Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, March 18, 2014
1. Urusvati knows that the effectiveness of energy is increased by an intensified feeling of love. Some may think that under certain circumstances this would be impossible. For instance, can love co-exist with indignation? Yes, for indignation is only possible with love. If a person does not love, he cannot be indignant. He will never be distressed by anything, and thus will be unable to intensify his energy. Supermundane I, 239.
2. One needs to clearly visualize the ceaseless radiation of the heart. It is necessary to understand why the presence of evil hearts is so painful to good hearts. Neither the smile nor the forced grin of evil can conceal what the heart is radiating. The establishment of good in the heart in no way excludes righteous indignation; but irritation is the domain of evil. Only by striving to the Hierarchy can a person determine the boundary between many feelings. Heart, 64.
3. Good will is not weak will. Quite often people, having deprived themselves of one attribute, have lost many other needed qualities with it. One should not confound shameful obsolete survivals with valuable achievements. Thus, malice is unworthy, but indignation of spirit is that uprising of elements which is found in the highest covenants. Spiritual battle has nothing in common with malice. Thus, Light pierces darkness, but not through malice. Fiery World I, 389.
4. How to fix the boundary between indignation and irritation, or between shock and fear? No one finds words to differentiate such feelings which are almost alike. But the time will come when science will discover the means of analyzing the substance secreted during each emotion. Upon a purely chemical basis it will be determined where and when a definite feeling begins.
The pendulum of life shows by its motion the variation of psychic energy. Just as precisely will the chemism of feelings be determined. The manifestation of the fluctuations of psychic energy shows how continuously vibration goes on, and how it records even the small deviations of energy. So, too, the chemism of feelings cannot be constant. In the microcosm of man it can be observed how intensified are the manifestations of cosmic vibrations. It should not be thought that all these observations are unnecessary; on the contrary, does not perception of the nature of man lead toward the perfection of mankind? Aum, 333.
5. Chiefly, act not through anger
but through indignation of the spirit.
The fire of anger leaves only holes
in the web of the Universe.
But if you act in indignation of spirit,
Defending the Name of the Lord
and the power of your Teacher,
Then even blows will be justified.
Therefore, choose in all things between the fire of
anger and the purifying flame
of the spirit’s indignation. The Call, 398.
6. Reverence is affirmed by indignation of the spirit--this most ancient means is common to all peoples. Fiery World III, 563.
7. It is necessary to distinguish between indignation of spirit and irritation. The fire of irritation must be divided into two kinds. When irritation has an impersonal cosmic character, its poison may be washed away by a current of prana. But if harmful feelings, such as conceit or self-pity, intensify the irritation, the sediment of poison will be precipitated upon the centers. Then there is no means to remove it; one can only wear it away by developing cosmic perception.
Quality of thinking must be realized as healing. Gratitude is likewise the finest purifier of the organism. He who has found the seed and realized the care of the Sender can project gratitude into space. Great is the healing power of the emission of gratitude. One must transform everything abstract into reality. Agni Yoga, 31.
8. Vengeance is rightfully condemned by all the Teachings. The original wrong may have been committed with only partial awareness and even on the spur of the moment, while vengeance is always thought out and consciously intensified in the heart. Vengeance is like a megaphone that amplifies the wrong, which is why its harm, in the spatial sense, is very great. Vengeance does not bear much resemblance to indignation. Like the urge to threaten, indignation may come and go quickly; but the premeditated acts of vengeance poison the atmosphere far and wide. It has been said that the intention is equivalent to the action, but it should be kept in mind that this applies to the action of thought. It is extremely difficult for humanity to get used to considering such things. For contemporary humanity thought has turned into an insignificant cerebral contraction. For most people nowadays, since the eye does not see the consequence of thought, it means that the consequence does not exist. At this rate we will come to a point where the whole process of thinking is denied! The heart is in a more advantageous position; it moves and makes noise--and so the heart is able to knock. Heart, 87.
9. In order to sharpen the senses of taste, hearing, and smell, people shut their eyes; in order to concentrate the sense of sight they accompany their gaze with hand gestures. So people adopt all sorts of artificial methods because they cannot balance the effects of psychic energy. Likewise, people do not know how to strike a balance between indignation of the spirit and equilibrium. Both concepts are indispensable for attaining perfection, but how can one reconcile militant indignation of the spirit with wise equilibrium? Usually these concepts seem incompatible, but what allows indignation of the spirit to avoid turning into irritation and creating imperil if not the response of equilibrium? And far from giving rise to imperil, an enlightened selfless indignation creates the most precious, ruby-colored armor. So it is only when psychic energy has been given the right direction that a treasure takes the place of poison. But what is the judge of true selflessness? Of course, it is none other than the heart. And not just any heart, but precisely the heart that is facing Infinity. Heart, 190.
10. Indignation is indeed justified when people wish to crown their city with a monstrous tower and build a tavern on top of it. Not accidentally have we already referred to this symbol. Ask anyone with what he would like to adorn himself, and you will discover his level of consciousness. It is not only illiterate persons but often the most sensible who are not averse to adorning themselves with primitive and crude objects. At times one marvels at a flash of sensitiveness in so-called savages, and one may stand aghast at the absurd displays of so-called civilized leaders. Consider where there is more of the fire of the heart, and where it is easier to awaken the consciousness. Fiery World I, 653.
11. Tests of equilibrium should be carried out upon oneself. Each such victory will be in itself a true success. Life provides many an opportunity for such victories. Preserve in memory each such conflict, instructive processes of thinking take place in it. The symbol of the tear for the chalice of patience is not accidental. It is difficult to restrain one's indignation when one observes a senseless destruction. A complaint about the brutalities of people often runs along the silver thread. The Teacher will often send a ray of Light so that one can look into the distance. Only the telescope of the spirit can cover the judgment.
The sowing of Armageddon is sprouting, in it is to be found the cause of causes. Brotherhood, 565.
12. Urusvati knows that indignation is sometimes appropriate. It would seem that people should know this, but it must be emphasized often, or goodness and benevolence will be misinterpreted. How can man remain silent when terrible crimes are committed before his very eyes? No one has ever advocated remaining indifferent to the debasement of human dignity, for by such indifference one allows oneself to become an accomplice of the crime.
Even earthly leaders expect people to learn to live in danger. We also advise such tension, because constant tension disciplines vibrations. It is a mistake to think that tension harms the body. On the contrary, such a conscious awareness creates the necessary metabolism that helps to renew it. Tension is not the cause of fatigue. Only depression reduces vitality, but exaltation creates a beautiful renewal. Thus, we should not fear tension; only ignorant people will regard it as a fatiguing misfortune. They will be able to relax in the grave! But a man who is ever ready to ascend will welcome the growing tension as festive gates to renewal, and will flame with indignation when the Highest concepts are degraded in his presence.
We love to see the radiance of righteous indignation. During the waning of the old world such tension is especially needed, and one should know how to direct this quality most effectively.
The Thinker pointed out that indignation as a reaction to injustice can be a wonderful healing of the blind. Supermundane I, 247.