A COMPILATION ON IMPERIL- THE PERIL ON THE PATH
YVONNE WENIGER QU1
INTRODUCTION
I first read the word “imperil” about 10 years ago. An esoteric teacher I was studying with suggested I read Master Morya for “a different flavor” than the Bailey Books. So I started reading the Agni Yoga books as a daily reader, a few pages a day. It took me a few years to get through them but the word imperil kept popping up and its etiology, prevention and treatment. Then at the 7 Ray Convention I noticed that Torkom Saraydarian had written a book on imperil called “Irritation- the Destructive Force”. It called to me because I have problems with irritation and its offspring- imperil. I thought I could help myself by researching and writing this paper and hopefully help others who have the same problem dealing with irritation. I knew that when I got annoyed I got irritated and it started a cascade of harmful thoughts, sometimes progressing to harmful words and sometimes harmful actions. One of the things we learn in meditation is to “think an opposite thought”. Perhaps I could transmute my thought in the mental phase. But what to do if the irritation got away from me and proceeded to harmfulness in words or actions that was producing this black tarry poison (imperil) that was clogging all my personality bodies and making me sick? First off, I had to find out what “irritation” is. So, when I understand what the enemy is, then I need to know how to prevent it and if I lose that battle- how to transmute it. I was surprised to find Torkom listing 16 causes of irritation in his book. They all seem to be about self centeredness and lack of acceptance of a person, place, thing or situation that I had no control over (basically, not getting my own way). Since Irritation is the precipitating factor in Imperil it will be necessary to understand what “Irritation” is, what causes it and how to prevent it. In modern terms this is called “Preventive Medicine”. If it is not prevented then we must deal with the product- Imperil. So I hope this paper is as informative and thought provoking for you as it has been for me. The Bailey books usually refer to this disease as Irritation but the Agni Yoga books call it imperil- the end product of irritation. This paper is a compilation of all the information I could find on imperil from the Agni Yoga books and the Alice Baily books interspaced with my thoughts and opinions.
OUTLINE
SECTION I- IRRITATION - WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES a. Definitions
b. Causes of Irritation
c. Effects of Irritation
d. Dangers of Irritation
SECTION II- IMPERIL - WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES
a. Definitions
b. Effects and Results of Imperil
c. Cures for Imperil
d. Things to Avoid
e. Danger of Imperil
SECTION III- PROTECTION FROM IRRITATION AND IMPERIL
a. Aids to Protect Ourselves from Irritation and Imperil b. Experiments
c. Conclusion
REFERENCES AND ABBREVIATIONS
AGNI YOGA BOOKS
Agni Yoga (AY)
Hierarchy (Hier)
Heart (Heart)
Aum (Aum)
Brotherhood (BR)
Fiery World I (FW I)
Fiery World II (FW II)
Fiery World III (FW III)
Letters of Helena Roerich, Vol I (LHR I)
ALICE BAILEY BOOKS
Glamour, a World Problem (GAWP)
Esoteric Healing (EH)
Discipleship in the New Age, Vol I (DINA I)
Discipleship in the New Age, Vol II (DINA II)
Rays and Initiations (RI)
Externalization of the Hierarchy (ExH)
A Treatise on White Magic (TWM)
Initiation, Human and Solar (IHS)
Esoteric Psychology, Vol I (EP I)
TORKOM SARAYDARIN BOOK
Irritation – the Destructive Fire (TS)
ESOTERIC HEALING by Alan Hopking (EH-AH)
SECTION I- IRRITATION- WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES
a. Definitions:
“Irritation is a state in which you let your nervous system respond to incoming unpleasant or destructive influences, energies or impressions.” (TS p22)
“Irritation is the automatic resistance of our nervous system, or etheric, astral, and mental bodies to incoming impression, either positive or negative. When such harmful impressions hit these mechanisms, they emanate a vaporous element which creates a sphere of protection around them- similar to what white blood cells do to intruders. When the harmful impressions continue to bombard beyond the limits of the energy resources of these mechanisms, they yield and feel tired, and the vaporous emanations burn and turn into nerve ashes, into sediments. This is what imperil is.” (TS p23)
This describes irritation as harmful impressions that bombard our personality bodies. When they are too much or too many to handle that’s when these sediments, imperil, are formed.
“Tension is the accumulation of energy to perform a labor or to achieve a higher frequency. Irritation is the process of disconnecting the aligned and integrated system. Tension is a gearing process. Irritation is the failure of the gear and the creation of friction. One can achieve through tension but fail through irritation.” (TS p49)
In Esoteric Healing, pg 67, it is defined a little differently:
Diseases of Worry and Irritation
“The third category of complaints which arise in the emotional or astral body is synthesized esoterically under the term: diseases of IRRITATION. These are the insidious poisons which lurk behind the phenomena of disease. It might be said that all disease can be covered by two definitions, from the standpoint of occultism:
1. Diseases which are the result of auto-intoxication. These are the most general. 2. Diseases which are the result of irritation. These are very common amongst disciples.
We hear much today about auto-intoxication, and many efforts are made to cure this by diet and the regulation of the life in terms of rhythmic living. All this is good and of help, but it does not constitute a basic cure, as its protagonists would lead us to believe. Irritation is a basic psychological complaint and has its roots in the intensification of the astral body, which definitely produces abnormal effects upon the nervous system. It is a disease of self-interest, of self-sufficiency, and of self-satisfaction.
Again I would say, ponder on these terms, for these three aspects of irritation are of general discovery. We will therefore deal with irritation, ‘IMPERIL,’ as it is called by exponents of the first ray, such as the Master M.”
“Irritation . . . disease of self-interest, self-sufficiency and self-satisfaction.” (EH 67) b. Causes of Irritation
Torkyom Saraydarian lists 16 causes of irritation in his book (TSp7-11). I think it’s important to be aware of them in order to eliminate them where possible, and to minimize them when you can. With the exception of noise, all of them would be addressed on the Path of Purification of the disciple. Harmfulness to oneself or others seems to be the common denominator. Esoteric Healing (pg 69-70) gives further insight into the causes of irritation. We are all connected, perhaps 10 times more than when this was written by Bailey. Today, we instantly know what is happening all over the world via the internet and television. We are told in esoteric science that the etheric web connects everything and everyone. John Donne expressed this in the poem “No Man Is An Island” which is more appropriate today than ever before.
1. “AGITATION OF THE ASTRAL BODY.” Watching or reading about disasters, crimes or subjects which cause you to be worried, fearful, and depressed. Also, intensive anger of one near you or verbal attacks.
2. “STRESS OF TEMPER” -When you don’t reach your desires or people don’t do what you want. If they do not do what you want, you lose your temper and create abundant imperil in your system.
3. “HATRED, DISLIKE, CONTINUOUS REJECTION OF A PERSON, GROUP OR IDEA produce irritation and imperil. They create agitation in your astral nature by the injection of negative ideas and negative feelings. Hatred continually obscures your vision and short-circuits your vital energy system. Dislikes and rejections increase the poison of irritation to such a degree that the person loses all his magnetism on the three levels of personality and turns into an instrument of attack or isolation. Prejudice creates certain patterns of mental and emotional substance which cause irritation when confronted with expanding horizons or with new concepts.”
