In the Buddha’s famous and dramatic
Fire Sermon he says: “All is burning.” Last
Sunday I had a lesson on this very theme, and not just intellectually but very
much in the material domain. Moments after our Sunday morning meditation
someone in the congregation noticed flames on the far side of the our second
floor courtyard. I got up and looked and as it didn’t seem too serious I and a
few others went upstairs to get the garden hose. While they attached it to the
bathroom tap I climbed out the refectory window and began hosing the flames.
Meanwhile, the congregation quickly filed downstairs and left the building.
Unbeknown to me and the three others who were helping me the fire in the ground
floor restaurant was already burning fiercely and spreading quickly. Within
five minutes I was being showered with burning ash and choked by smoke and as
the flames were clearly becoming a conflagration I decided it was time to
leave. I ran (no time for mindful walking!) up to the third floor where my room
is to shut the windows in the hope that my large library might be saved, and ran down to the main hall
to find it dark, the lights having gone out and no light coming through the by
now smoke-blackened windows. Padma, Vincent and Nam Kin were looking grim and close to panic. “We’re surrounded!”
Nam Kin said. We ran to the library and then to the computer room, both facing
the main road, but only a menacing red
glow was coming through the windows. The stairwell leading downstairs
had been completely filled with smoke only five minutes before, but when we
looked again we saw that someone who had ran through it earlier had left the door open and the draft had now cleared some of the
smoke. We decided to make a dash for it. We emerged to a much relieved crowd,
some of whom were in tears thinking that we had all perished. The police were
already on the scene holding back the crowds and questioning us as to whether
there was anyone still in the building. Held up by the traffic jam on Balestier Rd the fire brigade only arrived
after we had emerged from the flames.
Given that these events only
happened a few days ago and we are occupied with police reports, getting mail
redirected, insurance matters, etc we have as yet have given little thought to the future of our society, the BDMS. Let’s
see how things unfold.
It only remains to thank the many
friends and even many strangers from as far away as Germany, the US, Australia
and India for their concern, sympathy and offers of help. On behalf of the BDMS
thanks very much.
9 comments:
Looking at these photos is shocking. It was only late last year I was staying with you there!
I'm happy to hear you're okay.
Burning with desire.
I'm very relieved and happy to hear you are OK. I hope the library made it, too.
I am shocked Bhante ! I hope you are well ... our every prayers and dedications for yours and the society's safety and well-being: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha !
bb & CAS
As I read that, I was hoping it was an April fools joke, given the date of April 1. Glad to hear you and the others are all okay!
Thank goodness for members like Padma that go about quietly catering to the needs of the others, that the fire was noticed in the nick of time. Otherwise everyone paying attention to the sermon might not have made it out without a scratch or worse!_/\_
I'm really glad no one was hurt. The fire looks to have really caught hold in those pictures. Very scary indeed! I hope that the library was saved.
Nice to hear that all BDMS members present are safe.
Hope that BDMS's assets are not significantly affected.
By the way, kindly contact me via following email, bev8ever@icloud.com
Have a nice day.
With Metta,
Mr. & Mrs. Eddy Tan
Dear Bhante, glad to know that none is injured! I hope the library is not damaged.
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