Are We Looking for Snails?

Some herons were sitting by the side of a boggy pond. A swan happened to pass by, while a heron asked the swan, "Why are your eyes, face and toes etc. of red color? Who are you?"

The swan replied, "I am a swan".

The heron, "Where do you come from?

The swan, "From the lake Manas Sarovar"

The heron, "What are the things over there?"

The swan, "There is a garden of golden lotuses. The water of the beautiful lake is nectarine. All around it there are various types of trees and plants of fruits and flowers, beautifully arranged on jewel-bedecked platforms. We can take you there, if you like to."

The heron, "Are there any big-size snails?"

The swan, "No"

At this, the herons ridiculed the swan in big laughter and said, " Oh damn it! When there are no snails, we can't consider that to be a lake! No one should bother to approach there."

This is the real irony with all of us. If we are offered with something nice and far better than what we are using, we don't get inclined to accept it, as we are very much attached to what we have been using. The material attachment has paved its way, very deep in our heart, but the dilemma is that, we have to take leave from all these material things in the coming future. They are not our permanent companion.


The transcendental happiness derived by performance of devotion (Dharmayama Susukham) is far more superior and permanent in comparison to the temporary and little happiness derived materially. One who knows the taste of Rasagulla (a sweet) would never prefer it over a sugar candy. Similarly, one who understands the excellence of spirituality would never wonder on the perishable material pleasures (Adhanatavant Kaunteya, Na Teshu Ramate budaha- B.Gita 5.22), which are nothing, but the root cause of all the miseries (Dukh yonaya eve te ).

Let's change our habits of hankering for the pleasures derived form material things (just like heron) and act to get the best of pleasures, the spiritual pleasure. Until unless we change our ways, we would be deceiving no one else, but ourselves! Yes, do introspect; are we really looking for snails??