AGNI YOGA WEB TV
SERIES
INTRODUCTION TO AGNI YOGA“
BROADCASTING 15
The New World : Form of Government: Hierarchy
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome; nice to see you again in our Program.
Today we shall be talking about a great,
interesting and important subject: How will the New World look like, the human
society of the future?
We have already said (Broadcasting 13 "The Path and the Goal of Man"): Our task is to build a new step
of evolution. This means creating out of ourselves the New Man and out of the
existing material circumstances the New World.
In both cases we are concerned with the rule of
the spirit: The divine spirit is to rule our individual thinking and acting as
well as the coexistence and cooperation within human society as a whole.
1. Higher Culture
We have emphasized again and again in earlier Broadcastings:
The individual human being can and must continue to perfect himself and proceed
on his spiritual path independently of the external circumstances.
But it is equally true: You can realize your
possibilities to a limited extent only when you are forced to live in a society
dominated by materialism and lack of spirit.
In a social order characterized by egotism and
greed, by the fight of everyone against everyone, in which the law of the
jungle prevails, a spiritual man can only stand aside and is hardly able to make
a valuable contribution.
*****
Let us just take today’s order of economy and
labour: My father used to say, when he left the house in the morning: "I
am going to serve." He meant, of course, the service to the common good.
Who can say this today? Are not most of us engaged in their professions (even
in the so-called "social professions") to promote selfish,
destructive, profit or party interests?
Today’s materialistic order deprives the best
we have to give, our work, of its meaning.
*****
You all are experiencing daily how difficult it
is to have to live in a community with materialistically minded people: To have
an unspiritual boss, to have your children educated the wrong way by unspiritual
teachers, to be governed by unspiritual politicians, to purchase products made
by unspiritual manufacturers, and to have to take part in the projects of
unspiritual people. Everywhere and constantly we are making ourselves guilty.
*****
Therefore we must establish a new social order,
a higher culture in which the Will of God reigns. Only there can our higher
nature, our Eternal Individuality, live and work meaningfully and in accordance
with its mission.
Man must get back
under the guidance of the Divine Laws which he feels were really made for his
higher evolution. (Teachings of the Temple, Vol 1, Lesson 158 “Truth versus
Falsehood”)
All times dream of the establishment of the Kingdom
of God on earth – that is, of an order which corresponds to the conditions in
the Higher World, and in which the cosmic laws apply.
State laws, in order
to serve the vital interests, should reflect the cosmic laws. (Helena Roerich,
Letters Vol. II, letter of 10.09.1938)
We humans have a deep longing to restore the
paradise conditions that prevail in our true homeland, from which we have been temporarily
exiled to this cold earth.
I entreat you to help
build My Country. (Leaves of Morya’s Garden II, 265 [268], 266 [269])
Establishing the Rule of the Spirit means, as
we have already discussed in detail, (Broadcasting 12 "The
Mission of Man"): To enforce the reign of higher principles
such as truth, justice, beauty and love. If these principles actually govern
our life, we have created the highest world we can imagine.
In concrete terms this means: In government has
to prevail the hierarchical principle, in the legal system justice, in the
media truth, in the arts beauty, etc.
We shall show you now how the consistent
application of these principles completely changes human society.
2. The Plan of God
We had already said: Evolution is the Plan of
God with man, the earth and cosmos as a whole.
It is of the utmost importance that you
understand: When we now begin to create the New World, our aim is to enforce
the Will of God on this earth, against the violent resistance of materialism,
egotism, ignorance, disbelief and lack of spirit.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done in earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6, 10)
If man would take the
great seed of the task in his potential, then indeed the world would be a great
reflection of the Higher Will. (Fiery World III, 260)
For this, we must first form a clear idea of
how the new step looks like in God's Will: Without a construction plan, no building,
no New Creation can ever be realized.
