Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, February 19, 2008
1. Have you finally learned to rejoice at obstacles? Can We be assured that what seems like an obstacle will multiply your resourcefulness tenfold? Agni Yoga, 72.
2. Teach not to let possibilities slip by. If resoluteness and action lead to gratitude, then imprudence and negligence create an obstacle difficult to remove. The coworker who neglects action through immobility is left to his own devices. This is not a penalty, but a practical means for showing him his failure. Community, 211.
3. I rejoice if you understand that obstacles are really opportunities.
Failure is proof of recognition by the dark ones. We must treasure such recognition, for it is always useful for the growth of the work! Just as compost fertilizes the earth, so does darkness decay to the benefit of the flowers of Light. The encircling rainbow safeguards, and shines all the brighter against the surrounding darkness. Agni Yoga, 494.
4. In our actions, when the spirit begins to create, the predestined nears fulfillment. But the striving to the predestined encounters many obstacles. Knowing the law of the Cosmic Magnet, and of tension, We repeat about enemies and obstacles. The Blessed One decreed joy, and we ascend by obstacles. Thus, the proceeding battle strains forth new possibilities. Thus, Our Way is immutable. Infinity II, 248.
5. The obstacles of life cannot influence the quality of aspiration. The fundamental impulse, which has brought the human species out of the mineral cell, must not subside when the stone cell has gotten up on stilts. Then must follow a surfeit of everything that was, and irrepressible striving takes its place. Losing aspiration, man ceases to be a conscious being. Community, 227.
6. Although much is spoken about obstacles, little use is made of them. Understanding how to make use of obstacles infuses joy into one's work. But as soon as an obstacle appears, people usually begin to think of their own feelings, forgetting the advantage that has been offered to them. People prefer that everything be done in a usual way, by conventional means. But We prefer unexpected actions and equally unexpected results. People are happy when the occurrences in their lives are the most ordinary, but We wish them greater success than this. Teach them to weigh the real harm and the usefulness of what occurs. It is difficult to send currents of unusual success to people when they prefer to avoid unusual ways. We all know people who live in self-satisfied comfort. If they could only know what they lose because of their ease! People want to preserve all their petty habits, forgetting that the habits of the spirit follow from the habits of the body. The spirit weakens, and begins to fear courageous action. Thus, people become commonplace, with the same conventional joys and sorrows.
Let us learn to rejoice at obstacles, knowing that the welcomed obstacle can be used to speed success. And this success will be like a fishnet overfilled with an abundant catch. Therefore, let us direct our eye to our surroundings and understand from what perils we are being protected just by our devotion to the Teacher. But often we trust the Teacher in great works and are less certain in small ones. Often we see the great obstacles, while overlooking the multitude of small ones that lie within sight. After all, a small, unnoticed scorpion strikes just as poisonously as a large one. An eagle eye is needed, not so much to discern the mountain as to see the smallest grain of sand. Agni Yoga, 262.
7. My children, the teaching of life under My Guidance is the straightest path to an understanding of Cosmos.
You must recognize the obstacle of ignorance. The Call, 119.
8. There is no doubt that narcotics and meats are obstacles to the harmonizing of the physical and astral bodies. But certainly there is no room for coercion in this, for all harmonizing efforts must proceed in co-measurement. Agni Yoga, 439.
9. The use of alcohol and opium are ugly attempts to approach the Fiery World. If Samadhi is a natural manifestation of Higher Fire, then the flame of alcohol is a destroyer of Fire. True, narcotics evoke illusions of a fiery approach, but actually they will remain for a long time as obstacles to the mastery of the true energy of Agni. Fiery World I, 120.
10. Urusvati knows the essence of man’s happiness. When his life and work are in harmony with the flow of world evolution, man has no need to reject anything. He is steadfast in his path, perfects himself, and finds new strength for the overcoming of chaos.
Someone will say, “But blessed are the obstacles, so why should a happy man avoid difficulties?” We must not forget that he who walks in harmony with evolution meets with many obstacles, but his attitude toward them is different. He does not fall into despair, but joyously overcomes the waves of chaos. Let us not think that the path of happiness is easy, it can be more difficult than a life of stagnation.
But for a co-worker of evolution there cannot be any loss of strength, for the universal energy will bless him with rejuvenation. He will appear, as the ancients used to say, as an anointed one, for the Supermundane World truly sends universal energy to help the co-worker of evolution. Supermundane IV, 790.
