We didn’t start the fire..

The Fires of Samsara

‘We didn't start the fire.
It was always burning, since the world's been turning.’

—Billy Joel

Samsara:
The World or ‘Samsara’ is the material, physical space around us which we currently inhabit. It is organized yet chaotic, beautiful yet miserable, rewarding yet devastating, intelligent yet maddening; all at the same time. This complex state of affairs of the samsara is evident to those who see it through the spiritual vision; the vision honed by scriptures (Jnana Chakshu). Such enlightened souls see the world as a horrific state of entrapment away from our original, superior, blissful position.

The Vedic scriptures describe such a worldly existence as ‘Davanala’ or forest fire. This blazing fire of material existence is consuming us in its wake of steady destruction and gradual devastation. However, there is a purpose of this world and our entrapment here. Simply put ‘there is a method to this madness’.

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Its many fires:

This material creation of Lord, although seemingly confusing is ingeniously designed to fulfill a very simple purpose. The world burns, gives miseries and numerous disturbances to purify us of our attachments here, to cure our addiction to the matter and to frustrate our desires; so, we take shelter of the liberated souls who can get us out of here. Some fortunate people who have recognized their desperate situation start looking for the exit door. Whereas most of the ordinary people are still busy watching the movie even though the space around them burns.

Those ready to exit and cut off their ties with the samsara and its many discomforts are provided with a spiritual master; a liberated soul and a pure devotee to show them the exit route. This is the situation of a guru, a pure devotee of the lord who deposits us back at the lotus feet of the lord. It is said ‘A single pure devotee of the Lord can deliver all the fallen souls of the world.’  

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What makes it turn:

It is also said that ‘unless there is a pure devotee of the Lord on the planet, it cannot turn’. Therefore, there must always be at least one pure devotee of the Lord on the planet’ to take back the fallen souls who have decided to return home. These pure souls are the ones that extinguish the forest fire of this world and make the world turn to fulfill its purpose of reformation. I pray and hope that all those reading this are ready to plan their exit strategy and looking for that enlightened, pure soul who will show them the path.