He who would truly
benefit his kind should endeavor to realize somewhat of the divine plan –
"the plan in the mind of God" – and work toward the materialization
of that plan. (Teachings of the Temple, Vol 1, Lesson 177 “The Multitude”)
One must acknowledge
the goal and devote oneself to the plan of the Teacher. (Leaves of Morya’s
Garden II, 205)
We must develop such an idea for every single
social institution, according to the example of Plato's great work "The Republic".
That is why we shall be talking today and in the next Broadcastings about the government,
the economic and labour regulations, the legal system, the health system,
science, agriculture, schools, media, army and police, churches, arts and marriage
and family.
Let the country of the
future be embodied in thought. (Leaves of Morya’s Garden II, 297 [301])
The mission to build the New World must occupy
us every single day. We should strive to contribute at least one stone to the New
Creation every day!
Think every day about
the tasks that the New World poses. Strive to the New World as if it were
something standing right on the other side of the door. Nobody should just
leave it to others to take care of the New World, since every one of us has to
grasp what it means. (Heart 132)
3. Form of Government of the Future: Hierarchy
The organization of the government must be
consistent with the cosmic order, the cosmic laws.
All statecraft and
social order can be founded upon cosmic law. Therefore, the state and the
social order could apply all the cosmic laws for the perfection of their forms.
(Fiery World III, 65)
The law of hierarchy is applicable.
The entire Universe is
saturated with the principle of Hierarchy. Therefore, man, being a part of
Cosmos, cannot separate himself from this principle. (Agni Yoga 667)
The Hierarchic
principle appears as the basis of all constructions. The Guiding Principle, and
the principle of fulfilling the Great Will are one Source. (Fiery World III,
100)
The symbol of Hierarchy is the pyramid: All
power emanates from the top; each individual intermediate level is orientated upwards;
every single little stone has its meaning and function only through its
incorporation into the great structure.
The idea of Hierarchy
is a cosmic concept, a cosmic law. The whole Universe exists, is nourished, and
is supported solely by this principle. Precisely, in Cosmos, the lower
principle is subordinated to the higher. (Helena Roerich, Letters Vol. I, letter
of 10.09.1934)
The law of hierarchy demands, firstly: He who
stands lower must subordinate himself to those standing higher. This is the
only way to arrive at a meaningful order. If those rule who stand down below,
chaos will reign.
The subjection of the
lower to the higher lies at the foundation of cosmos. The subordination of the
lower to the higher leads to purification. Humanity subjects that which should
be dominant to the lower. When the higher dominates, then the lower, through
transmutation, is regenerated into a quality of a higher order. (Infinity I,
115)
"Hierarchy" means, secondly: Every
single social institution, from families, kindergardens and schools, via
authorities, courts, associations and business enterprises, to villages, cities
and the whole country, must be directed by that person who is spiritually the most
qualified, who stands highest on the ladder of Hierarchy. He is placed under his
superior, who in turn serves under his superior, and so forth up to the rulers
of a country, and to the leaders of the whole earth.
*****
This is the earthly hierarchy. It makes sure
that the will of the earth's leaders, the Mahatmas, is transmitted from the top
downwards from one level to the next. In the end, at the very bottom, on the
spot, in the case of the slightest treatment of a schoolchild, or of a citizen
seeking justice or health, with the building of a house, the condemnation of a
criminal or even the preparation of a meal – in all cases the Supreme Will is
observed and enforced.
*****
The Mahatmas cannot possibly carry out or even
supervise themselves all the acts of the daily work. They have to rely on the
earthly hierarchy to act according to their instructions and in their spirit in
the countless individual cases of everyday life.
We must understand the earthly hierarchy as an
unbroken chain, in which each co-worker at his place takes up the Higher Will,
carries out some of it himself, and delegates other tasks downwards for
execution by subordinates.
Each one striving to
Hierarchy can fulfill the Higher Will through a task given from Above. (Hierarchy
101)
According to the law of correspondence, the
Higher Will is not revealed to the masses, but to the supreme spirits only,
namely the rulers of the earth, the Mahatmas of Shambhala, and their closest
collaborators. Only they can lead mankind. They form the peak of the earthly
hierarchy.
