Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, April 5, 2016
1. Be more, more daring; learn how to recognize the date! Brotherhood, 380
2. The judgment of the lightminded revolves like a wheel. A daring one asks for a bow; he will fetch the bird himself. Illumination, I:X:2
3. Daring of the spirit is the beginning of ascent. The manifestation of true daring indicates to the spirit how to affirm the measuring scale of all actions, as well as the direction, because daring admits no faint-heartedness. Daring eradicates all tendency toward betrayal. Whoever has realized in spirit true daring knows the beauty of Service. The daring one knows the path of attainment and fears nothing. His life is filled with devotion to Hierarchy. Each co-worker can reflect upon the beauty of fiery daring, for it frees the spirit from all worldly chains. The daring one is not afraid of solitude, for in spirit he feels a bond with the Hierarchy of Light. The daring one knows that the joy of the spirit is contained only in achievement. The daring one is in need of no human recognition, for his achievement is a crown self-woven by labor and striving. Only the heroes of spirit know true attainment. Thus, the daring one will be freed from selfhood. He knows true Service for the good of mankind. On the path to the Fiery World let us remember daring. Fiery World III, 55
4. Precisely, without fear and as much as possible doing things oneself. Correct is the manifestation of personal responsibility. Neither miracles, nor quotations, nor actions; but affirmation strengthened by personal example. Even a mistake in daring is more easily remedied than is abject mumbling. Community, 48
5. When alone, spurning possessions, standing firm and unperturbed, not bewailing his fate—only then does the daring one exult.
Thus shall We begin the translation of Our ancient Book of Daring.
When a child plays with a newborn kitten, his mother rejoices at his courage, loathe to note that the kitten is still blind. When a youth toys with the soul of his comrade, the spectators marvel at his daring, not seeing the shackles binding the wretched soul. When a man denounces an assembly of judges, the witnesses admire his courage, not knowing that the daring of his threat has been bought with the jingle of gold. When an aged man comforts himself by deriding death, his friends delight, unmindful that fear has fashioned his mask of derision.
True daring is often unnoticed by people, because in its essence it is unusual. But the heart will tremble in response to the unusual.
Where art thou who vanquished? Where art thou who transformed the tremor into a leap toward the light? Hear, thou who darest! In the deep of night I shall draw near to bless thy sandals. I shall strew thy pillow with sparks of light, for the sleep of the daring one is as the melting away of a lute, when the seven strings are bathed in mystery. The sleep of the daring one is as the calm before the whirlwind, when even the slenderest blades of grass are unstirred.
Does the roar of the lion set the worlds atremble? No. Daring is awakened and the royal lotus of spirit unfolds. Brothers, let us gather in the hall of joy! The flower has unfolded; raised is the great wheel. Our Joy descends to the nether worlds and rises to the Brothers in the Supermundane.
We sing to daring Our best song.
Agni Yoga, 10
6. It is necessary to understand clarity of thinking and to apply it to the future—thus is it possible to avoid roughness of form in actions. One should not ape others. Precious is each grain of decisiveness. I wish to saturate you with daring. It is better to be considered unusual than to be garbed in the uniform of triviality. It is needful to read My Teachings. It is necessary to strive to apply them to each act of life, not on holidays only. Say to yourself: “Is it possible to strive in the mornings and be a parrot in the evenings?” Community, 80
7. The chirping of birds has disturbed the moment of rest. Why in the early hours are the birds so tense in their striving? They dare—overhearing the praise to daring. But no one informed them that their usual song would not increase their daring. The darkness shrieks, deafening in its banality. Darkness cannot withstand the daring of light. Agni Yoga, 11
8. You may meet people hastening with their attainments, and they may think that We are slow. But lead them under the night sky and point out the radiance of the countless worlds. Say, The Lord leads you toward this creativeness. Is it possible to be slow on this great path? We must prepare ourselves to be co-creators. It is necessary to preserve and multiply the seeds of consciousness, because the entire world is sustained by the power of consciousness. There is no power to withstand a consciousness purified of egoism. One can prepare oneself to cross all bridges with a fiery consciousness which is atremor with the pulse of Cosmos, and which, in the seed of its spirit, responds to all tremors of Earth and knows the truth of the peoples. One can apply all sacred powers of the heart to becoming co-creators of the flaming Logoi by conquering death. But so long as such daring is not instilled in the heart, the consciousness cannot grow infinitely in this direction. We call it Via Reale. Therefore, Fiat Rex is where the spirit, reverencing Hierarchy, dares! Hierarchy, 203
