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AGNI YOGA WEB TV SERIES „THE 10 PILLARS OF THE PRACTICE OF AGNI YOGA“ 5th Pillar: Living in two Worlds Ladies and Gentlemen,
it is a pleasure for me to welcome you to a new
Broadcast. One of the key quotations of Agni Yoga is: The Agni Yogi verily
lives in two worlds. (Infinity I, 238) Today we want to talk about this life in two
worlds. The subject has three aspects: The first aspect is: Agni Yoga teaches that we
should not withdraw from the earthly life. The second aspect: We should not stick to the
earthly matters, to the perishable things. And the third aspect: Agni Yoga shows us how we
can already now, during our material existence on earth, really participate in
the life of the spiritual world, our true homeland. 1. Do not Withdraw from Life Painting: Carl Spitzweg „The Hermit as Friend of Flowers“ Let us start with the first aspect: Not withdraw
from life. The world is beautiful and full of wonderful possibilities. Look
around: Is the planet on which we may live, not a paradise? Our Teaching
represents the world as rich, joyous and attractive. (Community 263) The immortal sees the earthly and the supermundane,
the visible and the invisible world as one inseparable reality. Therefore, we
must not diminish the earthly matters in order to glorify the heavenly ones. Indeed, not breaking
away from the Earth, but the capacity for unifying the worlds is what makes man
a creator. (Community 215) Therefore, the Brotherhood imperatively demands
that we do not withdraw from the earthly life, but face its challenges. Flee not from life,
but walk the higher path. (Leaves of Morya’s Garden I, 1) The beauty of the Teaching of Agni Yoga is due precisely
to the fact that it contains nothing abstract, but has one goal only: To
ameliorate your ordinary daily life! Everything is of worth
only in life and for life. (Letters of Helena Roerich, Vol. 1, letter of
03.12.1930) Escapism is the wrong way. It is no coincidence
that our souls are incarnated just on this particular planet. For the time
being, we are not yet ripe for other, higher worlds. The path of the hermit
is not Our path. One must offer to life the flowers of experience. (Agni Yoga
165) The mission that you have accepted at your
incarnation must be fulfilled. It does not allow you to leave the world. If you
want to transform yourself and the circumstances, you have to submit to the
conditions prevailing on earth. Those who fulfill an
earthly mission do so under earthly conditions. (Supermundane 37) You may from time to time temporarily withdraw from
the hustle and bustle of the world - but only in order to return with new
strength and to fight even more powerfully for the rule of the spirit on earth. True, a Master must go
apart for a time, but only to gain strength to endure the stress and strain of the
physical environment. Enlightenment – assimilation of spiritual food – comes in
loneliness and quietude, because it pertains to the spiritual life; but upon
its attainment follows a period when that enlightenment – that force which has
been generated in the silence - must be put to the service of the rest of the
world. (Teachings of the Temple, Vol. 1, Lesson 17 “The Meeting of Extremes”) The struggle between light and darkness, good
and evil must be fought nowhere else than down here on earth. Or do you want to
give up to chaos the basis of the world-pyramid, the material level? It is impossible to
leave the world to decompose! (Heart 42) 2. Learning in Life You cannot run away from the trials of earthly
life. You will continue to be placed into a difficult situation, until you have
mastered, that is, until you have spiritually overcome it. Only in this way can
you perfect yourself and continue to rise. Only in the midst of life you can
learn what is to be learned on this planet. Not in remote
laboratories, not in monastic cells, but in life shall you gather the truthful
records. Indeed, through life one must attain. (Leaves of Morya’s Garden II,
130 [Part Two IV 3]) Pseudo-teachers who tempt you to go the easy
way, hide the fact that your rising to a higher level is blocked as long as you
do not master the requirements of the lower level. Agni Yoga must be
introduced into life, but its bearers must not differ externally from others in
life. The Agni Yogi lives unnoticed. There should not be even the slightest
alienation from life. (Agni Yoga 187) Life on earth is the only place where you can
really make progress in your development. You must not let pass unused the
opportunities for growth that it offers. The entire
transmutation, which is the threshold of the higher, boundless creativeness, is
attained in life on Earth. (Infinity I, 100) In the other world, you assimilate ideas and
ideals and learn what is essential. Crucial, however, is to actually transform into
material reality all what you have learned and dreamed of - and that is possible
down here on earth only. Man must treasure his
earthly life, as he finds new ways of perfectment in it. (Supermundane 738) Of course, the material level is the most
difficult one to cope with for the spirit. For the overall construction of the
worlds, however, this basis of the pyramid is the most important sphere. Only
down here man appears complete, in all bodies. Only here, therefore, can he
shape his entire being. Three planes are
manifested to humanity for the realization of all principles. Indeed, it is
easy for the spirit to strive upon the higher planes, but the earthly, the
lowest pole, is established as the place of decision. Only there where Light
and darkness battle can the spirit manifest a free choice. Imbued by the
emanations of the energies, the spirit can establish itself through the
expression of its striving. Only when immersed in the earthly sphere can one
manifest the subtlety of striving into higher spheres. Verily, man must pass
through purgatory; otherwise, the spirit cannot attain the predestined world,
which comprises all spheres. (Infinity II, 538 [138]) It is the very essence of the spiritual path to
develop higher striving in the middle of adverse material conditions. The achievement of the
spirit consists in that amidst earthly difficulties and struggles the spirit
develops higher striving. How could one attain the highest state, attain
refinement of consciousness, without spiritual labor? So many blessed cares are
on the path of the purification of consciousness! (Fiery World III, 37) It really is true: The more difficult the
