pico Iyer’s Journey Through fire: A Story of Loss, Liberation, and Renewal
On a quiet summer evening in June 1990, Pico Iyer sat in his family home in Santa Barbara, California, when suddenly, he was surrounded by walls of flames five stories high. Thirty-four years later, the acclaimed author returned to Southern California to share how that devastating wildfire transformed his life, leading him to embrace simplicity, silence, solitude, and love.
Iyer’s story resonated deeply with the community at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, a town recently scarred by the deadly eaton Fire. Many attendees clutched his latest book, Aflame: Learning from Silence, its fiery orange cover a poignant reminder of the flames that once consumed his world.
During a heartfelt conversation with violinist and social justice advocate Vijay Gupta,Iyer reflected on the fire’s aftermath. “Soon after the fire, all I could see was loss,” he admitted. “But now, I see all those doors that have gradually opened.”
The fire, Iyer said, “liberated” him. “To write a different way,to live more simply,to remember what is really vital in life. Today, I wouldn’t say it was a calamity, but a dramatic wake-up call for me.”
His words struck a chord with Jeremy Hunter, an Altadena resident whose historic home was destroyed in the Eaton Fire. Hunter described feeling both purified and grieved by the loss. “I guess the key is to let that pain pass through you,” he said. “That way, you’re less afraid of the pain.”
In 1990,Iyer,then a 33-year-old columnist for Time magazine,grabbed his mother’s aging cat and his latest manuscript,jumped into his car,and attempted to flee the inferno. Trapped for three hours, he watched as flames reduced his childhood home to ash—furniture, stuffed toys, notes for his next three books—all gone. He escaped thanks to a Good Samaritan with a water truck.
That night, shaken but safe, Iyer penned an essay titled California: in the Blazing Eye of the Inferno, which appeared in Time magazine. He concluded it with a poem by 17th-century Japanese poet Mizuta Masahide:
My house burned down.
Now I can better see
The rising moon.
The fire became a catalyst for Iyer’s change, leading him to a Benedictine monastery where he found solace in silence. His memoir, Aflame, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unexpected gifts that can emerge from tragedy.
Key Takeaways from Pico Iyer’s Story
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Event | 1990 wildfire in santa Barbara destroyed Iyer’s home and possessions. |
| Impact | Led Iyer to embrace simplicity, silence, and solitude. |
| Memoir | aflame: Learning from Silence explores his journey of renewal. |
| Community Connection | Resonated with Pasadena residents affected by the 2025 Eaton Fire. |
| Ideology | Destruction can bring clarity and liberation. |
Iyer’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of unimaginable loss, there is potential for growth and renewal. As he continues to share his journey, his words offer hope and inspiration to those navigating their own paths through adversity.Finding Solace in Impermanence: How Pico Iyer’s Spiritual Journey in Big Sur Offers Lessons on Coping with Loss
In the face of devastating wildfires that have ravaged California, author Pico Iyer has found profound lessons in impermanence and resilience through his experiences at the New Camaldoli Hermitage, a Benedictine monastery in Big Sur. Nestled in the Santa Lucia Mountains, this spiritual retreat has become a sanctuary for Iyer, offering him clarity and peace amidst life’s uncertainties.
A Sanctuary in the Flames
Iyer’s connection to the hermitage began after a harrowing encounter with a wildfire. Seeking refuge, he stayed at the monastery, where he paid $30 a day for a room, meals, and the transformative gift of silence. The serene grounds, with their tolling bells, lavender-covered hills, and panoramic ocean views, provided a stark contrast to the chaos of the outside world.
“The tranquility of the grounds and the compassion of the monks proved life-changing,” Iyer shared. The monks’ austere lifestyle, rooted in the teachings of St. Romuald, taught him that “luxury is defined not by what you have but what you don’t need.” This philosophy inspired Iyer to simplify his life, moving into a small apartment in Nara, Japan, and living without a cell phone or car.
Embracing Impermanence
The hermitage has also helped Iyer confront the inevitability of loss. Just as his family home was destroyed by fire, his beloved Big Sur retreat remains vulnerable to wildfires. Yet, the monks’ unwavering calm in the face of danger has left a lasting impression.