“One cannot free oneself from irritation without uprooting prejudice” (AY p382)
4. “THOSE WHO THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM, THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS DECEIVED BY PEOPLE, OR EXPLOITED BY THEM. This creates irritation in their system with the resultant imperil. People with such a psychology try to take revenge on those whom they think are taking advantage of them. Actions resulting from such a cause create further sources of irritation and imperil.”
5. “THOSE WHO ALWAYS WANT TO SEE THINGS DONE IN THEIR OWN WAY CANNOT ESCAPE IRRITATION WHEN THINGS ARE DONE SOME OTHER WAY. Such people do not respect the freedom of others to do things in their own way. They are so attached to their own thoughtforms, to their habits and ways of activities that the slightest deviation by others from their own ways causes them feelings of loss and pain. “
6. “THOUGHTS OF REVENGE AND PLANS OF DESTRUCTION. These are a continuous source of irritation. Generations of people are poisoned by such a course of life. Their joy and happiness are taken away from them, and they are not able to adapt themselves to the requirements of the present situations of life. The past controls them in the present, and the present cannot see the future clearly because of the involvement in the past, and because of the feeling of revenge and expected reaction to their actions. “
7. “COMPLAINING CREATES IMPERIL. COMPLAINING IS EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL FRICTION. Complaining is emotional and mental friction. It takes away the magnetism of man and fills his nature with imperil. Watch people who always complain. They develop various disorders and eventually are caught in serious health problems. A Joyous and happy heart does not allow the formation of imperil. “
8. “SELF INTEREST, SELF SUFFICIENCY, AND SELF SATISFACTION ARE THE MOST WIDESPEAD DISEASES ON OUR PLANET AND ARE THE SOURCES OF ABUNDANT IRRITATION”………”Once the personality is charged with negativity, it creates frictions with the radiations of the higher natures, and the result is irritation.”
9. “CRITICISM AND GOSSIP- These are very common ways to produce irritation in oneself and others. Criticism agitates the emotional body, while gossip charges the astral body with negative polarizations, creating irritation and imperil. One can observe easily how one feels weaker physically and mentally after a period of criticism or gossip. Actually, imperil is one of the greatest consumers of psychic energy; it almost devours it completely and depletes the whole human mechanism. “
10. “INGRATITUDE creates irritation. It is also a sign of being attacked by imperil. This is why sages warned us to stay away from ungrateful people because their poison may reach us and contaminate our aura.”
11. “A DEMANDING, FORCING, INTOLERANT SPIRIT will pay a very high price to gain health. A demand is an outgoing force which, when unfulfilled, bounces back and hits the originating source. Forcefulness is imposition of one’s own will on others. The clash causes irritation, especially when one fails to subdue others. Intolerance is a steady exercise of pressure of your will on others to stop the way they live, the way they feel, the way they think, and the way they worship. Intolerance always creates strong resistance, and causes heavy taxation through irritation. “
12. “AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX is another source of irritation. A person identifies with his failures and shortcomings and assumes others have what he lacks. He becomes rejective, critical, and tries to escape from people so as not to feel his inferiority or to recognize their superiority. This eventually leads him into irritation.”
13. “IMPATIENCE AND HURRY - this causes more sickness in the world than one can imagine. In Impatience, our aura stretches itself out and takes on a distorted form. Thus, the emotional body is agitated, causing irritation. Hurry puts great pressures on the astral and etheric bodies and on the nervous system, irritating them violently and producing imperil.”
14. “CONSCIOUS DISTORTION OF FACTS- creates great tension in the astral and etheric bodies. You are breaking the natural harmony of your energy system in your mental and emotional bodies.
This creates a pressure which slowly grows, becomes fear and doubt, and then changes into irritation.”
15. “INTENSIFICATION OF THE ASTRAL BODY- caused by: Hatha Yoga exercises, breathing exercises, chanting mantrams, doing Tai Chi, and curiously enough, excessive sexual activity. Some hallucinogenic drugs cause intensification. Disco music, rock music, acid music and the like. They produce heavy imperil. Accompanied by dancing, they almost paralyze the mental system and lead a person into moral and physical depletion.”
16. “NOISE is another heavy factor causing irritation. Noise from airplanes, mechanical noise or any noise which strains the nerves and irritates them produces an abundance of imperil. Noise has a disintegrative effect on the mind. Irritation emanates from our physical body as waves of distorted force, smell, odor and perspiration. It is known that among people who are living in noisy areas are found the most psychological problems, crimes, divorces and suicides. Noise can be audible or inaudible. Audible noise is chaotic sound, sound which does not carry meaning, plan or purpose. Inaudible noise comes from ugly forms, inharmonious colors, radio waves, and electromagnetic storms. Curiously enough, inaudible noises are generated also from the chaotic thinking of people. “
“Noise, in both forms, penetrates not only into our ears, but also into our subtle bodies and creates heavy disturbances which manifest as mental emotional and etheric diseases, and physical illnesses.” (TS p11)
Esoteric Healing Pg. 69-70, lists reasons why worry and irritation are such a big problem at this time.
“I want briefly to touch upon the most common of all causes of trouble: Worry and Irritation. They are more prevalent at this time than ever before, and for the following reasons: (EH p69-70)
1. The world situation is such, the problems and uncertainty are such, that scarcely a person in the world at this time is exempt. Everyone is more or less involved in the planetary situation.
2. The intercommunication between people has increased so much, and men live so much in massed groups large or small- that it is inevitable that they produce an effect upon each other as never before. “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” is a statement of truth, ancient but new in application and today realized for the first time. (There is a saying, “if mother is unhappy, everyone is unhappy.”)
3. The increased sensitivity of the human mechanism is also such that men “tune in” on each other’s emotional conditions and mental attitudes in a new and more potent manner. To their own engrossing concerns and worries are added those of the fellowmen with whom they may be en rapport.
4. Telepathically, and also with a developed sense of prevision, men are today adding the difficulties that belong to someone else, or to some other group of thinkers and of people to the difficulties that may be. It is not sure that they will be.
These problems will demonstrate to you how intensely difficult it is for men to face up to life. It will be obvious that the problems of worry and irritation (called by the Master Morya ‘IMPERIL’) are many and must be considered.”
c. Effects of Irritation
The following paragraphs outline the untoward effects of anger and irritation on the astral, etheric and physical bodies, and how important the solar plexus center is in diseases below the diaphragm. Also emphasized is how these emotions open the door to what the Masters call “the dark ones”, and the need for daily cleansing of our personality vehicles to eliminate these entities.
