References compiled from the Agni Yoga Series
The path that leadeth on, is lighted by one
fire—the light of daring, burning in the heart.
The more one dares, the more he shall obtain.
The more he fears, the more that light shall
pale—and that alone can guide.
The Voice of the Silence
III. The Seven Portals
Translated and annotated
by "H.P.B." 1889
6. My Breath is the daring towards Beauty.
The great gift manifested through your sacrifice will lead you to joyous realization in your pursuit of Truth.
Eschew the life of the slumberer.
Love the life that sparkles in thoughts
enveloped in the Divine Radiance.
Strengthen the growing power of your spirit.
Ever remember the Gates revealed by Us.
The pure Breath of Our Bliss imparts living sustenance
to you in your daily life.
May the dance of wrath succumb before the power of
the Temple!
The fire of fearlessness will brighten your hearth.
We send the light to those who smile at darkness.
Your spirit is already in ascent, and the flaming heart
will not be blighted by cold.
The Right Hand of God asserts Itself and
proclaims the Dawn of Day.
25. We lend Our Ears to pure thoughts.
You will receive the knowledge and will walk the
pure path, but beware of anger and of doubt.
If you conquer, you will receive the light.
If you falter, the whirlwind will obscure your soul.
Perfect yourselves, my friends, unwearyingly.
Deny not the Voice of the Spirit, suppress only the
earth-bound voices.
Be daring-I am with you.
70. Do not turn away from your friends-in My Name
can you enlighten them.
Have courage-be true disciples of the Master.
Teach them to love the world of spirit.
Sow the wisdom sent unto you.
334. Your joy is Our joy.
When the enchanted flower of tenderness unfolds on
earth, a new star is born in the Infinite.
Numberless are the stars.
The Milky Way of happiness bridges all the worlds.
Lord, the bird of happiness would sing at my window.
I shall not understand its words but I will dare.
In the morning hour one word will come to me,
And my heart will sing:
Forgiven, forgiven, forgiven.
Is it possible that for one word, for one act of tenderness,
I could be freed of guilt by Thee?
By Thee, Who has spun the web of eternal Universe
and Glory?
My son, tenderness is part of Truth.
And Truth is in Beauty and Love.
Comprehend this, My son, in the midnight hour.
I shall knock upon thy door at dawn.
Each new day, your flower grows.
And simply do you pronounce the words of the
building of the Temple.
I see a smile; I hear even laughter.
Blessed are you if, laying the stones,
you can cement them with laughter.
Joy to the worlds! I said it.
347. One may trustingly and even daringly knock
at the door of His Temple.
And if the knock is consciously delivered,
Then in response one receives new strength,
though it may not at once be recognized.
349. The Teacher considers an act of courage
an achievement.
The Teacher gives strength to the faithful.
See also: The Call, paragraph 342.
I.VI.11. Daringly raise your shield. I ask one thing: not to weaken your strength with gold. My Teaching does not like gold.
I.X.2. The judgment of the lightminded revolves like a wheel. A daring one asks for a bow; he will fetch the bird himself.
II.II.4. A lofty spirit feels whither to strive—it flies as an arrow. But a dark one hovers behind the stove. Therefore, precious is the bold desire to seek, because he who seeks finds.
II.7. When each one understands that the spirit’s way is simple, and brings the call of the Mother of the World, then each one will find the Gates open.
Without lamentations and invocations each one may approach the apparatus of life—not through mind but in spirit. The hands will be stretched out not to entreat but to gather. The call of the Mother will show the Gates whereby it is already time to enter. Just the Call of the Mother. When the whims of childhood are forgotten, only Mother can call.
The repast is ready. The hour is come when a new feast is spread. Approach, while the dishes are still hot! Many will not be able to swallow the hot food; but the boldest one, like the fairy tale prince, will swallow the fire of the world. And the path of fire will illumine the nearest road.
II.VI.18. “To those who have encountered and to those who have responded I say: Leave to Me My sorrow and My joy about you. By the power of Christ, by the power of Buddha, by the power of the Messiah, proclaimed by the prophets of Truth, set up the scales.
“Show Us all that is great, and be ashamed of the small worm that ruins the correctness of weight. The one who gives can receive.
“Reckon how much each one has given. Let us count accurately.
On the left: fear, self-love, greediness, suspicion, demeaning, self-pity, misinterpretation of the Teaching, dusty whispering, treason in deed and thought. On the right: giving, compassion for others, daring, fearlessness, devotion, firmness, vigilance, movability, realization of the Shield, the path and light of achievement, adornment of the temple of the spirit, righteousness of understanding, exaltation of the good. On the left—loss and payment. On the right—the receiving.
“Each one will apportion for himself, for We see and hear.”
II.VII.2. Each one will apportion for himself. From the best plan there can be made a chicken coop.
