Guru is the potter and the disciple is the pot.
Guru Kumhar shish kumbh hai gadh gadh kadhe khot Antar haath sahaar de baahar mare chot…… - Kabir You must have seen how a potter makes his pots. Kabir observes that the Guru is the potter and the disciple is the pot. The Guru prepares the disciple in the same way the potter makes pots. He makes you ready so that your vessel is ready to receive the divine. If you observe the potter, you will see that although he holds the pot from the inside he keeps beating it from outside. How similar are the Guru’s actions! While holding you from within he keeps raining blows externally. Both are necessary. The pot’s sides are made possible with his supporting hand from inside, or else it will collapse. The external blows make the pot strong enough to retain water. With his grace even these blows will seem delightful to you and you will consider yourself fortunate and blessed. Blows are very essential for strength. The guru will strike you from all directions. This is the real test. As soon as the g...