“Irritation disturbs the astral body. Given these basic facts, it can be seen how wrong emotional attitudes and a general unhealthy condition of the astral body must be potent factors in producing discomfort and disease. This is due to the fact that the vital or etheric bodies of the masses of humanity are governed primarily and swept into activity through the action of the astral body. Agitation in that body, any violent activity under stress of temper, intense worry or prolonged irritation will pour a stream of astral energy into and through the solar plexus center, and will galvanize that center into a condition of intense disturbance. This next affects the stomach, the pancreas, the duct and bladder. Few people (and I might well ask who is exempt at this particular time in the world’s history) are free from indigestion, from undesirable gastric conditions, or from trouble connected with the gall bladder. “(EH p38)
“Irritation full of imperil opens the entrance for the dark ones. Where there is irritation various newcomers set themselves to profit by it and increase the action of the poison”. (Heart p93)
“As irritation continues, imperil increases day after day, gradually tearing away etheric webs and penetrating into higher bodies. It is through such cracks that the dark ones settle themselves within the aura of a human being and help to increase the destructive effect of the poison. “ (TS p21)
“In anger and irritation man considers himself strong- but regarded from the subtle world, the irritated man is especially powerless. He attracts to himself a great number of small entities which feed on the emanations of anger. Besides, he lets down his own bars and allows even the lower beings to read his thoughts. Therefore, the state of irritation is inadmissible not only as a producer of imperil but also as a gateway for lower entities. “(Aum p331)
“Irritation makes a person take wrong actions and make wrong decisions. It creates wrong imagination, resulting in negative emotions and unintelligent action. Irritation is the prime cause of depression. In depression the nervous system is saturated with imperil. Depressions of various kinds are due to the accumulation of imperil on various planes. There is physical, emotional, as well as mental depression. On each plane, imperil retards the function of the centers and cuts the flow of energy which creates actions in the vehicle in which the centers are found.” (TS
d. Dangers of Irritation
This next section emphasizes how fear, worry and irritation are a planetary epidemic and how they lower man’s resistance to disease. When I’m consumed with these negative emotions, I’m focused only on my own complaints and I can’t think clearly and don’t see the total picture.
“These problems will demonstrate to you how intensely difficult it is for men to face up to life. It will be obvious that the problems of worry and irritation (called by the Master Morya “IMPERIL”) are many and must be considered. Why are these difficulties of the astral body so “perilous” and so serious? Worry and Irritation are dangerous because: (EH p70)
1. They lower the vitality of the man to such a point that he becomes susceptible to disease. The scourge of influenza has its roots in fear and worry, and once the world settles down to freedom from the present ‘fearful’ condition, we shall see the disease die out.
2. They are so highly infectious from the astral point of view that they lower in a peculiar manner the astral atmosphere, and thus make it hard for people- in the astral sense- to breathe freely.
3. Because the astral conditions of fear, worry and irritation are so widespread today that they might be regarded as epidemic, in a planetary sense.
4. Because irritation (I speak not here of worry) is inflammatory in its effects- and inflammation is hard to bear- and leads to much difficulty. It is interesting to note that certain forms of eye trouble are caused by this.
5. Because worry and irritation prevent true vision. They shut out the view. The man who is the victim of these conditions sees nothing but the cause of his complaints and is so submerged through self-pity, self-consideration, or in a focused negative condition, that his vision is narrowed and his group hindered. Remember that there is group selfishness as well as individual selfishness.” (EH p70)
SOME ADDITIONAL RESULTS OF IRRITATION FROM THE MASTERS
“Irritation can affect the bloodstream. Where hatreds and deep dislike are present in the consciousness, or where the man lives in a constant state of irritation against a person or a group or again when the sense of being abused is present, there is a real possibility that the blood stream will be affected: the man then will be susceptible to constant infections, to boils, to running sores and to the various blood conditions which are definitely septic in nature.” (EH p561)
“Irritation . . . was the result of the ceaseless conflict between aspiring soul
nature and his inert and essentially selfish personality. (DINA II p32)
“Since my last communication to you, certain changes have taken place in the personnel of the group. L.U.T. has been dropped (temporarily and for this particular incarnation) out of the group, and therefore out of my Ashram. The constant condition of irritation in which he lived was the result of the ceaseless conflict between his aspiring soul nature and his inert and essentially selfish personality.” (DINA II, p32)
“For the last time I shall speak of Irritation- discern its harm- not only personal, but also for space. This worm, concealed by a smile and politeness, ceaselessly tunnels through the aura. . Its harm creeps beneath all works. For the sake of creation, stand firm against irritation. When, as a bloody clot, it closes the ear, can a man hear? When the eye is clouded, can a man see? When the curtain falls on the consciousness, where then is achievement?” (AY p369)
“All capacity to misunderstand, to express irritation and criticize must vanish in an initiate. According to the ability of the group, as a whole, to function under the impetus of the spiritual instinct will be the success of the Master to carry out His plans through the medium of the group. Under divine law, He may not work alone; He cannot work alone. He can inspire, teach, ask for cooperation and give guidance as to the needed work. Beyond that, no Master may go. In this world cycle, the work of the Hierarchy is conditioned by the disciples, and they can well understand, therefore, why the last fetter cast off by a Master is irritation! No initiate can form a true Ashram until all capacity to misunderstand, to express irritation and to criticize has vanished.” (DINA I p698)
“Conceit and self-pity intensify the irritation and then the poison
will be precipitated on the centers.” (TS p13)
As mentioned in the above quote a Master must work through a group, (Aquarian influence) He can’t work alone. All initiates in the group must heed the words “the capacity to misunderstand, express irritation and criticize must vanish”. I like the idea that the Master needs us and it reinforces the idea of group work. This has been applied to Esoteric Healing when we do the webinars every month as a group. It’s so powerful!
“I have said that initiation is in reality a great experiment with energy. The life of the occult student is consciously lived in the world of energies. Those energies have always been present, for the whole of existence is all the kingdoms of nature is manifested energy, but men are not aware of this. They are not conscious, for instance, when they succumb to irritation and find themselves voicing that irritation in loud words or in angry thoughts, that they are taking astral energy and using it. The use of this energy admits them with ease to a level of astral living which is not suitable for them: continual use of this energy brings about what the Master Morya has called ‘habits of residence which imperil the resident.’ It is when the aspirant recognizes that he himself is composed of energy units- held in coherent expression by a still stronger energy, that of integration- that he begins consciously to work in a world of forces similarly composed; he then begins to use energy of a certain kind, and selectively, and takes one of the initial steps towards becoming a true occultist.” (RI p549)
These last two quotes I find inspirational and I think it is referring to learning how to use “White Magic” to co-create. The rules of co-creating are in the book “A Treatise on White Magic”.
SECTION II – IMPERIL - WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES
a. Definitions
“The physical body has its nervous system. There is a corresponding system in the etheric, astral, and mental bodies and also there is a communication system-analogous to the nervous system- within the physical and subtle bodies. This nervous system, or the system of etheric nadis (etheric nerve channels)
and subtle corresponding mechanisms in the astral and mental planes can be the target, individually or as a whole of IMPERIL. Whenever IMPERIL comes into being it spreads slowly to higher or lower mechanisms.“ (TS p28)
Torkom goes on to say:
“IMPERIL creates four dangerous conditions: (TS p28)
1. “Blockage of life electricity on the network of the mechanism
2. “Malfunctioning of centers and glands found in the mental, astral, etheric and physical bodies 3. “Overgrowth of cells to acquire energy
4. “Starvation of the cells and degeneration of the body”
“On the astral plane, imperil creates whirlpools of forces or crackings which concentrate force in certain parts of the astral body, or make fiery energy of intuition flow into the astral body and damage certain centers; or open the gates for astral entities to occupy the astral body of man. Whirlpools manifest on the physical plane as various kinds of tumors. Cracks create imbalance, spacing and emotional turbulences often creating insomnia and nervous breakdowns. On the mental plane, imperil creates turbulences which can be symbolized by the words: insanity, negativity, urge for crime, depression, suicidal drives, separatism.” (TS p29)
“We are told that imperil accumulates in the walls of the nerve channels and slowly spreads throughout the entire organism. Astral currents, while passing through the nerve channels which are full of imperil, decompose and leave decomposed astral substance in these channels.“ (TS p12)
“Imperil is self-destructive and those who produce this poison eventually will be defeated by the poison. Imperil is like acid which burns its container. Many groups and many nations who produce imperil vanished forever. But Agni will increase and the owners of Agni will flourish.” (TS p51)
b. Effects and Results of Imperil
Imperil, the poison generated from irritability, can affect all our personality vehicles. It’s deposited in the nerve channels and from there spreads through the entire organism. Master M. stresses how contagious imperil is and how poisoning by thoughts is more harmful than narcotics. This shows the necessity of practicing harmlessness in thought, word and deed. This section explains how it affects psychic experiments and telepathy and goes with us when we die unless we’ve cleansed ourselves of it beforehand. Imperil acts like a thick cloud covering humanity and the forces of Hierarchy can’t reach us.
