Arjuna Quote of The Week In Memory of Evelyn Howe (1967-2013)

May 9, 2013 In memory of Evelyn Howe (1967-2013)

“Every day Death strikes all around us, yet we live as if we were immortal.”

Arjuna, from the Mahabharata, circa 400 BC

Sometimes described as the Sanskrit equivalent of the Iliad, the Mahabharata is an epic poem that tells the story of the Kurukshetra War, which may have occurred as early as 2400 BC. Seven-hundred of the nearly 200,000 verses form the Bhagavad Gita, sacred to Hindus. The hero of the epic, the warrior prince Arjuna, is befriended by the god Krishna who aids him in his battle for the succession to the throne of Hastinapura.  Among his many trials, Arjuna is asked a series of riddles in order to gain access to water for himself and his brothers who are dying of thirst. When asked what is the greatest wonder in the world he answers with the quote above and is allowed to drink.

Evelyn Howe’s friends describe her as a woman who lived life fully, as if she knew what Arjuna realized so many centuries ago. Her passing reminds us that we all hang by a thread, but also that we have the choice and the power to make the most of our limited days.

Greg Bover