Apportioning gold and silver is not Our occupation. One has to forget all conditions—then the light is lit. Every joyous loss is an immense gain.
The daring of despair is self-abnegation. But the highest daring does not expect any reward. And despair expects no reward. In Our language despair is the designation of a limit. An achievement is near to this limit. To the house where it abides one can screw an iron bolt.
III.IV.1. Prayer is the realization of eternity. In prayer there is beauty, love, daring, courage, self-sacrifice, steadfastness, aspiration. But if in the prayer are included superstition, fear and doubt, then such an invocation is related to the times of fetishism.
How then should one pray? One can spend hours in aspiration, but there may be a prayer of lightning speed. Then instantaneously, without words, man places himself in continuity with the whole chain into the Infinite. ...
Only developed spirituality can uplift the human consciousness in a single sigh. ...
We alone transport ourselves into the far-off worlds, into the treasuries of possibilities and knowledge. We feel that they are predestined for us, and we approach them daringly.
Thus understand the Covenant: “Pray in no wise but in spirit.”
III.V.13. The Path of Light will appear when you venture to look scientifically and without prejudices.
The daring ones are with Us—joy to the daring ones!
See also: Illumination, pages 83 and 238
48. Precisely, without fear and as much as possible doing things oneself. Correct is the manifestation of personal responsibility. Neither miracles, nor quotations, nor actions; but affirmation strengthened by personal example. Even a mistake in daring is more easily remedied than is abject mumbling.
Precious is the action which is not in need of any apparatuses or assistants. He who discovers a precious formula cannot cry it out of the window, because the resulting harm would obliterate the best usefulness.
Indeed, as a sealed vessel, as an unplundered mountain, as a bow tensed with an arrow—thus stand! And as a drink from the vessel is flaming, and as the mountain is inexhaustible, and as the arrow is lethal—thus act! For who dares to affirm that difficulty is not the speediest attainment! Rivers of milk will turn sour, and shores of jelly are inconvenient for sitting. Thus, in the armor of personal responsibility let us make haste.
Take notice, there has been success only where there has been complete courage. Small doubts create a slavish timidity.
Precisely in the days of grave sickness of the planet it is important to be filled with courage. By groping one does not pass, but the sword can cleave the harmful veils. Very grave is the moment, and it is necessary to intensify all courage.
80 . It is necessary to understand clarity of thinking and to apply it to the future—thus is it possible to avoid roughness of form in actions. One should not ape others. Precious is each grain of decisiveness. I wish to saturate you with daring. It is better to be considered unusual than to be garbed in the uniform of triviality. It is needful to read My Teachings. It is necessary to strive to apply them to each act of life, not on holidays only. Say to yourself: “Is it possible to strive in the mornings and be a parrot in the evenings?”
82 . On the day of beginning the new step let us speak without reproach about the great times when we learn to break away from the Earth and already in the body become associated with the Higher Worlds.
No one is refused anything; come, stretch forth your hand to the altar of the spirit. Affirm the spirit as of matter and remember how the heart trembles before the radiance of the mountains.
My Word must affirm you in the beauty of achievement. Facing the path, let us abandon the rules of actions; let us again gather the consciousness above the firmament. It is beautiful to have already the subtle body and find the spirit no more troubled before distant flights. Therefore, let us rejoice at each movement on the crust of Earth—let us learn, as it were, to fly therein.
To fly—what a beautiful word! In it is already contained the pledge of our destination. When matters are grave, think about flights; let each one think about wings.
I send to the daring ones all the currents of space!
10. When alone, spurning possessions, standing firm and unperturbed, not bewailing his fate—only then does the daring one exult.
Thus shall We begin the translation of Our ancient Book of Daring.
When a child plays with a newborn kitten, his mother rejoices at his courage, loathe to note that the kitten is still blind. When a youth toys with the soul of his comrade, the spectators marvel at his daring, not seeing the shackles binding the wretched soul. When a man denounces an assembly of judges, the witnesses admire his courage, not knowing that the daring of his threat has been bought with the jingle of gold. When an aged man comforts himself by deriding death, his friends delight, unmindful that fear has fashioned his mask of derision.
True daring is often unnoticed by people, because in its essence it is unusual. But the heart will tremble in response to the unusual.
Where art thou who vanquished? Where art thou who transformed the tremor into a leap toward the light? Hear, thou who darest! In the deep of night I shall draw near to bless thy sandals. I shall strew thy pillow with sparks of light, for the sleep of the daring one is as the melting away of a lute, when the seven strings are bathed in mystery. The sleep of the daring one is as the calm before the whirlwind, when even the slenderest blades of grass are unstirred.
Does the roar of the lion set the worlds atremble? No. Daring is awakened and the royal lotus of spirit unfolds. Brothers, let us gather in the hall of joy! The flower has unfolded; raised is the great wheel. Our Joy descends to the nether worlds and rises to the Brothers in the Supermundane.
