12/31/2017 study papers | compiled from Agni Yoga Series texts

EMOTIONS
Selections from the Agni Yoga Series
Presented before the Agni Yoga Society, March 17, 2015

1. Poor is the consciousness that has no control over passing emotions. Invulnerability is
Our Shield. Each speck of fear is a target for an enemy's arrow. After washing away these
shameful specks, we become as invulnerable as are the far-off worlds. The development of
Agni Yoga becomes a shield of thought. The all-penetrating Fire, when realized, endows one
with supremely pure strength and replenishes the source of renewal. Agni Yoga, 406
2. Music is needed for all fiery sowings. One should choose good music; it unifies our
emotions. But one should not absent-mindedly let the music just pass by one's ears. People
often have before them a great phenomenon, and yet they fail to hear the loudest and fail to
perceive the brightest. People often isolate themselves completely from their surroundings,
but fail to realize that precisely this state is very valuable if wisely induced. Fiery World I, 330
3. When I indicate the beneficialness of gratitude, I do not mean that someone is in need of it,
but that in itself it contains the chemism of bliss. One must analyze the chemism of various
emotions; such observations will help in finding psychic energy. Not vitamins so much as the
fiery energy must occupy the imagination. The revelation of the essence of human existence
cannot be regarded a something occult! One should attract many minds to these researches;
they will also observe in passing other useful peculiarities of feelings. Thus, one should first
establish the direction of evolution. There cannot be two directions of progress. There can be
but one true direction, and all other efforts will be errant. Fiery World I, 396
4. Human intellect comprehends earthly collisions, but is incapable of looking into space and
imagining the powerful storms and forces working there. Only when human emotions are
completely controlled can man start thinking about the invisible worlds. One should develop
such thoughts, for they alone will make man a conscious co-worker with the Infinite forces.
Supermundane I, 161
5. Urusvati knows that people have fantastic ideas about the past lives of great spiritual
individuals. They imagine that these evolved spirits were surrounded by the most favorable
conditions in all their past incarnations, as if they never suffered, were never in need, and
never endured the persecutions that they in fact so often experienced.
People do not believe that great thinkers, such as Plato, Pythagoras, or Anaxagoras, lived the
lives of ordinary beings. It is essential to understand that even the most lofty personalities
cannot avoid the fullness of their earthly emotions, which are kindled in proportion to the
scope of their mission.
Indeed, you should not assume that Plato, when he was sold into slavery, did not react to all
the turmoil of such a situation. Of course, he went courageously through all trials, but in his
heart felt great bitterness because of the injustice, and it was because of this that he was able
http://agniyoga.org/ay_en/study-papers/study-papers.php 1/4
12/31/2017 study papers | compiled from Agni Yoga Series texts

to speak so brilliantly about the best forms of government…. Many lives must be compared in
order to understand how the light that shines so brightly is kindled by the blows of destiny.
Chaos can be seen as the hammer that strikes the sparks. Only the unwise think that the
Teacher hovers above everything and feels nothing. On the contrary, the Teacher feels not only
his own burdens, but also the burdens of those who are connected with Him. In time man will
realize that in Infinity there is neither mundane nor supermundane, but only Existence.
Supermundane II, 268
6. People expect great events, at the very least a collision with a comet, yet do not notice the
many small daily dangers. They must be reminded that they cause these dangers themselves
by their constant quarrelling. This warning is not given in the name of a higher philosophy,
but simply for the sake of physical safety!
There were no periods in antiquity that compare to the present era of total global confusion.
While in ancient times perhaps thousands were involved, today there are hundreds of
millions!... Let us not attempt to calculate the multitudes causing disorder in the earthly
sphere, but rather consider the innumerable invisible stings.
Especially disgusting are the emotions evoked by small stings. During great calamities feelings
of self-sacrifice or heroism may be aroused, but in time of decay there is only wasted energy. I
affirm that the worst part of Armageddon is in the decay of organisms…. One should realize
that the warriors for Good are not always able to defeat the dark legions quickly. Not
everything should be blamed on the dark forces. Why make giants of them? Supermundane II,
288
7. Urusvati knows that emotions provide the propelling power for psychic energy. Love is the
most powerful, but hatred has almost equal power.
Does this mean that one can live in hatred? Of course, it is possible, but it brings only loss. Not
only does hatred bring an accumulation of imperil and through sicknesses shorten life, but
mainly, its effect in the Subtle World is disastrous. You already know that in the Subtle World
all feelings are intensified, and also their consequences. Now imagine how difficult it is for the
hater to tear himself away from his destructive passion. Not only does he surround himself
with evil, but his entire being is permeated with the poison of evil. He suffers because he
himself has invited his torture. Thus, let us say, it is profitable to live in goodness and love.
Supermundane IV, 726
8. The materialism of our age puts love on the level of a purely physiological function. At best,
love today is treated as a psychological process. But if the cosmic significance of love could be
realized once more, people would see in love its highest function, i.e., the awakening of all the
highest emotions and creative abilities. Precisely, this awakening is the chief purpose and the
true keynote of love. Love is a unifying creative power. On the higher planes of Being
everything is created by thought. But for the fulfillment of these thought forms, there must be
the two Elements united by Cosmic Love. There is a great deal of misunderstanding
surrounding the fundamental concept of the dual Element. Religions are to blame for this, and
especially Christianity. The church profaned the greatest Cosmic Mystery by demeaning
marriage and degrading the woman. Letters of Helena Roerich I, 9 January 1935
9. The overrighteous ascetic may torture his body, but if his heart remains silent, he will live in
a spiritual desert from which there is no outlet to the radiant Stronghold of Life Eternal.
Precisely, we should not run from life; rather, we should transform all our emotions into the
http://agniyoga.org/ay_en/study-papers/study-papers.php 2/4
12/31/2017 study papers | compiled from Agni Yoga Series texts

