Escaping from the fire is the chief concern of the wealthy father; it is also the concern of the Buddha. The father ponders seriously how he might be able to rescue his children who refuse to exit the burning building. We too, before we began to study Buddhism, were like the children. We did not realize that we could escape the burning fires of pain, greed, anger, and animality. We may not have even realized that we were suffering, especially if we were in a state of tranquility. But just as the gods in heaven will eventually fall to earth, so too tranquility will eventually change and we will be faced with the stark reality of old age, disease, and death. Nothing remains unchanged forever; all things are subject to decay.

We can either be caught up in despair of the cycle of endless suffering or we may be blind to the eventuality of suffering. In either case the Buddha knows there are raging flames all around us and he wants to save us, or rather provide the means whereby we can save ourselves. First though is to exit the burning house.