The peaks of the earthly hierarchy, for their
part, are connected to the lowest level of the supermundane Hierarchy. They
must make sure that the Divine Will, transmitted from the very top downwards through
many intermediate levels, actually arrives down here on our planet.
The Higher Will is
transmitted to the closest spirit. (Hierarchy 178)
You now recognize the great importance of the spiritual
conversation with a non-incarnated teacher, which we discussed in our
Broadcasting about meditation: The Mahatmas, in any case, only have this way of
communication when they want to receive instructions from their superiors on
how to govern the earth.
*****
Let us summarize: The hierarchical order of the
state serves this purpose: The Divine Will has to be transmitted from the top
of the pyramid downwards through many intermediate steps from the supermundane Hierarchy
to the tops of the earthly hierarchy. From there, it is handed further
downwards through an uninterrupted chain of hierarchs. Finally, it is put into
practice in the countless small actions of everyday life.
Each link in this chain is active in its place
by order of the Hierarchy, and ultimately in the name of God!
4. Democracy unsuitable
The system currently practiced in the Western
democracies ensures only in a highly imperfect manner that the most suitable
persons in the spiritual sense rule the community and its institutions.
You can see for yourself by means of countless
examples: Too often those politicians are elected who make the greatest
promises, even though it is obviously impossible to honour them. Or, those who
burden the community irresponsibly with debts because they do not get along
with what the taxpayers entrust to them, but do not dare to increase taxes. All
too often, those who enforce necessary but painful reforms are not re-elected.
From the standpoint of
unity, evolution and spiritual reality, the idea of a democracy is
inadmissible. How can a democracy, with all power in the hands of a people, the
majority of whom are not even evolved to the point where they are capable of
perceiving their own natural positions in the scale of life, have the right to
pick from their number some person of whose rightful position they are equally
ignorant, and place him in a position which they are equally incapable of
comprehending, and expect anything but division, discontent and final rebellion
as a result? (Teachings of the Temple, Vol 1, Lesson 156 “War”)
Everyone, in particular the so-called ordinary
people, is well aware that the courting for the favour of the masses in
election campaigns and the relying in vital decisions on opinion polls rather
than on iron principles is a disgrace to a civilized society.
I must confess that no
other system makes me feel so indignant as the present way a head of a
government is elected by ignorant masses! I saw enough of this most abominable
and criminal comedy. Bribery, we are told, is illegal, yet, in such a
responsible, sacred act as the election of a head of a country, great sums are
spent and even the most obvious bribery is practised, to say nothing of other
proceedings which are equally disgusting.
Common sense should
tell us that the ignorant masses, who are impelled by their lower instincts,
cannot be the judges of the highest. The right of electing the head of a
government should belong only to a highly moral, therefore cultured and
educated people, or representatives of the people of a country. But
unfortunately, in an epoch when it is most necessary to have the best and most
trustworthy people at the head of affairs, the power of the masses prevails. (Helena
Roerich, Letters Vol. I, letter of 17.08.1934)
However, history shows again and again: It has
the most terrible consequences for a community when it entrusts power to
adventurers or to impure, crude, unworthy or ignorant leaders.
Above all else I am
concerned with the imbalance of the world. Many countries are governed by
madmen in the fullest meaning of the word. Never before has this manifestation
of mass obsession occurred. (Fiery World II, 223)
Let us finally recognize: The fate of a company,
or of a whole nation, is depending almost entirely upon the purity and wisdom
of the person who leads it.
The success of a whole
nation depends upon the quality of the psychic energy of its leader. (Supermundane
503)
The quality of life
depends on the integrity of the leaders. (Supermundane 564)
Furthermore, there is a number of existential
questions in the political, economic, medical and technical area which cannot
seriously be decided by voting:
Is the participation in a war, abortion,
euthanasia, industrial livestock farming, nuclear power, genetic engineering or
a specific medical technology admissible, or not? For these and many other
questions, the vote of the majority is simply not a suitable criterion for decision.
