# Time & Death > [!summary] > *Time and death are powerful agents of material nature. These analogies illuminate their relentless nature and how the wise respond.* ## Serpent Approaching ### Time Slowly Consumes Time is like a serpent slowly approaching—unseen, it reduces the duration of life without our noticing until it is too late. ![[sb/3/30/2#purport|serpent]] —SB [[sb/3/30/2|3.30.2]] Purport See also: [[sb/1/13/17|SB 1.13.17]] ## Fire Blazing ### Death Devouring All Death is like a blazing fire that consumes everything without discrimination—the wise, the foolish, the rich, the poor all fall prey. ![[sb/3/30/1#purport|fire]] —SB [[sb/3/30/1|3.30.1]] Purport ## Butcher Approaching Animals ### Unconcerned Until Too Late People see others dying but remain unconcerned, like animals watching a butcher approach—each thinks "not me, not yet." ![[sb/7/9/41#purport|butcher]] —SB [[sb/7/9/41|7.9.41]] Purport ## Ripened Fruit Falling ### Inevitable Outcome Death is as certain as a ripened fruit falling from the tree—once born, death is inevitable. The only uncertainty is when. ![[sb/10/1/38#purport|fruit]] —SB [[sb/10/1/38|10.1.38]] Purport ## Dream Ending ### Waking from Material Life Death is like waking from a dream—everything experienced in the dream ends, and one finds oneself in a different situation. ![[sb/4/22/27#purport|dream]] —SB [[sb/4/22/27|4.22.27]] Purport ## Wheel of Time ### Rotating Without Cessation Time rotates like an inexorable wheel—the six seasons come and go, taking away the duration of life with each turn. ![[sb/3/11/14#purport|wheel]] —SB [[sb/3/11/14|3.11.14]] Purport ## Sun Rising and Setting ### Life Wasting Away Each sunrise and sunset signifies the loss of one more day of life—like merchants watching goods leave without return. ![[sb/2/3/17#purport|sun]] —SB [[sb/2/3/17|2.3.17]] Purport ## Changing Bodies Like Clothes ### Soul Moving On At death, the soul changes bodies like a person changes worn-out garments—the wise do not lament for this natural process. ![[bg/2/22|clothes]] —Bg. [[bg/2/22|2.22]] *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/transmigration|Transmigration]], [[wiki/analogies/soul-body|Soul & Body]], [[wiki/analogies/material-world|Material World]]*