Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, October 5, 2004
The rebellious spirit shatters the bolts of the prison doors.
You may teach others to read the Book of Wisdom as disclosed in the happenings of life.
The wonder of Our Participation in the manifestations of life will not elude you.
Shun the imperfections of your spirit, and ascend with a sense of spiritual freedom.
Be firm in your assertion of happiness in life, and the thread of the path will not break. Leaves of Morya’s Garden I, The Call, 93
Christ said: “Not in a temple, but in spirit shalt thou pray.” Verily, religious prejudice is the worst vulgarity. Often even religious ecstasies result in more harm than good. Out of them the crowd has made a vulgar spectacle. Therefore, it is important to show the vitality of Those Who stand upon all rungs of the Ladder.
It is time to cast off the diamonds which desecrate the holy Images. It is time to burn the relics, following the covenant of Christ. It is time to enter into the Temple of Spirit-understanding, consecrating one's forces which perfect the knowledge of the true power of spirit.
Not in remote laboratories, not in monastic cells, but in life shall you gather the truthful records. Where Christ, not in the folds of a chiton but in the beauty of toil, gathers the seekers of the freedom of the spirit.
Many times have saints returned to Earth because they had conveyed to the crowd too much of their exaltation instead of the structure of life.
We are absolutely averse to monasteries, as they are the antithesis of life. Only the seminars of life, communities of the best manifestation of labor, shall find Our assistance. Indeed, through life one must attain. It is precisely the generally-accepted religiousness that is unnecessary. The facts of conscious Communion with the Abode of Light are needed. Let us say we wish to bring help, so we proceed consciously without magic to the practical Source. In this simplicity is contained the entire current secret, as yet so inaccessible to men who walk up to their waists in prejudice. It is difficult for them to understand simplicity, beauty and fearlessness. Leaves of Morya's Garden II, Illumination, II:IV:3
Often the community is accused of doing violence to the freedom of individuality. This charge is applicable to any compromise state but not to the community. In a conscious community there is a place for every labor. Each one may select his task at will, for every labor is sharpened by new attainments. There is not the tedium of mechanical performance, for the worker is at the same time an experimenter. He understands the significance of the problem of introducing perfectionment of work without disturbing the general complex of rhythm.
Let us cite the example of Our Community. Our Friend, the chemist V., wishes to occupy himself with a new analysis of rays—no one prevents him. Our Friend K. wishes to improve the radio by applying new light waves—no one hinders him. Our Sister P. is occupied with the social problem of a neighboring country—no one interferes with her. Our Sister U. is occupied with agriculture and introduces many innovations—no one hinders her. Sister O. loves medicinal plants and problems of education—no one hampers her. Brother H. has devised a remarkable loom, and also works on the reorganization of communities. Brother M. is occupied with historical researches. Our shoemaker writes remarkable philosophical treatises. Each one decisively finds work to suit Himself and can change it at will. Thus, necessary is both the desire to work and the open consciousness through which each labor becomes attractive. For the labor is performed for the future, and each one carries his best stone. Here and now before the face of the mountains, We are speaking for the future. And you shall transmit these words to the valley dwellers, and once again they will remember about the possibility of the existence of the Community. New Era Community, 202
The pupil must not be obsessive, and the Teacher must not be seen as a dictator. Indeed, there is demanded of the student a realization of Hierarchy and harmony of action—the reconciling of the free will with acceptance of the Teacher. The weak mind is usually confused. Of course, the conditions and limitations imposed by the Teaching contradict the meaning of freedom in its vulgar sense. But through culture and the realization of goal-fitness the great concept of the Teacher is formed. The realization of the significance of the idea of the Teacher is a passing through the first gates of evolution. One should not bring to the concept of the Teacher expectations of anything supermundane. The Teacher is the One who gives the best advice for life. This practicality will embrace knowledge, creativity, and Infinity. Agni Yoga, 43
One should firmly tell people that the New World has come into being. People are not prepared to assume their places in the tasks of creation. It is an error to believe that conquest has any connection with the mission of the New World. Whether it is in the conquest of countries or of a special class of people, this belongs with departing ways of thinking. In the process of evolution one can consider only the ascent of consciousness founded upon freedom of opportunities. Agni Yoga, 45