conditions, the more valuable are the experiences you can gather. The Teacher [Plato] allowed Himself to be sold into slavery so that His earthly path might
be fulfilled as quickly as possible. He knew and profoundly felt all earthly
hardships in full measure, and succeeded in gathering vast experience during
His last life on Earth. (Supermundane 179) 3. Take up the Cross of earthly Existence Painting: Tintoretto „The Wedding at Cana“ The Great Teachers have taken upon themselves
the full chalice of earthly suffering, even though they had long since earned
the right to live in higher spheres. Their heroism lies in the fact that these
high spirits have exposed themselves to the terrible worldly radiations in
order to accomplish their task down here. If the Mahatmas had not themselves lived
through and suffered the earthly conditions, they would not be able to help us. Can you imagine how a great master, a highly
refined creature such as Jesus Christ must have suffered from the coarse
worldly atmosphere? For example, when he attended the wedding at Cana (John 2, 1-12), where certainly the amusement
with wine, women, dancing and singing was in the foreground - and where he even
had to procure the wine! The Great Pilgrim [Jesus] did not avoid mingling with people. He visited their festivals and
discussed their daily needs, but few noticed the many wise warnings that were
given with a beautiful smile and words of encouragement. If He had not come
into contact with life and had not suffered, His deeds would not have been as
great. No one realized how tormented He was by the many disturbed auras He came
into contact with in this way. (Supermundane 152) Let us hear the famous words of the initiate Paul about the sufferings of the
apostles of the early church: I have had more
experience of hard work, of prisons, of blows more than measure, of death. Of
the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one; thrice was I beaten with
rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have
been in the water. (2 Corinthians 11, 23-25) No member of the Brotherhood without exception has
fared differently. If we want to become co-workers to their Great Work, we have
to be prepared for similar tests and attacks. Can you name even one
Sister or Brother of the Brotherhood who was not subjected to tortures and
persecutions in earthly life? Truly, none can be named. Each heroic act invites
persecution. Combat with darkness is unavoidable, and the waves of chaos will
engulf bold fighters. Yet such touchstones only testify to the invincibility of
the spirit. There were Those who
were burned at the stake, crucified, beheaded, strangled, killed by beasts,
sold into slavery, poisoned, or cast into prison; in short, They endured all
tortures so that Their strength could be tested. Each one who wishes to
serve with Us knows that he will have to endure the assaults of darkness. (Supermundane
14) 4. Fulfill the Earthly Obligations Under no circumstances must the spiritual
disciple try to evade his earthly responsibilities under the pretext of so-called
"higher tasks". His normal everyday obligations to the human beings
or to the general good, which were entrusted to him, take precedence over all other
affairs. The Higher Self of no
man ever was responsible for the shirking of a duty to humanity. (Teachings of
the Temple, Vol.2, Lesson “The
World's Struggle”) First comes the mastering of everyday life,
then the realization of your dreams. A groom expressed to
his master a desire to breed a particular strain of horses. The master replied,
"Your plan is excellent, but first put the stable in order." (Brotherhood
101) The challenge is exactly to do justice to both:
To the ideals on the one hand and to the normal material everyday requirements
on the other hand. To do justice both to
the essential and to the dust of the threshold is that test which each one must
have clearly before him. (Fiery World I, 147) The Mahatmas are no elves who transform, in flying
by, with a delicate touch everything ugly into a perfect state. They are - as
we are - every day under the yoke of hard work in order to fulfill their
obligations towards our Earth. Not by the way of
miracle but by that of daily routine do We work. (Leaves of Morya’s Garden II,
101 [Part Two II 5]) Exactly the everyday responsibilities, which
fate has allocated - not by chance! - to you, point the way to the higher
spheres. Never will someone ascend who neglects his earthly duties. They are the
means of the higher powers to guide us into a certain direction - if we do not
comply with them, we miss our higher mission. We certainly do not
approve of those fanatics who abandon their earthly obligations and bring
nothing but confusion to all around them. They talk about higher harmonies, but
at the same time forget that there must be harmony between the earthly world
and the Supermundane. (Supermundane 641) This means for the individual: Fulfill your
obligations at the place on which you were put, as small as it may seem, work
for the Common Good and rise from this place. If you prove worthy, then,
according to the law of correspondence (see Series "Introduction to Agni
Yoga", Broadcast 9, "The law of correspondence"), higher tasks will
be assigned to you in due time. Chiefly, all efforts
should be applied for the best execution of that work which is given to us, and
in those conditions in which we are placed by Karma. A conscientious attitude
toward everything will push apart the boundaries and bring better
possibilities. (Letters of Helena Roerich, Vol. II, letter of 23.04.1938) 5. Work for Livelihood For money we should work only in order to earn
a modest living for ourselves and the fellow men for whom we are responsible. To
that extent, however, professional work is necessary. It happens to be our
destiny that, in a material world, we have to earn our right to live through
hard work. In the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat thy bread. (1. Moses 3, 19) No one is allowed to live at the expense of
others. No one shall let others work for him. Nobody may refuse to assume his
share of the work that is inevitable every day in the community. If any would not work,
neither should he eat. (2. Thessalonians 3, 10) This is especially true for a disciple of the Mahatmas. Eventually each
disciple must manifest himself in daily labor and undergo the attack of chaos.
