Agni Yoga: A Light in the Darkness
“The forces of darkness press on by various means, being affirmed in strata which are found to be near to the Light. In the Subtle Spheres, this proximity is naturally impossible, but in the earthly strata, where the atmosphere is so thickened with infected gases, the forces of darkness definitely try to come close to the Light. An impulse of destruction impels the forces of darkness to these Torchlights of Truth. The enemies who uplift a sword are not so dangerous as those who penetrate under the mask of Light. There are conscious and unconscious instruments of darkness. At first, the unconscious ones create, as it were, in unison with the good, and these bearers of evil infect each pure beginning. But conscious servants of evil enter into the temple with your prayer, and woe to the undiscerning! Dark snares have been laid for them. It is not fitting to admit into the Holy of Holies offenders against the spirit. Djinn can help on the earthly plane and may even build a temple, but the spiritual plane is inaccessible to them. Thus, on the path to the Fiery World, let us remember about the servants of darkness who strive to penetrate into the Holy of Holies.”[1]
All beings are drawn toward Light. This is the first law of the Cosmos. The Teaching is Light. The Teaching is the armor that can withstand all attacks and a source that brings us endless joy.
If we wish to remain unharmed during these trying times, the ending times of Kali Yuga, the times that we as a humanity are now experiencing, we must affirm ourselves in the foundation of the Teaching of Light, in the Teaching of the Hierarchy of Light. With vigilance and straight-knowledge we must apply the Teaching to our lives without delay, as success depends primarily on well-timed fulfillment.
When the Master speaks about the Light, He means pure, real knowledge. He also means wisdom. He means creative forces. He means the radiation of our spirituality, our beingness. He means direct communication, as direct communication is the Light. He also means intuition. Yet, we realize that when Light is polluted, there is no pure character within a person, no pure character in the temple, and no pure character in society. Because of such pollution, dark forces dare to come and enter between the pollution that is dividing us from the Light.
The Light that the Teaching is talking about is the Light within us, our Divine Spark, our human soul. Wherever the dark forces see a light, they attack it. We must be awake and aware enough to realize that those on the path of spiritual evolution will battle with the forces of darkness, and in so doing they must learn how these forces attack, where they attack, and how they are going to defend themselves. Why? Because Lightbearers are becoming dangerous to the forces of darkness. Lightbearers have power, energy, and influence. They are protectors and examples of steadiness, endurance, and energy. Lightbearers embody great principles. The forces of darkness are only interested in those people who are becoming dangerous. Dangerous ones are those people who are going to spread Light.
What does Light do? Light illuminates our human soul. Light illuminates the temple of knowledge. It is the light of knowledge and understanding, the light of penetration, the light of analysis and synthesis that unites the whole Universe. Light inspires knowledge, understanding, profound relationship, and creativity.
Light created the first solar system. Light results from the fire’s radioactivity within the atom, cell, and within any life form, solar system, and galaxy. Each body, form, and person radiates its light according to the degree of the release of the fire within.
The Teaching explains that our present solar system, the second solar system, is created by Compassion. Compassion is defined as the Law of Love. Compassion is an all-involving Love. To develop an understanding of love, to experience pure light, to develop profound relationships, and to express true creativity, we must have love. The highest principle in this solar system is Love. We must exercise love to reach the Cosmic Magnet and to reach our own heart center. To reach our own heart center, the core of our heart center, we must have pure love.
TREASURES OF LOVE
“Prayer on the way to the Sacred and Hallowed Dwelling:
O Lord of my spirit, forsake not the pilgrim!
The Guru hastens not to shelter me from the storm that threatens.
The pain will pierce the depths of my heart.
And the veil of the whirlwind will hide the light of Thy Face.
Yet with Thee I fear not my ignorance!
The phantoms reveal not their faces!
Lead me upon the path, O Thou Blessed One!
Touch my eyes that I may see Thy Gates!”[2]
– Joleen
[1] Fiery World III, para. 165 (New York: Agni Yoga Society, 1948).
[2] From the Notebooks of Helena Roerich. This is a translation of a prayer given in Tibet to Helena and Nicholas Roerich by Allal-Ming in February of 1921.
Featured Speakers
Joleen DuBois
Joleen DuBois is a member of the board of trustees of the Nicholas Roerich Museum and the International Agni Yoga Society headquartered in New York City. She is also president and founder of the White Mountain Education Association, Inc. (WMEA), headquartered in Prescott, Arizona, a not-for-profit organization that serves as a source for the Teaching of Agni Yoga. In October of 2022, the WMEA celebrated the fortieth year of its founding.
