Agni yoga
The term Agni yoga was introduced to the western public by the Roerichs — Nicholas and Helena. They learned it in their expedition through the Central Asia from inhabitants of mountains. This term means “Mergence with Fire”. Fire in this context is a flame-like state of the Highest
Divine Consciousness. The Divine Consciousness can assume this form when It enters Its Creation.
The Roerichs developed the Teachings of Agni yoga and brought them to Russia and other countries of Europe and America. Therefore, the term Agni yoga is firmly associated now with their names.
The Roerichs were a remarkable couple: he was a zealous traveler and a
talented painter; she was his constant companion. Helena Roerichs possessed the prophetic skill — the ability of conversing with God. Records of these holy conversations were collected in fourteen volumes titled Living Ethics.
What do these records represent? They are very non-uniform; some parts of the text are hard to comprehend; some parts are not edited literally; profound truths are mixed sometimes with apparent jokes of God or with long series of meaningless phrases. Why do they look so?
The point is that according to
the intent of God these records were not meant for
publication in their original form: He suggested to
publish only thematic selections of them: “It is
right to assign to the followers the task of making
selections from the books of the Teachings. … The
Teachings of Living Ethics are needed in different
layers of people. First, one may select simple ideas
and then proceed with those requiring some basic
knowledge.” (Fiery World, III:530).
The reason for the qualitative
diversity of the texts is the following. God, with
the purpose of training the prophetic ability of
Helena Roerich, insisted that she make systematic,
everyday records: “Why do I insist on making records
everyday? — To maintain the rhythm. He who has
realized the value of constancy is near the Fiery
Gate already. One has to strive for constancy in
everything. This results in indefatigability and
invincibility” (Fiery World, III:486).
Yet, it did not always happen
that there was material actual for the current
moment. And then Helena Roerich, waiting for words
from the Lord, was given almost meaningless series
of beautiful phrases. It is a typical case of
prophetic contacts.
And such jokes as: the legs feel
cold because the entire energy was used for kindling
the heart — were meant only for encouraging the
tired travelers at hard moments.
Another point that needs to be
mentioned about these texts is the broader meaning
of the terms fire and fiery, which was expanded to
psycho-energetical processes and phenomena. It was
done with the purpose of filling the readers with
the spirit of struggle. However, to understand these
Teachings correctly, one has to differentiate the
concepts of the Divine Fire — and the “fiery”
manifestations of the psychic activity of people and
spirits.
The texts of Living Ethics and expressive paintings of Nicholas Roerichs are filled with “fiery” energy. It was one of the most distinctive features of the spiritual movement initiated through the Roerichs.
See also:
● Yoga
● Shambala
External links: ●
Agni
Yoga Teachings
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