We sing to daring Our best song.
11. The chirping of birds has disturbed the moment of rest. Why in the early hours are the birds so tense in their striving? They dare—overhearing the praise to daring. But no one informed them that their usual song would not increase their daring. The darkness shrieks, deafening in its banality. Darkness cannot withstand the daring of light.
When the scales of the Lord have been prepared, we shall awaken early in order to weigh our use of the day just passed. We shall select that which was most daring, in order that these kernels of good may weigh more in the balance. We shall add the sorrows of the old world, for their burden is of use to us. And add the derision of the ignorant. Each of these adds its weight to the cup holding truth. Should we find threats and assaults, let us not forget to add those to the cup also. Why the trembling of the scale? With what wretched, murky tatters have we filled the cup of our wrongdoing? Like last winter's withered leaves are heaped the curses of the ordinary, the dross of yesterday.
Victory to you, daring deeds! For the mighty-winged deeds outweigh all wrongdoing.
Lord, grant me to cast into the flames the deceptive rags of the ordinary. I shall not err in realizing that winged daring has Thy blessing. In the sacred furnace will I forge the Wings of Alaya. I know nothing of complaints, cruelty, or aught that could weigh down my new wings. New will be my song!
12. Broadly has spread the praise of daring. The least of the disciples have turned to the path of searching and have approached Us, asking that We judge their striving. Each brought his dreams: "I will destroy all earthly temples, because Truth needs no walls. I will water all deserts. I will open all prisons. I will demolish all swords. I will blaze all trails. I will wipe away all tears. I will travel through all lands. I will inscribe the book of humanity."
But the least one of them turned to the shining stars and said, "Hail to you, brothers!" And in this salutation of daring his ego vanished.
Let the path of the Universe be acknowledged in this daring greeting!
13. The book of Thomas ? Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, has long been appreciated in the East not only by virtue of its content but because of the meaning of its title. In the midst of medieval idolatry of Christ, the voice of Thomas ? Kempis resounded in protest. From behind the walls of a Catholic monastery rang out a voice to clarify the Image of the Great Teacher. The very word imitation comprises a vital action. The formula—Imitation of Christ—is an achievement of daring innate in the conscious spirit that accepts all responsibility of creation. Truly, the conscious pupil dares to approach the Teacher in imitation. Such an example brought light into the musty darkness and behind the monastic walls provided the impetus to strive toward creative daring.
In accordance with the groveling medieval consciousness, it would have been fitting to say, "The Worship of Christ." But the ascendant spirit dared to pronounce a call to imitation.
Each step of blessed daring must be cherished as a milestone in the progress of humanity. We do not give attention to monastic utterances. Thomas had no need to climb to the stake—his task was to proclaim not the forbidden but the inspiring formula.
There are two forms of truth. One must be nurtured by the flame of the stake. The other demands spreading without restraint. It is difficult to state which method is the more painful to pursue. Sometimes it is easier to suffer the pain of the stake than to witness the distortion of the disseminated teaching. In either event, blessed be the daring that penetrates the darkness!
24. Guard your words and thoughts. We value the valor of daring; but the cunning of mediocrity is disdained by the Our Government.
36. Each movement of consciousness must flow with the current of evolution. Each step of life must be considered as inseparable from self-improvement. A form that has congealed can be duplicated, but in the current, no wave can be duplicated.
Sleep or vigilance, labor or rest, motion or repose, all carry us equally toward the fulfillment of life's plan. “It is like fallen leaves,” say the timid. “It is like seeds for the sowing,” say the wise. “It is like arrows of light,” say the daring.
Whosoever is set affright by the roar of the torrent is not yet born in the spirit. Who soars on the wave may think of the far-off worlds.
44. Zeal in life teems with eagerness to learn.
45. Let us not conceal that precisely now a book of discoveries and of the light of daring is being opened before humanity. This ripened fruit of the thorny travail of the community is ready to burst with seed. Can one split this fruit with a sword, or crush it through fright or through cringing cowardice, or usurp it through treacherous cunning? No, only unity of consciousness and the gaining of knowledge will bestow on humanity the gift of a new race. The impetus toward this will be afforded not by cosmic phenomena, but by the current of thought.
We shall not miss the ordained date when lightning-bolts of thought will provide the solution for the world. We suggest that humanity not only think about but realize the astrochemical moment of the planet when thought, like a chemical ingredient, will intensify the atmosphere.
46. According to certain symptoms one can distinguish between those nations that are ascending and those declining. The nation that ascends dreams of heroes. But for the worn-out nation the idea of a hero seems wearisome and pointless. Though this nation may be showered with gold, though its conceit still may be impassioned, it will be unfit for podvig. The dreams and ardor of real daring have passed out of the walls of the nation that knows only reason.