Alena Adamkova: Born 1965 in Bratislava, former Czechoslovakia. Russian national from 2012, until then Slovak citizen. MA in History of Philosophy (State University of Belorussia, Minsk, USSR, 1989.) PhD in Indian Philosophy (Moscow University of the Friendship of Peoples, 1993). Author, translator, compiler, editor of over 40 books in Slovak, Russian, English, Sanskrit, Hindi languages; film director, scriptwriter, editor of documentary films on India and the Roerichs.
Alena Adamkova
Kathryn Agrell
Kathryn Agrell was born in New York City. Her early life was very much focused in the dramatic arts, but as she moved beyond her childhood years, it was her love of writing that became her vocation. The main focus of her life, though, shifted when she placed her feet upon a spiritual path that led her to the White Mountain Education Association. The WMEA provides, she says, a continuous opportunity to broaden her consciousness and learn the values of cooperation, striving, and service in group labor.
Fiorenza Bortolotti: I am an Italian Architect, a landscape planner, and permaculture designer.
I was trained in Psychosynthesis at the Institute in Florence, which was established by Roberto Assagioli, and also by Sergio Bartoli in the School for Group Focalization and the Seven Rays at the Community of Living Ethics, where I have been an active resident and member for more than twenty-five years. I am also a teacher at the Academy of Psychoenergetics.
Since 1992, I have studied Agni Yoga in group formation, and since 2021 I have served as vice president for the Italian Society of Agni Yoga.
Fiorenza Bortolotti
Saul Diamond
Saul Diamond: Born in upstate N.Y., I was very fortunate to have the second Zen Center in the United States open just a few blocks from my home in the 1960’s. As a teen I had developed a deep appreciation of Buddhist teachings and when I was in junior high school I became a regular attendee at the weekend meditation and dharma talks given at the Rochester Zen Center. In my college years I continued my Zen practice but also developed a keen interest in Theosophical authors such as HPB, Leadbeater, Hodson, Jinarajadasa, Mabel Collins and others.
Valarie Drost. Valarie has been a member of the White Mountain Education Group since 1984. She studied Theatre Arts at Florida State University. Her travels to other countries such as Great Britain, Ireland, Europe, China, and Africa broadened her appreciation of the beauty, richness, and diversity of other cultures, recognizing the common threads that connect us all.
Valarie Drost
Nikolai Kachanov
Nikolai Kachanov was born in the Siberian city of Barnaul, capital of the Altai Region. He holds a PhD in choral conducting from the Novosibirsk Conservatory. In 1981, Maestro Kachanov moved to the United States with his wife, Tamara, a professional musician and singer. In 1984, together, they founded the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York, and in 2016, the Nikolai Kachanov Singers choral ensemble.
Vadim Melikhov was born in 1971 in a southern Russian spa region famous for its thermo-springs. The region is located in the mountainous area called the Caucuses. It was magical to see the mount Elbrus’s snowy caps, explore caverns and nearby hills, and walk along the ancient paths crossing the crystal clear mountain streams. . . . In 1990, Vadim’s family decided to move to Canada. There, at the age of twenty-one, Vadim discovered the HPB’s book “The Secret Doctrine” and the teachings of Theosophy. Vadim felt an immediate resonance with the teachings and a deep connection to the Masters Who gave them. About two years later Vadim found and fell in love with Agni Yoga.
Vadim Melikhov
Kathy O’Conner
Kathy O’Conner is a Corporate Travel and Event Coordinator. She has been married for thirty years to her husband, Kevin. They have two daughters and one son. Kathy’s spiritual path began at an early age. Due to her father’s career as a paleontologist, he moved the family to Saudi Arabia when Kathy was six years old. This led to her immersion in a multicultural society with friends from countries around the globe. Holidays were spent traveling to many destinations, and she rejoiced in the experiences of a variety of cultures, which created in her an understanding of the unity and commonality of all people.
Wendy J Thompson is a Creative Practitioner in the Screen Arts, Educator, Leader, Playwright and co-Founder of the Global Silent Minute. Wendy strives to create work imbued with purpose to touch the heart with radiant synthetic beauty through stage, screens (of all sizes) and interactive forums. In her professional life, she has produced a number of award winning films through her company, Sirius Films; served on the board of the Australian Directors Guild (ADG); designed and taught directing courses at Australia’s premiere screen academy – The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS); led the highly successful AFTRS Graduate Certificate Program . . . and is currently teaching “Generating Creativity” for the University of Melbourne.