11. How should one understand the benefits of obstacles when one is told that psychic energy, acting as a magnet, attracts all possible advantages? Truly, when a large ship increases its speed the resistance of the waves increases too. Similarly, many obstacles are brought about by our own striving. It is this process that attracts to us unexpected actions by an opposing will. If they are very strong, our own counterstroke will develop accordingly. Most important, the currents opposing us should be strong, because then our flame is ignited. Agni Yoga, 257.
12. Think about the meaning of danger. So-called danger is nothing but fear for one's present condition. But if we know that every condition is created by the consciousness, which is inalienable, then there can be no fear for one’s well-being. The dangers that one customarily fears are dispelled by a broadened consciousness. Therefore, the growth of consciousness is the essential foundation for progress. Then there will be no dangers, there will be only obstacles. Agni Yoga, 406.
13. Obstacles that generate weakness of spirit are the begetters of failure. Obstacles that summon to battle the entire fire of the spirit serve as a creative impetus. The ancient wisdom says, “Evoke the date of battle; avoid no obstacles.” Where there is evasion there is no salvation but only retardment. He who is unafraid to participate in the eternal unlimited motion may verily assume the image of the warrior. Readiness and the pressure of the rhythm will carry him into the radiance of Cosmos.
Mark that fear and hesitation are dams for the spirit. Agni Yoga, 406.
14. The thoughts of a fiery Agni Yogi are most powerful. The fiery energies are absorbed by him out of space and directed into a vital orbit. Therefore, when the thought of a fiery Agni Yogi strives to creativity, all the energies acquire vitality. Thus can each possibility be asserted in life. Obstacles call forth the surging thought, and the growth of obstacles is the best indicator of the greatness of the task. Hence, a fiery Agni Yogi is persecuted for his thought. Infinity II, 442.
15. The path of Agni Yoga is through the heart, but the heart must be aided by disciplining thoughts. Disorderly thoughts are like vermin, they injure the subtle substance. Often they carry deadly poison. Precisely the smallest thoughts are like madness, and they form the chief obstacle to the rapport of the subtle and dense worlds. Heart, 495.
16. Therefore let us bless all those who create obstacles, because Our energies are thereby developed and joined to the constructiveness of Light. It may be asked, “Is it impossible to do without cataclysms? Is it impossible to be without terrors and calamities? Is it impossible to be without miseries?” We must then remind about the spatial accumulations, and human engenderings which must be expiated. Fiery World III, 16.
17. For each true discernment there is needed full confidence and spontaneity. One should strongly affirm these concepts as the basis of progress. It is possible to demonstrate how mistrust and artificiality will be the worst enemies. They swallow up vital energy. They are as sharp obstacles. How much force must be applied to continue the path with fatal leaps! Therefore, the sacred sounding can turn thought back to the fundamental and to the Light. Thus let us conquer all obstacles and grow to love them. We shall not speak at length about that which one must love, because the heart knows. Aum, 161.
18. Community of spirit is possible where there exists a living magnet, then it is possible across all earthly boundaries to closely join each community. When a community lives in the sole service of Truth there exist no obstacles, and a special mutual help will be a natural expression.
Gratitude grows without compulsion, therefore the manifestation of joy especially affirms community of spirit—everyone would like to do something better. Aum, 168.
19. It is necessary to help everywhere and in everything. If obstacles to assistance be encountered through political, national, or social lines, or in religious belief, such obstacles are unworthy of humanity. Aum, 452.
20. The boundary of thought and feeling is tenuous, but you understand such boundaries, which are like those between the facets of a precious stone. Only light can reveal these facets, and the light of the heart will be like the manifestation of a precious stone. One may think that all this is very complicated, but in fact, it can be put into four words, “I love Thee, Lord.” This is the conduit to Us. Such a conduit is much stronger than the request, “Help me, O Lord.” We know when it is possible to help, and help flies easily upon the wings of love. It passes through the sharpest obstacles. Let us love each other. Supermundane I, 80.
21. Everything earthly, all earthly circumstances stand in the way of all that is High, but striving hearts soar above obstacles. Letters Of Helena Roerich II, 1937. 2.
22. There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome by the human will. I do not say this as a consolation, or for encouragement, but as a thing immutable. Agni Yoga, 393.