Everyone remembers the stories of children who left home in quest of happiness; and in the fairy tales of all times happiness is given to these children.
47. The Teaching of evolution shows that human timidity increases before the change of race. But the date approaches, and those who have not learned to swim must swallow their fill of the brine.
Let us watch the leaps of the daring ones.
48. There is an urgent need to prepare the pilgrims to understand the Teaching. The simplest act of improving life will help them to follow this unusual path. Usefulness will lead them to a search for beauty. Life itself will reveal the requirements of goal-fitness. A simple explanation of a task can lend confidence to its fulfillment. Thus will they find the easier, speedier, more useful ways of approach.
The daring of the unshackled man is not an abstraction. The courage of the bird that flies across the sea provides an example for humanity, although no one thinks to consider the swallow a hero.
Nevertheless, air your storerooms and your walls.
49. They will ask, “Who gave you the right to dare?” Say, “We dare by the right of evolution. The right of evolution is inscribed in flame in our hearts. We cannot be deprived of the truth of the immutability of ascent. Both amidst the crowds and in solitude we know our inalienable right. We can affirm that only the blind are unable to perceive the direction of evolution. But when the door of knowledge is distinctly outlined, it is not difficult to strive out of the darkness.”
Daring! Should one understand it as an unheard-of achievement? Shall not daring be one’s daily repast, and the garment of one’s every thought? Will not the prison walls become transparent? And will not the seal of the secret scroll melt away for the one who dares?
In recommending daring, We offer the simplest way. The heart knows the truth of this way. At present one cannot point out any other.
Display daring!
55. Unwaveringly, before our eyes, the world divides itself. The new consciousness grows, unskilled, but full of daring. Despite its experience the old thinking loses strength. There is no power that could hold back the tide of the New World. We regret the useless waste of energy of the expiring consciousness. We welcome with a smile the daring of those who realize their right to expand new achievements. Each mistake, if committed for the cause of the New World, becomes a flower of valor. No matter how skillful the effort to embalm the old world, it remains a skeleton of horror.
The old world rejected the Mother of the World, but the New World begins to perceive Her lustrous veil.
180. “I am the fearsome smiter of the defamation of Truth. I take upon myself the responsibility for the purification of the old world. Unyielding will I be in opposing the onslaught of pettiness. I will assume the courage to oppose the fury of evil!” Thus affirms the yogi. And in the power of this affirmation he tempers his sword of Truth.
245. Religions have frightened humanity with their dogma of final judgment, and have thereby deprived it of daring. Whoever submits blindly to a state religion is like a donkey staggering under a burden imposed upon it. Can one accept a religion enforced by police order? Can one accept on faith the decisions of strangers who take fees for communing with heaven?
Therefore, in the presence of a state religion, the responsibility of the yogi is great. Fearless, testing, indefatigable, the yogi must help humanity to remember the Law of Unity. Like a flashing sword, the thought of the yogi is a lightning-bolt through space. Ready to alter the ways of communion, ready for achievement, ready to accept the condemnations of the ignorant, the yogi exhorts humanity to contemplate the causes of their incarnate lives. By doing this, the quality of their labor and learning will be changed. Knowing the possibilities inherent in people, who would not wish to dare valiantly? Does not the victor's crown belong to the one who teaches courage to humanity? Without this the heads of people, like those of swine, will remain glued to the refuse of Earth.
257. The future is constructed by lightning-bolts of realization. The power of these great sparks depends upon the strength of the counterforce. Clearly then, success will not come from embarking on a voyage in a tub across a stagnant pool.
When We say, “Set sail,” We mean that you must try the ocean; the grandeur of its waves will give you joy. Does not the testing of one's strength lead to a growth of power? It may seem impossible to cross an abyss, but you have already crossed many an abyss and smiled. You see, I do not speak of fantasies, but of that which has already been tested and for which there are witnesses.
Courage comes from knowing one's path. Otherwise, each one who tries a closed door would already be seen as a hero. What awaits behind the threshold? The Agni Yogi smiles at this.
429. It is astonishing to see how people spoil their own lives without reason or sense by depriving themselves of possibilities that are theirs by right. It is astonishing to see how readily people diminish boundaries expanded over lifetimes.
We say that it is better to act in error than to commit the error of inaction. Daring in action contains in itself its own justification; it applies pressure that multiplies the energy. Is it possible to ignite the flaming spirit through inaction? By pointing out the necessity for joining with Us in action, We draw you into the spiral of this special pressure. Truly, in this spiral one can only ascend; it must be protected as a dynamo of the most precious energy. We call you to come with Us, not out of desire to control you or to make you feel less important, but out of desire to strengthen and uplift you through beneficial actions.