“The spiritual entity within the human frame cannot radiate its beauty, love and light when the networks of communication are blocked by imperil”. (TS p29)
“The result of irritation is the production of a poison which is called imperil by Master Morya. Imperil is a spreading poison which slowly descends upon our nervous system as we burn our etheric and astral bodies through irritation. Imperil cuts off the channels of electricity which flow through the network of our nervous system. This poison continuously spreads when it is fed. Once the electrical system of the body is blocked in various places and the electricity is hampered or cut, serious physical and psychological problems spread their roots into our nature. Imperil can spread itself or come into existence in any of the vehicles of the personality, eventually manifesting as psychological and physical diseases. The poison most often accumulates around the area of the solar plexus, and causes
complications and troubles in the digestive system. Then it spreads to the whole nervous system and contaminates the aura of the person.” (TS p29)
“I would also like, at this point, to touch upon a factor of real importance in this work and to repeat my earlier warning: Will you remember that the effort to free yourselves from irritation or from what is called in Agni Yoga ‘imperil’ (a peculiar yet satisfying word, my brothers) is particularly essential for this group? Irritation is exceedingly prevalent these days of nervous tension and it most definitely imperils progress and retards the steps of the disciple upon the Way. It can produce dangerous group tension if present in any of you, and this induced group tension can interfere with the free play of the power and light which you are supposed to use, even when the other group members remain unconscious of the emanating source. Irritation definitely generates a poison which locates itself in the region of the stomach and of the solar plexus. Irritation is a disease if I might use that word, of the solar plexus centre and it is definitely contagious to an almost alarming extent. So, my brothers, watch yourselves with care and remember that just in so far as you can live in the head and in the heart, you will end the disease of imperil and aid in the transference of the forces of the solar plexus into the heart centre.” (GAWP p 151- 152)
“The accumulation of imperil has been shown to you. It is precisely that poison which causes much trouble to people. Do not forget that meeting with even the grossest ignorance is not worth provoking one drop of imperil. Indeed, imperil does not remain only within: it evaporates and permeates space.” (AY p221)
“One circumstance can be dangerous and harmful- irritation full of imperil opens the entrance for the dark ones. Where there is irritation various newcomers set themselves to profit by it and increase the action of the poison. How much of the texture is torn, how many tests and experiments are impeded, to the joy of the malevolent ones. Advise to accept this not as a fairy tale but as a dangerous reality. The source of good and evil does not disappear.” (Heart p93)
“Imperil corrodes the most significant reflexes of energy. An irritable person can be called a shell in the full meaning of the word. The most significant results are obscured by one crystal of imperil. Imperil should not be regarded as a houseplant, its odor is wide spreading and blights all currents.” (Heart p465)
“When pepper dust is in the air, all begin to sneeze. Thus can imperil be spread. Thus it is necessary once and for all to understand about the infection of imperil. This process is transmitted like leprosy.” (FW I p161)
“The perversion of human understanding has gone so far that a man infected with the imperil of irritation or malice is sometimes called a fiery being. It should be explained that the inflammation of imperil in no way corresponds to purified Agni.” (FW I, p538)
“Master Morya says Imperil corrodes the most significant reflexes of the energy. Thus many psychic experiments fail because of irritation and imperil.” (TS p45)
“Imperil not only prevents radioactivity of the Inner Self through real creative work and livingness, but also prevents or distorts the energy flow of ‘White Forces’. When humanity is overcast by layers of imperil, the forces of the Hierarchy and the forces of the Stronghold cannot create the conditions for conscious response from humanity. This is how many races were degenerated on the path of human history.” (TS p46)
“Of course, imperil is the main destroyer of psychic energy. But one should not forget three other violators: fear, doubt, and self-pity.” (AY p389)
“People do not wish to consider that they can harm at a distance by their thoughts. Thus people avoid that in which they are most often guilty. One does not have to be a giant of thought in order to harm. Even a mediocre thought poisoned by the crystal of imperil will be very effective. Verily, poisoning by thoughts is even more harmful than narcotics. “(Hier p125)
“The speed of thought transmission at a distance is incredible. But conditions exist which retard even this lightening-speed energy, namely an atmosphere poisoned by imperil. One can see how evil thought engenders imperil, a physical substance; the same substance is also involved in psychic transmission and can even retard the speedy reception of the sending. Pay attention to the fact that imperil is born of egoism, but that it acts beyond self upon broad masses. This means that egoism is criminal not only as regard the egoist himself but also in relation to people at large.” (Aum p295)
“Many physical diseases break out as a result of the infiltration of imperil- just as if a firebrand had worked its way in. Nothing can vindicate the self-generation of poison, it is the equivalent of murder and suicide. Even the most undeveloped people sense the approach of such a poison- bearer. Distress, anxiety, and fear enter with him.” (Aum p294)
“If imperil reaches a certain stage of density, it not only brings great harm to the physical and subtle mechanisms of man, but it destroys the formations of the standards and makes him feel really poor, miserable and vacant. This is the reason for some mysterious changes that people sometimes witness in others who suddenly renounce their principles and follow the path of their lower urges and drives.” (TS p25)
“Indeed, it is not necessary to call forth irritation, because men are filled to the brim with it. It is only necessary to lock six bipeds in a room and within an hour the door will be shaking from Imperil” (Hier p423)
“It has been observed that the absorption of vitamins while one is irritated may increase imperil, since a “Conscious consumption of vitamins manifoldly increases their usefulness. Likewise, it can be unconscious energy is strengthened at a point where consciousness is gathered.” (Hier p236)
“Detested labor is not only a misery for the unsuccessful worker but it poisons the whole surrounding atmosphere. Moreover, imperil born of irritation redoubles gloomy thoughts, with effects fatal to creativeness” (BR p92)
“The neophytes of the Brotherhood are tested upon fear. Very few will think, what is there to be afraid of since the Brotherhood stands behind us? Precisely such a premise liberates one from fear and brings to light a free beneficial decision. But most often, before thinking about the Brotherhood, a man will promptly get distressed, irritated, and filled with imperil. A plea from one filled with poison will not be useful.” (BR p580)
“Irritation and its offspring, imperil, combine easily with the poison of space, which is called aeroperil. The rays of the sun are driving the poisonous gases into the layers closest to the planet. Cold considerably minimized the action of the gases.” (AY p2)
“Imperil not only brings disaster to our organism, but it permeates space, for the purity of which we all are responsible.” (AY p221)
Highly charged spiritual thoughts can purify space. This is what we can do to counteract negative thought and imperil. So every time we say a prayer or do a meditation we are purifying space. Particularly something worldwide like “The Triangles Meditation” where we visualize the Earth as a sacred planet and humanity redeemed.