Everyone who has understood the fundamentals of evolution has the responsibility to transmit his knowledge to some others. In this, the one who transmits the knowledge, whether he is great or not, is subject to the same law: he must pass his knowledge on without violating the freedom of others. The fundamentals of evolution can be realized only voluntarily, and can be applied in life only through the striving of the awakening spirit. Agni Yoga, 153
Our Teaching is not strong in the hands of those who do not apply it to life. Tell this to the co-workers in all countries, so that they may immediately find the means to fortify life through the counsels of Yoga. There are too many talkers and too few doers. I see no need for general lectures; but individual conversations are needed. Also, do not hide the difficulties or the advantages of the Teaching. Relate Yoga to world events, because a new system of life must be introduced, without which social movements will be nothing more than a masquerade of old ideas. The severe discipline of freedom can rebuild life only when a new understanding of the conscious use of psychic energy enters into everyday life. Repeat that a new understanding is needed for application in life! Agni Yoga, 199
Free will is a subject that is interpreted in many ways. One sees it as willfulness; another as irresponsibility; a third as the madness of the ego. Only the one who has gone through the discipline of spirit can realize how strict the reality of freedom can be. The abuse of freedom is a festival of ignorance. People cannot reconcile themselves to the Hierarchy of Knowledge, nor can they respect discipline of the will. But is any Yoga possible where there is no responsibility for one's will? Each yogi wields his sword directly over his own heart; to that degree is he responsible for every action of his will. The consequences resulting from the will of a yogi may be indescribably severe, but he has chosen them consciously. Thus, one can see the yogi as a tireless warrior, always on guard.
Whoever is sure in his will—let him enter! Agni Yoga, 222
A spiritual battle evidences itself in an influx of blood to the extremities. An Agni Yogi with a fiery Chalice does not remain behind; help is assured when the flaming heart gathers valiant spirits around it. The Battle is not upon the physical plane; it is not the small earthly forces that battle each other, but Forces of age-old experience are arrayed to determine Their destiny! The earthly reflections of the Battle swell out like unexpected blisters, but the fiery heart does not follow the earthly signs. The tension is great!
People dream of freedom, but in what a dungeon they keep their hearts! Heart, 84
Freedom is valuable for the guarding of personality, for the individualization of the attracted energies. But it is freedom, exactly, that becomes the most perverted conception. Life becomes filled with tyranny and slavery instead of freedom, precisely the qualities that exclude cooperation and respect for personality; thus, some people succeed in planning their existence exclusively out of a special combination of tyranny and slavery. Of course, people repeat about freedom without even knowing its specific qualities. Freedom should affirm itself in them by the upliftment of consciousness. Intense searches for freedom show that the spirit potentially strives toward new ascents, yet no one has taught it how to apply this treasure. Heart, 85
True, human consciousness, with the rarest exceptions, always has stultified whatever it contacted, and the form gained victory over the contents. And now, more than ever, we see this enslavement and engulfment by form. Though church dogmas decayed, they were replaced by others, which are forced into the consciousness of the masses in a like manner. It is distressing to see that humanity, while dreaming of freedom and seeking after it, is nevertheless busy with the invention of new and still tighter fetters. Freedom, this bird of paradise, sings only in pure hearts liberated from their only jailer, whose name is Selfishness. Letters of Helena Roerich II, March 9, 1937
The quality of freedom is remarkable; if freedom exists at all, nothing can limit it. The body can be shackled, but nothing can restrict consciousness except ugliness. When we touch upon the heights of freedom, we must guard against ugliness. If we wish to exalt matter, we must think wisely about beauty.
In Beauty will Infinity be manifested. In Beauty the teachings of the Seekers of the spirit are illumined. In Beauty we do not fear to manifest the truth of freedom. In Beauty do we kindle radiance in every drop of water. In Beauty do we transform matter into a rainbow.
There is no ugliness which will not be engulfed in the rays of the rainbow. There are no fetters which will not disintegrate in the freedom of Beauty.
How shall we find the words to approach the concept of the universe? How shall we tell about the evolution of forms? How to uplift the consciousness to the study of fundamentals? How to stimulate humanity to scientific cognition of the worlds?
Each realization is born in Beauty.
Know how to think radiantly, and nothing terrifying will touch you. Remember, We have no forbiddances. Leaves of Morya’s Garden II, Illumination, III:V:1