Agni Yogi and Organizations(1)

“…It may be that right now certain finer hearts are already dreaming about the creation of organizations where trust would be the cornerstone. It cannot be insisted that everything is bad, when the human eye sees only some of the details of the approaching epoch. “Upon the fragments of ancient symbols one may observe the vitality of the basic concepts. Just when from the earthly point of view everything has been transgressed, it may be that at the same time most beautiful concepts are already being born.” [BROTHERHOOD 1937 Paragraph 5]

Sophia
by Nicholas Roerich (Roerich Museum, NY)

17 February 1934
“Everything you say about the so-called occult groups does not surprise us but confirms what we expected, as we know of the sad situation within many organizations and we know that human nature is everywhere similar. The evil is always the same: lack of tolerance and a terrible exclusiveness which destroys all foundations. The presidents of numerous societies and lodges pretend to have an exclusive monopoly and authority over everything concerning the Teaching given by the Great White Brotherhood. In addition, some wish to be the sole channel through which the High Teaching may be introduced. But in the poverty of their imagination they fail to see that the Great Brotherhood, which leads the evolution of the whole of humanity, cannot limit itself to one or even ten currents or recipients who are, in any case, just temporary!

“The Great Brotherhood is constantly working for the General Good of the whole world and, therefore, uses widely every possibility to reach through with their salutary Teaching. The vessel of humanity is sinking, and only the blind or stupid do not notice all the danger in the life of today.

“Of course, the Great Hierarchy of Light has on the earthly plane co-workers of various degrees, conscious and unconscious, as well as the particularly trusted and dear ones. There are also quite a number of persons who receive beautiful messages often without even knowing the true image of their Messenger, but they all bring their seeds for the great sowing. It would be most ignorant to associate the Great Hierarchy of Light with any limitations or conventional forms! The Hierarchy lives and acts using the law of great commensurability, the only law which guarantees true evolution.

“There is also no doubt that at the due time the Great Brotherhood selects one or two person for the renewal of the human consciousness and for introducing a new degree of the Teaching.” [LETTERS OF HELENA ROERICH Page 173]

“You say that you feel lonely. But what about your intention of gathering young people around the Teaching and the concept of podvig? These young forces could help you very much in your own development, you would be forced to deepen your understanding of the Teaching, for by their questions they would make you crystallize your ideas. Indeed, we learn while we teach. Why do you not try to exercise the magnet of your spirit and attract the new young people who know less than you?

“And so, if you decide to fulfill your first intention, let it be entirely on your own responsibility and initiative, and at the beginning do not join with the other groups already organized. Therefore, act very cautiously and apply discrimination, as it is easy to give entry to the dark intruders who are always especially anxious to infiltrate the pure organizations. If you are able to build up a really worthy group, you will have achieved something worthwhile. There are some young souls who should, by all means, be supported by the ways accessible to their consciousness.

“Even the books of Kryjanovsky have played their good part. Parallel with a rather pronounced vulgarity, these books contain some real gems. The most important, the most responsible thing is to know how to give to each one according to his consciousness. The great error is to give more than the consciousness of your companion can accept. To give too much to a consciousness that is not yet ready is tantamount to giving a loaded gun to a child. Therefore, approach everyone with the canon 'By thy God,' and then carefully direct him and broaden his horizon. Thus, it depends on you whether or not you remain spiritually lonely. 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.

“Thus, strengthen yourself upon the foundations of the Living Ethics, and verify your abilities and possibilities by helping the young seekers. Good Luck! Sincere striving will always bring results” [LETTERS OF HELENA ROERICH Volume I Pages 333 - 334]

“Yes, one must be extremely careful in contacting so many organizations. It is not difficult to imagine what a variety of people enters them. The founders of these organizations may be good people, but the followers, because of their great numbers, may surprise you in many ways. Therefore, be cautious. Examples of the unreliability of such followers are not far from you.

“The Great Covenant is, and always was, 'not quantity but quality.' The Sacred is entrusted only to the most devoted ones who have been tested during thousands of years.

“The faces of many reveal their true selves, and it is important to know how to discriminate among them. For those who have chosen the path of Great Service for humanity, discrimination is a touchstone; it is the first requirement and condition on the path of true discipleship. Thus, at a certain stage of spiritual development we are able to see occultly the sculpture of the spirit of those who surround and approach us. Without acquiring this ability, it is vain to hope to be accepted; for how can a disciple be trusted if he is unable to discriminate Light from darkness or friend from betrayer? The whole constructiveness of life would be ruined by such ignorance. Certainly, straight-knowledge is most helpful in discrimination. But how many possess it? Surely, it is the rarest quality and comes as a result of aeons of tireless striving toward Knowledge and Light.” [LETTERS OF HELENA ROERICH Volume p. 364]

11 January 1936
“I have read your letter very attentively and I must say that most of all I rejoiced to see that apparently you no longer belong to any pseudo-occult societies or organizations. Indeed, nowadays, such organizations are just as numerous as mushrooms after rain! And I know what a mixture they are! Some are insignificant, but there are others among them, which are exceedingly dark and dangerous. You were right in being perturbed at seeing 'revenge instead of fighting through love' in the 'Order' described by you; certainly there can be no hint of revenge in teachings of Light. Indeed, the first foundation of every Teaching of Light is the eradication of any possibility of the feeling of revenge. As for the resistance to evil indicated in them, this is not revenge, because it presupposes defense of the General 'Good, whereas revenge is based upon personal feeling. And you know that selfishness is the root of all misfortune. He who is capable of revenge can never become a disciple. One who is unable to practice discipline of thought and feelings cannot hope to progress speedily on the chosen path of Light.

