What is the defect of being like a vessel filled with poison?

The defect of being a poisonous or filthy vessel is like when one pours something or places food or drink in a container that is either dirty or contains poison. Although the vessel holds the food or drink that is placed inside, the food and drink becomes unusable because it has been filled with filth or poison. 



This is an analogy for when one's body is physically present among the ranks of listeners to the Dharma teaching, one listens well to it and one even remembers it so that one can repeat what was said to others, but it is useless for one's own benefit, because while listening one has been motivated by one or more of the three poisons. 

This motivation has polluted one's act of listening to the Dharma so that what one hears is of no help to one's mind, and even beyond that, may contribute to the ruination of oneself and others.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

From teaching on Torch of Certainty
by Jamgon Lodro Thaye 

at 31st Kagyu Monlam

Session 3