(Brotherhood 303) In fact, work is the only value that justifies
compensation. Earning money is not
greediness. To receive wages for work is not a crime. One can see that labor is
the one just value. (Community 271) Even Jesus
and the apostles worked hard to earn their livelihood. All Great Teachers
labored much, and physical labor was not alien to them. Remember St. Sergius.
Christ also labored much; He earned his living by carpentry and pottery. This
side of the life of the Great Teacher is practically unnoted in the authorized
Scriptures. (Letters of Helena Roerich, Vol. II, letter of 11.02.1938) This has already in those days frightened away
many pseudo-disciples. His disciples were
surprised when He [Jesus]
wanted to labor with them in order to
earn their daily bread. This principle was used by Our other Brothers, too. One
of them, when He was an emperor, loved to say at the beginning of meals, “It
seems that I have earned my bread.” Several of the most zealous disciples have
fallen away because of the demands of continuous labor. (Supermundane 155 [No.
156 in the printed version]) Jesus' follower Paul boasts to have followed this example, never having been a load
to anyone, and to have earned his daily bread through earthly work. Neither did we eat any
man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that
we might not be chargeable to any of you. (2. Thessalonians 3, 8) I have coveted no man’s
silver, or gold, or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands have
ministered unto my necessities. (Acts 20, 33, 34) We cannot imagine the daily work of these high
initiates as carpenter or tentmaker accurately enough: They participated in the
daily struggle for survival. They were exposed to exactly the same humiliation,
injustice and rudeness by superiors or customers as we professionals today -
without losing their dignity, which lies in their higher nature. So we, too, can
and have to go the same way. Do not complain about dull professional work.
Higher tasks will be entrusted to you, once you are ripe for them. Do not be unhappy
because of the necessity for spending so much time earning your living. We must
all earn our bread. Indeed, all should be accomplished without retiring from
life and by earthly hands and feet. Therein lies great beauty. All the giants
of thought created amidst most trying circumstances. All earthly burdens are
necessary for the growth of the spirit. Verily, material
prosperity and ease are our most dangerous enemies. Nothing extinguishes the
inner fire so quickly as security for the morrow. In time, new conditions will
come into existence and the tasks will become broader. Possibly there will no
longer be worries about earning a living, but there will be new problems, far
more complicated and difficult. (Letters of Helena Roerich, Vol. II, letter of
24.09.1935) We must not try to evade the demands which the
present time places before us. We have to educate the inner man - for him, just
the difficult circumstances of professional work offer the best opportunities
to rise. Some of the members
are tired because most of them are working people. I think the main reason is
that most of them have already been through the first steps of enthusiastic
approach to the Teaching and, according to the occult law, they now begin to
show their real nature. Many do not realize,
or forget, that only in extreme tension of all forces does the awakening of the
inner man, and the further degrees of transfiguration, take place. Such people,
in most cases, do not find in themselves enough spiritual strength to resist
the plungings of the spirit, which inevitably follow every transport of
enthusiasm. If we have realized
that broadening of the consciousness is most essential, we will conquer
fatigue; we will not miss a single moment for the filling of our treasury of
the spirit with the jewels of knowledge and experience. (Letters of Helena Roerich,
Vol. I, letter of 28.02.1935) 6. Transfiguration of Life Let us finish the first of the three aspects of
our subject by concluding: We are called upon not to depart from life, but to transform
ourselves and the world. Not hiding from life,
but transforming it is required. (Supermundane 812) When We summon to the
far-off worlds, it is not for a detachment from life but for a discovery of new
ways. (Infinity I, 44) The mission of man to participate consciously
in the evolution, means specifically to raise life on earth to a higher level.
