The Obstacles Exist for the
Strengthening of One’s Will to do Good
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
“For the sake of
the soul
alone, the Universe
exists.”
(Patanjali, II, 21)
“The evil that has
not yet
taken place should be
avoided.”
(Patanjali, II, 16)
Our
civilization as a whole seems to face the challenges of discipleship, which are
metaphorically described in the many ancient
“journeys of the hero”, from the gospels of Jesus Christ to the 12 Labors of
Hercules.
Every truth-seeker
must face them in one way or another.
The concept of “karmic
fever” or Pledge Fever, used in the modern theosophy of Helena Blavatsky, is
useful as we look at human history.
Once the soul gets
in contact with true wisdom and becomes a disciple, its horizon widens so much
that the subconscious garbage accumulated as a result of individual and
collective ignorance comes to the surface in disturbing ways. Then common sense
may seem to be lost for a while. Absurdity can spread. The old ways of life do
not work any longer, yet the new ways have not emerged. A fever occurs until
the soul gets better acquainted with the broader horizons. Transitional times
are confusing. The number of idiotic things done during the “testing” period is
sometimes beyond description.
Evolutionary time
is measured by eras, in theosophy, not by days or weeks. The “pledge fever” of
our mankind and the presence of absurdities in its History are not quite new. Yet
there are different phases in the karmic fever of learning that accompanies the
journey of mankind through the lifetime of our globe.
In the first half
of the 21st century, falsehood, crime, lust, violence, environmental pollution,
abortion and other forms of disrespect for life seem to dominate the Zeitgeist or “spirit of the time”. These
diseases can be seen as sociological forms of “reaction to wisdom”. They
constitute a karmic fever through which the organism of our civilization
struggles between two alternatives:
1) Purifying itself
and attaining wisdom through self-restraint and voluntary simplicity; or
2) Worshipping
irresponsibility and destruction, thus preparing its own end, which will open
the door of time to a new and better rebirth.
Every effort in the direction of a planetary ethics has a healing effect, as long as it starts from one’s individual life and strengthens the relation of each citizen with his own spiritual soul.
Short term appearances are deceiving. It is correct not to pay too much attention to them. Through a karmic fever and its seeming absurdities, an organism which is destined to live expels undesirable substances - like ignorance -, purifies itself and gets ready to start living indeed in a new cycle.
For this reason,
whenever the emotions, images and news that surround you are negative, it is
the time to compensate that by forcefully concentrating your mind on positive,
healthy and inspiring ideas.
Wrong ideas ought
to be replaced by its opposites. (Patanjali, II, 33-34)
If utter futility
lives nowadays side by side with despondency, psychological depression and brutal
forms of violence, then the right time has come for one to think in the most
elevated and correct way, and to work for that which is good and eternal.
When perverted
actions are publicized and presented as normal and every act of generosity is
seen with skepticism, this is the right moment to think of sanctity; to act
according to Ethics, and contemplate with invincible strength the purifying
ideal of universal brotherhood.
There is a blessing
in the feeling of love for truth in itself, however imperfectly we can grasp
it. Circumstances cannot define us. The obstacles exist for the strengthening
of our will to do good.
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Helena Blavatsky (photo) wrote these words: “Deserve, then desire”.