“If the precipitates of space upon cities were to be investigated, something similar to imperil would be found among the poisonous substances. Carefully observing this poison, one comes to the conviction that it is imperil exhaled by the breath of evil. The imperil exhaled by irritated people is identical with filth, or shameful refuse. It is imperative to impress people’s consciousness with the fact that each bit of filth infects those around. The filth of moral dissolution is worse than any excretions.” (AUM p293)
“Sources which are responsive to subtle energies are very sensitive. An organism filled with imperil will admit only a small particle of the sending. An organism which is saturated with selfhood will impart dreadful coloration which distorts the sending. An organism imbued with malevolence will carry the distorted sending to a neighbor.” (FW III, p9)
“It must be understood that imperil and gross earthly desires produce their ugly ulcers, which the spirit must heal in the subtle body. Ulcers of the spirit are carried over into the subtle world if they are not gotten rid of on the Earth. Liberation from the physical vehicle does not mean deliverance from spiritual ulcers.” (FW III, p10)
“On the path to the Fiery World one should become affirmed in one’s consciousness upon the ruinous effect of selfhood, which causes irritation by manifesting actual poisoning with imperil.” (FW III, p159)
c. Cures for Imperil:
Water absorbs imperil and daily baths would be excellent to cleanse oneself of any accumulated imperil. We are told the importance of lofty, exalted thoughts in clearing our mental and emotional bodies. Master Morya says each exalted thought creates a beneficial substance that cancels imperil. Negative surroundings and attitudes cancel the beneficial effect of so many things such as vitamins. Telepathy won’t work very well if the sender isn’t free of imperil.
“WATER does not transmit imperil, although it absorbs it. Lakes, seas, oceans and rivers break collective transmission of imperil. Islands are ideal for advanced spiritual work. Bliss can be transmitted by water. If the pool of water is charged with Bliss, whoever enters in shares the Bliss. Baptismal water and Bliss energy work away accumulated imperil from the physical and astral plane. The shock of enlightenment cleanses imperil from the mental plane.” (TS p15)
“If you know that an exalted, self-denying thought physically changes one’s aura and even induces rays from the shoulders, then you already know one of the great mysteries of the world. Thus, if irritation generates imperil, then each exalted thought must create an opposite beneficial substance. And so it is. Certainly Bliss is a complete reality. It is generated in the cortical system and reacts upon the brain matter. The manifestation of imperil is much easier to approach, in the nerve channels of the extremities. First, we shall give attention to establishing the fact of imperil. Afterward, we shall define the ways of the manifestation of Bliss.” (Hier p422)
d. Things to Avoid
Torkom has a list of things to avoid (pages 13- 20 ) in his book. I’ve tried to highlight and paraphrase them and made my own brief comments after them.
• “People of continuous irritation must be avoided. They contaminate not only space, but can contaminate the place where you live, the place where you sleep, or the place where you work.”
I find it uncomfortable to be around someone who is always negative and sarcastic. I must get away to breathe.
• “It makes a difference who cooks and who serves your food. Food can be contaminated with imperil if the person is full of irritation. “
Now I see why people bless their food before they eat. It’s doing an exorcism.
• “Imperil is transmitted through touch. Imperil is transmitted most directly through intercourse or kissing on the mouth. Shoes, socks, towels, pens, books transmit imperil- our libraries are full of it. “
If I buy anything used I make sure I cleanse it with energy and light and prayers. • “Courtrooms and prisons emanate heavy strata of imperil.” (TS p15)
• “Refrain from quarrels, fights and relationships which cause irritation.” Torkom adds a quote from Master Morya “One does not have to be a giant of thought in order to harm. Even a mediocre thought poisoned by the crystal of imperil will be very effective” (Hier p125)
• “Thoughts carry imperil. Do not attract negative thoughts of people polluted with imperil. Every time we are irritated and direct our negative thoughts to others, we literally send them poison or imperil through our thoughts. Positively charged thoughts, thoughts which carry great ideas, visions and revelations can eliminate part or all of the poison from our system. This is why meditation is, in itself, a healing process which also charges space with beauty.”
• “Stay away from people whose mental body is polluted with imperil. Irritation and imperil activate germs. One is not susceptible to germs until his aura is weakened by irritation and imperil.”
• “Do not eat or communicate with people when the flames of irritation are already consuming our aura. The ancients warned us not to eat when angry or irritated because the food we eat will turn into poison through irritation and imperil and cause greater trouble in our systems.”
I’ve noticed that when I’m sad or upset someone always says “eat something” –you’ll feel better- you know what- I don’t. And when I’m angry the food is tasteless.
• “Astral Forces and dark ones from the mental plane can penetrate peoples aura and even poison them if their astral and mental bodies are contaminated with imperil. Many mediums, automatic writers, and lower psychics are the dwelling places of such dark entities.”
• “After obsession the gates remain open to visitors for a long time. Very intense observation is needed to protect the one who has admitted an obsessor through irritation, which opens wide the door. The heart is the best protection against obsession, but one must watch that the heart should not fall asleep” (Heart p169)
• These are the dangers of lower psychism that we are constantly warned about in the esoteric books. This reinforces that knowledge.
e. Danger of Imperil
The following very important paragraph points out that world affairs and conditions have to be based upon the demand and point in evolution of the mass of humanity. I have to remember this when I think the hierarchy should step in and ‘fix things’ in the world situation. This demand can be aided by the
attitude and teaching of disciples everywhere who are vocal and of humanitarian instinct. So this is our part in the big picture in helping to solve the worlds’ problems.
“The danger of ‘Imperil’ as the Master Morya has called it is somewhat erroneously interpreted as irritation by the neophyte, but it is not in fact irritation in the ordinary connotation of the word. The surface ripples of ordinary irritation and the evanescent angers to which all disciples are prone are relatively of small importance. They pass and, in the sum total of the soul’s attitudes to the personality, evoke no response or registration whatsoever. What is referred to is the reaction of the disciple to world evil. This produces uncertainty as to the future, annoyance at what is being done throughout the planet by non-disciples, criticism of national and international planning and a general atmosphere of unhappiness, plus a sense of superior knowledge. All this is expressed in a negative, unconstructive manner. To this many disciples are today prone; they need to realize that world affairs are not and cannot be molded or determined by any hierarchical knowledge in the possession of the disciple. World affairs and conditions have necessarily to be based upon the demand and the point in evolution of the mass of humanity, working through their representatives, chosen or imposed, in every country. This demand can be and is affected, modified and spiritualized by the attitude and the teaching of disciples everywhere who are vocal and of humanitarian instinct. If, however, the will and knowledge of disciples in all nations were to condition world affairs and control entirely the political, economic and social life of the people, it would produce a far more serious cleavage than now exists, for instance between the rich and the poor, or between the classes and the castes. It would produce a pronounced line of demarcation between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of men. This would run counter to hierarchical intention, which is rapidly healing the existent breach, and thus offset the work which Christ set out to do on Earth. This point is often overlooked by well-intentioned disciples. (DINA II p68)
It is humanity which determines its own destiny. Disciples point the way, indicate the vision, set a needed example and emphasize the ancient landmarks.” (DINA II p68)
SECTION III- PROTECTION FROM IRRITATION AND IMPERIL
Torkom Saraydarian has given us the following suggestions (TSpg 29-44) to use in order to protect ourselves from irritation and imperil. Some are substances, most are attitudes, spiritual practices, and
basic health habits. All are (with the exception of wormwood and freesias) easily obtainable and are things I’ve heard before and would like to practice more.
