Living Ethics - Some Selected Aspects of Agni Yoga/ The Living Ethics Teachings

Some Selected Aspects of Agni Yoga/ The Living Ethics Teachings

I

According to Living Ethics, cosmos contains visible and invisible worlds. It is infinite in space and eternal in the time.

Universe is a holistic energy system. All of its parts, including the human, interact with each other in energy and information exchange, which is considered as one of the driving forces of cosmic evolution. Matter is basis of the universe, and this concept includes both its forms studied by modern science and more subtle ones which are unknown for the science.

Multiple worlds in the cosmos are formed due to existence and development of various states of matter having different number of dimensions.

Universe is developed according to cosmic laws. Cosmic Mind takes part in its development. Earth's mankind is a part of this Cosmic Mind. Therefore, study of cosmic laws is a major task of humanity.

Living Ethics asserts: "Man is a source of knowledge and is the most powerful transformer of cosmic forces", and it is "part of the cosmic energy, part of the elements, part of Cosmic Reason, part of the consciousness of the higher matter".

II

Main task of the evolution is spiritualization (creation of higher forms) of matter through subtlety of its energy. The matter is spiritualized by spirit, which is subtle-matter and high-frequency energy. It occupies predominating position in the Universe and acts as foundation of cosmic creativity.

Humanity as energy structure is not only a part of cosmos, but also carries it in its inner life. This gives humanity a possibility through energy of his spirit to influence on evolutional creation of cosmos.

Human is an active subject of evolution when perfecting himself material and spiritual character, relations between people and care of the nature. Main method of such perfection is psychic energy — substantial base of all human psychic manifestations, which has universal character. In this connection H.I. Roerich wrote:

Primal Energy is inexhaustible in its reserves. Its kinds are multiform. For human it is not "good", not "evil", but human can use it for good or evil.

III

Living Ethics considers the influence of human's thought energy on surrounding space. This influence is determined by moral causes of human's activity and degree of its correspondence to common good idea. It may be both the positive, constructive, creative and negative, destructive, non-cultural.

Living Ethics examines any earthly phenomenon from the point of view of interaction between spirit and matter and energy of this interaction. It allows to reveal a real sense of the phenomena and to establish its causal relationships. Man himself predetermines the main landmarks of his future life by his own thoughts, desires and actions. According to the Living Ethics, violation of cosmic laws by mankind leads it to deadlock. It threatens to break the Earth.

IV

Living Ethics widely examines a problem of Culture as means for saving the Earth from future cataclysms. Culture is treated as self-organized spirit system, connected with subtle-energy (spiritual) component of man. According to Living Ethics, Love and Beauty arising in the space of Culture are the foundations of evolution and determine its quality. Absence of any of these foundations interrupts the cosmic evolution and leads away the process to involution. Therefore, mankind must strive for spiritual self-perfecting, extending of consciousness and creation of culture. It is important to maintain and increase cultural wealth of all the peoples of Earth.

V

One of the major principles of knowledge system of Living Ethics is the principle "Teacher — disciple". It is close connected with the process of extending of consciousness and mankind evolution. This principle is known as long ago as culture and philosophy of Ancient East. In Living Ethics methodology this major principle is extended up to universal scale and is considered as cosmic principle of teaching and knowledge in evolution process. Any progress of mankind is impossible without of this principle. If in ancient times the Teacher was mythological cultural hero, then in modern theory of knowledge he is one of the cosmic Hierarchs influencing on evolutional processes. This Hierarchic chain "Teacher — disciple" consists of numerous links, passing one in another and stretching in Infinity. But this chain has its earthly part — earthly Teachers and earthly disciples. The man is included in the chain of cosmic Hierarchy, without spiritual creativity of which neither cosmic evolution nor development of mankind would be impossible.

VI

Attaching the great importance to religion in the history of human society, today Living Ethics assigns a key role to such form of cognition as science.

Living Ethics in its interpretation of the world and man supposes a scientific explanation of all future phenomenon of the Universe. Phenomenon not explained still by modern science surely will give scientific interpretation and its essence will be revealed in cognition process. According to Living Ethics, field of science can not be restricted by studying biological objects only. It must study the psychic and spiritual phenomenon such as soul (psyche), consciousness, thought, psychic energy, problem of immortality and meaning of life, which before were concerned to the field of religion. "Science must find a broader way to lead to unlimited learning". These ideas of Living Ethics are close to the program of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. He considered that "satisfactory interpretation of universe, even positivist, must cover not only outward but also inner side of things, not only matter but also spirit too. True physics is that will be able to include comprehensive man into whole notion about the world". Living Ethics asserts that the science in order to perform its function must undergo sufficient changes, rejecting outdating dogmas, must become more open and more inspired. It also must become more ethical, more unprejudiced and accept various forms of knowledge. New science must use spiritual experience of human culture. It must switch over to a new level of studying of subtle phenomena, which are needed scientific explanation and scientific experiments. As the main scientific method Living Ethics proposes experimental knowledge.

VII

According to Living Ethics, the major task of evolution at modern stage is the transition from animosity, confrontation and disunity to accord, unity and cooperation. Mankind must strive for equality of all peoples, independently of sex, national, racial or social distinctions. Moral principle must dominate in all fields. It is impossible to establish a just life on the Earth without eradication of imperfection and ignorance. Therefore, everyone must strive for perfection, i.e. to overcome selfishness, egoism in all its kinds, to affirm and develop selflessness and tolerability in relations between peoples. During this process the man needs to perform his duty towards the family, country and whole mankind and to act in the name of Common Good. There is no necessity to away from the world, to leave from the people, to retreat into oneself. Living Ethics asserts an active living position for every society member.

VIII

Living Ethics calls the coming epoch the Epoch of Women. Woman will come to play an increasingly important role in the process of high-culture society establishment. She must realize her cosmic predestination, restore her violated rights, and bring in the world the principles of love, harmony and high spirituality.

"Coming time must again give an opportunity to women be at the helm of life, place near the man, her eternal collaborator. As all greatness of Cosmos is founded on these two principles. Basis of Being is the greatness of two Principles. How it is possible belittling of one of them? All today's and future disasters and cosmic cataclysms result from one origin — belittling of women".

"Certainly, the main stimulus to emancipation of women's consciousness and her subordinated state will be a new education. From early years it will lay the comprehension of foundations of being, purpose and role of the man in universe, and thereby will give a new direction to whole thinking. It will result to extending of prospect in all fields of life. And only then there is possible to wait the eradication of numerous very bad habits and prejudices, which became the custom, and vulgar desires and pastimes, which are the main evil and sources of current mass degradation and madness".

IX

According to Living Ethics, major means for perfection are continuing education and work. Human needs to know the culture of the past and present, scientific achievements, to study surrounding world and himself. The work must be voluntary, creative but within one's powers. Quality of the work is of great importance. During conscious desired work, at its high quality, the human's psychic energy is developed. Mastering of this energy leads to the development of high forms of consciousness such as sense-knowledge and spiritual understanding. Its partial manifestations are intuition and illumination. Living Ethics points to the natural way for psychic energy development. This is the way of heart, love and work. At this way human must cleanse his thinking, develop sublime senses and thoughts through communion with art and permanent heart aspiration to Light.

X

Living Ethics is open to everyone, but is not a burden to anyone. It opposes all forms of missionary work. "The Doors to Knowledge are opened wide, but those wishing to enter can do so only by dint of their own efforts and striving".