When I enter a studio during its working hours I always rejoice in my innermost being. I know that the students receive good advice. They hear of fundamental laws which are at the bottom of the whole of Existence. I feel that creative thought is present. And where creative thought is manifested there can be no fear for the future. I do not mean the tendency, the depicting story, or the dry subject. I visualize the magnificent creative synthesis. Our evolution is inevitably approaching the blessed synthesis. Our evolution is inevitably approaching the blessed synthesis. I have precisely in mind unlimited creative thought which impels human wings to spread in beautiful forms and colours. This creative thought adorned by essential laws, beautiful in their constructiveness, uplifts humanity towards its approaching evolution, and from the smallest hearth up to the state and continents, establishes the same sense of the Beautiful, which holds essential kinship with all ages and peoples.
From this sense of the Beautiful is born nobility of spirit, constant creativeness, heroism and attainment. From the same source also springs forth optimism, because every negation is non-creative.
All humanity is divided into “yes” and “no”, and we will always be with those who have “yes” in their nature. Beware of the “I” and the “no”.
Verily, everyone prepares a true certificate for himself. In hidden thoughts he shapes his future actions. A liar is afraid to be betrayed. A traitor in heart is especially afraid of treason. He who is unfaithful in heart shudders with suspicion. A heroic heart knows no fear in life. Verily, thought rules the world. It is a beautiful realization to know that we are, before all, responsible for our thoughts.
Often we repeat the word “thought”. We repeat it during our dinners and suppers. We reiterate it in time of suspicion and anathema. We mechanically mumble this word even when we are without defined thought.
If we could not realize that in repeating this sacred word we are pronouncing the formula of the greatest power! but how seldom do we realize the dynamic power of thought; how seldom do we control it and direct it in the proper channels! Small and hideous thoughts often fly around our aura like venomous insects. If we could take photographs (and these have been taken) of our auras, we could see that they are filled with small black and greyish insect like spots These spots are spots of ignorance and its breed, darkness.
If we could but realize the unconquerable power of one sharpened benevolent thought and would begin to study the conditions which would help to strengthen such thought, we could gradually eradicate the physical spots of darkness. In one photograph which was taken unexpectedly, two rays of light were seen extending from the shoulders; then the occurrence at this identical moment was verified. It was found that at this moment a beautiful and unselfish thought was generated. Because it was unselfish and creative, it was manifested at once as beautiful rays of light. Who know but that perhaps before long during elections we will have such photographs of the candidates for our public office, so that we will have real certificates, rather than written ones. Then we shall have facts and only facts.
If we know that there exists only one light, we must follow the light. We would not be discouraged in life because there is only one true ascent and only one descent. Nothing is static. Take the aspect of this ascent. According to the law, each ascent is connected with a creative state of mind. History proves that not a single man who had a creative mind was forgotten.
Nor do I speak about any definite field such as art, expressed on canvas or in stone, or in any other material; but I speak of the sense of the beautiful - that is, the expression of beauty, in the whole of life. Sometimes this expression is transferred to canvas or other materials, but very often it is expressed in thought. Thus we beautify space, we link the planets, for in thoughts there is no space, no time. It is said that when a man is highly imbued with a certain thought his weight is altered. It can be proved that in a moment of strong creative thoughts one becomes lighter. We hear that St. John de la Croix and St. Teresa were sometimes levitated. This is not an unexplainable miracle. Perhaps you have also witnessed scientific experiments during which in intense thought we lose weight and levitate. This is a physical law, a creative law. Thus once more we see that in touching these constructive laws, you come close to the eternal laws. You express the highest form of thought, and cooperate with the supreme consciousness. It is not wonderful to bear in your creative mind this beautiful thought; that you are in co-operation with the Beautiful, with the Supreme? Therein is your strength, because during this moment of direct co-operation with the Supreme, you create something for the next evolution -- for the next life. The aspiration to that life, constitutes the eternal goal, it is a beautiful law! No one can limit you as to what way your art can be applied. You cannot create anything without inner sense, form or purpose. Everything has a purpose. But remember that this purpose should be beautiful. Often we hear complaints about insoluble problems in the lives of families, households and states. If you fill your life and that of your closest relatives and friends with the precious sense of the beautiful so that everything ugly gradually fades away, you constantly live in the enthusiasm of the Beautiful. This is for all, not alone for the chosen! We can say that even prisons should be beautified -- then we shall have no more prisons! Certainly we do not mean material prisons alone, but the prisons of the spirit. Thus we speak about applied arts often the hideous work “commercial art” is used. This is a hideous expression and should be eliminated. What is art? We can something beautiful and something ugly? A beautiful household object of Benvenuto Cellini, is a work of great art. In art we must use only one principle -- the Beautiful We must remember how to apply art in everyday life. Even floors may be washed beautifully, for there is no true art that is small. In constantly repeating “the beautiful, the beautiful, the beautiful”, you begin to be constructive. The ugly negation is the symbol of ignorance, and this ignorance should be eliminated. We should not be afraid to have before us this constant and great thought.
