Surely it depends on if you have placed things in the pot along the way? If positive actions and touching peoples lives for the good, place gold coins in the pot, then when shattered, people can see the treasure that was held within.

Life's emptiness is quite obvious at any time, if only you care to take a good look...

Day 8:
Only when we lose our preconceived view, opinions and bias about things can we really start to flower our realization.

Harlan - very kind words. Who knows what I'll do when I grow up...if ever at all. Is it possible to be responsible enough to maintain a dojo, serious enough to teach solid self-defense in Art form, while being childish enough to have fun?

Tieing-in back to topic:
Human affairs are like a chess-game: only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.

For twelve years Naropa followed the great Indian sage Tilopa. Tilopa would say, "If you fetch me soap from the kitchen, then I might teach you." Naropa would sneak in the kitchen, suffer a terrible beating at the hands of the kitchen staff, but emerge triumphant with the cup of soup. But Tilopa would only say, "I want another cup, go and fetch it."
This kind of incident occurred over and over and over again, until Naropa's sense of yearning for the teachings reached a crescendo. At that moment Tilopa gave Naropa the most profound initiation into the truth-he took off his sandal and slapped Naropa in the face. Suddenly that was it; there was nothing more Naropa needed.

-Tibetan Mondo

You should follow your teacher blindly and believe all the crap he loads on you, because even if it doesn't seem so at the moment, it will eventually lead you to your goal.
I bet some lazy pseudo-guru made that story up, so that he could keep using his students!
That certainly wasn't my cup of tea (or soap)

I have to admit, I don't really see the wisdom of that.

most probable ending:
"there was nothing more Naropa needed...so he left, never to return."

None of us has reached enlightenment (that I know of), so none of us knows if the 12 years following Tilopa was worth it for Naropa. Maybe this was the only way Naropa could reach the truth.

I don't think this story shoudld bring a criticism of Tilopa, who was trying to teach Naropa, but a criticism of Naropa, who took so long to figure it out. He recieved beatings by kitchen staff for 12 years, but it only took 1 hit from Tilopa?? Maybe Naropa was looking in the wrong direction.

Or maybe I'm confused as everybody else on this one.

You guys and girls get another 24 on day 9.

I want to hear something, even if you don't get it, say so.

Yeah, I understood it too, but I can't explain it either!
Hey, this is easy, why haven't I thought of this