The Clay and Pot analogy appears in Vedic literature, particularly the Upanishads (छान्दोग्योपनिषद्).
Pot has a form (रूप) and name (नाम) while depending entirely on clay. Clay can exist independently, while pot can’t.
The order in which we see things matters.
The knowledge is in seeing the clay first and the pot next. Also, this analogy applies to almost all facets of life.
While a loaf of bread is bread in shared knowledge and meat is meat, nutritionists see them first as carbohydrates and proteins and then as bread and meat, respectively.
The order in which we see things matters.
It appears at times that people buy goods and services based on flashing brochures and expensive showrooms. While the ambiance has some value, the real reason any business transaction happens is "Trust."
This trust is the clay and appears in different names, like brand value. A company that demonstrates trust consistently can confidently operate in an infinite time horizon. It is for this reason people buy products from Microsoft, buy stuff from Amazon, and despite negative publicity of making the world obese, we eat at McDonald's. What McDonald's sells is not particularly great; the food is not very healthy, yet one can trust them for consistency and quality of whatever has been offered.
If you focus on trustworthiness first and appearance second, chances of getting fooled are low. Likewise, subconsciously, buyers of your products and services seek features that signal trust, so one should likely work on those elements first.
This is why Toyota sells. Consistency, Efficiency, and Trust.
The order in which we see things matters.
When people have conversations, it appears like an exchange of sentences. However, something more profound is happening underneath the web of words and exclamations!
If you have some idea in your head, you are alone with that, and when you speak out, and someone says "I agree" and adds further to that, it is that support people look for in a conversation. It is always delightful to find someone like-minded who agrees with you. On the other end of the spectrum, people debate and are exposed to opposing ways of seeing things. In debates, people are primarily looking to sharpen their arguments and grow. And there is the third type of conversation in which we indulge to get entertained, say with someone with a great sense of humor.
If you can see first that people are looking for one of the three: i) Support, ii) to learn and grow, or iii) to be entertained in any conversation, you would have seen the "clay" that forms the basis of any conversation.
Almost always, something else is happening than what meets the eye. When you can see first what is underneath, you can give any form to what is on the surface.
For this reason, just going one layer below the surface has tremendous value in professional and personal life.
When Celion Dion is singing, "My heart will go on and on.." what she is singing is this: "E D# D# E F# G# F# G#". You can change the lyrics to "My life will go on, or My Ship will go on, " and this won't make the song any less melodious.
Musicians first hear notes and then hear the words ( lyrics ).
The order in which we see things matters!