Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, March 17, 2015
1. Poor is the consciousness that has no control over passing emotions. Invulnerability is Our Shield. Each speck of fear is a target for an enemy's arrow. After washing away these shameful specks, we become as invulnerable as are the far-off worlds. The development of Agni Yoga becomes a shield of thought. The all-penetrating Fire, when realized, endows one with supremely pure strength and replenishes the source of renewal. Agni Yoga, 406
2. Music is needed for all fiery sowings. One should choose good music; it unifies our emotions. But one should not absent-mindedly let the music just pass by one's ears. People often have before them a great phenomenon, and yet they fail to hear the loudest and fail to perceive the brightest. People often isolate themselves completely from their surroundings, but fail to realize that precisely this state is very valuable if wisely induced. Fiery World I, 330
3. When I indicate the beneficialness of gratitude, I do not mean that someone is in need of it, but that in itself it contains the chemism of bliss. One must analyze the chemism of various emotions; such observations will help in finding psychic energy. Not vitamins so much as the fiery energy must occupy the imagination. The revelation of the essence of human existence cannot be regarded a something occult! One should attract many minds to these researches; they will also observe in passing other useful peculiarities of feelings. Thus, one should first establish the direction of evolution. There cannot be two directions of progress. There can be but one true direction, and all other efforts will be errant. Fiery World I, 396
4. Human intellect comprehends earthly collisions, but is incapable of looking into space and imagining the powerful storms and forces working there. Only when human emotions are completely controlled can man start thinking about the invisible worlds. One should develop such thoughts, for they alone will make man a conscious co-worker with the Infinite forces. Supermundane I, 161
5. Urusvati knows that people have fantastic ideas about the past lives of great spiritual individuals. They imagine that these evolved spirits were surrounded by the most favorable conditions in all their past incarnations, as if they never suffered, were never in need, and never endured the persecutions that they in fact so often experienced.
People do not believe that great thinkers, such as Plato, Pythagoras, or Anaxagoras, lived the lives of ordinary beings. It is essential to understand that even the most lofty personalities cannot avoid the fullness of their earthly emotions, which are kindled in proportion to the scope of their mission.
Indeed, you should not assume that Plato, when he was sold into slavery, did not react to all the turmoil of such a situation. Of course, he went courageously through all trials, but in his heart felt great bitterness because of the injustice, and it was because of this that he was able to speak so brilliantly about the best forms of government…. Many lives must be compared in order to understand how the light that shines so brightly is kindled by the blows of destiny. Chaos can be seen as the hammer that strikes the sparks. Only the unwise think that the Teacher hovers above everything and feels nothing. On the contrary, the Teacher feels not only his own burdens, but also the burdens of those who are connected with Him. In time man will realize that in Infinity there is neither mundane nor supermundane, but only Existence. Supermundane II, 268
6. People expect great events, at the very least a collision with a comet, yet do not notice the many small daily dangers. They must be reminded that they cause these dangers themselves by their constant quarrelling. This warning is not given in the name of a higher philosophy, but simply for the sake of physical safety!
There were no periods in antiquity that compare to the present era of total global confusion. While in ancient times perhaps thousands were involved, today there are hundreds of millions!... Let us not attempt to calculate the multitudes causing disorder in the earthly sphere, but rather consider the innumerable invisible stings.
Especially disgusting are the emotions evoked by small stings. During great calamities feelings of self-sacrifice or heroism may be aroused, but in time of decay there is only wasted energy. I affirm that the worst part of Armageddon is in the decay of organisms…. One should realize that the warriors for Good are not always able to defeat the dark legions quickly. Not everything should be blamed on the dark forces. Why make giants of them? Supermundane II, 288
7. Urusvati knows that emotions provide the propelling power for psychic energy. Love is the most powerful, but hatred has almost equal power.
