Stones and Thorns
Toronto, Ontario
I found the verse from today’s lesson very interesting. From Canto 5 of the book Bhagavatam we have Jada Bharat, a very simple – profiled man who took to the working class speaking with articulate eloquence to a king by the name of Raghugana. In chapter 13 he speaks about life and compares it to a traveler whose feet are harassed by stone fragments that land in his foot wear.
This can be extremely aggravating, I can say, based on my experience. When a stone gets into your sneakers or sandals and starts rolling around inside the agitation can be unbearable depending on where it falls and on which part of the foot. What eventually happens is that the walker or traveler must address the problem by coming to a halt, undoing the shoe-lace or strap and discharging the culprit.
Chances are that there will be a new stone that will fall in place to rock n roll you in a repeat performance. In this way life goes on with the good and the bad in a circle game.
“And the seasons they go round and round
And the pointed ponies go up and down.”
Joni Mitchel
Another analogy which Jada Bharat draws out to liken life to is the thorns that one contacts while traveling up the hill or over a mountain. Anytime one traverses through thick bush sooner or later you get pinned by a thicket or scratched by prickly objects of all kinds. Those same sharp bushes may blossom fragrant flowers, if not will release a scent that arouse any dull nostril.
Here again a traveler’s hassel is revealed in the eye – opening text the Bhagavatam. Life is a duality.
9 KM
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