As We Renounce
Possessions, Dense
And Subtle,
Happiness Descends Upon Us
Carlos Cardoso
Aveline
* Truth cannot belong to an organization or an
individual. However, individuals and organizations can belong to truth, in a
way: they may devote themselves to its humble search in a long-term process.
* It is only by giving up things of secondary
importance, that one can save energy enough to make a difference regarding
decisive issues. By not having wishes, one develops will. He who leaves aside
desire is able to have a real purpose in life.
* Good will is the right kind of will. A generous
purpose expresses a knowledge of the universal law, an intrinsic unity and
harmony with it, and an affinity with the way essential things flow, within and
around the Earth or the Cosmos.
* Words can’t replace facts. A sense of ethical
responsibility will not emerge because it is demanded, or because intense
propaganda is made about its importance. One must be free in one’s soul, before
having an inner sense of duty. Responsibility, “the ability to respond”, comes
from within. It results from actually seeing our dynamic unity with the other
beings and all forms of life.
* A certain degree of gross energy is necessary to
dominate and control the automatic trends of one’s physical body. The will to
live in correct ways cannot be expressed in daily life through mere
abstractions. It requires the formation of outward habits that, while being
dense, are essentially - if imperfectly - compatible with the higher energies,
and can obey them in the main aspects of life. It is only whited sepulchres,
though, that pay too much attention to the outer personality.
* It is an old axiom that Light comes to the world
whenever it is necessary for It to do so. However, Light will come when Light
knows it is the right moment for It to emerge, and not when some human beings
would prefer to see It descending upon them. Light will typically come in
unannounced ways, through unexpected events, and after being rejected by the
“wise ones” who respond to organized ignorance.
* An individual who cannot stop his own discourse to
himself may have something in common with parrots. On the other hand, he who
practices the art of being in silence is able to listen to other beings indeed.
Silence is among the best friends of a truth-seeker. The absence of emotional
noise entitles him to better learn the lessons that Life teaches him all the
time, and which are transmitted in a thousand different ways.
* No one is wise in choosing between optimism and
realism, or between confidence and prudence. Human beings need all of these
qualities and many others. One must combine different and contrasting energies
along the road, not being carried away or dominated by any of them. The inner
substance of one’s talents will be constantly improved if used to seek noble
objects.
* Sublime feelings or thoughts are not enough. The
pilgrim must create some dense and uncharming habits, in order to perform
correct actions in stable ways. Thanks to tiring and tasteless efforts, higher
level perceptions will be able to inspire the whole web of life and get
integrated into it.
* As we think of the cosmos, peace comes to us and
becomes part of our aura for some time. The intensity and durability of such a
blissful feeling will depend on how deep the thought was, and how long it
endured. This kind of peace is often subconscious. Raja Yoga says one’s mind
adopts the form and substance of that which it contemplates. It is therefore
worthwhile to think of the cosmos, as theosophy invites us to do.
* Hypocrisy is not in the difference between ideal and
practice. Such a distance is perfectly human. It means one has an ideal in
life. It may take a long time to fill the gap. Falsehood consists in not attempting
to reduce the distance between ideal and practice. The central notion of “doing
one’s best” defines the direction of Karma. He who does not do his best is
going to the middle of nowhere. Walking fast or slowly means nothing: one must
know if the efforts point to the right aim.
* It is correct to make a daily spiritual retreat - perhaps
several times a day - and establish oneself in that inner fortress of our soul
where the pure, unlimited strength eternally flows. The refuge in the fortress
of silence renews one’s perspective of life, brings us new energies and cleans
the lens through which we look at facts. The renewing introspection also takes
place in communities. A city and a country are born again due to the inner
renewal of their citizen.
* When we renounce possessions, dense and subtle, the
energy of bliss has a chance to descend upon us. Freedom from attachment is the
path to plenitude and wisdom, and it brings about happiness.
* A thorough perception of truth is as quick as light,
although some of the things it shows are not beautiful. Perception of truth
does not wait for outward reason. However, it is always reasonable in itself.
