[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

504. One ought to test all useful qualities. It is not enough to imagine courage, tolerance,
devotion, and all that goes to make up the armor of achievement. He is not a fit leader who has
not proved fearless in action. Each one can imagine himself brave, but in action it often turns out
to the contrary. One needs to oppose oneself to great terror in order to prove to oneself whether or
not fear can creep in. When I speak about growth's dependence upon obstacles, I have in mind
just such testings in actions.
One should accustom oneself to the fact that each indication is the nearest necessary
knowledge. Thus, We have frequently been self-imagined heroes who began to tremble at the first
danger. Likewise We have seen those who wished to be tolerant become fiercely irritated at the
first disagreement. We have also known supposedly devoted people who ran away at the first
attack. We might enumerate many cases when imagined qualities were non-existent. But We also
know of many achievements, when people consciously overcame physical reverses and made of
their shortcomings the best adornments. Such discipline of the will is in itself an achievement.
505. Likewise people often imagine themselves industrious, but at the first need of continuous
labor they fail in spirit. Long ago it was said,  Be the same in fortune and in misfortune, in
success and in failure. People do not usually apply such counsels in life; they think that he who
preaches this probably does not follow his own advice. But We know those who do apply these
qualities in life. It is possible to name evident examples in earthly existence.
Those should be respected who are capable of continuous labor.
506. The worm of doubt is a very indicative symbol. Actually the worm is similar to a bacillus
which decomposes psychic energy and influences even the composition of the blood. In times to
come scientists will reveal the psychic and physical peculiarities of the man who falls into doubt.
The effects of the disease of doubt are among the most infectious.
From the first years of childhood the best prophylaxis against doubt should be employed.
A healthy, rational, inquiring mind does not engender doubt, but any ignorance can be the source
of the most ugly doubts. Doubt is primarily ugliness, and finally, it leads to betrayal. The
epidemic of betrayal is already a planetary calamity.
Thus out of an insignificant worm grows a most frightful dragon.
507. In experimentation with psychic energy doubt is the greatest obstacle. Free, fearless
admittance will provide wings for the experiment. You have observed how thought seeks
liberation. You perhaps wish to rivet thought into a definite line, but the essence of psychic
energy sends the consciousness into other spheres. Admit such flights also, for the labor of
thought is multiform. The concept of divisibility of spirit suggests also divisibility of thought. But
there occur circumstances when psychic energy is so tense and thought has been directed to so far
a destination that such a condition may appear devoid of thought. Such a feeling arises owing to
the change of direction of energy.
89
508. Knowledge leads to simplicity. People who know each other well are in no need of lengthy
and complicated discussions; they prefer to exchange words only as to the essence of things.
Beautiful is knowledge that leads to meaning; only a pseudo-science will choke itself with
heaped-up things and thus obscure its destination. It is instructive to observe the great number of
commentaries which have complicated the simplest fundamental passages in many works. It is
possible to base an entire investigation on the study of the involved paths of commentaries. The
psychology of commentators, in assimilating local accumulations, often completely loses the
fundamental problem. All human relationships have the same fate, when in their hustle and bustle
people lose the concept of their own destination.
Psychic energy vainly seeks admission, but the icy hand of narcosis restrains the
movement of the life-giver. Let the manifestation of simplicity help to liberate people from husks.
509. The same simplicity will help to discern where is the Good. You have already heard how
words about Good have been called the teaching of evil. You already know that evil ones detest
the Good; for to them it will be both cruel and unjust. Evil does not recognize Good. Such a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]