Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, October 22, 2016
1. The tension of eternal vigilance, the tremor of striving and salutary toil, demand a special adaptability of the organism. We value this vigilance. Agni Yoga, 449.
2. Hence one must chiefly develop one's vigilance and watch untiringly the creativeness surrounding the Sacred Hierarchy. Only when disciples shall attain this quality may one hope that the predestined success will come. Therefore, one should manifest an extreme conscientiousness and vigilance toward all that occurs around the Focus. Each unnoticed mistake will yield its own blossom. Hierarchy, 318.
3. I do not speak casually about the full understanding of service, which dispels the atmosphere of the commonplace and leads to the harmony necessary for the fulfillment of one's tasks. One can cure nervousness through outward discipline, but embracing service in the consciousness is the best discipline.
Fire requires caution. One should develop this, and service is the measure of one's solicitous vigilance. Just as the petals of a flower curl and droop from a clumsy touch, so does the protective lotus close itself when a violent threat pierces one's space. As a solicitous worker I commission the co-workers to carry the treasure. Agni Yoga, 452.
4. Attainment, synthesis, and vigilance are expressed by the tri-colored flame. Attainment is silver; synthesis is green; vigilance is yellow. This triad is developed by training one’s consciousness in the many conditions of life. One can point to this triad as the sign of one's having mastered the necessary conditions for self-sacrifice. Agni Yoga, 461.
5. One of the most difficult requirements of the Teaching is learning to speak appropriately—to speak so as to properly direct the thinking of the listener, but without intruding upon his karma. To tell all is to enchain. But to awaken striving and indicate a direction is the true task of the Teaching. Protective care will invisibly watch over the growth of consciousness. As a hand leads in the dark along winding streets, so does the Teacher place His Hand upon the shoulder of the disciple. Not vacuum but vigilance is proper for guidance. The Indication fills space, but does not hit the student on the head. Not for any one person, but for the general evolution is the Teaching given. It is as a ray of the sun. Blessed is the one who acts as a hunter of light! Agni Yoga, 642.
6. In the kernel of the spirit a dissociated atom carries the knowledge of its destiny. Only that spirit who guards the kernel in pure Fire can affirm his true destiny. The highest fusion is possible only in this pure burning. When the boundary is crossed and one existence terminates, then the step of higher existence begins. Thus, the perfect cosmic joy is reached in the manifestation of fusion. The vigilance of the kernel of the spirit through the span of millennia constitutes the Sacrament of the highest tension in Cosmos. Dissociation brings mutual handicap through cosmic reaction. Infinity I, 87.
7. One needs to develop a firm understanding of the Great Service. Pure hearts can show steady support for the Great Service without fatigue or carelessness. How destructive is the dull nature of carelessness! And how many people, even among those who know, are unable to avoid it! In ancient times it was called the “grey serpent.” Let friends adopt the manifestation of vigilance and attentiveness. Heart, 57.
8. You should remember that while the spiritual battle rages there may be unusual vibrations, and of course you should not expect that they will all be in harmony.
You may ask Me what I need of you right now. I need devotion, a devotion that is purified of all additives. When space shudders, we need to purify our feelings, just as an archer removes the tiniest particle of fluff from the tip of his arrow. Our Battle is moving forward, so plant your feet firmly and cast aside every impediment.
What kind of help is possible when a battle is going on? First of all, it is possible to create new circumstances; therefore vigilance, and still more vigilance! Heart, 146.
9. It should not be thought that, in his consciousness, an Arhat could lose sight of the Guiding Will even for an instant. He proves to be a simple mortal, if he does not always solemnly bear the chalice of achievement. The power of His heart becomes dormant as soon as He ceases to feel the Hierarchic thread in His hand. In this realization of constant vigilance lies the uniqueness of an Arhat. When I speak of vigilance, I am teaching you the fundamentals of cognition. But this solemnity is not easy in the confusion of the atmosphere. To be strivingly vigilant is not easy when the dust of decay is whirling about. One cannot exact the same demands when the earth is convulsed. Indeed, only an Arhat can save humanity in the confusion. Fiery World I, 196.