* Thought can read and understand a correct perception
of truth, but such perception is above thought and doesn’t quite need it,
except as an instrument to test, to strengthen and improve itself.
* Most religious and philosophical traditions teach a
tenet which theosophy and simple common sense also state: that moral decline
leads to the extinction of a civilization. It is up to each one, then, to see
whether there is decay in Ethics in present-day societies, for this issue
defines the main tides of the future ahead. The theosophical movement exists to
preserve and to sow the wisdom of universal brotherhood and self-responsibility.
* To each cycle of growth in falsehood, hypocrisy and
moral decadence in social life, there is a corresponding cycle of growth in
truthfulness, sincerity and ethical principles. If one sees willful illusion in
today’s world, it would be naive to consider that this is the portrait of the
future. Every wrong action is duly compensated in time. Ethics is eternal law,
and each being will have as much time and trouble as necessary for this fact to
be understood.
* Having ideals is good. It is even essential, as long
as they are managed with common sense. In
the absence of discernment and self-restraint, lofty ideals produce disasters
of great proportion. This is seen not only in lives of individuals, but in the
long list of bloody social revolutions and genocidal wars made in the last 20
centuries.
* The Arctic Ocean and North Pole region is at risk of
environmental destruction. And what is its meaning and importance according to
theosophy? Helena Blavatsky writes in “The Secret Doctrine” that the North Pole
represents the region of Atma in our planet: of pure soul and Spirituality. [1] The region corresponds to the
higher levels of consciousness, if seen on a planetary and geological context.
* An idealistic view of life must be compensated with
realism, with a long-term conception of time, an awareness of the universal
law, a feeling of respect for all and the intention to sow, before intending to
harvest.
* When in a community each one makes an intransigent
defense of his or her rights, the common atmosphere gets polluted by the
accumulation of selfish complaints, to which few pay attention anyway. The
result is the unhappiness of all. When each one thinks mainly of fulfilling his
or her duties, the collective atmosphere is purified by altruism. Then the
common Karma is helped by sincere solidarity and there is no need for
complaining. The result is a lasting well-being.
* As the field of one’s awareness expands, one gets
more independent from the wording process, although one still very much needs
words for outward expression. A new light shows facts both nice and unpleasant.
Blind belief loses strength in every department of life. Thus truth gets easier
to see. In due time worded expressions will be recognized as being but the
humble tools of consciousness. Falsehood in words will then become impossible.
* Self-discipline would have no merit, if it were not
necessary to face habits and trends which point to the opposite direction. The
“resistance to change”, of which both Psychology and Theosophy speak, is made
of habits. Its substance is the karma of attachment to things contrary to what
one consciously desires. One must calmly persevere in the noble direction. By doing
our best after each mistake or failure, one makes significant progress.
* There are two ways for an individual to “get to the
same level” as that which he sees as higher in wisdom. The first one is by
elevating himself up to the higher realm. The other one consists of debasing
the higher realm and trying to bring it down to his own world of ignorance. The
steep, uphill and narrow path to wisdom preaches respect for those elevated
viewpoints which belong to sacred knowledge. Such a path leads one’s
consciousness away from personal competition. It stimulates universal cooperation
on the basis of justice.
* Happiness is the perception that everything is OK in
the universe and there is nothing to worry about. Words cannot describe spiritual
contentment. Such a view of life is like a sun that never sets. It results from
one’s conscious identity with the Law, with the Cosmos, and Universal
Friendship. It doesn’t need to use words. Specific moments in life can trigger
the feeling that “life is perfect as it is”. To the awakened higher self, an
unlimited bliss is always present. Suffering is a visitor and teacher; Peace
constitutes the territory where all things take place.
NOTE:
[1] “The Secret Doctrine”, H.P. Blavatsky, Theosophy Co.,
volume II. See p. 403, and also
pp. 402 and 404, among others.
000
“Thoughts Along the Road - 31” was
published as an independent text on 5 May 2019. An initial version of it, with no indication as to the
name of the author, is included in “The Aquarian Theosophist”, February 2017
edition, pp. 11-14. A few short notes written by the same author and anonymously
published in that edition of “The
Aquarian” were added to form the article.
000