Fire, Fire, descend on those who out of space draw thy streams! For them the firmament above is as substantial as the depths of Earth. For them air is as substantial as stone, and stone is a conduit as transparent as air.
Those who are with Me, walk with Us through the waves of Fire. They will not scorch you, but will serve the Good!
See also: Agni Yoga, paragraphs 312, 402, 565, 606.
134 . Striving should be saturated precisely with the fire of attraction, and one should seek Light against the black lodge with the entire impulse. It is necessary to shield oneself with devotion to, and realization of, Hierarchy and to dare against the darkness with all the levers of spirit and heart.
198 . Full responsibility must imbue each action; for the feeling of containment can only be affirmed when the sense of responsibility impels the spirit to the fulfillment of the Will of Hierarchy. Hence cosmic daring suffuses the Carrier of Fire. Therefore the affirmation of the Higher Will can be realized when the spirit is truly filled with responsibility. Thus, victories are achieved. Thus, those are invincible who fulfill the Will of Hierarchy.
203 . You may meet people hastening with their attainments, and they may think that We are slow. But lead them under the night sky and point out the radiance of the countless worlds. Say, The Lord leads you toward this creativeness. Is it possible to be slow on this great path? We must prepare ourselves to be co-creators. It is necessary to preserve and multiply the seeds of consciousness, because the entire world is sustained by the power of consciousness. There is no power to withstand a consciousness purified of egoism. One can prepare oneself to cross all bridges with a fiery consciousness which is atremor with the pulse of Cosmos, and which, in the seed of its spirit, responds to all tremors of Earth and knows the truth of the peoples. One can apply all sacred powers of the heart to becoming co-creators of the flaming Logoi by conquering death. But so long as such daring is not instilled in the heart, the consciousness cannot grow infinitely in this direction. We call it Via Reale . Therefore, Fiat Rex is where the spirit, reverencing Hierarchy, dares!
304 . The word Mahatma is translated as Great Soul. Some imagine the Mahatmas as a completely distinct race. One should not conceive a Great Soul to be entirely distinct. Each Mahatma began his ascent from the very midst of the people, having only dared to choose the difficult path of the Great Soul. And, besides daring, he found in his heart indignation of spirit, for how else can the fires be kindled?
336 . Praise to the courageous, daring, and striving ones!
445 . The approach is endless; so, too, are defeats. Few will discern where is victory and where defeat. One must know the relation of spiritual growth to the victory over darkness. Darkness can display the Maya of well-being, whereas Light can attest to violent commotions. Each one strives along the shortest path, but who is capable of imagining the best achievements? Only the link with Hierarchy can reveal the uniqueness of the best path. Our decision is to consider achievement as the shortest path. The dark ones consider fearlessness as a bad sign. We have determined not to avoid the steep path. For them, each ascent is an unnecessary dissipation of strength. With Us, the Ray of Light is a bridge of granulations, but they dream of a void. We understand each daring leap; for them, it is but recklessness. Thus, between the daring of wisdom and the recklessness of treason stands only the heart. It will safeguard and open the Gates of Hierarchy. He will err less who follows the silver thread stretched from his heart to the heart of the Teacher.
See also: Hierarchy, paragraphs 232 and 397.
158 . One must wisely understand the final clash of the two worlds—the one that departs and the one that is born. Signs of madness can be seen in the first and of daring in the second. How long it is since I pointed out the division of the world! Thus one can see to what an extent the cleavage has already begun. It must be understood how near the decisive time has come and how unitedly it should be met.
353 . The heart thinks, the heart affirms, the heart unifies. One can always remember the significance of the heart, clouded for so long by the brain. The heart will be first to thrill, the heart will be first to quiver, the heart will be first to discern much, before the judgment of the brain dares to reflect. Without undermining the tortuous path of the brain, can we disregard in silence the most direct attainment of the heart, the arrow-like ray to which the miracle-heart is equal? Thus, one can be united with the heart and bulwark oneself against all attacks of evil. Only through the heart can one sense the brown gas and arrest the asphyxiation in time. So, also, will the victory upon the field of Armageddon remain with the heart. Hence, I counsel to preserve the heart as the smiting sword against all evil.
See also: Heart, paragraphs 47 and 186
10 . It is so important to follow the Lords; one must leave behind dark determinations. Only the Fire of the Lords will kindle daring. Therefore, every word about the Lords must be valued. Though it be uttered unknowingly, yet there is in it the prana of daring. Let words about the Lords resound in all corners of the world. These are candles lit before holy shrines. They are lamps of Living Fire—a protection against all diseases. Solemnity is like a key to the lock.