Each of you knows very well where in his surroundings truth, justice, beauty or
love are being trampled upon. There we have to intervene and help to carry the
principle of the rule of the spirit to victory. This can only be done in the
middle of earthly life. Self-sacrifice
corresponds to the readiness to attain victory for the cause of the Higher
World. (Heart 536) 7. Do not Cling to the Earthly The second aspect of the subject "Living
in Two Worlds" is: Do not adhere to the earthly. We should not bind ourselves
to a world that is not our home and that we will shall have to leave very soon.
Each attachment to material things or pleasures puts a burden on our spiritual
being and obstructs our ascent. 8. The Illusion of the World The eastern wisdom refers to the entire
material world as Maja - an illusion. This is for the Westerner at first sight difficult
to understand: Why should something solid, material that I can touch, be an
illusion? The answer is: Matter is subject to constant
change and, above all, transient. What you can see and touch today will no
longer exist tomorrow. It is, therefore, for an eternal pilgrim not a factor to
be seriously taken into account. One can write a
significant book on the relativity of physical reactions. One can gather facts
from various fields to prove that among the decisive factors the physical are
the least important. (Fiery World I, 297) Plato's Allegory of the Cave (The Republic, 7th
Book, I) teaches: Everyone enters the path as a prisoner of his own illusory
ego and of the illusion of the world. He must free himself step by step from
this prison and advance to the essential, to the eternal, spiritual reality. A contemporary version of this knowledge
provides the brilliant movie "Matrix", which depicts the lives of human
beings in an illusory world, from which they have to free themselves. Whoever strives for earthly matters, turns his
energy on things that are not worth the effort. 9. Do not Cling to Everyday Life Painting: Duccio di Buoninsegna: „The Devil shows Jesus the World“ Do not allow the petty everyday matters to dominate
your life. They must not divert you from the Great Work of advancing the
evolution and of creating the New Man and the New World. The ascending spirit
must constantly bear in mind the necessity to break away from the attachments
to everyday life. (Fiery World III, 19) He who is dealing too much with the "odds
and ends", is limiting and belittling himself. The details of daily
routine reduce weak minds to ordinariness. (Community 137) The perishable things are but a hindrance to
him who strives upwards to the eternal, spiritual world. Small actions and
small things obstruct life. (Heart 37) There are far too many great things to do, as
to allow us to waste time and energy on insignificant matters. The battle is so great
that it is impossible to allot time to ordinary occupations. (AUM 459) People constantly run the risk of forgetting
the essential in the exciting worldly turmoil. Humanity has been so
imbued with respect for the transitory that it has forgotten about the Eternal.
(Fiery World III, 363) Jesus said: No man can serve two masters. (Matthew 6, 24). That means: We need to
decide between matter and spirit, between the worldly ways and the spiritual
path. Man cannot serve the
beast within himself, and serve his Higher Self, his God, at the same time. (Teachings
of the Temple, Vol. 1, Lesson 185 “Whom will ye serve?”) We have to give up the striving for earthly
wealth and pleasures if we want to gain the eternal treasures in Heaven. Whatever of lasting
good comes we pay the price for it in some way. If we gain spiritual wisdom we
have paid the price in material sacrifices of some kind. If we gain the inner
life, we have paid in some degree in terms of the outer life. (Teachings of the
Temple, Vol. 2, Lesson “The Foundation Stones of the Spiritual Temple”) He who dedicates himself to material matters, will
remain spiritually poor. Our present time provides the best proof: Materially
in abundance and spiritually in poverty. Whoever looks for
value in the material world is a pauper in the Higher World. (AUM 190) 10. Withdraw from Business The immortal withdraws from the profiteering of
the world. He needs little. He cannot take part in the lunatic chase for
perishable goods. He will not sell his soul for such trinkets. Life has been turned
into a business, but who of the Teachers of Life has ever been a businessman?
