Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, May 2, 2017
1. “The time of action is but begun. Comprehend devotion, faith and courage. I shall safeguard thee with a helmet of faith, an armor of devotion, and a shield of victory. And on the banner shall be inscribed: Love, the Conqueror.” Letters of Helena Roerich II, 2 April, 1936
2. “How can one help the Great Brothers?” By application of the Teaching in everyday life, thus giving an example to others. Personal example is the most convincing action.
“How should one act in order to deserve the confidence of the Great Teacher?” One should apply the Teaching in life, and one should be ready to courageously accept all life’s obstacles, constantly proving this in action. Letters of Helena Roerich II, 17 May, 1937
3. Let everything be done for the Good. Let every action lead to a new achievement. Let thought of the general welfare accompany every deed. Let the command of the Good influence everything, just as the vivid image of the Teacher does. Heart, 211
4. “Learn to discern the veils of Maya. If we speak about veils, it means there is something concealed. Thus, the Primary Energy is concealed. Wise is he who can perceive in different creations where lies the eternal, indestructible base. Without this discernment all will appear as Maya and as a baseless mirage. One cannot live only among phantoms. The very basis of eternal life demands realization of where that stability exists upon which a tired traveler can lean. Inevitably man will come to seek an eternal foundation. Thought about immutability can inspire man to action. This striving toward action is a healthy sign.
“We may be asked, ‘What are the conditions in which it is easier for Us to help people?’ Of course—in action. We can say to those who ask for help—Act! In such a state it is easier for Us to help you. Even an action of little success is better than inaction. We can add Our energy to the energy shown by you. It is no wonder that a homogeneous substance blends more easily with a similar one. Thus, if We wish to apply Our energy, We seek the most useful application of it. We send the energy, not for the awakening of man, but for the strengthening of a force that is already tensed. A man who is suddenly awakened from sleep can perform most senseless actions. One should not suddenly disturb those who sleep; but when a man is in a conscious waking state We can help him.
“We advise action often enough. When you write to friends, advise them to act. At present the forces of nature are intensified. He who runs away will be knocked over, but he who resists will find new strength. We help the daring ones, and there is action in Our Ashram. New tension will not be fatigue, but renewal.”
And so, action in everything and always. Verily, only action will protect us from the perilous Maya. Indeed, each one of us knows how we are often afraid to start an action because Maya has already woven its yarn out of all kinds of fears and prejudices. But if we could find enough courage within ourselves and would act in spite of all evidence, all our fears would prove to be just a mirage—or simply a scarecrow. A few days ago one of our co-workers wrote and confessed that in spite of the advice which was given him to visit someone who could be very helpful, he could not do so because he was sure that only great unpleasantness would result from this meeting. Finally, after almost two years had elapsed, he decided to take this, as he thought, risky step, and the results were, of course, entirely inverse to his pessimistic expectation; thus two years were lost for useful construction. Fear to approach people and preconceived judgments can greatly impede any construction, for, verily, God helps the brave. Letters of Helena Roerich II, 1 October, 1937
5. Where does the boundary of personal gain begin? The heart knows such boundaries, while the intellect is unable to pull apart the petals of the fiery lotus. When the guard is entrusted with protecting the entrance, when he is given a shield, and when he accepts in his shield all the arrows aimed at the Teacher, this will also be a personal action, but it will be the very opposite of personal gain. The heart is well aware of these beautiful personal actions in which every enemy arrow grows into a new petal of the fiery lotus. These personal actions—compelled by no one, ordered by no one, disproved by no one, but condemned by all the evil forces—will be the true rays of podvig. Heart, 244
6. We send you this message:
Let the stones speak the truth,
Let the plants and trees proclaim the joy of creation,
But action is for humanity.
For in action is buried the fruit of man’s striving.
Leaves of Morya’s Garden I, 314
Devotion is proved by action.
Leaves of Morya’s Garden I, 341
8. When you are called dreamers, say, “We know only action.” Agni Yoga, 283
9. Of all manifestations We value the absolute and dominant pervasiveness of spirit in one’s life. Mistakes are as naught when the seed of fire has grown stronger. Action is like the unfurled banner of the warrior. Like a crown is his decisiveness. Like a pearl is the flame of his spirit. Flaming spirit, you burn away delusion and pierce the darkness! We value, above all, the fire of the spirit. Agni Yoga, 309
10. We say that it is better to act in error than to commit the error of inaction. Daring in action contains in itself its own justification; it applies pressure that multiplies the energy. Is it possible to ignite the flaming spirit through inaction? By pointing out the necessity for joining with Us in action, We draw you into the spiral of this special pressure. Truly, in this spiral one can only ascend; it must be protected as a dynamo of the most precious energy. We call you to come with Us, not out of desire to control you or to make you feel less important, but out of desire to strengthen and uplift you through beneficial actions. Agni Yoga, 429
11. Remember that help is found in one’s actions. The power of action provides the best armor, the best rudder, the best eye! Agni Yoga, 625
12. The acceptance of Our Advice must be expressed by immediate, undeferrable action. The disciple must not be satisfied with good intentions, knowing that bad results follow inaction. Light-mindedness, negligence, and the demeaning of Our Instructions weigh heavily on the scales. Even the disciple will examine himself three times and say, “I see no mistakes in my actions.”
“Do not lower your eyes to the lowlands, but turn to the heights of the Mother of the World, and thus judge your actions by the measures of the Infinite.” Agni Yoga, 647
13. The spiritual principle precedes each action. There can be no bodily action without an antecedent spiritual fusion. Thus, whoever denies the spiritual principle thereby divests his actions of meaning. Evolution cannot continue if the primary motive force is repudiated. The Dark Age has among its characteristics the denial of principles and fundamentals. Yet precisely such darkness is transitory. Man must prepare himself for the acceptance of Light, and, lest he become like a mole, he must realize within himself the essence of Light.
When I speak about the highest communion, I first of all propose that you understand reality in all its infinitude. Aum, 68
14. Urusvati takes to heart all that happens in the world. All actions can be divided into the heartfelt and the heartless. Humanity should remember this distinction, especially now. Heartfelt perceptions, even with many differences, can be united, but heartlessness is the unity of the dark forces, and among them you will not find co-workers of the Brotherhood. If We recall all the past lives of Our Brothers, We will not find even one heartless action. The action of the flaming heart led them to the stake, to the cross, and to all the tortures invented by the malicious and the ignorant. Supermundane, 40
15. We manifest revelations unto the sensitive ear.
And your wish may bring to you Our Voice.
Our Ray, as a beacon, is searching the darkness,
And with the aid of its light the ship reaches port.
Twilight must not exist for you.
They will ask wherein is the quest for perfection.
Reply: In Love, in Beauty, in Action.
These three paths suffice.
Leaves of Morya’s Garden I, 318.