308 . Self-perfectment is Light. Self-indulgence is darkness. One can so build one’s life that each day will, as it were, be the end. But one can so illumine one’s life that each hour will be a beginning. Thus one can rebuild one's earthly existence beneath one’s very eyes. Only in this way will the questions of the future and the understanding of fiery perfectment become perceptible. Daring should be found to reconstruct one’s life in accordance with new accumulations. To die in the bed of one’s grandfather is to be relegated to a medieval status. We even advise that these beds be taken to a museum; this will also be more hygienic. However, we should not limit tomorrow by the measurements of yesterday; if we do, how can we approach a comprehension of the Fiery World, which was like hellfire to our grandfathers. And now, when due reverence is tendered to Light and the grandeur of Fire, we can have spiritually a very rich tomorrow.
317 . People do not wish to think of the reality of the future. We speak of the great Agni, yet scarcely a thousand minds dare to think about its undeferrability.
332 . One should not only look forward to the advent of the densified subtle body but one should strive with all one’s forces to become conscious of the Subtle World. Not only is the Subtle World to be realized but we must be filled with daring so that we may gain a perception of the fiery forces. We should become accustomed to the thought that sooner or later we are destined to reach the Fiery Shores. Thus, let us learn to cast the largest net in order to obtain the best catch. Not only in dreams but actually in the midst of daily labor we must direct our thoughts to the distant fiery manifestations. Otherwise, upon finding ourselves in the Subtle World, we will still have difficulty in cognizing the fiery radiance. Not only the eye, but consciousness itself must become accustomed to light. People suffer most from an inability to direct themselves forward. A limited consciousness only looks back, and therefore often begins to retrogress. “The Kingdom of Heaven, the Fiery Kingdom, is taken by storm”—this truth was pronounced long ago, but we have forgotten it and have dismissed each daring aspiration. Many precious indications have been confounded. People have distorted the concept of humility, so needed in relation to Hierarchy. For their own convenience people have made naught of it. Indolence was not ordained, for one must strive with all daring and labor toward Fire, the Beautiful. There is no earthly object of such value that the Fiery World should be renounced for it.
425 . One should direct one’s entire consciousness into the future. It is seldom that one finds within oneself the courage to admit the undesirability of turning back to the past. The evidence of daring yearning for the future indicates that the spirit is ready for fiery cognitions. Only such an enlightened consciousness will continue its thought-creativeness also in the Subtle World. Only such irrepressible thought-creativeness and striving for distant flights will afford the fiery approach. All the terror of the legions of darkness cannot overcome an intense striving to the future. Though the dark ones approach, Light will not lose its guiding power. So, also, useful deeds are necessary to help our near ones. One should not consider these beneficent counsels as moral precepts beyond the pale of life. They sustain us, directing us along the shorter paths.
433 . Each investigator of the Teaching may be advised, “Approach with all force; observe by thorough measures; investigate by all methods; cognize with all daring; reveal indefatigability, and be aflame with each discovery of Truth.”
556 . One must have no small imagination to begin thinking of the Fiery World. One must be able to envision Hierarchy up to the Fiery World, and when the highest imagination has become exhausted, one will have to find all daring to turn to the great Fiery Images.
629 . In primitive beliefs the worship of the deity was based on fear. But fear evokes terror and inevitable indignation. Human nature inherently preserves the consciousness that the great Origin of Origins has nothing in common with terror. He who feels love for God can utter his Name in his own language. Only with such an all-pervading concept can one express worthy veneration. Nothing on Earth can so kindle the fire of the heart as does love. No existing glory is comparable to love. People are not ashamed to reveal anger and irritation in their basest forms, but the sacred concept of love is accompanied by confusion and even derision. A man who dares to display loving devotion is already regarded as somewhat dubious; from this confusion of fundamental concepts issues the world chaos. The human heart cannot flourish without striving toward the Origin of Origins—inexpressible in words, but cognized through the fire of the heart. Thus, amidst violated world foundations, let us kindle the fires of the heart and of love for the Supreme.
See also: Fiery World I, paragraphs 109, 394, 499, 608, 616, 637.
106 . Let us approach the most difficult, before which all former difficulties will appear as blissful moments. The most difficult is the blessing of the Fiery World. This entry is so difficult that it seems that not even our minutest cell can endure this World of ecstasy. It has been said that when all covering has fallen away and only the radiance of daring remains, then the resplendent Fire enters the Gates, there being no admittance for the body. But in order to kindle such daring, let us preserve ecstasy in the face of the most difficult. Therefore reflect, the way you would wish to imagine existence in the Fiery World. Indeed, thought creates in the Subtle World, but it is quick as lightning in the Fiery World, and transcends all earthly measures; there is the Seventh Light.
398 . People who aspire above the Subtle World toward the Fiery World are right. We continually mention the Subtle World, but with all means We direct to the Fiery World. A man who is prepared in his meditation for the Fiery World is even in the Subtle World uplifted to the Higher Spheres. We are all uplifted or we descend, and if our thought has been allied with the Fiery World there results a great magnetic attraction. And if our thought is confluent with Hierarchy, the bridge of great daring becomes real.