(Fiery World I, 83) He cannot work for institutions which pursue
objectives hostile to the spirit, or which are operating in a way incompatible
with spiritual principles. He must not become a cog in a system that is based upon
the destruction of the earth, the exploitation of people and the mistreatment
of animals and plants. I shall designate the
path for the battle against the businessmen of this world. (Leaves of Morya’s
Garden I, 28 [29]) The spiritual fighter must beware that he does
not lend his hand, in the ongoing battle, to the wrong side, to the camp of
materialism, to the enemies of the spirit! 11. Withdraw from Distractions and Amusements Painting: Roberto Bompiani “A Roman Feast” The poison of today’s time is sweet. This makes
it so dangerous: We no longer recognize that it is harmful! Distraction is an awful poison to the spirit. It
moves us away from our higher self, which we can approach only by
concentration. People substitute
distractions for concentration. But was dissipation ordained? Everywhere action
was ordered, but not the chaos of scattering. (Heart 439) Material pleasures do not quench the thirst of
the soul. What he, the real man,
the real woman desires above all else is God, and nothing less will satisfy. (Teachings
of the Temple, Vol. 1, Lesson 138 “The Eternal Tragedy”) In view of the immense tasks, light-mindedness
and wasting of energy are inappropriate. You are quite right in
your feelings. There can be no merriment while Earth cries out from the burden
of calamities. While hunger exists there can be no gluttony. And what kind of
dances can be performed against a background of violence? Truly, I say that
merriment is indecent in these days of calamity. (Supermundane, 362) 12. Withdraw from the Old Man Painting: Andrea Mantegna „The Holy Family“ Secular forces which are directed to
distraction instead of concentration, to pleasure instead of service, to greed instead
of frugality, to looseness instead of obedience, to arbitrariness instead of compulsoriness
or to selfishness instead of selflessness, are actually enemies, from whom you should
stay away and against whom you need to protect yourself. None of these
influences must ever gain power over you. A disciple will never
gain the necessary command over his own tendency toward instability until he
recognizes the truth that the one who would swerve him from the path of duty he
has undertaken is his worst enemy. (Teachings of the Temple, Vol. 2, Lesson
“Winning of Mastery”) You need to separate yourself - at least in
your heart - from all those fellow men who do not walk the spiritual path: They
disturb your work, lead you into temptation, infect you with their wrong habits
and divert you from your path. If you get too much involved with the
aspirations and pleasures of their earthbound, selfish life, you will
inevitably get caught in these entanglements. Countless are those
who want to impose upon people their most degraded thoughts. (Agni Yoga 227) To that what you need to leave behind on the path
belong the bonds of family, relatives and friends. You will have no choice but
to let go in spirit of all humans who walk the other, the worldly way. Them,
too, you can bring help only from the new, higher standpoint. If any man come to me,
and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and
sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14, 26) That is not heartless as it may appear: Exactly
the closest circle of friends and family may represent the greatest threat to
the spiritual disciple: It tends by its very nature to approach you every day with
a great variety of temporal, selfish concerns and thereby divert you from your
trail. Ah! that whirling,
showy, glittering world, full of insatiable ambition, where family and the
State parcel out between them a man's nobler nature, as two tigers a carcase,
and leave him without hope or light! (Mahatma Letters No. 8 of 20.02.1881) We had already said: A real "holy"
family can be formed only with your soulmates. Among your blood relatives may even
be enemies (Series "Experiment Immortality", Broadcasting 5 "The
new Identity"). I agree that the words
of Christ, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother,
and wife, and children," etc. sound cruel (should we not ascribe this
phraseology to those who write it down, or perhaps translated it), but
nevertheless the inner sense is clear. If man serves his family more than he
serves the spirit of the Teaching of Good, what good will come of it? (Helena Roerich
Letters Volume II, letter of 28.05.1937) 13. Loneliness Painting: G. Dou „Hermit in Prayer“ The spiritual path is a way one must first
travel alone. The pilgrim remains
alone on the cliffs of ascent. (Supermundane 232) You must be under no illusions: You cannot
expect from the old man, not even from family, relatives and friends, any
support, but only rejection and resistance. You must be prepared to be in your surroundings
the only, the last - or better: the first - warrior of light. The significance of the
present-day hero is based on the realization that from no earthly quarter can
he expect cooperation. (Agni Yoga 290) Jesus’ unwavering
striving was supported by noone around Him except His Mother. (Supermundane
149) As you progress, you will find new companions
over time. A true community you can form only with those who, like you, are walking
on the spiritual path and striving for the same goal. A wayfarer should not