highest beauty. Wonderful are the feelings of love and friendship toward one's family and all
near ones; indeed they teach us the most beautiful and the highest. They are the necessary
steps that lead us toward Cosmic Love, and everyone who realizes his great destiny may
approach this Love. Letters of Helena Roerich I, 18 April 1935
10. Among the new scientific achievements will be the discovery of the power of the emotions
of love and joy. Humanity must steadily grow closer to these impelling forces of light, and
understand that any thought of joy has healing power. Even amidst sorrows one can find signs
of love and compassion. Let these signposts help the weary traveler. Scientists must learn how
much the rhythm of joy opens the gates to an influx of psychic energy. Science should
demonstrate how the power of joy heals. One must strive ardently toward the renewal of life.
Everyone can think of heroism, of joy, and of exalted love. Everyone can gain the power of the
healing remedy and spread these emanations in every direction.
The Thinker said, “Sorrow is transitory, joy is everlasting. Love the Light and love the
Beautiful.” Thus did the Thinker direct His disciples to the simplest solution. Supermundane IV,
732
11. It is necessary to study human moods. A list of the positive and negative qualities of those
who swim through the storm of life could be compiled. In doing this, it can be seen that
between the extremes, there can be found undetermined ones that are like half-hearted, failed
chemical experiments, in which reactions cannot take place and subtle energies cannot be
applied.
Do not tire of repeating to beginners that the conditions of the Subtle World are completely
different from those of the earthly world. Such simple considerations are quite foreign to
today’s humanity, which prefers to deny rather than to think of emotions and their
consequences.
It would be useful for man to think more often in scientific ways. The Thinker said, “The one
who has fallen into despair, or is possessed by envy, is like a corpse.” Supermundane IV, 762
12. There is a Buddhist saying, “If spirituality could be achieved just by eating vegetable
matter, the elephant and the cow would have attained it long ago! “And it is also said,
“Asceticism is worthless for liberation. It is much more difficult to find a patient person than
one who lives upon air and roots and dresses in bark and leaves. If a person is weakened by
hunger or thirst, if he is too tired to control his emotions and thoughts, how can he possibly
reach the goal which can be reached only by means of a clear mind and broadened
consciousness?” And again, “In order that the strings of the vina may sound harmoniously,
they should be neither too taut nor too slack. Verily, every effort that is too strenuous fails,
and if not sufficiently strong it results in passivity and inertness.” Letters of Helena Roerich I,
14 June 1934
13. Act not by impulse but by the intelligence of your heart! The intellect and the emotions
must be balanced in all the judgments and actions of a disciple. Do not confuse sentimentality
with the kindness of the heart! Sentimentality has nothing in common with true kindness,
which is based on higher knowledge and higher justice. The science of how to deal with people
is a most complicated and most difficult one, as it requires a heart tempered and strengthened
by many battles with the dark destroyers and betrayers, and affirmed by invincible patience
and self-denial. Letters of Helena Roerich I, 8 November 1934

http://agniyoga.org/ay_en/study-papers/study-papers.php 3/4
12/31/2017 study papers | compiled from Agni Yoga Series texts

14. All the Teachings indicate the necessity for balance and a complete discipline of one's
emotions. There was a time when I also wanted to dwell on the exaltations of the spirit and to
cognize the mysteries of cosmogony. And then I was reminded of the present grave times:
“Again thou hast forgotten the Heavenly combat. None go to school during the assault of the
enemies, etc.” Thus I was turned back to Earth and earthly activities from my exaltations. And
I was trained to find joy in the most tiresome routine work, to verily bring each task to the
altar of the service of love. All the warriors of Light will feel particularly close to the "Book of
Sacrifice." Thus, beautiful are the exaltations of the spirit, but we must be on guard in order
that they shall not weaken our energy, but strengthen it. The time will come when a certain
isolation will be permissible for the exaltation of the spirit, but at present the time is
threatening, and all who are in the Great Service are called upon to make use of their
weapons--the battle is unprecedented! Letters of Helena Roerich II, 2 April 1936
15. Thus, only the transmutation of energies--of feelings, and qualities of thoughts--can take
us out of the magic circle of karma. Therefore, blessed are all the higher emotions, which lift
us out of usualness and heighten our vibrations, refining and opening our nerve centers.
Letters of Helena Roerich II, 8 June 1936

http://agniyoga.org/ay_en/study-papers/study-papers.php 4/4