“There is no safe place in this world that is immune to impermanence or reality,” Iyer said. “The fact that these monks live unflinchingly in the midst of that acute vulnerability and go about their regular buisness even as they are encircled by flames, is powerful to witness.”
His book’s title, inspired by a quote from early Christian hermit Abba Joseph, reflects this ethos: “If you will, you can become all aflame.” Iyer interprets this as a call to kindle internal resilience in response to external challenges.
Lessons from the Eaton Fire
The recent Eaton Fire, which claimed 17 lives and destroyed thousands of structures, has brought Iyer’s message of resilience to the forefront. At a book signing event at Vroman’s, he encountered survivors who shared their stories of loss. One woman,who had lost everything,remained remarkably composed.
“I was taken aback and as we continued the conversation, she seemed so strong, clear and unrattled,” Iyer recalled. “I was touched and inspired by her presence.”
For glendale resident Suzanne McDonnell, whose friends lost their homes in the fire, Iyer’s talk felt providential. “There can be so much to learn from his viewpoint,” she said.
A Spiritual Response to Crisis
Iyer’s journey underscores the power of spirituality in navigating life’s challenges. While he identifies as non-religious, his experiences with the Benedictine monks, the Dalai Lama, and even Leonard cohen, who lived as a Zen Buddhist monk, have deeply influenced his outlook.“it’s about kindling the internal fires as a response to the external fires,” Iyer explained. “My monk friends see fire as an act of God, which is not something they quarrel with, but simply act with.”
Key Takeaways from Iyer’s journey
| Aspect | Insight |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Simplicity | Luxury is defined by what you don’t need, not what you have. |
| Impermanence | No place is immune to change; resilience lies in acceptance. |
| spirituality | Internal resilience can be kindled through spiritual practices. |
| Community | Shared experiences of loss can inspire strength and clarity. |
A Call to Reflect
As wildfires continue to threaten communities across California, Iyer’s story offers a poignant reminder of the importance of finding inner peace amidst external chaos. His journey at the New Camaldoli Hermitage serves as a testament to the transformative power of silence,simplicity,and spiritual reflection.
For those grappling with loss, Iyer’s message is clear: “Being stuck in that fire for three hours, I had a visceral sense of how powerful those flames were. But then, coming that close to losing my life made losing my possessions much easier.”
In a world increasingly defined by uncertainty, Iyer’s insights provide a beacon of hope, urging us to embrace impermanence and find strength in the face of adversity.The Associated Press (AP) continues to deepen its commitment to extensive and nuanced reporting on religion, thanks to a meaningful collaboration with The Conversation US and funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.This partnership underscores the importance of exploring the intersection of faith,culture,and society in today’s rapidly evolving world.
The AP’s religion coverage, supported by this initiative, aims to shed light on diverse spiritual practices and their impact on communities. As part of this effort, the AP has produced content that delves into the sacred traditions of various faiths, offering readers a window into the profound ways religion shapes lives.
One such example is the exploration of the Native American Church and the meaning of peyote in its spiritual practices. This coverage highlights the deep-rooted connection between indigenous traditions and the natural world, emphasizing how these practices foster resilience and hope even in the face of adversity.
The AP’s dedication to this subject matter is further bolstered by its collaboration with the Knight Foundation,which has expanded its capacity to deliver in-depth reporting on state and local news.This synergy ensures that the AP remains a trusted source for stories that matter, from global religious movements to grassroots spiritual practices.
Below is a summary of key points related to the AP’s religion coverage:
| Key Aspect | Details |
|——————————-|—————————————————————————–|
| Collaboration | AP partners with The Conversation US and receives funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. |
| Focus | In-depth reporting on religion,spirituality,and their societal impact |
| Example coverage | Native American Church and the sacred use of peyote |
| Additional Support | knight foundation’s investment strengthens AP’s U.S. news report |
This initiative not only enriches the AP’s reporting but also invites readers to engage with stories that illuminate the human experiance through the lens of faith. By exploring the sacred and the spiritual, the AP continues to foster understanding and connection in an increasingly complex world.
For more insights into the AP’s religion coverage, visit their dedicated section on Native American spirituality and its broader impact on communities.