be distressed if by and by he may be left in solitude. There are paths
difficult to traverse in company. Sustained attention to the goal leads to new
traveling companions. (Brotherhood 181) Loneliness is helpful to overcome physical and
mental illness. It would be good to
remember the remedy of ancient times when sick people would go into seclusion
and remain close to nature. This was done not only in cases of contagious
diseases, but when the organism was in need of renewal. The fact that people
dream of and look for seclusion reveals a healthy instinct for the preservation
and restoration of health. (Supermundane 340) It is creative: Only in silence reach us the
best and highest thoughts. Solitude transmits a
better message than the gossip of the crowd. (Leaves of Morya’s Garden II, 29
[Part One VII 5]) Itsr destruction through today's mass society
is the devil's work. The Spirit of
Darkness, pondering how to still more firmly lash humanity to Earth, thought:
"Let them keep their old customs and habits. Nothing binds humanity so
much as habitual forms. But this is fit only for the multitudes. Far more
dangerous to us is solitude, in which the consciousness is illumined and new
forms are created. Therefore, time in solitude must be severely limited. People
must not be allowed to remain alone. I shall provide them with a mirror image so
that they may become accustomed to being with their own image." Thus did
the servants of Darkness bring a mirror to the people! (Agni Yoga 266) In truth, there is no loneliness: The Temple student
is in spiritual contact with his teacher, his classmates and his spiritual
brothers and sisters. He is incorporated in the hierarchy of souls. In the
spiritual community of those who walk the path together today and at all times,
the pilgrim is safe. As long as you remain on the path and act, down here on
earth, on behalf of the Hierarchy, all the masters, saints, heroes of faith and
martyrs will stand by you. The daring one is not
afraid of solitude, for in spirit he feels the bond with the Hierarchy of
Light. (Fiery World III, 55) In the Broadcasting on meditation we shall see
how you can turn to your soulmates in the spiritual world at any time. There is a universal
remedy against loneliness available to everyone. Such feelings can be dispersed
by turning in thought to friends. One has friends not only on Earth, but can also
appeal to many faithful co-workers from the Subtle World. Furthermore, one can
know about Us, and appeals directed to Us will not go unanswered. (Supermundane
493) If you open your heart, you can feel already in
the physical state the presence and care of your spiritual friends from the
other world. It seems to me that it
is truly joyous to realize that solitude does not exist, and that each one of
us is surrounded by loving souls on this or another plane. With such
transmissions these loving souls endeavor to create around us a benevolent
atmosphere, but it is necessary to realize this, to open our heart to their
calls and transmissions, and not to obstruct them by dark emanations issuing
from oppressive thoughts colored by doubt and often by an absolutely
unsubstantiated offense. Dark emanations are impenetrable for subtle energies.
(Helena Roerich, Letters Vol II., letter of 23.04.1938) 14. Participation in the Life of the Upper World Finally, we come to the third aspect of the "Life
in two worlds": If you want to be an immortal, a non-material spiritual
being, a soul, you have to learn to live the life of your soul. Your soul lives
and acts entirely naturally in both the terrestrial world (by the physical body)
as well as in the spiritual world (by the subtle body). Learn to live
simultaneously in both the earthly and the Supermundane World. (Supermundane
900) So you can - with the help of the soul - even
during the incarnation on earth take part in the life of your homeland, the
world beyond. It is one thing to
discuss abstractly distant worlds; it is another to realize oneself a
participant there. (Community 30) 15. Alien How can you achieve this practically? First,
you must realize: Your true home is not down here, but up in the world
beyond: There, you spend much more time than on earth. There, you live together
with your soulmates, your spiritual family in a world that truly corresponds to
the height of your consciousness, undisturbed by lower creatures (see Series
"Introduction to Agni Yoga", Broadcasting 10 "The Supermundane World"). It would be correct to
think of such co-workers of Ours not as dwellers of Earth, but rather as
guests, filled with memories of better worlds. (Supermundane, 369) Your true eternal individuality - the soul - is,
as a spiritual being, a stranger on the material level. Exiled down here, it
feels like an alien from a higher planet. 16. Envoy from Beyond Painting: Nicholas K. Roerich „From Beyond“ Furthermore, become aware: You are being
expelled from time to time from the paradise of your home and are being sent -
like Adam and Eve - to the inhospitable material level: In order to enable your
soul to continue to grow and to perfect itself further, and in order to learn
to master the earthly conditions. Above all, each of us has received from Above a
personal mission which he has to fulfill down here. Therefore, we all are ambassadors
of the higher spheres in a strange, barbaric world, to the improvement of which
we have to contribute according to our faculties. This is a high dignity! This you should never forget!