10. One should not be distressed by writings that reflect human hatred; the darkness is vast! One can evoke the most radiant forces, yet the dark ones will obscure even the best manifestations. The dark ones can only obscure. If they are asked how to improve things, they will become wrathful, for their goal is not to make things better, but worse. One can see how evil forces penetrate into life under various guises. One should not comfort oneself with the idea that the dark ones cannot approach; they will utilize every grain of dust to cover themselves. Where they themselves dare not approach, they toss in a scorpion. The dark ones have many inventions. Therefore one must become accustomed to great vigilance. Fiery World I, 517.
11. So let us expel any feeling of prosperity, and let us evoke all vigilance, realizing how unfitting is the thought of comfort in Infinity, and let us adopt vigilance as an eternal prayer. Thinking about the Fiery World, one should be especially conscious of these concepts. Thus, let each writing about the Fiery World end with advice about unceasing watchfulness. People are so carelessly engulfed in an everyday routine of life, that even the most striking thing appears dull to them. Ingratitude, laziness, unwillingness to respond to the heart, all are engendered by darkness of existence. But the fiery path shines with the fire of the heart. Fiery World III, 463.
12. Urusvati knows what extraordinary self-control is needed when one dedicates oneself to perpetual vigilance. If you ask people whether they are prepared to be on guard all the time, their answer will probably be, “All the time! But when will it end?” And if you tell them that there is no end and that their responsibilities will increase forever, it will be hard to find among them a worthy watchman.
Yet We are perpetually vigilant. We have adapted Our entire existence to a state of vigilance. We can rejoice and We can grieve, We can perform tests and deepen knowledge, all without losing Our vigilance. There cannot be, nor is there, any end to such a state of consciousness. We acquire such awareness in the earthly world as well as in the Subtle World, and We can assure everyone who strives toward such awareness that it can indeed be achieved, but the task must be accepted voluntarily.
We can mention individuals who achieved such vigilance, who accepted the required state of mind, applied it joyously, and were ready to take the cup of poison. We can mention the philosopher Seneca, who suffered greatly during Nero's reign, but whose consciousness remained undisturbed. Seneca inherited the mentality of the Thinker and endured the most trying times of ancient Rome, yet was able to remain the solace of many. His discourses about ethics were indispensable during those confusing days of little faith. Perhaps Seneca is less well known than the Thinker, but his work has great significance. He wanted to create a Leader, but received a terrible blow from his own disciple. The cup of poison did not confuse the clarity of his mind, and many learned from him how to cross the border of earthly life. We respect such examples amidst the confusion of ignorance and pride. Supermundane, 238.
13. … when We recommend vigilance, We mean it to be applied in all aspects of life. People think that vigilance is necessary only at times of great importance, but in fact it is required in even the most insignificant daily actions. It is impossible to separate the outward details from the essential, therefore events should not be evaluated by their appearance. All conditions should be calmly considered and one must learn from their diversity. Try to apply Our Vigilance, the vigilance that prevails in Our Tower.
The Thinker never tired of reminding His disciples about the importance of paying attention to every step and to every mental transmission. He said, “It is not for us to judge what is important and what is unimportant. Therefore, let us be vigilant!” Supermundane, 292.
14. Urusvati knows the great significance of untiring vigilance. We have often mentioned vigilance, but people pay little attention to this saving quality. For some, being always on vigil is chains, but for others it is wings.
The unwise say, “When danger comes, we will stand watch.” But will they perceive danger if their spirit has not developed its keenness of sight? Many qualities are dormant in the consciousness, and one must be able to draw them out of the depths of this treasury.
Fools will appear who will shamelessly deny the necessity of vigilance. They believe that it is not man’s work to stand watch and tire himself by such intense concentration. And besides these fools, there are those who do not even understand what vigilance is. Therefore, again and again we must remind people about keenness of eye, concentration, and vigilance.
We have spoken in Our different books about all these qualities, but the complexity of Armageddon compels Us to point out once again the salutary self-defense so needed by humanity. Man hopes to achieve communion with the Supermundane World, but for this he must be vigilant. The spiritually blind will not perceive the beauty of the Higher World, and keenness of sight must be cultivated. It cannot be gained at once. The development of vigilance results from one’s desire to safeguard everything High and Beautiful. Because of this striving one will always be on untiring vigil, which leads to Beauty.
The Thinker said, “Remember, always be ready.” Supermundane, 785.
15. Thus, all the warriors of Light must now deeply realize the significance of all that happens during Armageddon. Courage, firmness, and unremitting vigilance are necessary. Letters of Helena Roerich II, 22 June 1936.