“You ask, 'Why did the Teacher not come to me at that time? Why did He not lead me forward with a firm hand?' But the Teachers never come to anyone. We ourselves must reach out to them. And even if the Teacher had approached you at that time, are you sure that you would have accepted his firm Hand? Would you not have thought it unbearably heavy, and would you not have rejected it, perhaps even with worse blasphemy? Not easy is the path of discipleship. It has nothing in common with the descriptions of the life of the Magi and initiates in occult novels.

“Further on, you ask, 'Why was such an experiment necessary? Only to bring disappointment, to arouse my distrust in people and organizations?' But you must understand that an experiment is never forced upon us, we ourselves created and accept it, for karma puts us in those conditions in which we must learn a new lesson or repeat the previous one, not as yet learned. Perhaps you had to learn to discriminate regarding appearances and once again convince yourself of the failure of the pseudo-occult organizations, and also learn to outlive a partiality to rituals and forms. Many are still convinced that it is permissible to approach the higher Sources through dead rituals and repetitions of senseless mantrams, which have now lost their meaning, since their value lies only in rhythm, born in a flaming heart. Nothing external, without the inner striving, can be of real value. Rituals, if they are beautiful, can assist in creating a certain exalted mood, but it is impossible to look upon them as an independent, self-sufficient condition for spiritual ascent.

“You write, 'Where is the guarantee that the 'Order,' unknown to anybody, will not again attract me and compel me to commit the silliest acts, justified by higher, mysterious aims? How can one discern a pure movement?' But precisely a pure movement will never expect you 'to commit the silliest acts, justified by higher, mysterious aims.' Each Teaching of Light, first of all, insists upon intelligence, rejects all forcing, and expects only purity of thinking, intentions, words and deeds. Likewise, no masks are permissible. Masks are left to the agents of darkness, who have something to conceal, and you are right to beware of them. At the moment, they are very numerous, because of the approaching dates, which are critical for them; and they are extremely active on both planes recruiting assistants into their ranks. But how incredibly hard is the karma of those who are enticed by them!

“I doubt that hunger can develop a magnetic power in you. Of course, continence is essential in everything, but hunger can intensify nothing. Great balance is ordained by all the teachings of Light. And if you realize the presence of this power in yourself, let it help you to develop persistence in striving toward the indicated benevolent aim.

“All that you write has been taken into consideration, and my advice to you is to now become acquainted with the books of Living Ethics, at least with the two volumes of Leaves of Morya's Garden and with Agni Yoga. If your spirit resounds to them, do write to me after you have read them and give me your impressions, as well as your perplexities, and I shall answer you. Also, please let me know which particular expressions do not seem clear to you.” [LETTERS OF HELENA ROERICH VOL II pp. 103 –104]

“Regarding St. Sergius of Radonega, you can answer that N. K. depicted in paintings the events from the life of this great Spirit- and Toiler for humanity when nobody was even writing about him. Do these accusers have access to our inner life and to our sacred records? Also, let them cite those private letters in which N. K. speaks against the Theosophists. It was I who wrote in my private correspondence about the Theosophists, because I was asked for many explanations of certain Theosophical statements. And again and again I am ready to repeat that some Theosophical luminaries are not authorities for me. Likewise, we are not looking for followers among the Theosophists, and our rule is never to entice anybody. But if it happens that people who are interested in the books of the Teaching sincerely address us, we do answer them, leaving them complete freedom to enter into and to form this or that group. Thus, one such group recently sent us a message from New Zealand, and earlier another message came from Canada; and, as usual, among them there are also Theosophists. Just now we received a message that a group of Russian youths is ready to walk around the world, carrying the Banner of Peace.

“I also hear for the first time that the messengers of the White Brotherhood were reluctant to affirm themselves as such whenever it was deemed necessary. Did H. P. B. ever conceal the fact that she was sent by the White Brotherhood, and did she not affirm her mission? Of course, the envoys, or messengers, do not broadcast in the market place their approach and mission. Whatever is given through them speaks for itself and is assimilated by sensitive hearts, but they must declare it wherever it is necessary and is indicated to them. However, the difference is that the real messengers would not call themselves World Teachers or future Dhyan Chohans, or even apostles. Nor would they ascribe to themselves alien incarnations, and, particularly, they would not write false and tasteless books or claim monopoly of communion with the Great Teachers.

“As regards the accusation pertaining to valerian and musk- these remedies are used in Ayur-vedic medicine. And it is a revelation to me that Ayur-vedic medicine pertains to the Fourth Race! Once again, one may say - Learn more!

“It is ridiculous to read about the highest degrees of initiation that can be attained in contemporary occult schools. The highest degrees are attained only through inner perfectment, which no contemporary esoteric school can give. Initiations take place face to face, between a Great Teacher and the disciple; the next degree of perception of the higher energies, or rays, is the result. Therefore, such Initiations always take place unexpectedly and often simply in the bedroom or workroom of the disciple. And this Festival of the Spirit remains unforgettable in the consciousness and heart of the disciple. These Festivals of the Spirit have nothing in common with the trappings of the initiations described in some occult books.” LETTERS OF HELENA ROERICH VOL II p 278 -279

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[1] All information contained in these pages are under the copyright of the Agni Yoga Society, 319 West 107th Street, New York, N.Y. 10025