Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, October 10, 2017
1. Silence may be teeming with voices and darkness may be suffused with light. Hence, he who regards Space as empty will not apprehend the mighty life manifested in silence as the highest Word of Cosmos, nor the invisible as the manifest Eye of Cosmos. The law of Cosmos is inviolable, and even man has accepted the Voice of Silence. Where speech is meager, the voice of the heart affirms silence. Cosmos in silence makes manifest the language of the heart, and the Cosmic Voice may become audible.
Sensitiveness and vigilance can aid us in giving ear to the Voice of Silence. The beauty of Cosmos is manifested in silence. The beauty of silence is expressed in all the higher manifestations of life.
Let us learn to harken to silence! The infinitude of Cosmos creates the manifestation of the Silence. Infinity I, 80.
2. After all the demarcations have been made, we inevitably arrive at the synthesis of the heart. We need not mention that silence arises from an intermingling of all the sounds. So let us learn to correlate the heart with silence. But this silence will not be a void; it will saturate space with the synthesis of thought. Just as a heartfelt prayer has no need of words, a saturated silence has no need of formulas. An intensified silence requires creation of many strata of thought as well as many benevolent desires. So the heart, intensified by silence and full of energy like an electric generator, beats out the rhythm of the Universe, and personal desires are transformed into the all-guiding Universal Will. That is how cooperation with the distant worlds develops. Heart, 68.
3. In the hour of confusion silence is the best friend. But let this quiet be not the stillness of malice. Though only momentarily, let the rhythm of the heart calm down. Let there be found again the quiet of psychic energy; thus will be strengthened the work of the centers—alight, but without inflammation. Brotherhood, 73.
4. Urusvati understands the significance of silence. But what kind of silence must this be? People think that silence is simply not uttering any sound, but true power comes when the whole being is overwhelmed by silence and an energy is generated that permits communion with the Higher World.
We know these hours of surging energy, and can affirm that this kind of silence is the highest tension.
One must practice to attain this state, but it can only be acquired gradually. One may trace in one’s various lives how awareness of this energy develops, thus broadening one’s possibilities, whatever the circumstances may be. The sooner one begins to expand on his experience, the better.
When silence reigns in Our Tower it means that We are experiencing this powerful tension, and communion with the Higher World will result in a renewal of forces. We need such an accumulation of new forces, just as all of life needs it. It would be a mistake to suppose that We do not need replenishment of energy. In revealing Our human side to you, I am strengthening Our bond with humanity. We certainly do not want to appear as “Beings beyond the clouds”! On the contrary, We want to be close co-workers with humanity. Therefore, let a closeness be created that will be the threshold of cooperation. It is especially needed. Supermundane, 89.
5. Urusvati knows the deep meaning of silence. It has been noted that some great army leaders, rulers of nations, and spiritual leaders, after proclaiming important decisions, became immersed in silence. People usually attributed this to fatigue or depression, but in reality an important mental process was taking place. The ruler was following his order with mental reinforcement.
It should be understood that a mental order can be strengthened by concentration of the will, but even the best orders can be weakened by obstruction of the energy. One can cite many examples in history when decisions were undermined by surrounding mediocrity.
The wisdom of silence was valued by people from ancient times. The most important actions were performed in silence, and not amidst the uncontrolled shouting of the crowds. We already pointed out how difficult it is to achieve harmony. Its power is weakened by the disorderly currents generated by undisciplined wills, a condition that at present is epidemic, afflicting the world even more than war.
People do not recognize this, for they do not see the abyss of hypocrisy and falsehood. They do not want to hear about psychic achievement. They battle against all ideas of true peace. Thus, we can understand the vows of silence taken by great people.
Our co-workers learn to know when their thoughts of good can bear fruit. Only an expanded consciousness can indicate the appropriate date. Invisible friends often try to send helpful thoughts, but because of the clamor of the crowds, these currents cannot be received properly.
The Thinker often said, “Who is calling me? The speech of my friend is not understandable. Who is the obstructor?” Supermundane, 594.
6. Urusvati knows that silence can be a sign of the intensity of inner power. It has long been said that stillness can be more powerful than the storm or whirlwind. But how many understand this universal fact? Silence is usually understood as just a reluctance to speak.
People generally see everything through the filters of their own ego. They would like to learn things, but only petty things, and do not understand the silence in others. They do not understand that there can be such states of great tension, especially in the realm of the Supermundane. When people do recognize the Supermundane, they can only bow in reverent silence; but foolishness will tempt some to turn the great into selfish pettiness. It is difficult to discuss the Supermundane with those who always try to turn any conversation toward matters of personal concern. People should compare the Supermundane with their personal concerns and understand that the great includes the small, and thus is of help to it.
The Thinker required that His disciples be imbued with an understanding of the significance of silence. Supermundane, 681.
7. How to await the development of works? As waves have their rhythm, so do the works grow: in measured rising and expectant flowing progression. Understand the hour of the clarion; heed the pace of life.
In moments of silence store up the teaching on the shelf of experience. Leaves of Morya’s Garden II, 53.
8. When in perplexity, sit together in silence and think one thought. Soon you will understand to what an extent such silent counsel is practical. We precipitate the force of the spirit along one channel. An unusual discharge results, reinforced by magnetism and harmonized by rhythm. The law is that two concordant thoughts increase the power seven times. This is not magic but a practical consideration. Leaves of Morya’s Garden II, 155.
9. Do not keep up discussions with the ignorant. Maintain obvious silence if you become aware of irresponsibility in your interlocutor. Affirm your own knowledge with silence. Let not other people becloud your view. Teach your young friends to keep silent where there is no bridge to one’s consciousness. Teach them to brandish the sword only once, if an arrow of insult is let fly. New Era Community, 255.
10. The wise one knows the spoken word, knows the written word, knows the thought, and knows silence — so says the old proverb. Let us examine this from the point of view of psychic energy. Truly, one has to distinguish when a spoken word, a written letter, a thought, or silence is most needed. One can achieve much by directing one's energy properly. Refined straight-knowledge will determine which method is the most needed at each moment. Agni Yoga, 589.
The Blessed One pointed out to His disciples a fakir who was throwing a ball with great skill. He hit the target every time, and two boys then hurried to pick up the ball and bring it back. The Blessed One said, "This man has attained perfection in passing on the ball; each ball that he throws is at once returned to him. So it is with each act of giving, but only when it is perfect. Therefore learn to sacrifice perfectly, for art should be present in every sacrifice."
The Blessed One also pointed to a silent man, saying, "Who can define the boundary of silence? A right word is difficult to find, but it is even more difficult to find the beauty of silence."
Thus did the Blessed One teach silent sacrifice. Agni Yoga, 385.
11. It has been truly said that manifestations come first in thunder and later in silence. It is impossible to hear the Voice in silence without having first experienced it in thunder, which is much less difficult and exhausting. But after thunder, silence follows; and it is in silence that the Essence is found. But then, can darkness exist for the eye that has attained light? Or silence for the ear that has heard the birth of sound? How could Materia Matrix be soundless or without light?
It is well-known that one can open a tightly closed vessel either by breaking it or by sounding a most delicate rhythm. Similarly, in all other realms of matter, one should become accustomed not to expect important manifestations to come with an elephantine tread, and to sense even the flight of a butterfly. This is not easy to learn, for life is full of hammer blows. Subtle energies are not accepted in everyday life. And the farther humanity goes, the more crudely does it abuse those lower forces that it conquers.
In daily life we must refine the keenness of our understanding of the subtle energies, for in them lies the future. Agni Yoga, 380.