Approach Quote by Bhartrhari
“Those from whom we were born have long since departed, and those with whom we grew up exist only in memory. We, too, through the approach of death, become, as it were, trees growing on the sandy bank of a river.”
About This Quote
Source Poetry: Sanskrit verses attributed to Bhartrhari, 5th century CE
Life is fleeting; we lose loved ones and become like trees by a river, awaiting death.
In simple terms: People die, memories remain, we age.
Key Takeaway
Cherish relationships while alive.
Themes
mortality
memory
impermanence
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- grieving
- legacy planning
- intergenerational storytelling
Key Concepts
Samsara
transience
ephemerality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor those who have passed?
- What does the river metaphor suggest about life's flow?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overlook personal agency in shaping one’s legacy.
