pdf - Agni Yoga Society

Treatment by the heart can heal illnesses with clear symptoms, but it is particularly
effective with diseases at an early stage. Now this remedy is almost forgotten, but it is no
less powerful than a blood transfusion, for the subtlest of energies is transmitted by the
action of the heart—only without the admixture of blood, which is disagreeable and
lower in its quality. In thinking about perfectment, one must not forget to be solicitous of
the heart that gives.
97. After two weeks of superficial striving and apparent effort, a person comes to the
conclusion either that he is unsuitable or that the Higher World does not exist. Yet the
very same man will tell a servant who has worked for him a year, “I can’t promote you
yet. You haven’t been on the job long enough.” With commonplace worldly affairs
people understand that the period of time matters; only when it comes to considering
things of a higher order are they reluctant to learn what is essential for attaining mastery.
It is difficult to speak to people who have not matured in heart or those who have
managed to extinguish its fires. It would seem that the fires of the heart are quite natural
and simple in the way that they manifest; but long periods are necessary for the
understanding of the heart to appear in the physical world—the understanding that links
the lowest plane with the Subtle World. Of course, the multitude of fires demand that one
adapt to them, in order to bring what seems to be chance into a chain of rhythm. Few are
the people who strive to be citizens of the Universe. Earning this title requires a great
deal of solicitude, keen observation, vigilance, and, first and foremost, indomitable
striving.
98. How can you get across to people who are unprepared that the topic of the Higher
World deserves a heartfelt attitude? It is hard when somebody does not know anything,
but even more difficult with people who have swallowed the Teaching like a spoonful of
gruel; from them you can expect a special degree of betrayal and distortion. There is no
sign strong enough to persuade a consciousness gone astray that it needs to look more at
itself than at the people around it. How can someone see any fires when his eye is
searching for a wrinkle on his neighbor’s face? Someone with a cold heart may be
surprised and harbor doubts about the achievements of other people, and thus cover each
spark of the heart with ashes.
You are amazed that people can swallow poisons without harm; won’t you consider
where that immunity comes from? Not from the structure of the stomach walls, but from
the innate fire of the heart.
99. To those who have not paid attention to the so-called “phenomena” that have been
corroborated by photography, x-rays, and the testimony of witnesses, it would seem that a
new Subtle World could not possibly come into being. Let us recall: someone responded
to cosmic manifestations; someone heard distant voices; someone saw the Subtle World
and took part in it; someone gave off light; someone levitated; someone walked on water;
someone walked on fire; someone swallowed poison without harm; someone had no need
of sleep; someone had no need of food; someone could see through solid objects;
someone could write with both hands; someone could attract animals; someone could
understand a language without having learned it; someone could read thoughts; someone
could read a closed book with his eyes shut; someone did not feel pain; someone
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