“Those records which fill space are not contained in a manifested structure. The mind of man has so far withdrawn itself from the higher records. Man is athirst with illusions and more and more draws away from reality. From all the great laws and principles, it is possible to point out distorted crumbs which have beclouded the consciousness. What, then, has remained of all the fiery Teachings? Reason did not subordinate the Universe, but did sink into the terror of its own engendered forms.” (1)
The Teaching emphasises on several occasions that the restricted, perverse or distorted use of the mind distances humankind not only from the Principles that govern the cosmos, but also from its relationship with Heaven, which, on the contrary, it should foster as its primary function. The powerful currents of energy that flow through Space, and which shape events, are in fact rooted in the focused thought of the highest celestial Consciousnesses and find their Messengers in the Luminaries, who ceaselessly weave it ‘point by point, light by light’.
The gaze that Humanity turns towards the Heavens is still a distracted or fatalistic one, and the mind is still largely incapable of grasping the connections between past, present and future that the Luminaries trace, through their cycles, upon the mantle of the Mother of the World.
Today, for the inner Eye that gazes with love upon the celestial vault, the nuptials are celebrated—according to the heliocentric perspective—between Venus, Lord of the Golden Ratio, and Pluto, Lord of Death and Resurrection, immersed in the substantial waters of Aquarius.
The interweaving of the energy of the 5th Ray, conveyed by Venus and Aquarius, and that of the 1st Ray, powerfully radiated by Pluto, emphasises the increasingly urgent need for a new Renaissance which, drawing upon the strength of a mind ever more firmly anchored on the higher levels of the Manasic plane, will be able to provide Humanity with a clear vision of its planetary and systemic destiny.
The mind, by its very nature akin to the substance of the 5th Ray, is impelled by the energy of the 1st Ray to rise above and look beyond the narrow confines of material reality, casting aside the illusions in which it is immersed to become a clear mirror capable of reflecting the supreme Laws, and a beacon which, from its secure anchorage, observes and spaces between past, present and future: the continuous repetition of the same cycle.
The mind, in the past, remembers; it has the capacity to bring to consciousness events and experiences already lived, but also to regard the past as a precious heritage of wisdom, as an inner treasure destined to grow ever richer.
As for the future, it perceives; it has the ability to discern the trends and events that are taking shape before they manifest concretely, to grasp the signs of what is emerging.
But it is in the present that the mind plays its fundamental role, where the experiences of the past and the possibilities of the future converge. It is in this dimension of the present that the higher use of the mind develops, when it succeeds in illuminating the profound meaning of the changes taking place.
In this dimension of understanding change, the mind sees the signs of a transformation that is vaster and deeper, and which belongs to human consciousness.
Through this higher use of the mind, humankind turns its gaze to the future, enriched by the legacy of past experiences and enabled to grasp emerging energies with alacrity and clarity, anchoring them in the present. As has already been stated, the higher use of the mind draws the future into the ‘here and now’, dissolves the indeterminacy of what is not yet, and makes it concrete.
Thus, the higher use of the mind is realised through mindful living, discernment, intuitive openness and conscious participation in the evolutionary process.
A broader use of the mind enables us not only to understand better what has been, but also to intuit what is about to manifest itself.
It enables us to tap into the inner wealth of wisdom that has grown within us through experience and to intimately connect with the deepest sphere of our identity.
To this end, each individual, and Humanity as a whole, develops a mind that serves as a tool for orienting oneself towards the future, for collaborating with creative forces and for shaping the world to come.
To achieve this, it is necessary to turn the concrete mind away from the daily fluctuations to which it is subjected—sometimes unconsciously, sometimes consciously—and to focus on Reality, on the World of Causes.
Turning the ‘beacon’ of the mind upwards, towards the Master and his Light, is the first step towards dispelling illusions and confusion, as well as entering into communion with Heaven.