Does this mean that one can live in hatred? Of course, it is possible, but it brings only loss. Not only does hatred bring an accumulation of imperil and through sicknesses shorten life, but mainly, its effect in the Subtle World is disastrous. You already know that in the Subtle World all feelings are intensified, and also their consequences. Now imagine how difficult it is for the hater to tear himself away from his destructive passion. Not only does he surround himself with evil, but his entire being is permeated with the poison of evil. He suffers because he himself has invited his torture. Thus, let us say, it is profitable to live in goodness and love. Supermundane IV, 726
8. The materialism of our age puts love on the level of a purely physiological function. At best, love today is treated as a psychological process. But if the cosmic significance of love could be realized once more, people would see in love its highest function, i.e., the awakening of all the highest emotions and creative abilities. Precisely, this awakening is the chief purpose and the true keynote of love. Love is a unifying creative power. On the higher planes of Being everything is created by thought. But for the fulfillment of these thought forms, there must be the two Elements united by Cosmic Love. There is a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding the fundamental concept of the dual Element. Religions are to blame for this, and especially Christianity. The church profaned the greatest Cosmic Mystery by demeaning marriage and degrading the woman. Letters of Helena Roerich I, 9 January 1935
9. The overrighteous ascetic may torture his body, but if his heart remains silent, he will live in a spiritual desert from which there is no outlet to the radiant Stronghold of Life Eternal. Precisely, we should not run from life; rather, we should transform all our emotions into the highest beauty. Wonderful are the feelings of love and friendship toward one's family and all near ones; indeed they teach us the most beautiful and the highest. They are the necessary steps that lead us toward Cosmic Love, and everyone who realizes his great destiny may approach this Love. Letters of Helena Roerich I, 18 April 1935
10. Among the new scientific achievements will be the discovery of the power of the emotions of love and joy. Humanity must steadily grow closer to these impelling forces of light, and understand that any thought of joy has healing power. Even amidst sorrows one can find signs of love and compassion. Let these signposts help the weary traveler. Scientists must learn how much the rhythm of joy opens the gates to an influx of psychic energy. Science should demonstrate how the power of joy heals. One must strive ardently toward the renewal of life. Everyone can think of heroism, of joy, and of exalted love. Everyone can gain the power of the healing remedy and spread these emanations in every direction.
The Thinker said, “Sorrow is transitory, joy is everlasting. Love the Light and love the Beautiful.” Thus did the Thinker direct His disciples to the simplest solution. Supermundane IV, 732
11. It is necessary to study human moods. A list of the positive and negative qualities of those who swim through the storm of life could be compiled. In doing this, it can be seen that between the extremes, there can be found undetermined ones that are like half-hearted, failed chemical experiments, in which reactions cannot take place and subtle energies cannot be applied.
Do not tire of repeating to beginners that the conditions of the Subtle World are completely different from those of the earthly world. Such simple considerations are quite foreign to today’s humanity, which prefers to deny rather than to think of emotions and their consequences.
It would be useful for man to think more often in scientific ways. The Thinker said, “The one who has fallen into despair, or is possessed by envy, is like a corpse.” Supermundane IV, 762
12. There is a Buddhist saying, “If spirituality could be achieved just by eating vegetable matter, the elephant and the cow would have attained it long ago! “And it is also said, “Asceticism is worthless for liberation. It is much more difficult to find a patient person than one who lives upon air and roots and dresses in bark and leaves. If a person is weakened by hunger or thirst, if he is too tired to control his emotions and thoughts, how can he possibly reach the goal which can be reached only by means of a clear mind and broadened consciousness?” And again, “In order that the strings of the vina may sound harmoniously, they should be neither too taut nor too slack. Verily, every effort that is too strenuous fails, and if not sufficiently strong it results in passivity and inertness.” Letters of Helena Roerich I, 14 June 1934
13. Act not by impulse but by the intelligence of your heart! The intellect and the emotions must be balanced in all the judgments and actions of a disciple. Do not confuse sentimentality with the kindness of the heart! Sentimentality has nothing in common with true kindness, which is based on higher knowledge and higher justice. The science of how to deal with people is a most complicated and most difficult one, as it requires a heart tempered and strengthened by many battles with the dark destroyers and betrayers, and affirmed by invincible patience and self-denial. Letters of Helena Roerich I, 8 November 1934
14. All the Teachings indicate the necessity for balance and a complete discipline of one's emotions. There was a time when I also wanted to dwell on the exaltations of the spirit and to cognize the mysteries of cosmogony. And then I was reminded of the present grave times: “Again thou hast forgotten the Heavenly combat. None go to school during the assault of the enemies, etc.” Thus I was turned back to Earth and earthly activities from my exaltations. And I was trained to find joy in the most tiresome routine work, to verily bring each task to the altar of the service of love. All the warriors of Light will feel particularly close to the "Book of Sacrifice." Thus, beautiful are the exaltations of the spirit, but we must be on guard in order that they shall not weaken our energy, but strengthen it. The time will come when a certain isolation will be permissible for the exaltation of the spirit, but at present the time is threatening, and all who are in the Great Service are called upon to make use of their weapons--the battle is unprecedented! Letters of Helena Roerich II, 2 April 1936
15. Thus, only the transmutation of energies--of feelings, and qualities of thoughts--can take us out of the magic circle of karma. Therefore, blessed are all the higher emotions, which lift us out of usualness and heighten our vibrations, refining and opening our nerve centers. Letters of Helena Roerich II, 8 June 1936