References compiled from the Agni Yoga Series
207. The Cosmos is reflected in the pupil of every eye.
And God dwells in every heart.
Woe to those who expel God.
Better never to know than to betray.
282. We teach only those who knock.
Firmly will We reject all traitors.
343. They boast that they receive messages from Us,
Yet have not renounced a single habit.
Their steps are lagging in doubt,
And their words are bitter with treason.
They bathe in a puddle and mistake it for an ocean.
Beware especially of treason.
382. Chiefly, beware of treason and light-mindedness —
Out of light-mindedness is treason born.
II:VII:18. If We notice the lameness of a coworker, We still do not replace him without the expressed desire of the elders. But if the spirit of the chosen ones recognizes a treason toward the work, then let them address Us, saying, “Thou, Our Sponsor, Who have given pledge, replace the coworker.” This will mean that a link of the chain will be unlocked, and the consciousness of the chosen ones will be freed from the effects of the aura of the departing one. But the departing one takes upon himself his own fate, for everyone is free to build his own house.
III:V:17. I shall tell the wavering one that he must beware of becoming a traitor, because the fate of even a small traitor is horrible!
236. It may be asked what to do with traitors. Liars and sluggards are easy to expel, but it is impossible not to suppress treason.
We may cite a case when one of Our coworkers permitted treason. The sentinel on guard said to him: “Be your own judge.” As if nothing had happened, the traitor smirked at him and went on living. But in a year, deprived of sleep, he awaited death, fearing it. Fear of death is the weightiest self-judgment. Fear of death shuns growth and envies each one who welcomes a change of life. An indescribable terror is the fear of death; it is not a spur to flight, but a freezing paralysis. One may say to the potential traitor: “Beware the fear of death.”
51. It is right to remember that work with Us has but a single direction—that of co-measurement and goal-fitness. The one who betrays his path is simply bereft of these qualities, and his fate is like that of a kitten at sea.
98. It is a most heinous treason to know the Teaching and not apply it. Abuse of the Teaching is worse than death of the spirit, because by this act one exiles himself from cooperation and dooms himself to Saturn.
108. Who is the traitor? The slanderer, the one who fails to speak, the one who misappropriates, the hypocrite, the denier, and the one desiring the downfall of the Teaching.
109. The heart knows its friends! Therefore, carefully examine your friends lest you admit into your heart a casual passer-by. The Teacher is your closest friend. Do not add to His burden.
211. The Druid Mother safeguarded against distortion the teaching entrusted to her. So shall the Mother of Agni Yoga safeguard the Teaching from malicious misrepresentation. However difficult the fiery path of Truth, service in vigilance permits no treason. The sun-sword does not falter in the hand nor does the knee bend to untruth. Thus must be understood the Teaching that brings with it the forging of a new life. It says: “You have heard; you must understand that from this moment you have accepted responsibility for any distortion!”
403. It is essential not to mislead newcomers into thinking that the Teaching of Agni Yoga is easy. Truly, it is not easy. ... Do not bring weak ones near, for they cannot hold on to the treasure. It is better to entrust the task only to those few who will be able to make right decisions for correct action. They will learn to love the difficulties and will not betray.
157. You understand what each apostate inflicts upon the Teacher. If a special ray is assigned to each disciple, the severing of this thread must have a reaction. It is not without reason that the Teacher insistently questions the knocking ones, “Art thou not a traitor?” The severing of the thread between the Teacher and the disciple can be achieved only by a slow process, but impetuous betrayal is usually very painful to the Teacher and to the traitor. Verily, the traitor’s reason becomes obscured, and through the wound caused by the broken thread obsession occurs most easily. One should consider this process of betrayal as a physical danger, not to speak of the spiritual consequence. One should ponder how cautiously one must select disciples in order not to contribute to cosmic harm. Hence, each Teaching gives strong examples of betrayal. For betrayal there is no need to be precisely a Devadatta or a Judas. Even without these prototypes space is filled with fractured rays.
218. One must remember that disparagement of Hierarchy is treason; that indifference toward Hierarchy is treason; that a negligent attitude toward all that pertains to Hierarchy is treason. Thus, We affirm that responsibility must be realized for each spoken word, for each deed and each action.
250. Forgetfulness, distraction, duplicity, curiosity, belong to the imperfections which must be eradicated. Any of these qualities may be regarded as treason, for out of them issues the lowest. One should understand how unavoidable for oneself are their consequences. A small consciousness is engulfed in mistakes and, trying to justify itself—in other words to lie to itself, actually sinks to the bottom. It can be observed through many lives how the garden of effects blossoms. Sooner or later one must be convinced of the harm of mistakes. The main touchstone will be the question, “Is there no treason?” One must in the end realize how manifold is treason. Besides the classical kiss, there may be found many subtle aspects of treason.
440. Great firmness, great determination must be evidenced when the goal is communion with Us. But even a minor treason generates numerous calamities. I warn those who have ears.
59. Three circumstances can burden karma especially. The first—the denial of the Teacher; the second—the suspicion that the contact with Hierarchy can bring harm; the third—shrinking from a mission of responsibility. Only the heart can whisper the beginning of denial, of suspicion, of retreat. He who has many times betrayed the Teacher begins in madness to assert that he never even thought of treason and did not think of retreat; an obscured mind may invent a thousand justifications to conceal that which has long since been inscribed in the scroll of karma. It is better not to approach than to manifest apostasy! The night is not dispelled for the apostate! Yet this is not a punishment, it is but the consequence of the sowing! The heart knows how to discern the seed of treason.
573. The correct measure of giving is the criterion of love and responsibility. To give too little is contrary to love, but it is no better to give too much. Niggardliness is unworthy, but generosity that leads even to treason is not goal-fitting. As insufficient food leads to hunger, so excessive food leads to poisoning. It can be stated without exaggeration that the extent of treason has increased considerably due to excessive giving. ... No logic will safeguard the giving one from excess, but the heart knows this heavenly balance.
590. Of traitors one must say with sorrow—they have died forever. The seed of the spirit will not withstand the burden of treason--this abomination.
245. To give away the key not according to the level of consciousness means to act as a traitor.
442. One of the most difficult qualities is to be able to refrain from divulging that which is not predestined to be divulged, in order to avoid inflicting harm. The example of Aeschylus is instructive. The elements precipitate themselves upon him who forces them out of the state of conformity. It is impossible to save such a light-minded traitor. You know that similar betrayals are committed in small matters as well as great, and many of them not from malice but from thoughtlessness. It does not matter how the cage of a savage beast came to be open.
444. Ponder that Karma does not by-pass traitors. Not vengeance but justice is irrevocable.
471. There was a time when the earth opened and swallowed up traitors. Who then can picture the tenfold worse fate of contemporary traitors? They themselves least of all understand it. An evil destiny! The manifestation grows, and subterranean wrath is growling.
474. Let us say to all traitors—you have convicted yourselves. The fate of traitors is indeed self-imposed. Unendurable is the yoke of a traitor. Whither then so many unfortunate ones? They are disguised as beggars, thieves, murderers. Usually in their pouch are to be found old debts. The traitors do not understand what debts they are paying. But manifestly they bear the weight of payment.
151. The names of traitors are also recorded in the history of mankind. But where can traitors hide in the Subtle World, when their memory has been clarified? Not shame before others, but the unquenchable bitterness of infamy in the heart drives the traitors into ice and flame. And where are those who whispered treacheries into their ears? Why do they not succor their issue? They do not seek them out in the darkness. Terrible is the condition of traitors—murderers of body and spirit!