9. Self-perfectment is Light. Self-indulgence is darkness. One can so build one's life that each day will, as it were, be the end. But one can so illumine one's life that each hour will be a beginning. Thus one can rebuild one's earthly existence beneath one's very eyes. Only in this way will the questions of the future and the understanding of fiery perfectment become perceptible. Daring should be found to reconstruct one's life in accordance with new accumulations. Fiery World I, 308
10. The ancient prophecies say “When all becomes darkened, then people fancy that everything is permitted them.” Actually darkness makes people insane. Daring is not madness. Everyone who dares is conscious of ordained possibilities, but the madman manifests opposition to the law of Existence. There is a fine boundary line between madness and daring. The torch of the heart is needed in order to find this boundary. Having once entered the domain of madness, one can hardly turn back again to a wise daring. Rishi were daring; saints were daring; but they did not admit madness, for it is first of all hideous. It leads to obsession, with all its dark consequences. How ugly is the picture of the obsessing entity trying to expel from the body the subtle vehicle! There can be nothing more hideous than the spectacle of two subtle bodies disputing about one earthly envelope. Fiery World II, 417
11. We often advise action. When you write to friends, advise them to act. At present the forces of nature are very tense. He who runs away will stumble, but whoever stands firm will find new strength. We help the daring ones, and in Our Abode everyone takes action. A new tension will not be exhaustion, but renewal. Supermundane I, 52
12. Urusvati knows that intolerance is the sister of ignorance. A broad tolerance begets open-mindedness, from which issues daring. The strongest striving requires straight-knowledge, and also a balanced open-mindedness. It is impossible to embrace the Supermundane World without both these foundations. Straight-knowledge can whisper to the heart, but the brain must also accept the possibility that the Supermundane World exists.
It has been said many times that man is the co-worker of creation. It is precisely so. Every thought impresses a mental image. This creativeness is indestructible, and it is time for people to realize their responsibility for this creative work.
Many lightminded and harmful mental obstructions pollute space. People do not usually believe that their feeble thoughts could leave any trace in space, but they must be reminded that even a fleeting feeling can inscribe an indelible hieroglyph there.
Only a full understanding of the meaning of thinking can lead to luminous daring. Do not think that this word has anything in common with audacity; in audacity there is rudeness, but higher daring is always benevolent. It opens ways to beautiful, mental creativeness.
Each beautiful thought must be safeguarded. Let it expand in space. It is a real gift to the structure of the Universe. But people must begin to think about the Supermundane World as natural and sense its touches in everyday life.
We speak about daily routine as a constant link to the Supermundane, which has its place in everyday life. Losing understanding of this can be the source of much grief.
The Thinker used to say, “Realization of the Supermundane comes not only from without, it is also born within ourselves. Let this sign of daring glow in the heart.”
Supermundane IV, 14
13. They will ask, “Who gave you the right to dare?” Say, “We dare by the right of evolution. The right of evolution is inscribed in flame in our hearts. We cannot be deprived of the truth of the immutability of ascent. Both amidst the crowds and in solitude we know our inalienable right. We can affirm that only the blind are unable to perceive the direction of evolution. But when the door of knowledge is distinctly outlined, it is not difficult to strive out of the darkness.”
Daring! Should one understand it as an unheard-of achievement? Shall not daring be one’s daily repast, and the garment of one’s every thought? Will not the prison walls become transparent? And will not the seal of the secret scroll melt away for the one who dares?
In recommending daring, We offer the simplest way. The heart knows the truth of this way. At present one cannot point out any other.
Display daring! There is much conflagration in the world, but it is only in flame that the foundation of the new world is forged. Blacksmith, hold firm thy hammer!
Agni Yoga, 49