Mind and Clay

Clay is a fine-grained, firm earthy material that is plastic when wet and hardens when heated and dried, consisting primarily of hydrated silicates of aluminum and widely used in making pottery, bricks and tiles.

There are seven stages to clay:

1. Slip--watered down clay in a muddy form

2. Plastic--workable stage; molding stage; can recycle; can join to other pieces

3. Semi-hard--stiff and will hold its shape; join to other pieces; carve into; recycle

4. Greenware--bone dry; can be carved into; very fragile; can recycle

5. Bisqueware--fired once in kiln; can not be recycled; glazing stage

6. Earthenware (Glazeware)--second fire-low fire; can not be recycled

7. Stoneware (Glazeware)--second fire-high fire; can not be recycled; vitrified

 

Human beings are very similar.

When we are born our mind is like water, it can take shape of any container.

As kids, adolescents and teenagers we are extremely flexible like a sponge absorbing so much knowledge and getting molded by all the lessons that we learn. Our mind slowly starts to take shape and maturity. We are open to take people's suggestions guidance and wisdom and apply them in our life. As we grow older we start becoming stiff, our mind is a little more rigid but is still able to learn and get molded. After some stage for some of us the mind starts to "dry up", it can still be carved and change shape though. After some time it reaches a level where it can no longer be caved, it becomes so delicate that it breaks if you attempt to carve it.

The good side of this is that up until stage 5 clay can still be recycled, by breaking it and adding water.

Wisdom is the water that quenches the thirst of the mind and makes it more flexible so that it can be molded again.

It's very important to be in knowledge to avoid having conflict in our minds. Internal conflict reflects outside and affects people around us. This translates into external conflict with other people.

Daily Sadhana (spiritual practice/dicipline) such as daily practice of Art of Living techniques and reflection on the important questions of life, having a spirit of inquiry, keep us flexible and able to deal with any situation and challenge that come our way. It's so important to bring wisdom into our life at a young age until it becomes a habit that stays with us.