The importance – indeed, the necessity – of training the mind to remain constantly turned upwards, ‘steady in the Light’, lies in the fact that this inner exercise enables it to rise to the subtlest levels of mental substance, where thought becomes clearer, more receptive and more enlightening, “diverting it from practical concerns, from an interest in forms, from the tendency to look more towards the Earth than towards Heaven ”. (2)
When the mind reaches that dimension, its true chosen abode, it no longer appears separate from the heart, but recognises itself in it. The light that then manifests arises from the fiery ‘Intellect of Love’, a higher principle in which Intelligence and Love unite and harmonise in perfect synthesis: “When we advise keeping the ‘mind in the Light’, we are speaking of the heart”. (3)
And in this regard, how can we fail to recall the Teaching which states: “Absolute Reason and the Perfect Heart are one and the same Source.”! (4)
And again: “The practice of keeping ‘the mind in the light’ trains [man] for a higher function, which is not learnt in modern universities, but only in the great lecture halls of solar life. Thus one learns to think with crystal clarity, though not in an intellectual sense, which leads back to the personality and formal life; the new synthetic thought is transparent and radiant Light. ‘Keeping the mind in the Light’ is equivalent to carrying out the higher will, whilst retaining full autonomy, for that Will is Freedom”. (5)
In this stretch of the century, many long-established institutions are crumbling, whilst ideas and movements – as yet barely visible but very much present in the fabric of human society – are emerging, which may well represent the future.
The higher consciousness of humanity’s most advanced minds is beginning to perceive society as a living organism, seeking to understand which forces are losing momentum and which, on the other hand, are emerging.
Thus the higher mind rises towards loftier realms, and consciousness travels along future paths as yet unexplored by the intelligent mind.
The inner spiritual core of the human being is illuminated and speaks of Greatness, of Infinity and of Eternity.
“Right from the very opening lines of the Teaching, the overarching issue becomes clear: the Infinite exists and must be attained in consciousness. The quest is fulfilled in the heart, using thought as both a tool and a weapon. Let thoughts therefore not be limited, not restrained, not directed towards the separate self! Thought creates, and we must learn to use it, for it is interrelated with Space, which is equally alive, conscious and boundless”. (6)
The ‘higher mind’ thus arises from the ability to create an inner space free from the constant stream of concrete mental dialogue.
Only in this state can the mind become a clear mirror of the deepest realities (mental silence).
This mind employs the rigorous skill of discernment to distinguish what comes from the soul from what arises instead from emotion or egotism; hence, the distinction between authentic intuition, imagination, desire and suggestion is essential.
In this regard, we should bear in mind that the faculty of creative imagination, far from being idle daydreaming or placid self-delusion, is the key tool the mind can use to shape that energy still in the making which is the future; for through it, the mind utilises that portion of the future’s energy known as ‘tomorrow’ – a web of tendencies not yet manifest in any manifested form.
Through creative work, these energies can be channelled to outline the contours of a New Culture; it is therefore clear that “… the first ability to be developed is creative imagination. It is a faculty common to all, but latent, and must be developed ‘in the field’, through practice and inner discipline, in the midst of daily life”. (7)
Learning to shape future events with the aid of the imagination is therefore one of the primary objectives of the higher mind: “In planning for tomorrow, one normally makes use of reason. A concrete mental impulse, and there you have it: the appointment, the activity, the departure or the arrival are set. (…) Shaping the future, however, is quite a different matter. However inexperienced one may be, it is necessary to establish the ‘field’ and every characteristic of the action, but above all the purpose. It is a true psychic creation and must be carried out with conscious respect for the laws governing Life in Space. However minute it may be, it is sacred and alive. To avoid unforeseen events, it must be prepared with care; for it to be alive, it must emanate from the centre of the heart. It is the heart, and not the brain, that governs man’s creative power. (…) The mind of the heart possesses a faculty of immense value, which is lacking in mere rationality: creative imagination”. (8)
We thus return to reaffirming that ‘the heart has a mind’ and ‘the mind has a heart’; their perfect harmony at a higher level throws open the doors of the finite and grants access to the World of Ideas.