Manifest yourself in your environment always as the envoy of a higher power on
a primitive planet! 17. Living according to the Customs of the Homeland Living in Two Worlds further means: You have to
follow, even in the material world, the higher customs and laws that are
compulsory for you in your home, in the Ashram in the other world. As a creature
that belongs to both worlds, you must meet the conditions of both levels. The envoy must not jeopardize his dignity. You
must not submit to the primitive conditions, to the uncivilized customs of the
inhabitants of your host country whom you are sent to uplift. You should not make
common cause with those whom you are to lead to a higher level. A yogi is able to do everything,
but not all is permitted to him. (Agni Yoga 223) A good example of the life in a foreign environment
according to the customs of the homeland is the service of a German soldier in
Afghanistan: He is called to temporarily carry out a mission in a foreign
country. He lives there, but in accordance with German customs. He watches
German television, eats German food and is subject to German law. He as often
as possible by letter, telephone or Skype, cultivates the connection to his
home, his family and his girlfriend. He remains a German, even if he has been
exiled among Afghans. Specifically, this means: If you want to be a
spiritual disciple, you need to live even among strangers, even on the material
plane, according to the laws of the Ashram of the spiritual world to which you
belong, according to the instructions of your teacher, according to the rule of
the disciple, according to the 10 Pillars of the Practice of Agni Yoga which we
are about to discuss. The lowest level, the earthly world is the
ultimate test of whether you really, in your essence, are already a disciple
and a co-worker of the Mahatmas - which is only possible if you manifest
yourself not only above but also down here as such a person. If you do not manage
to appear as a disciple on the material level, your existence as a disciple in
the Higher World ends as well. 18. Daily Visit Home Painting: Nicholas K. Roerich „Star of the Morning“ While away from home on an assignment in a
foreign country, you crave of course - as the soldier in Afghanistan - to maintain
the connection with the homeland and - whenever possible - to return there on
visits or on holidays. The old man expects to return to his spiritual
home not earlier than at his death. The new attitude of the Agni Yogi is: You start
every day in your home. For those of you who have chosen the eternal identity
of a spiritual disciple, that means: In the ashram, in the timeless community
with your teacher and your classmates. You can, in the morning meditation, really
move your spiritual being, your eternal individuality, to that place. From this
Higher World, from this higher position, you descend down to earth in order to
work down here during the day. In the evening, you - your spiritual being - climb
back again to the mountain top, to your home, to the spiritual world. In this way, the life in two worlds becomes
real, concrete and practical. You can recognize that
the chosen ones are on the path if the Invisible World has become real and
accessible to them. (Heart 3) This is not as fantastic as it may seem:
Imagine that there actually lives a Great Teacher physically incarnated in your
neighbourhood. How would this change your everyday life? Hardly at all. You
would have to continue to spend most of the day in fulfilling your obligations
in your profession and your family. You will be glad if you can spare a few
minutes of time in the morning before the day and in the evening after work to
visit the teacher and receive comfort, strength and instructions. No different is our approach - only that you
visit the teacher in his Ashram not physically but in spirit. The effect in
both cases is the same. Do not live in the
present, do not allow the transient matters to affect you. Live in eternity, beyond
time and space, beyond the perishable things. (Elisabeth Haich, Initiation) The old man thinks: I live my earthly life and
visit now and then the church to be edified. The New Man looks at the same material
life situation from exactly the opposite point of view: He lives in the Upper
World. He visits the material level only temporarily. He returns back home as
soon as possible. For him, the supermundane existence is the real, the true
life. This new perspective allows you a real
transfiguration of your everyday life: You can live in the highest conceivable
world, in your personal paradise, how ever the outer, material living
conditions may look like. 19. Actual Participation in the Life of the Upper World Painting: C. H. Bloch „The Transfiguration of Christ“ When you have mastered the life in two worlds, your
soul, your spiritual self, during meditation, is actually living in its home, for
example, in the Ashram, where it really meets its family - the classmates and
the teacher - and in full reality converses with them. The perfect reality of
this process is demonstrated by the fact that you hardly ever rise from
meditation without having received instructions, strength and comfort. The participation of your soul in the life of
the Higher World is a spiritual reality. To this reality you must penetrate,
otherwise the life of your spiritual being will remain abstract and unreal. Man should develop a
conscious awareness that he participates every hour in the Supermundane World.