a. Aids to Protect Ourselves from Irritation and Imperil
1. Wormwood-——- oil or tea dissolve imperil
2. Barley-—— strengthens the lungs -
3. Musk (deer)—– – purifies the blood
4. Joy–—– Joy is a great purifier. When the human soul is in the process of liberation, he radiates joy. His radiation repels those thoughts and emotional currents which carry imperil. By trying to keep ourselves joyful, we not only prevent attacks of imperil, but also prevent the possibility of sending thoughts contaminated with imperil to others.
5. Love——- Love fused with joy creates miracles. If you really love someone, he cannot irritate you. If you do not love someone, even if he does good things for you, you get irritated by him or by his presence. Love builds a shield around you and makes you understand others.
6. Appreciation-——Many people are irritated because of lack of appreciation for what they do or what they are. Appreciation releases tensions, prevents irritation, and lets loose the love energy in others and in ourselves. Appreciation prevents imperil from multiplying or spreading.
I will try and make it a practice to thank people and tell them I appreciate what they’re doing. No one likes to be ‘taken for granted’.
7. Recognition of diversity in others—- In all men, even in the most corrupted one, you recognize divinity and try to bring out that divinity through your recognition.
8. Self-sacrifice
9. Self-forgetfulness—-This is the ability to remove your self-interest from any transactions with your friends and enemies, and look upon things as they are. In all our relationships, the self must be forgotten if we do not want irritation to settle within ourselves.
10. Harmlessness- is the ability to relate to people in such a way that their progress on the path is not hindered by your acts, words, emotions, thoughts, and plans. I’ve added some quotes from Master DK on harmlessness for students:
a) “A student on the Path must above all, practice harmlessness, which is the outstanding quality of every son of God. Harmlessness that speaks no word that can damage another person, that thinks no thought which could poison or produce misunderstanding, and which does no action which could hurt the least of his brethren- this is the main virtue which will enable the esoteric student to tread with safety the difficult path of development.“ (ExH p20)
This is the main quality that I aspire to. I pray for the ability to be harmless in thought, word and deed and I fail daily but I’m sure that’s just part of the purification process- to keep on trying.
b) “The most potent force in the world today is harmlessness. I speak not of non resistance, but of that positive attitude of mind which thinks no evil. He who thinks no evil and harms not is a citizen of God’s world.” (EP I p359)
c) “Harmlessness is the ability not to be affected by the irritations of others and not to irritate others. A harmless man creates a shield in his aura which repels arrows of imperil.“ (TS p33)
11. Psychic energy—– if invoked or applied, not only melts away imperil, but also causes all poisonous darts of the dark ones to bounce back.
I visualize a shield around me protecting all my personality bodies.
12. Conversation about the Teaching—Such conversation channels the energy of the Great Ones. In such an atmosphere irritation and imperil cannot dwell, as snow cannot exist in a hot place.
This is controversial I think. We are also admonished “not to throw pearls before swine”. It would depend on whether the recipient was ready to hear about the teaching.
13. Intensification of spiritual aura—-Such an aura is built or created by our spiritual living, by expressing the virtues of the Soul, of divine ideas and beauty in our daily life.
14. Striving towards Hierarchy—-Every time a man strives toward the hierarchy, he releases a new electrical charge from his Core, from his Self, which renews the old tissues and gives them vitality and drive to exert themselves. Exertion clears away imperil and does not allow irritation to be deposited in the nervous system.
These last two items are what I picture myself doing in the Morya Federation.
15. Radiation of the heart—–his radiation is compassion. We must learn to practically radiate this compassion, this life electricity, in all our relationships. It is this radiation which will repel all possibility of irritation and imperil
16. Prayer before sleep—It lifts the heart to a higher dimension, so that when man sleeps he does not fall into the lower strata of the etheric, astral or mental planes, but contacts the targets of his prayers as far as possible, avoiding the danger of lower frequencies .
I think this is a good habit to get into again like a child does. If I meditate during the day- then I think I don’t have to pray before I go to sleep. I like doing a few pages of spiritual reading. I used to do this.
17. Prayer before any start of activity—The purpose of such behavior is to shield you by the invoked power of the Almighty One to meet any situation, any condition and reaction with the indifference of spiritual power. When such a spirit increases in you, you can face almost any situation in life without being shocked or confused.
18. Insulation of the mind–-This can be cultivated through concentration exercises.
19. Absorption in Self—This is a more advanced stage when your awareness is absorbed in the Spiritual Triad, or even in the Self, and you observe the outer things without the slightest irritation
20. Heavy Labor—It is a means to crack and melt away imperil, and to strengthen the network of your nervous system..
21. Periodical change of residence——-Sometimes it is very wise to leave a place where quarrels, irritations, and negative states of mind, emotions, and body were in existence.
22. Contentment—-This is a spiritual serenity in which the conditions of your personality and its environment cannot disturb your peace and spirit contact.
23. Good Nourishment—Good food and good nourishment are essential for the body, because a weak body is a hotbed for germs and feeds imperil.
24. Happiness- A happy person repels irritation. Irritation cannot build its nest in a happy man. That is why one must not only be joyful, but also happy. Joy is the state of the human soul who is not identified with the personality. Happiness is a state of the soul who is identified with the personality and enjoys the life in the personality.
“Not discontent, nor irritation, but the sensation of happiness is necessary; because it is verily happiness to create the works of the Teacher”. (AY p368)-
25. Proper sleep and complete rest when needed—-Sleep not only repairs the damaged parts of the body, but strengthens the nerves to fight irritation and the resultant imperil.
“Only rest can help the nervous system to overcome the dangerous enemy that can call forth the most diverse irritation and painful contractions of the organism. He who is afflicted with imperil must repeat “How Beautiful Everything is!” The more refined the nervous system, the more painful is the deposit of imperil. This same poison, by the addition of one ingredient may contribute to the decomposition of matter.” (AY p15)
26. Economy of energy—Most imperil multiplies and crystallizes on the nerve channels because of lack of energy wasted by excessive sexual activity on physical, emotional and mental levels.
27. Orderliness- Orderliness is a great prevention of irritation. Many people are irritated when they lose something, when they misplace something, or when there is no order and harmony in their surroundings. It can also be noticed that usually disorderly people are those who are easily caught in irritation and have a great amount of imperil.
28. Patience- When one learns to be patient, he cures 90% of the sources of irritation and imperil.
“It is a solace to know that patience overcomes any irritation. In the intensity of patience a special substance is created which, like a powerful antidote, neutralizes even imperil. But of course, patience is not lack of feeling. During criminal indifference, benevolent reactions are not evicted. Patience is a conscious tension and an opposition to darkness.” (Heart p478)
29. Expansion of consciousness— By expanding our consciousness, we prevent the attacks of irritation caused by separative viewpoints and separative interests.
