Universal
Wisdom As Expressed In Few Words
Helena P.
Blavatsky
A painting by Nicholas Roerich
A 2014 Editorial Note:
There are a
number of reasons why the philosophy of universal wisdom ascribes great
importance to precepts and axioms. Precepts express fundamental principles in a
few words. They are easy to remember and can be appreciated in
contemplative silence. It is easier to contemplate one sentence full of meaning
than to be benefitted by an ocean of useless words. Thus the memory of a
student can contain in itself a small library for his personal use.
As a
researcher in ancient wisdom, Russian thinker Helena Petrovna Blavatsky paid
special attention to the daily reflection upon precepts and axioms. In 1890, a
compilation was published in London of Eastern thoughts which had been
collected and written down by her. It presented one idea for each day of the
year and had the title “Gems From the East”. The book is now
part of volume XII in the “Collected Writings” of H.P. Blavatsky (TPH,
USA, pp. 425-476). The “Collected Writings” reproduce the 1948 edition of “Gems
from the East”, published by T. U. P. / Covina, USA.
The following precepts and axioms are a partial
selection from the months of January, February and March. We recommend the reading of the whole work.
The practical usefulness of any precepts and axioms is in direct proportion to
the attention and determination with which they are observed and preserved in
the memory of a student.
(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)
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Precepts and Axioms from the East
Helena P. Blavatsky
* The heart which follows the rambling senses leads away
his judgment as the wind leads a boat astray upon the waters.
* He who casts off all desires, living free from
attachments, and free from egoism, obtains bliss.
* Wise men are light-bringers.
* A just life, a religious life, this is the best gem.
* False friendship is like a parasitic plant, it kills
the tree it embraces.
* Men who have not observed proper discipline, and
have not gained treasure in their youth, perish like old herons in a lake
without fish.
* He who hath too many friends, hath as many
candidates for enemies.
* That man alone is wise, who keeps the mastery of
himself.
* All our dignity consists in thought, therefore let
us contrive to think well; for that is the principle of morals.
* Narrowness of mind causes stubbornness; we do not
easily believe what is beyond that which we see.
* A narrow stomach may be filled to its satisfaction,
but a narrow mind will never be satisfied, not even with all the riches of the
world.
* He who neglects his duty to his conscience, will
neglect to pay his debt to his neighbor.
* Two things are impossible in this world of Maya [Illusion]: to enjoy more than Karma hath
allotted; to die before one’s hour hath struck.
* A learned man without pupils, is a tree which bears
no fruit; a devotee without good works, is a dwelling without a door.
* Keep thine eyes open, or Fate will open them for
thee.
* He who keeps to his business, he who loves his
companions, he who does his duty, will never be poor.
* A thousand regrets will not pay thy debts.
* To feel one’s ignorance is to be wise; to feel sure
of one’s wisdom is to be a fool.
* One proof is better than ten arguments.
* Rain in the morn brings the sun after noon. He who
weeps today, may laugh tomorrow.
* Every tree hath its shadow, every sorrow its joy.
* The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind by passion.
Blessed are the patient, and the passionless.
* The virtuous man who is happy in this life, is sure
to be still happier in his next.
* Let every man first become himself that which he
teaches others to be.
* He who hath subdued himself, may hope to subdue
others. One’s own self is the most difficult to master.
* Hatred is never quenched by hatred; hatred ceases by
showing love; this is an old rule. [1]
* The best possession of the man of clay is health;
the highest virtue of the man of spirit is truthfulness.
* Man walks on, and Karma follows him along with his
shadow.
* Daily practical wisdom consists of four things: - To
know the root of Truth, the branches of Truth, the limit of Truth, and the
opposite of Truth.
* To enjoy the day of plenty, you must be patient in
the day of want.
* Expel avarice from your heart, so shall you loosen
the chains from off your neck.
* Let a man overcome anger by love, evil by good,
greediness by liberality, lie by truth.
* Do not speak harshly to anybody; those who are so
spoken to will answer thee in the same way.
* The avaricious go not to the world of the gods
(Devas), for the fool commands no charity.
* The fool who is angered, and who thinks to triumph
by using abusive language, is always vanquished by him whose words are patient.
* Truth is brighter than the sun; truth is the sunny
day of Reason, and falsehood the mind’s dark night.
* All has an end, and will away. Truth alone is
immortal, and lives forever.
* The light of all flesh is the sun; the light of the
soul - truth everlasting.
* The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of
oneself is difficult to perceive.
* Good people shine from afar like the snowy
mountains; bad people are not seen, like arrows shot at night.
* Thoughts alone cause the round of rebirths in this
world; let a man strive to purify his thoughts, what a man thinks, that he is:
this is the old secret.
NOTE:
[1] This is one of the most famous axioms in the Dhammapada.
(CCA)
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On the role of the esoteric movement in the ethical awakening of mankind
during the 21st century, see the book “The Fire and Light of Theosophical
Literature”, by Carlos Cardoso Aveline.
Published in 2013 by The Aquarian Theosophist, the volume has
255 pages and can be obtained through Amazon Books.
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