Living Ethics

Agni Yoga ( for the western culture called the Living Ethics ) is a theosophical writing and is attributed to the so-called Tibetan Mahatmas (not detectable ) Brotherhood of the Masters of Wisdom. The text had been passed in the first half of the last century, the Russian Helena Roerich, which made ​​him known to the public together with her husband, the painter Nicholas Roerich.

Agni Yoga continues the lessons ( to be visited in the British Museum in London), the Masters of Wisdom in the Mahatma letters ( see Article Masters of Wisdom ) by Helena Blavatsky and their disclosures, and in the temple teaching ( see Article Temples of Humankind ) had developed.

The writing of Agni Yoga

The Agni Yoga consists of the following 15 individual volumes: leaves of the garden Morya I and II, Community Agni Yoga Infinity I and II hierarchy, heart, Fiery World I, II and III, AUM, Brotherhood I Brotherhood II Part 1 and Brotherhood II part 2.

The original documents are written in Russian. They are now completely into English and German and partly inter alia translated into Latvian, Bulgarian, French, Polish, Italian, Dutch and Spanish.

Agni Yoga groups and Roerich Societies

Agni Yoga groups and Roerich Societies exist today, especially in the successor states of the USSR, but also, inter alia, in the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, England, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece.

In Germany and its Ethical Society World coil was Agni Yoga in the 1960s and 1970s by the Austrian Leopold Brandstätter (1968 pseudonym Leobrand died ) spread.

Self and external assessment

Agni Yoga is a continuation of the teachings of Theosophy. He claimed the authority of a transmission from a higher, occult source.

Teaching

The aim of the Agni Yoga is to prepare a new and higher stage of human development.

The single most important topics are:

• Evolution: The entire nature strives to ever greater heights. On Earth, a natural development of stone, plant and animal to man is apparent. This evolution is not yet complete. Man is - like its predecessor, the monkey - only an intermediate step towards even higher life forms that already exist elsewhere in the universe; man is not the highest creature in the cosmos. Agni Yoga teaches that have the higher levels, " sons of God " as Jesus or Buddha and beyond handlebars of solar systems and universes, of course, evolved from lower ones. This is ultimately for God: There is no God, who was not even human, is a central message. The actual existence of higher beings is the scientific foundation of every religion.

• Hierarchy: There is a hierarchy of souls, ranging according to the evolutionary development of the stone to God. The higher creature brings the indwelling divine spark (spirit) to a greater extent expressed as the lower. Each stage ( including human ones ) has higher and lower species over among themselves. There is a natural communication between the stages. How on earth living creatures of different heights side by side. As the animal to his masters, the people searches, so also man seeks above by connecting with even higher beings.

• Immortality: the principle of infinity applies to the entire universe, even for humans. The immortal soul, teach the existence of many religions is the true nature of man, not of corruptible body. The man attains immortality by itself, instead of previously identified with the body, with his soul. A key message is: The man has no soul, he is a soul. Man must learn to manage an unlimited, not limited to the earth existence.

• New Man: The aim of Agni Yoga is the training of a new man, the next higher stage of evolution. This is mainly characterized by the awareness of their own immortality, through a self-image as an intellectual - soul - not a physical being. Immortality leads to sanctity and perfect freedom of action to overcome the suffering and finally joy in all circumstances: resistors, attacks and problems are opportunities, they serve the spiritual ascent; if they are overcome, the spirit emerges strengthened.

• New World: The aim of Agni Yoga is the creation of a new, better world, a higher culture. People who see themselves as souls, as eternal, spiritual beings can act in a completely selfless. They do not work for personal benefit but for the enforcement of ideals such as truth, justice, beauty and love. This can change the world. So, for example, leads the establishment of justice to overcome poverty and unemployment: The earth is rich enough; as only the required work and their products are distributed fairly, will be of both more than enough for everyone.

• Importance of awareness: Consciousness is the actual reality. That which exists is for humans only if real, as it is aware. There is much more (higher, spiritual worlds, higher beings with influence on the material plane ), as today people realize. Every change begins in the head, in the minds of men. A higher, further awareness, in particular the knowledge of immortality and the laws of the cosmos, are a prerequisite for a better life on earth.

• Rebirth: The immortal soul is an infinite path through different worlds, times, cultures and levels of existence. She also returns to the earth ( reincarnation ) until she has learned what to learn on this planet. After that, it continues its way into higher worlds.

• Cause, effect and responsibility - Karma: The free will of the people requires that is taken over responsibility for thoughts, words and deeds. Freedom and responsibility are inseparable. There is no salvation from sin; the man himself has to purify himself and make amends Dished wrong.

• Association of Science and Religion: Spiritual knowledge goes beyond the intellectual. You may not contradict the laws of reason but. An exploration of the supernatural, otherworldly world - the home of the soul - is possible at a scientific way through observation and experience. However, should be applied through the methods of classical natural sciences also feeling knowledge and heart knowledge. The connection with higher realms in meditation is completely natural and therefore scientifically; it leads to detectable influx of comfort, strength, joy and knowledge. The real connection with the more sensitive human beings of higher levels of evolution is the scientific foundation of every religion.

Discussion

Russian Orthodox Church and the teaching of Living Ethics

The position of the Russian Orthodox Church against the doctrine of " Living Ethics " was formulated during the Council of Bishops on 2 December 1994.

" Paganism and astrology have come up again, and the theosophical and spiritualist societies, which had been founded by Helen Blavatsky and raise the claim to have a certain hidden from the uninitiated " ancient wisdom ". Propagated Strong is also "the teaching of Living Ethics ," circulated by the Roerich's family and also known as " Agni Yoga ". [ ... ] According to the privy council of bishops of the apostolic tradition testifies that all sects and new religious movements above with Christianity are incompatible. People who share the teachings of these sects and movements, and in particular contribute to its dissemination, have excommunicated by the Orthodox Church. "