Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, October 22, 2016
1. "Let us see how people understand service to the Lord and Hierarchy. He who thinks of ascending only by prayer is far from service. He who in his labor hopes to bring the best effort for the welfare of humanity must adopt the Lord in his heart. He who does not yield his own comfort does not know how to serve Hierarchy. He who does not accept the Indications of the Hierarchy does not understand service. Only when the heart is ready to accept consciously the affirmation sent by the Highest Will may it be said that the manifestation of service is adopted.” Letters of Helena Roerich I, 29 May 1931, quoting Hierarchy, 295
2. It seems to me that your steadiness and heartfelt approach will be an example, a lighthouse, which will guide others in the right direction. You will call them joyously, you will teach them to love obstacles and struggle-for how otherwise will their inner fires be kindled? You will direct their attention to the joyous service of the General Good; and to the most courageous ones you will whisper about the joy of self-denial,about the constant readiness to give oneself completely to the service of the Great Hierarchy of Light! Letters of Helena Roerich I, 24 April 1931
3. Cancer can be treated by psychic energy, since lack of psychic energy in the blood generates the disease. Often psychic energy is exhausted as a result of spiritual outpouring, as was the case with Ramakrishna and other spiritual Teachers. Certainly, they possessed an enormous amount of it, but, dispatching it to far-off distances, they could remain for a while without its protection. Precisely closeness to Hierarchy is needed in such cases, because even great Spiritual Toilers, in their self-abnegation sometimes expend their forces beyond a legitimate extent. Thus, for evolution We reiterate about Hierarchy, in order to affirm a goal-fitting application of one's forces to the Chain of the Highest Ones. Therefore, I say, Guard your health, in order to adhere to the Hierarchy even by this means. Hierarchy, 285
4. In the ways of action are expressed all kinds of spiritual quests. He who strives, who has renounced, who is self-sacrificing, manifests his tension thereby; that spirit does understand the Common Good. He who persists in selfishness affirms his own methods of action. Thus, the entire human circle battles eternally. Infinity II, 305
5. The path of construction is absorbing, but it can be vouched that the steps of self-denial will also bring joy. Precisely the beauty of Cosmos brings selflessness closer into the consciousness.
The feeling of Cosmic loneliness is but the realization of direct paths, as only in this consciousness can man fly into other worlds, helping others for their sake alone. Illumination, II:IX:4
6. You are correct in speaking of humanity's lack of insight. When we approach the ominous hour, all forces must be strained for the mighty step. It has already been told that the Epoch of Maitreya is approaching, and the signs are strewn as fiery seeds; hence, the ominous hour will be one of Light for those who are in step with the Cosmic Magnet. Hence, the ominous hour will be as a future Light for those who battle for the significance of the Epoch of Maitreya. Hence, cooperation with Us brings the predestined victory. Therefore, the co-workers who walk in self-denial will be victors. Proceeding in step with the Cosmic Magnet, you affirm victory! Yes, yes, yes! Infinity II, 55
7. One of the great concepts, often incorrectly interpreted, is precisely the great concept of humility. It has been interpreted as non-resistance to evil; it has been interpreted as good-heartedness, as compassion, but very few accepted it as self-denial. For only self-denial and self-sacrifice can give understanding of humility. Truly, We see the giants of spirit and the heroes who devote themselves fully to the humble tasks for the good of humanity. We know of great experiments being humbly carried out in the earthly laboratories for the benefit of humanity. We know the great fiery experiments of those who dedicate their lives wholly and humbly to the benefit of mankind. We know manifestations on the path to the Fiery World which inspire all surroundings. Truly manifold is humility manifested through self-sacrifice and self-renunciation. Heroism is a manifestation of various aspects of humility. Thus the records of space are filled with great deeds of humility. Invaluable are these fiery flights of the spirit. Thus, verily, the heroes of humility drain the cup of poison for the good of mankind. Fiery World III, 24
8. Complete devotion, complete heroism, fill the spirit with adamant self-denial. The wings of self-renunciation will carry us to the Brotherhood. Supermundane I, 219
9. Urusvati knows how We cherish and assist all acts of self-denial. But Our care also extends to all similar activities. This is not often recognized, and it may puzzle those who see that certain activities that are not directly related to Us are nevertheless under Our protection. However, close examination would reveal that these activities involve self-sacrificing people.
