached.

The monk took a jug of water and asked the audience, “Can I pour this water into the closed pot?” The audience shook their heads, meaning no. The monk moved to the second pot and asked, “Can I pour it into this pot?” The audience nodded, meaning yes. The monk slowly filled it. He then asked, “Can I fill the third pot with water?” The audience said yes, and the monk filled it to the brim.

The monk pointed to the first pot and asked, “Can I take some water from this pot?” The audience said no. He then asked, “Can I pour more water into the second pot, which is already full?” The audience said no. He came to the third pot and asked, “Can I take some water from this pot?” The audience said, “You can,” and one person added, “If you open the tap, you can.” The monk did so.

Then the monk said, “These pots are like banks of knowledge. The first is a closed pot that gains no knowledge, whereas the second gains some knowledge but does not use or share it. If water remains in a pot for a long time, it becomes dirty and worms may form in it. Similarly, some people become stagnant; they do not refresh or replenish their knowledge, so they become outdated and their competencies become irrelevant. The third pot is like a bank where both withdrawals and deposits happen. Withdrawals can be for oneself and for helping others.

My dear ladies and gentlemen, be like the third pot: keep gaining knowledge, keep applying it, keep sharing it, and keep refilling it. You will never feel stagnant or outdated in this ever-changing world.”

M.L. Narendra Kumar