(Supermundane 738) An enlarged consciousness takes part already in
the incarnated state in a very natural and self-evident way in the life of the
other world. Your soul can, during sleep, in meditation or in moments of trance
contact other - not incarnated - souls, in the higher world, just as the
physical body meets with other bodies on earth. A hermit was once
asked how he could dwell in continuous silence. He was much surprised and said,
"On the contrary, I am never silent, but converse constantly—so many
companions visit me." The hermit had drawn so near to the invisible world
that it had become entirely perceptible to him. Prayer became a conversation,
and that world was affirmed in all its magnitude. To such a spirit his own
transition into the Subtle World is altogether imperceptible. (AUM 41) Now we can understand the biblical story of the
Transfiguration of the Lord (Luke 9,
28-36; Matthew 17, 1-9; Mark 9, 2-9): In a state of the spirit of higher
vibration, which is materially visible as radiant aura, Jesus could have a conversation with non-incarnated beings like Moses and Elijah. We shall discuss the details in the Broadcasting
on "Meditation". 20. An Exercise Here is an example of how you can start
practicing the participation in the life of the spiritual world: Before falling asleep, undertake to carry out
during the night - while you are acting with your subtle body in the Upper
World (See Series "Introduction to Agni Yoga", Broadcasting 10
"The Supermundane World") - useful work for the Hierarchy. When you wake
up, try to remember as clearly as possible your activities during sleep. And try
to develop a perception that you have contact with higher beings and visit
higher places even during the day. How to develop the
ability to work in the Subtle world? First of all, one should start by
continually feeling himself to be living in two worlds. This is not difficult
at all because we cross each night into the Subtle World, where, if our subtle
body has been sufficiently developed, we can apply our subtle energies with
good benefit. When we go to sleep
not thinking of rest, but striving to the Hierarchy of Light with a thought of
useful labor, we thus direct our energies to active help where it is most
needed. Consciously sending
oneself into the Subtle World can be increased to such an extent that we begin
to remember clearly our many-sided work at night and our visits for the purpose
of rendering help to people often quite unknown to us. The next stage will be
to cognize such a sending in the waking state and even during one's usual
occupation. At first, such a sending will flash out in the consciousness
through a sensation of a sort of momentary absence, and later there will remain
an impression of having visited someone, or even of having heard two or three words;
at times there will be sensed the characteristic smell of a definite locality
known to us, or a glimmer of people or a place will pass by - then we shall
know that our detached energy is working in that direction. These manifestations
occur daily, but for this some solitude is needed. They are more vivid and
frequent in the evening, and before going to sleep, and are especially
intensified at dawn. (Helena Roerich, Letters Vol. II, letter of 23.04.1938) 21. Work in the Spiritual World: Perfecting the Thought-Forms The work of the soul in the spiritual world consists
mainly of ever perfecting the thought-forms there. Is it possible for one
incarnated on Earth to create mentally in the Subtle World? It is possible,
especially if Agni [psychic energy] is acting. It is possible to create
constructive forms; one can participate in a great number of improvements. Thus
it is possible to create from weak fragile forms something strong and lasting.
So we prepare during earthly existence the future beautiful gardens. (Fiery World
I, 241) In the Supermundane World you are at work, even
during the earthly incarnation, if you improve the ideas, ideals and concepts,
the thought patterns of humanity that exist there and await their embodiment on
earth. A thinker like Plato, who conveyed with his opus "The Republic" advanced
ideas about the organization of human society, is a great creator in the Higher
World. Regardless of the extent to which his suggestions are being considered and
implemented in the material world, the world of ideas is enriched by a mighty
thought-building. This picture is hanging in space for thousands of years and
influences the thinking and the actions of many generations. The perfection of the thought-forms of the other
world reflects upon the earth: Ever higher and ever more beautiful ideals are being
created up there, which will become a material reality one day down here. 22. Work in the Material World: Implementation of Ideals The thoughts and ideas of the spiritual world strive
to incarnate on earth, to become a material reality here. The spirit is the
creator of each form. (Fiery World III, 363). Thought creates thought-buildings in the Upper
World. These are the predecessors, the prototypes of the material forms of the earthly
world. Thought does create
form, which form is at some period externalized on the physical plane, incased
in matter. (Teachings of the Temple, Vol. 2, Lesson “The Manasic Plane or Sphere of Thought”) Thought drives progress forward: All material
things that are newly created on earth, were first erected as thought-buildings
in the other world. Each thought directed
to the construction of the New Epoch will produce its own forms. Thought-forms
manifest the trend of the future. (Fiery World III, 169) Nothing substantial is done, that has not been
thought of before. Any development takes place first mentally in the spiritual world,
before it is realized materially on earth. Thought is the mover
of evolution. (Infinity II, 795 [395]) Thus your work on the earthly plane will have
to be: To implement the ideas of the Higher World - which you yourself or
others have developed -, and thereby to advance the material conditions, to improve
and to refine the coarse earthly forms according to the plan of evolution. A
powerful earthly creator draws down to the earth the subtle forms, existing in
the higher spheres ready for materialisation - first in the spirit, and then by
carrying out the idea materially. Space contains subtle
forms ready for materialization. (Fiery World III, 146) Your spiritual battle is to bring down the
stars from heaven, that is, to enforce the high ideas on earth, to bring them
to material life, to enable them to manifest themselves, to embody, to materialize
down here. Let us take the forms
of the Subtle World and apply them to the earthly plane. (Fiery World III, 128) While mental forms strive to materialize and to
incarnate, material forms want to be refined, spiritualized. Just as the spirit can
refine a condensed thought-form, so can it condense subtle forms. (Fiery World
III, 248) Working in both worlds therefore means: On the
one hand perfecting the thought-forms of the world beyond and on the other hand
to materialize them and thus to spiritualize the gross material earthly
conditions. This requires that, throughout your earthly
work, you are continuously connected with the Higher World and that you act
down here exclusively in the name and on behalf of the Hierarchy.
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