In a Zen story, a traveler is chased by a tiger. Frantically, he runs through the bushes and slips over the edge of a steep cliff. While falling, he desperately grabs onto roots sticking out from the rocks. Above him, the tiger growls; below, sharp stones await. His arms grow heavy, and he knows he can’t hold on much longer. Just then, he spots a wild strawberry. He picks it, eats it, and murmurs: Delicious.
Materialists interpret this story as a reminder to savor every moment of life, to enjoy each experience to the fullest, even in the face of danger. However, a student of the Vedas might see it differently. They would suggest the story illustrates how, even when facing death, the uncontrolled senses still seek pleasure, pulling a person towards gratification. Those who lack self-control remain helpless, driven by desires that will guide them into their next life at the moment of death.
The man in the story lacks a spiritual perspective; otherwise, why would he focus on enjoying fleeting sensory pleasure in his final moments? In contrast, Shrimad Bhagavatam tells the story of a king cursed to die within seven days. Rather than clinging to luxury or comfort, the king immediately left everything behind and went to the banks of the Ganges to seek the company of sages. With time running out, he stopped eating and drinking, asking the sages what the best course of action would be, knowing his life was ending.
A Bengali saying tells us that our spiritual progress will be tested at the time of death. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the state of mind at the moment of death determines the soul’s journey into its next body. Therefore, it encourages us to begin spiritual practice without delay, ensuring that we are prepared when the end inevitably comes.