417 . The ancient prophecies say: “When all becomes darkened, then people fancy that everything is permitted them.” Actually darkness makes people insane. Daring is not madness. Everyone who dares is conscious of ordained possibilities, but the madman manifests opposition to the law of Existence. There is a fine boundary line between madness and daring. The torch of the heart is needed in order to find this boundary. Having once entered the domain of madness, one can hardly turn back again to a wise daring. Rishi were daring; saints were daring; but they did not admit madness, for it is first of all hideous. It leads to obsession, with all its dark consequences.
444 . Boldness should be combined with caution. Otherwise boldness will be madness and caution will turn into cowardice. People who can picture to themselves the entire complexity of fiery waves can appreciate the advice of caution. The Yogi does not forget full caution; in it there is respect for the great element and reverence for the Fiery World.
See also: Fiery World II, paragraphs 270 and 443.
55 . Daring of the spirit is the beginning of ascent. The manifestation of true daring indicates to the spirit how to affirm the measuring scale of all actions, as well as the direction, because daring admits no faint-heartedness. Daring eradicates all tendency toward betrayal. Whoever has realized in spirit true daring knows the beauty of Service. The daring one knows the path of attainment and fears nothing. His life is filled with devotion to Hierarchy. Each co-worker can reflect upon the beauty of fiery daring, for it frees the spirit from all worldly chains. The daring one is not afraid of solitude, for in spirit he feels a bond with the Hierarchy of Light. The daring one knows that the joy of the spirit is contained only in achievement. The daring one is in need of no human recognition, for his achievement is a crown self-woven by labor and striving. Only the heroes of spirit know true attainment. Thus, the daring one will be freed from selfhood. He knows true Service for the good of mankind. On the path to the Fiery World let us remember daring.
91 . Daring is the achievement of Beauty which crowns Service. The crown is the revelation of Cosmic Communion.
377 . Only daring can turn the spirit to the new future.
413 . Through daring of the spirit psychic energy can burst forth as a powerful flame, forming, as it were, a shield against encroaching evil. One can take exercises in these concentrations of psychic energy and find that the tensed will is able to compress a store of it. Cowardice can, indeed, only extinguish the supply of psychic energy. Therefore, develop a store of psychic energy and sharpen daring, for in this source is contained so much power!
See also: Fiery World III, paragraphs 466 and 573
81 . Great Service can be the lot of every man. New life is poured into him who dares to toil in Great Service. The measures of his entrance will be determined by each one himself. Each one may pledge himself, not to small but to Great Service, and thus irrevocably dedicate himself to the Higher World.
Thus Great Service is a duty and an honor.
105 . One must greatly strengthen one’s conviction of the importance of man’s task, his obligation and duty.
When man takes upon himself communion with the Higher World, he is truly daring, but this daring is sacred. The Subtle World listens to these calls and understands their significance. Such communion attracts a multitude of listeners—co-workers, as it were—therefore egoism must be excluded from prayer; for the best prayer will be renunciation and desire for the Good.
Let the Teaching persist in emphasizing the usefulness of the bond with the Higher World; only thus is it possible to affirm Great Service.
137 . The inhabitance of heavenly bodies remains under doubt to this day. Even the best astronomers hesitate to express an opinion about this question. The reason lies chiefly in the conceit of man. He does not wish to admit incarnation in any conditions other than earthly. Fear before Infinity is also a hindrance. Surely, not many dare to reflect about such a remote giant as Antares, which, in the ocean of the Milky Way, presupposes beyond itself infinite Space. Meanwhile, people should think of distant worlds as being inhabited.
309 . Science, despite its speedy growth, has not accomplished a tenth of what was ordained for it during this period. Much of this must be ascribed to the inertia of humanity. But for all that, it is distressing to see that the most advanced of scientists are not appreciated. People wish to investigate space; modest stratosphere excursions, telescopic observations, the study of the luminaries—all revolve within a vicious circle, because psychic energy is unrecognized. Without it, the boldest flight remains a childish diversion. Without psychic energy, the pathways of space will be difficult to discern.
The same thing takes place in all domains of science. It is utterly senseless to disregard the higher energy. As during religious wars and persecutions, those with daring and acute perceptions must, like alchemists of old, hide from inquisition. Such a disgraceful situation is not to be tolerated.
324 . Many errors have been accumulated in the course of thousands of years. People began to measure good by a gold standard. Men, carrying gold and precious stones into the temple, assured themselves that these represented the world’s best attainments. People filled themselves with false concepts about treasures; they remembered the legend about gold as the source of evil, but they hastened to transform it into a fairy tale. The history of mankind reveals repeated revolts against gold. Each great Teacher has manifested himself an insurgent against gold, and people have hastened to kill each daring rebel against their cherished idol. Indeed, I do not speak of a lump of gold itself but of the entire horror which surrounds it.