The modern democracy
that approves the leadership which issues from the crowds fails all tests. (Helena
Roerich, Letters Vol. I, letter of 10.09.1934)
Please, do not regard us as extremists who want
to overthrow the existing order. Democracy is a necessary stage of development
that all nations have to go through and which corresponds to today's level of
consciousness.
We are talking about the direction in which progress
must be made, the goal which we should aim at in the long run, step by step,
without revolutionary or violent revolts. We are asking how our society will be
governed in hundreds of years from now, when mankind has reached one step
higher and will consist of immortals.
Democracy may be the
only acceptable ideal to the masses of the people of the present age, and so be
relatively right and wise; but it is not right or wise from the standpoint of
the Higher Self, and a democracy could not persist among men who had reached
the highest point of development in their individual evolutionary cycles.
(Teachings of the Temple, Vol 1, Lesson 156 “War”)
5. Rule of the Sages
The form of government of the future must make sure
that in all social institutions on all levels those persons exercise power who
are spiritually the most advanced and thus nearest to the Higher World. Only in
this way can the Will of God be realized on earth.
The right of
leadership belongs to a spirit linked with the Forces of Light. Therefore,
according to the Higher Law, there can be no accidental leaders. (Fiery World
III, 51)
Only by the
reestablishing of the Hierarchal line it may be accomplished to place in
positions of power those who are spiritually fitted for the exercise of power. (Teachings
of the Temple Vol.1, Lesson 208 “The momentous Question”)
Those will be given responsibility who according
their character, education and past life are qualified, and who by the
responsibility carried so far have proven, that they are able to serve
selflessly the common good and to recognize as well as to enforce on earth the Higher
evolutionary Will.
The best executor will
be the one closest to Hierarchy. The Hierarchy of Service is but the manifestation
of the fulfillment of the Higher Will. (Hierarchy 42, Agni Yoga 659)
Are you not tired of being led by people who do
not know any better than you yourself? Do not you, too, long for true leadership?
Nations are realizing
that “life is wearisome without a hero.” Everywhere one can see this longing
for powerful leadership, in cultural, in social and in governmental life. (Helena
Roerich, Letters Vol. I, letter of 06.06.1935)
Who will decide better
and who knows better? Only the Hierarch. (Hierarchy 116)
Plato described this evolutionary aim of a
philosopher's kingship, a rule of the sages, more than two thousand years ago
in his book “The Republic”:
Until philosophers are
kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of
philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner
natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand
aside, cities will never have rest from their evils. (Plato, The Republic, Book
5, XVIII)
This ideal is as valid today as at all times.
The wise man sees that
the people must return to the original form, the paternal – the kingly form of
government – again and again. (Teachings of the Temple Vol.1, Lesson 128 “The
wise Man”)
Those who possess knowledge, the spiritual ones,
must exercise or at least control power. Ruler and supreme priest will once
again become one – as in ancient Egypt, where, for thousands of years, a
hierarchy of initiates directed all the affairs of the community.
And again, as in the
most ancient times of priesthood’s prime, but in a popular application, the
fire of knowledge will begin to shine. (Leaves of Morya’s Garden II, 296 [300])
There, the priests named the Pharaoh, who
himself was an initiate, or at least their disciple, and ruled the nation by
the power of their spirit.
Heads of state
formerly combined their work with the highest spiritual duties. (Supermundane
74)
The words we use, the old and the new one,
clearly show what we are talking about: From "demo-cracy," the rule
of the people, we proceed to "hier-archy," the supremacy of the
saints, the initiates. Instead of the ignorant masses, the sages will lead the
way.
This implies, on the one hand, that people are prepared
to voluntarily subordinate themselves to the Masters. On the other hand, the
saints must be ready to exercise power in the material world and to gain such
respect that they can be accepted as an authority.
