In Search of Enduring Bridges

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As we walk through everyday life, we walk over bridges of various types. Roads and railway tracks—the two most-used means of travel—pass through mountains, forests, countryside and cities over numerous bridges spanning over valleys, rivers, gorges and canals of various types and sizes that come their way. If we are observant enough, we would notice that there could be no road of any type without bridges.

Uneven and rough—that is the surface of earth we inhabit. We cannot level up the whole earth nor does it sound sensible to do so. Moreover even if such a dream could become a reality, it will take away all the beauty of the earth that these uneven surfaces bring. Mankind seems to have understood this simple truth long, long ago when it first discovered the idea of constructing bridges. Irrespective of the surface, rivers, mountains and even oceans, the bridge-solution has been a great aid in making travelling possible and easy. If we look upon life as a journey, accepting the presence of bridges is a natural corollary.

The bridge stands as a perfect metaphor for gaining access to many other issues of life also. A bridge is a structure built over a river or a valley which allows people and vehicles to cross from one side to the other easily. As a metaphor, it means anything—an idea, a system or situation, anything—that helps to cross over any difficulty that we face.

Let us begin with the nearest thing to us—our body. We may not be always aware of this but our body consists of a number of systems such as respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory system and so on. Each of these systems function within a given area of operation. They have certain limits which they are designed not to violate. But, no matter how efficient these systems may work, they cannot produce right state of health until there is some interconnectedness, interrelatedness among them.

They can work meaningfully, contributing to the state of our health, only when there is some kind of inner bridge which helps in crossing over the benefits from one system to another. In absence of this inner bridge, a living body cannot function meaningfully. The benefits of digestive system, for instance, are to be passed on the respiratory system for it to function properly, which in turn helps the digestive system to work effectively. The same holds true for all the body-functions.

This internal cooperation of a living body is often made clearer through andha-pangu-nyaya or the simile of a blind and lame person. All our senses are designed to function in a particular way. They cannot go against their functional limits. Eyes cannot hear. Ears cannot touch. Skin cannot see.

Though each sense organ has its limitations, it works in cooperation with others in order to be useful to us as a whole. This inner cooperation is illustrated through this simile: a lame person, having other healthy senses, was sitting in one place, immobilized by his dysfunctional legs. He wanted to visit places but his inability to walk would not allow him to fulfill his desire.

One day the lame person met a blind man who had healthy legs but he had no vision to help him move freely. Thus both of them entered into a pact: the blind man agreed to carry the lame person on his shoulders. Hence the lame gained 'legs" and the blind obtained 'eyes" and they happily went wherever they wished to go. Similar is the way all our senses function—through mutual understanding and collaboration. So, right within our body exist many bridges or means of connection that help us to live and function effectively.

About the author

Swami Atmashraddhananda

Swami Atmashraddhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and editor of The Vedanta Kesari from the year 2004 .

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