The Light of the higher mind also leads to the threshold of the Mysteries, mysteries which are accompanied by the ability to intuit—supported by will rather than desire—new Ideas that will foster a New Culture and Civilisation.
“In reality, culture and civilisation originate from and are fostered by the Mysteries, which burn in the secret place: when, as today, they are impoverished and confused, it is a sign that that flame has been smouldering beneath the ashes for some time. Then the link between Heaven and Earth weakens, and the energy that animates hearts is scarce. Then comes the hour of restoration, the fire is rekindled, culture flows and pulsates, civilisation organises social existence”. (9)
The use of creative imagination therefore enables us to build bridges between the present and the future; by visualising new possibilities in the present, we conceive of future forms and are thus able to collaborate consciously with what is emerging.
The higher mind thus becomes an instrument of synthesis and knows how to discern connections between seemingly separate facts, ideas and phenomena, within a unified vision, in order to understand their overall meaning. It moves amongst interconnected systems of energies and events.
Personal thought is thus swept up in vortices of collective thought. A ‘group consciousness’ emerges, as if multiple individuals and Humanity itself were sharing a single, broader mind.
This higher mind begins to feel like part of ever-vaster organisms: a community, a common soul, a planetary, solar, cosmic life…
Then the focus shifts from ‘what is good for me’ to ‘what is good for the common Good’.
Personal good and the common good become one, revealing their unified essence: a perfect fusion of mind and heart.
And from this higher use of the mind arises the balance between Intelligence and Love.
The mind brings the gift of clarity, precision and discernment; the heart radiates empathy, understanding and inclusiveness. When these two faculties operate in harmony, a higher form of intelligence manifests itself: Wisdom, the living synthesis of Knowledge and Love.
“A sensitive Agni Yogi knows all paths to the realization of Infinity. The spirit-knowledge reads the Book of Life, and the wisdom of ages is deposited as accumulations in the Chalice. Therefore, the law of unification is contained in the synthesis of the Chalice.” (10)
There remains, therefore, one final step to take.
The first one, throughout human history, has seen the gradual refinement of the mind, which, step by step, has been able to rise from the monotonous formalism of the concrete mind to the flashes – at first faint and intermittent – of the light of the abstract mind.
Starting from the conscious and creative use of the imagination, the ‘Mind/Heart’ was able to shape the contours of the future, broadening the spectrum of light to encompass the whole of Humanity.
A further step along the path entrusted the crisp mirror of the mind to an even greater Light, allowing the supernal Ideas to be reflected upon its surface, now clear and steadfastly oriented towards the higher planes of Being.
The final step leads the ‘Mind/Heart’, the Intellect of Love, to realise the true purpose of its existence: it does not seek knowledge to accumulate it for personal gain, but to serve in love.
The purpose of this higher Mind/Wisdom is therefore ‘service’, that is, the ability to understand, enlighten and help others.
This is probably the culminating point, when the mind is measured not by the quantity of the amassed knowledge, but by the quality of Good it is able to generate.
The Cosmic Fire is in eternal motion,
directed by Absolute Reason and the Perfect Heart.
(Infinity I § 301)
01. Agni Yoga Series, Fiery World III § 152
02. Enzio Savoini, Lecture notes of the 3rd Septennium. Keeping the mind steady in the Light, 2005, unpublished paper.
03. Ibid.
04. Agni Yoga Series, Infiniti I § 300
05. Enzio Savoini, Lecture notes of the 3rd Septennium. Keeping the mind steady in the Light, 2005, unpublished paper.
06. Enzio Savoini, Commentary to Infinity I
07. Enzio Savoini, Lecture notes of the 3rd Septennium. Creative imagination, 2002, unpublished paper.
08. Enzio Savoini, Lecture notes of the 3rd Septennium. Building the future, 2002, unpublished paper.
09. Enzio Savoini, Lecture notes of the 3rd Septennium. The Mysteries, 2001, unpublished paper.
10. Agni Yoga Series, Infinity II § 500