The quality of self-denial is important in the Subtle World too. It is developed during one’s earthly life, but bears fruit in the Supermundane World. In this achievement those who strive in their earthly life learn detachment from their own creations. Attachment to one’s creations is a great burden when one is in the Subtle World, where those who are absorbed with their old creations are unable to concentrate on their new work of learning.
If a dweller of the Subtle World is bound to the mentality of the previous life, he will hinder the development of new ways of thinking. In the exaltation of self-denial people can more easily free themselves from the fetters of earthly life. We value such soaring of the spirit. Supermundane III, 601
10. Urusvati knows the harmfulness of the worm of discontent: withering, drying, fading, dying are its products. The foolish ones will say, “But how can one fault discontent if restlessness is ordained?” Answer, “Is it possible that you cannot discern between discontent and the thirst for perfection? Joy is born out of striving for perfection and sorrow out of pitiful discontent.” Self-denial leaves no room for discontent. Each light-bearing striving for perfection will already be a victory. Supermundane IV, 792
11. Our Hand will not get tired of extending the saving thread to the heart. Who can justly say that We were late in offering help? But We can cite many occasions when Our Messenger was frozen by people’s heartlessness. It is so hard to bring into action the potential of the heart. One must manifest a flight over the abyss, as if soaring from the last shore into the Infinite. How sacred is the courage of selflessness, which opens up the heart! Heart, 12
12. New life can begin from each instant. There can be no obsolete life, save perhaps in our conception of it. Yet, for what do we exercise and regenerate our thinking? Precisely for a new life. Let us not understand this as a personal concept, as egoism. Such a life of selfishness would be cringing. But no one who crawls can ascend. A new life in the name of good is built up in cooperation. Such a life kindles many fires. Let us not forget that thought of good kindles in its path a great number of lives. The poisoning of space with evil thinking is no new thing. But selfishness of the heart directs thinking to the kindling of new torches. Surely, wise is the law which invokes good thought for the lighting of new fires. The manifestation of the new, eternal sparks of the Fiery World will be actually new life. Fiery World II, 433
13. I give this farewell bidding to the disciple; “Let thy prayer be—'Thee, O Lord, I shall serve in everything, always and everywhere. Let my path be marked by the attainment of selflessness'.” When the disciple realizes in his heart the joy of the path, a path which knows no friction because all is transformed in the joy of Service, then it is possible to open before him the Great Gates. Amidst higher concepts the disciple must remember in his heart the records of Light. Amidst the frightening manifestations the disciple must remember about the records of darkness. There is inscribed upon the Shield of Light—“Lord, I come alone, I come in a manifested achievement, I shall reach the goal. I shall reach it!” And there is inscribed upon the Shield of Light honesty, devotion and self-abnegation. But fearful are the records of darkness. Let the hand of the disciple refrain from inscribing upon these permanent scrolls lies, hypocrisy, betrayal, selfhood. Fiery World III, 7
14. All of you are dear to us; and are we not united by the same Teaching, by the same Teacher? If we are able to drive away the whispering shadows, irritation, touchiness, and a careless attitude toward work, we shall move ahead with gigantic steps. Really, is it not distressing to remain static, in the same place? The worst obstacle is touchiness, which holds us back, which destroys all sense of striving. Wonderful possibilities flee from us when we are busy analyzing outrages against us which, in many cases, are imaginary and self-suggested. Let us discard these destructive habits and let us give all our hearts to the fulfillment of the entrusted work. Let us put all our interest, our whole lives into our work, and a miracle will occur. This very self-denial will bring us the most unexpected, most lofty joys. Letters of Helena Roerich I, 21, August 1931