30. Humility- is the spiritual ability by which you can stay unhurt in spite of attacks coming to you in many forms through various sources. I include a quote from the Masters on Humility: “There is a spiritual arrogance which masks itself behind a cloak of humbleness and which is very prevalent at this time. It leads people to regard themselves as the chosen of the Hierarchy to save the world; it leads them to look upon themselves as the mouth pieces of the Masters or of the Christ; it tends to make them separative in their attitudes to other leaders and teachers, refusing to recognize the many aspects of the one work and the many methods which the Mind of God has devised for reaching the masses.” (EP II p572)
31. Sleeping under the stars— When there is no moonlight, or when one is shielded from the moonlight is very beneficial for the nervous system.
32. Daring— Psychic energy can be increased through acts of daring. When one lets loose the concentrated focus of energy within one’s Innermost Being to achieve new heights of
creativity and sacrificial service, the psychic energy pours into one’s aura, with blue and red flames.
A great Sage says “In time of confusion, of course, psychic energy cannot be condensed so as to begin to act. But through daring of the spirit psychic energy can burst forth as a powerful flame, forming, as it were, a shield against encroaching evil.” FW III p 413)
33. Solemnity- the ability to dwell and remain in the presence of the Inner Guide, and in the presence of the Master. Torkom gives us a quote on solemnity by Master Morya.
“It is not without reason that I reiterate about solemnity, because it is the nourishment of the heart! Not by condemnation or irritation, but in solemnity do we prepare for the great march onward” (Heart p 435)
34. Roses- prevent imperil
a) “A rose not only possesses a similarity to musk but also prevents imperil. A garden of roses was considered by the ancients as a place of inspiration. “ (Hier p316)
b) “Roses are beneficial for Bliss” (Hier p424
35. Freesias-for those who need strengthening of their nerves, after passing through some crisis or dark night of the soul, find great assistance in bringing freesias into their rooms and sleeping with the fragrance . To follow are a few quotes from Master M regarding the nervous system:
“Freesias are beneficial for the sympathetic nervous system, which vibrates so much in a yogi. “ (Hier p31)
b. MORE THOUGHTS TO PONDER FROM THE MASTERS:
To me this means evil will destroy itself and its creator. My job is to call on the fire of Agni and in the end good will triumph. I find that I do need to think in solitude as I get distracted easily with noise and confusion. I enjoy the music of the Masters and find it interesting that DK says it will bring about great changes in the disciples life.
“By a purely physiological method it can be proved that domination by evil is short-lived. Evil emerges together with imperil, but can at first produce only a strong flash; afterwards it begins to deteriorate and gradually destroys its own progenitor. This means that if Agni is even partially manifested, it will not cease to increase. Thus, when imperil begins to decompose, Agni, on the contrary, acquires its full strength. Therefore, I advise that the first attack of evil be endured, in order to leave evil to its own destruction. Moreover, during the duel between evil and good- in other words between imperil and Agni- the latter will grow proportionately, as imperil putrefies its possessor.” (FW I p543)
“People do not know how to find the balance between indignation of spirit and equilibrium. Both concepts are needed for perfectment, but how to reconcile militant indignation of spirit and wise balance? An enlightened and self-sacrificing indignation creates the most precious, ruby-like armour and prevents irritation turning into imperil” (Heart p190)
“I affirm that the truth ‘Light conquers Darkness’ has even a physiological basis” (FW I p543)
“Chiefly, learn to think in solitude. And realize responsibility for thought. Verily, thought levels the strongest walls. Doubt, irritation and self-pity can be consciously ejected. I advise to observe oneself
and remember that no one else besides the teacher will help. I advise to regard the Teacher as the only stronghold.” (AY p340)
Advice of music to aid in diminishing irritation and self-pity: “This is what you need- music in your life, literally and figuratively. I have here given you a most important hint. Let the great music of the masters of sound enter (in a new and powerful way) into your consciousness. If you take this advice, in three years, if you insist on subjecting yourself to the musical impact, I suggest great and significant changes will be brought about in your life. Once you get away from self-pity and irritation, there is little that is wrong with your thinking. That, my brother, can be said of few.” (DINA II p700
c. Experiments
Master Morya repeatedly stated the need for experiments to study imperil. The books of Agni Yoga were written about 80 years ago but I know of no research along this line to date. I thought about what diseases cause crystal formation and wondered if there could be a connection.
Esoteric Healing, p106, lists 3 major Laws of Health:
a. The law controlling the will to live- 1st Logos- Will or Power
b. The law controlling the equality of rhythm- 2nd Logos, Love or Wisdom
c. The law controlling crystallization- 3rd Logos, Activity or foundational aspect
In Esoteric Healing, by Alan Hopking, p 285, he discusses the indications of first Ray activity suggesting use of the first Ray techniques:
“Crystallization, gallstones, kidney stones, gout (uric acid crystals), autoimmune diseases, including certain types of arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atherosclerosis, TMJ (jaw)clenching, calcification of the pineal gland, some kinds of cancer (Bailey, 1951-70,v.4,p383), hard tumors, keratosis, anorexia, autism (blocked frontal brain), tightness, tension, breaking bones, Parkinson’s disease, rigidity in body, arrogance, destructiveness.”
So this would be an exciting subject to pursue in the future for those on a scientific ray. In the esoteric healing community I’ve always heard that arthritis is ‘frozen anger’ and gall stones are ‘resentments’. I think this sounds like crystals of imperil. The irritating thoughts (anger and resentment) come into the emotional field and then are precipitated into the etheric-physical field.
“A study of the physical traces of imperil can lead to an understanding of the accumulations of psychic energy. One can observe the traces of imperil in any nerve channel. But it also can be noticed that, around the granulations of this poisonous viper, is gathered another substance that absorbs it accumulations of psychic energy are found there too, because each energy has its physical crystal. “ (AY p220)
The energy of Agni Yoga can absorb the deposits of imperil found in a nerve channel.
