Material world is compared to a forest fire. No one goes to light a fire in the forest, it takes place automatically. In the same way, various fires appear in this material world out of nowhere and constantly torment us.
The Forest Fires:
The FIRE of Sense Gratification:
Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura compares the desires of sense gratification to a blazing fire.
saṁsāra-biṣānale, dibā-niśi hiyā jwale,
jurāite nā koinu upāy
Day and night my heart burns in the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not accepted the means for relieving it.
The cravings of the senses never seem to end. The eccentricities of mind make us go often crazy and put us in compromising situations. And the irony is that we keep on pouring clarified butter of our desires to keep the fire steadily burning.
The FIRE of Diverse Opinion:
Once, when Krishna was playing with his cowherd boyfriends in Vrindavan, a huge forest fire arose from nowhere. The cows, who had gone deep into the forest, were crying out to Krishna for help. The cowherds panicked. They were concerned about the safety of the cows. As they went to protect the cows, it appeared that the forest fire would devour them as well along with the cows. They all cried to Krishna for help. Krishna told all boys to simply close their eyes. As soon as they closed their eyes, Krishna swallowed the entire forest fire within a moment. When they opened their eyes, they saw that not only themselves, but the cows also were saved from the great danger.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura would say that this fire represents “inter-communal discord” among the Vaishnava community. Many a times, others may have an opinion different than ours, and that has the potential to erupt into a blazing fire. Lord Caitanya compares bhakti to a creeper. The forest fire of internal communal discord has the capacity to burn thousands of creepers.
Sheltered in a FOREST FIRE?
Can a forest fire give one shelter? Whenever anyone sees a big fire, we naturally wish to run far from the source of that fire. But interestingly, we are accustomed to getting burnt again and again in the forest fire of material existence. And the most astonishing thing is that we often like the burning sensation. We don’t intensely desire to get out of the blazing fire.
We take shelter of innumerable things of this world. The things of this world are incapable of providing us warmth and coolness. Rather, they only burn us. If we don’t possess them, we burn with a desire to possess. And if someone else possesses them, we burn in the fire of envy.
Even while practicing Krishna Consciousness, we may entertain the fires of diverse opinions, our rebellious mentality, etc. that have the potential not only to destroy our creeper, but also can affect many other creepers take inspiration from us.
Shrila Prabhupada instituted a daily mangal arati wherein in the very beginning of the day, our prayers begin with the recitation of samsara davanala lidha loka. Davanala means a forest fire. We ought to remind ourselves daily that this world is a forest fire. Rather than entering this forest fire and getting burnt in samsara, there is a great need for us to take shelter of the forest of grace.
The Forest of GRACE:
What is this forest of grace? Interestingly, Vrinda-van is also a forest (van). But in this forest, the fire of material existence doesn’t exist. There is no discord, and the grace of the presiding king and queen pervades the entire place.
Should we Fear this Forest?
Generally, one fears to go alone in a forest because of the presence of dangerous birds and beasts. But Vrindavan is a forest of a different kind.
In Vrindavan, even the animals that are naturally inimical to one another live in a perfect harmony.
In Vrindavan, even the gopis, who are abala (women), fearlessly traversed in the middle of the night to meet Krishna. They weren’t bitten by snakes, or plundered by thieves. Krishna is the greatest thief in Vrindavan. Who has the power to overpower Krishna?
In Vrindavan, every tree is a wish fulfilling tree. What is there to fear in a dense forest?
Shrila Prabhupada writes, “Although one may complain that no kalpa-vṛkṣas, wish-fulfilling trees, exist in Vrindavan, when the Six Gosvāmīs were there, kalpa-vṛkṣas were present. It is not that one can simply go to such a tree and make demands; one must first become a devotee. The Gosvāmīs would live under a tree for one night only, and the trees would satisfy all their desires.” CC Adi Lila Introduction.
And most importantly, in this forest, Radha and Krishna perform Their divine pastimes. In a place where the Lord of our life resides, what can be fearsome for us?
When Krishna disappeared from the rasa dance in the middle of the night, the gopis weren’t distressed because they were left alone due to which they got frightened. The only cause of their distress was separation from Krishna.
What if a Forest Fire comes about?
In this same Vrindavan, Krishna swallowed the forest fire. Not once, but twice as mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Once as described above, and the second time, when all the Vrajvasis had stayed back in the forest on the day Kaliya’s pride was subdued.
That time as well, Krishna swallowed the entire forest fire.
When we seek Krishna’s grace, surrendering unto Him just like the cowherd boys and the Vrajvasis, Krishna swallows the forest fire.
What does swallowing the forest fire mean?
It doesn’t mean that Krishna will make the material world free of suffering for us.
Rather, Krishna will give us the strength to go beyond sufferings. In other words, His grace will overflood our hearts to such a degree that the forest fires will hold no meaning in our life. Therefore, Prabhodananda Saraswati says, viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate. For a devotee, everything in this world becomes pleasing. He gets unlimited opportunities for utilizing the things of this world in Krishna’s service.
Shrila Prabhupada writes, “The ocean of material nescience is compared to a blazing fire, but to a devotee this blazing fire is insignificant because he is completely absorbed in devotional service. Although the material world is blazing fire, to a devotee it appears full of pleasure (viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate).” SB 4.9.11 P