It is right that
reverence for the Guru be the firm foundation of an entire people. (AUM 110)
This thinking is unfortunately still unfamiliar
to the man of our time. But one day, in the worst case through suffering, he
will recognize: His intellectual arrogance, which leads him to believe that he
knows everything better than everyone else and that he is qualified to take
part in decisions on everything everywhere, is unfounded.
In reality, he is not able to recognize the way
out in most cases. The more honest among the citizens know very well that they
can be glad when wiser men relieve them of the most vital decisions.
6. Theocracy
Sandro Botticelli: „St. Augustine“
The social order of the New Age is a theocracy:
its head is the brotherhood of Shambhala. The Mahatmas make sure that the Will
of God is carried out on earth. Just as, in the Middle Ages, Jesus was appointed spiritual leader of
the Order of the Temple Knights, or regarded as the head of the ideal state.
True justice only prevails in that state the founder and ruler of which is Jesus Christ. (St. Augustine)
All people and all institutions are acting in
the spirit of the Great Souls who are responsible for this planet. Everywhere is
exhibited Their picture. Everywhere They preside, at least in spirit.
Everywhere we ask: How would They act? What advice would They give?
All power is entrusted from above and exercised
in the name of the Mahatmas. For its use one is held accountable.
People will recognize that they fare best when
they submit to the spiritual leadership of the Mahatmas, both as individuals
and as a community.
*****
The new teaching of Agni Yoga must imbue all
areas of life, both the private (e.g. marriage and family) as well as the
public sector (politics, business, society).
The separation of church and state is
necessary. But there can be no separation between faith and governance. A faith
such as Christianity, as it is taught today, which can no longer give a
politician or an entrepreneur any guidance for his actions, is worthless.
7. No Elections
A hierarchy rarely reverts to elections. The
bearers of greater responsibility are selected from the outset only from a
small, long educated, tried and tested circle. From a circle to which everyone
has access; in which, however, he can rise to higher positions solely on
account of his character, his proven selflessness, and his often-tested
fulfillment of duties.
Such a community of hierarchs fills vacant
positions only in exceptional cases through internal elections, but not by
popular vote.
*****
Imagine a village, a kindergarden, a school, a
lawfirm or a business: The few hierarchs that lead such an institution have
long been familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses. They can
therefore judge fairly well who is best suited for which office.
In general, a certain candidate will recommend himself
without formal procedure on the basis of his education and talents. Only when, in
exceptional cases, several persons equally suitable and equally willing to
serve are available, an election might be considered.
The leaders of the
future will be selected not by the irresponsible masses but, verily, by the
Hierarchy of Light and Knowledge. (Helena Roerich, Letters Vol. I, letter of
10.09.1934)
This is a most unusual picture for us today. We
must remember, however, that a selflessly serving spiritual leader will never
press for an office.
When their turn comes,
they should take over the toils of politics and become rulers for the public good,
not as though they were performing some heroic action, but simply as a matter
of duty. (Plato, The Republic, Book 7, XVII)
He does not seek anything for himself. He does not
have any ambition or thirst for power. He only notes the burden of
responsibility. Only those who think this way are apt to be true leaders.
We accept leadership,
not as a distinction, but as an immutable necessity. Such responsibility should
be the foundation of all human communities. (Supermundane, 40)
One fitted for true
leadership is generally backward about asserting himself. Unless a definite
call has been made upon him by others he will avoid everything which tends to
push him to the front. His knowledge of his own limitations is so keen that it
is actually painful if he be placed in a situation where he appears to stand
forth as a superior in the eyes of his fellow men.
(Teachings of the Temple Vol.1, Lesson 186 “Egoism
versus Egotism”)
Childish struggles for power as between
present-day politicians cannot come up among hierarchs.
In other States men
fight with one another about shadows only and are distracted in the struggle
for power, which in their eyes is a great good. Whereas the truth is that the
State in which the rulers are most reluctant to govern is always the best and
most quietly governed, and the State in which they are most eager, the worst.