“Humanity must carry out a multitude of urgent experiments. Imperil must not only be recognized as the calamity of the departing race but the contagion of imperil should also be studied. It will be possible to ascertain that imperil acts at far distances and can affect the subtle body. Imperil clashes like a dissonance with the Fire of Space. People who depart from Earth with a store of imperil create for themselves a tortuous existence: the fire of space rushes upon them. One should admit that personal
irritation is an excrescence of the departing ones. But it must be noted that people often do not wish to heed their own irritation, though the dangerous poison does not diminish because of that.” (Hier p335)
“We suggested that the scientists first discover the crystal of imperil.” (AY p342)
“Imperil, which attracts danger, is the poison resulting from irritability. This poison, a quite substantial one, is deposited against the walls of the nerve channels and there spreads through the entire organism. If modern science would try to examine objectively the nerve channels, giving heed to the astral currents, it would encounter a strange decomposition of the astral substance during the passage of that substance through the nerve channels- this is a reaction to imperil.” (AY p15)
“I advise to carry on experiments with psychic energy outside of cities. Likewise, one, should avoid the saturated effects of quarrels and of any irritation. Imperil will be the chief enemy of development of psychic energy. Also harmful is an atmosphere permeated with emanations of foodstuffs. Likewise harmful is the presence of animals”. (Aum p387)
“The substance of the emanation of the fingertips depends entirely upon the spiritual state. The imperil of a nervous observer, or course will give poisonous sediments if he pays no attention to the spiritual condition of his organism. The ability to discern differences in nervous conditions will give to the scientist an incomparable possibility. For even the phosphorescence of the fingertips varies. And every radiation is based on chemism.” (FW II p5)
“People dream about deliverance from cancer, that spiritual scorpion, but they do nothing to preclude its germination. You already know the remedy given you but it is also necessary to make use of vegetarian diet and not to indulge in irritating smoking and drinking. Furthermore, one must expel imperil, and then the indicated remedy will be a good shield.” (FW II p38)
“The illness called neuritis has a certain relation to fire. Much that is attributed to rheumatism or nervous disturbances should also be attributed to fire. These pains can easily be eliminated by locating the material crystals of psychic energy. When the deposits obstruct the nerve channels many painful developments can be expected.” (AY p329)
“Imperil is also treated through certain shocks. If one is clairvoyant, one can see or sense the area of accumulation of imperil. Often accidental shocks restore sight, hearing and other lost senses. Does not this force one to think the crystal of imperil and other sediments have been suddenly expelled from the organism? Thus, try to understand why sometimes in antiquity shock was applied in the treatment of certain illness and paralysis.“ (FW II p387)
I participated in the administration of shock treatments to psychiatric patients over a period of years. I did see a change in behavior and attitude and they were particularly indicated in depressed patients. This reinforces the above paragraph that maybe the crystal of imperil or other sediments were suddenly expelled.
d. Conclusion:
Many of us are treading the Path of Probation where the probationer begins taking himself in hand, discovering his character defects and changing what he finds lacking as he seeks to better himself. This
can be a long and frustrating process and can result in irritation with himself for being distracted, or with others for what he perceives as interference in his attempts to better himself. If left unchecked, the irritation can escalate to imperil and can have long-term effects on an individual. I have attempted to identify the dangers of irritation and the resulting imperil and to give others the tools to understand, prevent, or mitigate irritation and stop it from reaching the point of imperil. This should be especially helpful to probationers who may already be undergoing the struggle between personality and soul.
To purify ourselves, we must first discover where the sources of our impurities are coming from and what vehicle they might be impacting (the physical, emotional or mental body).
“The Probationary Path precedes the Path of Initiation or Holiness, and marks that period in the life of a man when he definitely sets himself on the side of the forces of evolution, and works at the building of his own character. He takes himself in hand, cultivates the qualities that are lacking in his disposition, and seeks with diligence to bring his personality under control. He is building the causal body with deliberate intent, filling any gaps that may exist, and seeking to make it a fit receptacle for the Christ principle.” (IHS p63-64)
The path has many stages that range from the pure mystical aspirant who has gone inward for Divine inspiration and whose soul force ends up being too strong for the personality to handle. Lost in this inner world of desire-emotion, he or she finds that using the mind and spiritual vision are the line of least resistance, and the physical plane integration suffers as a consequence. (paraphrased from EP I, p161)
The next stage is that of the practical mystic, where knowledge and intuition take the place of the emotions and the person begins using the mind as a focus and can now see the world of Souls (paraphrased from TWM p17).
The practical mystic will eventually lead to the White Occultist.
“The ‘new man’ who has come to birth at the first initiation must and will tread the occult or scientific way, which inevitably leads him out of the world of mysticism into the scientific and assured perception of God as life or energy.” (RI p666)
“The keynotes upon which the occult philosophy is built are (EXH 674):
1. There is naught in manifestation except organised energy
2. Energy follows or conforms itself to thought
3. The occultist works in energy and with energies.”
“The very first step in the path of occultism……is the discrimination between the real and the unreal, between substance and phenomenon, between the Self and the Not-self, between spirit and matter (IHS 225).
As master DK tells us (to paraphrase TWM p168), during the probationary path the aspirant recognizes in himself three things:
1. Increased mental activity
2. Increased responsiveness to ideas
3. Increased psychic sensitiveness
In order to develop these things:
“Aspirants learn, as they proceed upon the Path of Probation, to see the meaning of their physical plane activities in terms of the world of desire, of the astral plane. What they do originates upon that plane and gives their deeds meaning. This is the A.B.C. of elementary occultism and of true psychology. Later, they enter a higher world of meaning and find that ‘as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.’ Thus the lesson of kama-manasic impulse is slowly mastered and (in the process of learning) desire, prompted by the mind and implemented by the personality, loses its hold upon the aspirant. Later again, and as the soul begins to dominate, he learns the meaning of love and slowly, and oft through the mastering of pain, he absorbs the significance or meaning of group activity, group relation, and group initiation.” (RI p262)
In conclusion, I will end with some advice from Helena Roerich, a disciple of Master Morya:
a) “Apply the Teaching to your life. First of all, the complete purification of your consciousness is necessary, with eradication of the slightest sign of irritability. High achievements are practically impossible for the organism polluted by imperil” (LHR Vol I p330)
b) “Let us transmute all our energies. We should start from the most stubborn energy, which is egoism (that furious dragon of selfishness with its long tail); self-conceit; love of power; self love; touchiness; irritability; fear; doubt and other similar decorations. And we should replace them with the wings of affirmed unity; complete solidarity with all the co-workers; acknowledgement of Hierarchy, joyous strengthening of the given tasks; tolerance and gratitude for right directions. We should conclude with trust to the very end. All this transmutation is so simplified when hearts burn with devotion and love to the One who calls to construction and who points out the way to the Tower.” (LHR Vol I p24-25)
REFERENCES
AGNI YOGA BOOKS
Agni Yoga 1929, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
Hierarchy 1931, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
Heart 1932, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
AUM 1936, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
Brotherhood 1937, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
Fiery World I 1933, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
Fiery World II 1934, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
Fiery World III 1935, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
Letters of Helena Roerich, Vol I, 1929-1938, Agni Yoga Society Inc., New York, New York
ALICE BAILEY BOOKS
Bailey, Alice A.; Glamour: A World Problem (1950); Lucis Publishing Company, New York Bailey, Alice A.; Esoteric Healing (1953); Lucis Publishing Company, New York
Bailey, Alice A.; Discipleship in the New Age, Vol I (1944); Lucis Publishing Company, New York Bailey, Alice A.; Discipleship in the New Age, Vol II (1955); Lucis Publishing Company, New York Bailey, Alice A.; The Rays and the Initiations (1960); Lucis Publishing Company, New York Bailey, Alice A.; Externalization of the Hierarchy (1957); Lucis Publishing Company, New York Bailey, Alice A.; A Treatise on White Magic (1951); Lucis Publishing Company, New York Bailey, Alice A.; Initiation, Human and Solar (1951); Lucis Publishing Company, New York Bailey, Alice A.; Esoteric Psychology, Vol I (1962); Lucis Publishing Company, New York
TORKOM SARAYDARIAN BOOK
Saraydarian, Torkom ; Irritation – the Destructive Fire,( 1983) T.S.G. Publishing Foundation Inc., Cave Creek, Arizona, USA
ALAN HOPKING BOOK
Hopking, Alan; Esoteric Healing (2005); Blue Dolphin Publishing, Inc, Nevada City, California