In June 1990, on a serene summer night in Santa Barbara, California, Pico Iyer found himself suddenly engulfed by towering flames that reached five stories high. Fast forward 34 years, Iyer returned to Southern California to reflect on the way that incident reshaped his worldview, guiding him toward values such as simplicity, solitude, silence, and love. Speaking to about 80 attendees at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, which recently faced devastation from the Eaton Fire, Iyer shared his deeply personal insights.
Many of the audience members were acutely aware of the ravaging effects of wildfires, holding copies of Iyer’s book with a striking orange cover, titled “Aflame: Learning from Silence.” During an hour-long discussion with Vijay Gupta, a violinist and advocate for social justice, Iyer candidly expressed how initially, the fire he experienced struck him as a complete loss. However, he now perceives it as a transformative episode that opened “all those doors that have gradually opened.” Behind them hung a poster for the prophetic novel “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler, which depicts a bleak future where Los Angeles suffers from climate change and other crises.
Iyer described the fire as a liberating force in his life, suggesting that it steered him towards appreciating what truly matters. “It pushed me to write in a new way, to value simplicity, and to reflect on life’s essentials. Today, I wouldn’t characterize it as a disaster; rather, it became a profound wake-up call,” he noted. The sentiments resonated deeply with Jeremy Hunter, who lost his historic home in the recent Eaton Fire. While Hunter described his feelings as a blend of purification from letting go and mourning what he lost, he found inspiration in Iyer’s words and is now compelled to chart a new path for his family. “The key is to allow that pain to flow through you,” he remarked. “In doing so, you’re less afraid of it.”
In 1990, Iyer was a 33-year-old author and columnist for Time magazine. When the fire broke out, he hastily gathered his mother’s elderly cat and his latest manuscript, attempting to escape but was blocked for three hours, watching his childhood home get reduced to ashes along with his belongings, including notes for his upcoming books. A Good Samaritan with a water truck ultimately helped him out of the situation. That night, shaken but safe, he wrote an essay that later appeared in Time, concluding with a haiku by the 17th-century Japanese poet Mizuta Masahide, emphasizing how destruction can lead to newfound insight:
“My house burned down.
Now I can better see
The rising moon.”
Eight months after the incident, Iyer heeded a friend’s advice to stay for a few days at the New Camaldoli Hermitage, a Benedictine monastery located in the serene Santa Lucia Mountains of Big Sur, California. Renowned for its austere lifestyle and commitment to interfaith dialogue, the hermitage allowed him to stay for $30 a day, which included meals and a place to rest. The tranquil environment, filled with tolling bells, sprawling lavender hills, and breathtaking ocean views, combined with the compassion of the monks, proved to be life-altering. The solitude and silence he found there provided him with clarity regarding his life and career.
Iyer frequently returns to this spiritual sanctuary, which he regards as a reminder of what truly matters. One of his visits inspired him to marry and settle into a modest two-room apartment with his wife in Nara, Japan, where he currently splits his time between Japan and California. Remarkably, he manages to live without a cell phone. The monks imparted wisdom regarding the meaning of luxury, teaching him that it is not about what one possesses but rather, what one can let go of. “Living in that small space doesn’t feel like a compromise; not having a car or a cell phone feels like a luxury instead,” Iyer explained.
Despite not identifying as religious, Iyer described the hermitage as a source of spiritual nourishment. He comes from a Hindu background, with his parents being Indian immigrants and professors who followed the Theosophical tradition, blending both Eastern and Western beliefs. Iyer also shares in his writing about his relationships with figures like the Dalai Lama and Leonard Cohen, who embraced Zen Buddhist monastic life. He acknowledges that while these relationships have elevated his spiritual perspective, the monks and his experience with fire have taught him vital lessons about death and change.
Both his family home and his beloved refuge in Big Sur are subject to the whims of wildfires. “No place can be entirely safe from the reality of change and loss,” he asserted. “Witnessing how these monks live courageously amid such vulnerability, even while surrounded by flames, is truly striking.” The title of his book draws inspiration from a saying by Abba Joseph, a Christian hermit, who advised a fellow monk that one could ignite an inner flame through a fully committed spiritual journey.
“I see it as nurturing my inner fires in response to the external flames,” Iyer remarked. He added that his monk friends perceive fire as a divine element and react with acceptance rather than resistance. Although he still flinches at images of wildfires on television, the harrowing experience of being trapped in flames has altered his perspective on material loss. “After nearly losing my life, losing my belongings seems relatively minor,” he stated.
Many who lined up at Vroman’s for a book signing shared their recent experiences of loss from the Eaton Fire, which claimed at least 17 lives, destroyed thousands of structures, and scorched over 14,000 acres. Iyer began to write words of encouragement for one woman who, despite losing everything, maintained a smile and a positive outlook. “As we conversed, I was struck by her strength, clarity, and grace. I found her presence incredibly moving and inspiring,” he added.
The timing of this book event felt serendipitous to many, including Suzanne McDonnell, a resident of Glendale with friends who lost their homes in the recent fires. “I view it as providential,” she remarked about Iyer’s discussion. “There’s so much potential for hope, even within our suffering.”
