Think, Decide, and Work Until Victory
1. Sadness and Joy
“Where there is joy, there is sadness”, according to a traditional Russian saying:
“Где радость, там и горе.”
And the approximate pronunciation is “Gdê rrádost, tam y gôrie”. [1]
In other words, Life is electromagnetic and operates through two poles everywhere.
The infallible seesaw of Karma establishes an equilibrium between the positive and negative poles. Thus, both pleasant and painful experiences must be improved in their inner substance, to begin with. Contentment (радость in Russian, sounding like rrádost) and sadness (горе, or gôrie) become nobler and more elevated as we learn to live better.
One’s duty includes regularly examining his feelings: is our joy wise or foolish? Are your reasons for sadness altruistic, or are they merely selfish? The gradual evolution of these feelings toward Light expresses one’s real spiritual progress.
Once the pilgrim understands the constant alternation between frustration and contentment, the process of detachment can emerge. He begins to experience the luminous moments without euphoria, and with gratitude instead. He now faces pain with more courage and confidence. He knows that nothing is eternal in life - except the Law.
In Raja Yoga, detachment means looking beyond and transcending the process of blind attraction and automatic rejection. The eternal law of symmetry regulates day and night, work and rest, trial and victory, planting and harvest. One must understand the whole cycle in order to act correctly. [2]
2. The Law of Persistence
All spiritual projects involve long-term goals. In theosophy as in life in general, easy and immediate results usually don’t last. In fact, as soon as you begin to seriously strive for a noble goal, the practical results often place before you a long line of seemingly insurmountable difficulties. Hence the importance of this popular Russian proverb:
“Начатого дела не бросай.”
Approximate pronunciation: “Náchatogo dyla nyi brasay”. [3]
Once you have started something, don’t give up.
Such is the law of continuity. Good karma takes time to ripen. If one’s endeavor is spiritual, there will be tests and trials, and some of them may seem “absurd”. The best kind of progress occurring in the soul cannot always be seen or identified.
Use the law of cycles and take a rest when necessary.
Although the tests and obstacles are very visible, victory is often imperceptible. Don’t give up, for silent progress is worthwhile: it changes everything for the better as if nothing changed. Remember: happiness uses to be invisible.
3. Think, Decide, and Work Until Victory
Another Russian proverb says: “If you buy a cow, get a milk-pail.” Which means: “if you set a goal, take steps to achieve it”.
This is the proverb in Cyrillic alphabet, with the approximate pronunciation in parentheses:
“Взял корову – возьми и нодойник.” (Vzyal karovu – voz’me i nadoynyk.)
It would be a waste of time to pretend to yourself - or to others - that it’s possible to make progress along the spiritual path without changing your routine. You need practical instruments to attain your goal. It’s essential to overcome laziness and eliminate the dispersion of efforts. Various illusions must be abandoned if the pilgrim wants to live according to the precepts of divine wisdom.
A popular Russian proverb says:
“Once you have taken on a task, don’t say you can’t do it.”
In Russian:
“Взялся за гуж, не говори, что не дюж.”
Approximate pronunciation:
“Vzyalsya za guzh, nie gavari, chto nie dyuzh.” [4]
Calculate your strength and assess the time needed to achieve your goal. Prepare yourself for victory, and work hard. Don’t make elegant excuses for not winning. Defeats may happen, but you must do your best. Along the spiritual path, each defeat is a seed of future victories.
4. Sowing In Order to Harvest
Hard, persistent work is the father of happiness and contentment, and a Russian proverb says:
“The days of spring sustain you all year long.”
The original saying in the Cyrillic alphabet is this: “Весенний день целый год кормит.” [5]
The lesson present in the sentence has to do with the good law of Karma. Spring is the time for planting. If you want to have something to eat in the future, you must plant in a correct way at the right time. The idea applies to all aspects of life.
Take advantage of the easy tides and make provisions in advance for the not-so-good moments that may come later.
In her article “Chelas and Lay Chelas”, H.P. Blavatsky recommends:
“Deserve, then desire.”
And there is a reason why these words by HPB were adopted as a motto by the associates of the Independent Lodge of Theosophists.
NOTES:
[1] The proverb is on page 48 of the book “Russian-English Dictionary of Proverbs and Sayings”, by Alexander Margulis and Asya Kholodnaya, copyright 2000, McFarland & Co., Inc., Publishers; Jefferson, North Carolina, US, and London, UK; 487 pages, proverb number 330.
[2] See the article The Law of Symmetry.
[3] Proverb 1257 on page 139 of “Russian-English Dictionary of Proverbs and Sayings”.
[4] These two proverbs are on page 31 of the “Russian-English Dictionary of Proverbs and Sayings”: proverbs 149 and 150.
[5] “Russian-English Dictionary of Proverbs and Sayings”, Proverb 140, p. 30.
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The above article is available on the websites since 30 March 2026. It was first published - with no indication as to the name of its author - in the September 2025 edition of “The Aquarian Theosophist”, pp. 14-17.
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Helena Blavatsky (photo) wrote these words: “Deserve, then desire”.
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