(Plato, The Republic, Book 5, V)
Spiritual leaders serve in common the high goal
of the realization of the Divine Will on earth. They recognize without envy the
greater capacity of a co-brother. They are actually glad to be able to serve
under a greater spirit because this diminishes their own load a little bit.
They know that exercising power is a sacrifice –
the higher the position, the more. They do not push themselves into the
foreground, on the contrary, take over this burden only when they are called
upon to do so.
Contending for
precedence cannot exist in Brotherhood. A natural hierarchy flows out of
priority of knowledge and preeminence of spirit. Where it is realized that precedence
is a great sacrifice, there can be no wrangling about earthly denominations. (Brotherhood
598)
Power, blessed by the
highest knowledge and strained by the heart, is the highest sacrifice. (Helena Roerich,
Letters Vol. I, letter of 24.02.1930)
This concept reveals a wonderful picture to us.
In order to make this vision it a reality in the course of the next centuries,
we must, by strict training and education, breed such a class of sages, initiates
and hierarchs. We need rulers who are pure, wise, strong and selfless enough to
recognize the Higher Will, to let themselves be guided by it, to convey it to humanity,
and to enforce it on earth.
8. No Use of Force
Most important: A hierarchy is not built upon
coercion, neither physical nor psychological. It is based on the trust of the
so-called "ordinary people" that they fare best in an order in which truth
and justice and not the "right" of the stronger prevail. A hierarchy
is built upon the conviction of the people that the Mahatmas of the Brotherhood
and their representatives are best suited to maintain this kind of an order.
Indispensable is a
certain quality on the part of the people themselves — trust in and recognition
of the power. Therefore, in different matters I so often reiterate about
authority. (Fiery World I, 525)
The hierarchy does not impose itself on anyone,
on the contrary: It takes over only when summoned. It withdraws immediately
when it should lose the necessary confidence.
9. Ethics Councils
We cannot replace the old by a new form of
government from one day to the other.
Life is so complex! It
is impossible to bring to Earth immediately all the conditions of the higher
worlds. Our Earth and its population are not yet ready to accept higher laws
and higher conditions. Therefore, one is obliged to tolerate the present
customs and circumstances, striving at the same time to improve and ennoble
them as much as possible. (Helena Roerich, Letters Vol. I, letter of 25.03.1935)
A gradual transition could begin by recognizing
how important for ruling a people are submission to the cosmic laws and
personal qualities such as purity and wisdom.
We are not shaking the
foundations, but are trying to establish a proper worldview. (Supermundane 613)
In this knowledge, Ethics Councils formed of
spiritually high standing members of the community might be attached to the
authorities in all institutions on all levels.
For a long time, it has become clear that
neither professional specialists nor politicians are qualified to decide in
matters of ethics. Neither the masses nor the majority, but only the sages can
hope to find the right answer to the question of what is permitted to man and
what is not. There dawns the realization that mankind hurts itself when it does
what is forbidden.
*****
We urgently need wise teachers who – like
Islamic religious savants – can deliver a profound judgment (Fatwa) on the
ethical issues facing the individual and the society.
However, real sages must be appointed, not, as
in today's Ethics Councils, representatives of party interests who decide by
majority.
Can there be any
judgment concerning peace among those who are full of coarseness and cruelty?
No one is concerned with the moral level of those who sit in judgment on the
destinies of whole nations. No one will reflect that nothing clean comes out of
dirt. (Brotherhood 502)
At the beginning, the Ethics Councils would not
even have to exercise any power. They should have such a strong position, because
of the moral authority of their members, that the politicians could only with
difficulty overrule their opinion.
The Ethics Councils would be the
institutionalized conscience of the rulers. At all times, spiritual leaders
such as Plato or Gandhi have directed the destinies of whole nations without
any external means of power.
A model can in some respects be Islam. Here,
for example, special control bodies in companies make sure that business or banking
transactions are executed according to the rules of faith and that unethical
projects are abstained from (so-called "Islamic Banking").