598 . Through ages there have evolved the most harmful confusions, and few dare to turn again to the fundamentals. Amidst a mass of accumulations picayune thought feels itself even more secure, yet such scraps form nothing but piles of rubbish, and sometime they will have to be cleared away. Sometime the scattered members of Osiris will have to be gathered. Will not Isis collect them?
Humanity already recognizes the subtle energy. People do not know how to study it and apply it to life, yet the concept itself is unquestionably manifested in different fields of science. A multitude of proofs are coming in from all sides. Already quite a few skeptics do not dare to object and ridicule. ... I affirm that psychic energy will not only allow one to investigate it, but its current is strengthened whenever thought strives toward it.
Thought is sometimes represented as an arrow. The impetuousness of the energy is the wings of humanity.
See also: Aum, paragraphs 6 and 236.
380. Be more, more daring, learn how to recognize the date!
471. The happiness of the Teacher is in encouraging the disciples to dare toward Beauty. Long lists of tedious, torpid incidents do not promote this achievement. The Teacher himself must be aglow so that his approach alone may be passed on fierily. Such an everyday task is difficult, yet people are tested precisely in everyday life, which is the sister of Infinity.
1, 1929.
From far-off India, the country of beauty, of achievements of the spirit, and of great thought, I send to you who are gathered—in the name of the great labor and structure of the future—greetings of the heart! I call you to self-perfection and unlimited attainment.
The book of new discoveries and the light of daring is open before humanity, and you have already heard about the approach of the New Era. Every epoch has its Call, and the calling foundation of the New Era will be the power of thought. That is why we call you to understand the great significance of creative thought, and the first step in this direction will be the opening of consciousness, freedom from all prejudices and from all tendentiousness and forced concepts.
Let us glance at the entire immensity of the night sky. In our thoughts let us fly over the innumerable worlds and the hidden depths of infinite space. Thought in its substance is infinite, and only our consciousness attempts to limit it. Therefore, without delay, let us start the next step — broadening of consciousness. ...
Putting aside all prejudices of place, time and nationality, we, like the bees, shall collect the precious honey of human creative thought!
After placing into the foundation the powerful achievements of those great creators who molded our consciousness, let us begin the third step — the development of our own thought, our own creativeness; and from the new combinations we shall hew sparks of the fire of thought, this crown of the Universe.
Let us remember that a thinking being in never lonely because thought is his greatest magnet and brings similar response from space. Therefore, if we want to receive a beautiful answer we should send into vibrating space our striving thoughts saturated with the pure fire of the heart; only the thought which is spiritualized by striving, nourished by the heart, can create and attract as a powerful magnet. Thought without the striving and flaming quality is sterile.
Thus, let us long for knowledge, for broad thoughts, and in our striving we shall dare, as only daring thought molds new ways.
13 October 1930.
It is useful to remember what was said about daring, and how reproved were all standardized concepts — these destroyers of ascent in small things as well as in large ones. You can speak about the necessity of new ways, but do it tactfully and carefully because immobility and dullness resent being disturbed. “Better to move to the cemetary than to be limited by dead laws.” All the laws are in the depths of our consciousness. Thus, by deeping our consciousness we comprehend the laws. From this comes great mobility.
11 June 1931.
You have already received the call to battle and the command to attack as if the fire were raging behind you. We ask you not to delay in applying this command as, verily, there is fire behind you, and every wrong step or delay may burn you. Go forward — forward without looking back—because it is necessary to rescue from destruction all that can be saved.
17 June 1931.
We are extremely happy to see your boldness and daring, your forward striving, and your plans for the future. Yes, it is only the one who has spiritual aspiration who can be carried over the abyss. Verily, over the abyss, for indeed are we not witnessing so many destroying themselves?
21 October 1931.
The trouble is that we do not always appraise events in the right proportion, and often a certain detail or fact not very striking but of great significance we do not take into consideration at all. It is necessary to remember that everything that is being formed alongside the constructive work for the Hierarchy has the profoundest significance, and if today it is as yet not evident, tomorrow everyone may exclaim about it. Who knows the ways of evolution? Who can predict how the present chaos may end? Who knows what forces will be raised? Therefore, act boldly but with discernment and complete confidence in the Hierarchy of Light! Let all the co-workers endure the battle until its end. ... Only by the contrasting of Light with darkness comes the possibility of creation.
9 July 1935.
There is nothing higher than creativeness, and there is no greater joy. Therefore — create and rejoice! I send you my best thoughts and courage.
Be daring in creative flight.
See also: Letters of Helena Roerich I, pages 168, 268, 347, 353, 387.