The beginner is often perplexed about how to be creative. He presumes that he must first study the law, then study the colours and create only the future. But, one must create form the very beginning. Children must be taught to create. The student must state the eternal law of construction for the eternal thought. The laws must saturate the mind not merely the hand. The study of the basic law s is as an aid inself-expressionbecauseweare confident that you are born artists.
Very often we are unprepared to pay attention to every detail of life. Place before yourself a simple object --look at it, close your eyes and imagine it. Tell me sincerely how clear and sharp is the impression? Usually we do not remember the definite colour or the definite line, but it is advisable to practice this experiment each day. When you have a few minutes, place before you some article, something simple and colourful, and try to imagine this object and to fix this impression in the third eye. You will see that there is nothing supernatural in it and you will finally notice that it is clear and sharp and has become simple for you. Everybody has heard of Count St. Germain who warned France, before the French Revolution. Read his biography. It is told as an historical fact that he could conduct three conversations and write two different letters, one with each hand. This was not supernatural, but only proof that his consciousness was very refined, very highly developed. In the case of a pianist two hands are used, and each carries a different theme, and besides the pianist is able to conduct a conversation at the same time. Thus if one learns to fix one’s consciousness on certain things, one is able to produce so-called “miracles”. But some say this is impossible. Tell them about the “miracle” of the pianist conducting a conversation, perhaps two, while he plays. Here we have the approach to a “miracle” and we must realize how many things purported to the phenomena, or something “supernatural” are in reality very close to life, and they can and should be manifested. When we learn to direct our consciousness, we can fix our mind on something quite definite. We are preparing for the approaching civilization and it is our duty to ponder upon this evolution and the life of the next generation. You are responsible for the next generation and you cannot avoid the responsibility. We can derive great happiness from a beautiful thought.
Tell me of some unusual happening in your life. Let each one view his own life and I am certain that, with sincere and honest attentiveness, each one can find something unusual in it. Recently, addressing a group of young people, I asked them to relate something unusual in their lives; they insisted there was nothing unusual and spoke of their lives as of a sad routine. They told me that I was going to the mountains where beautiful things occurred, but that there was nothing unusual to be found in the turmoil of the city. I insisted that they think a while and that something would surely come into their minds. Soon one mentioned that, at the moment of her aunt’s death, they had heard a strange bell ringing, and had seen something like a cloud passing over their heads. Within half an hour many others remembered wonderful facts and everyone was uplifted; and within the next three weeks each member of the group had told me some beautiful and interesting and amazing facts and to relate them directly and honestly. Everybody intends to be honest, but it seldom that the facts are given impersonally even in the case of some scientists, who have to deal with facts. Many of them do not take the facts without prejudice, without superstition. If someone begins to see wonderful lights, sparks, he is told to wear glasses, in this mechanical way the light of truth is eliminated. But we have to be ready for everything in a direct manner.
Often people complain that their near ones are spoiling their lives. If their consciousness is growing, they will realize that their relatives and friends are human beings and that they should try to open their hearts. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes difficult. But if your key does not work, be assured it is not beautiful. But if your key does not work, be assured it is not beautiful. But every human being has a heart; and the heart remains a heart. Thus, if we are not able to open this heart, probably our keys do not fit this sacred casket; and certainly such a key is not beautiful enough. We often hear that in some homes art cannot be introduced. That their owners think art is unnecessary. In such cases, how can it be shown to them that the Beautiful has value? During revolutions, when property and money were destroyed, objects of art were preserved and during some periods a country has been able to exist on the income from art objects. Keep this fact in mind, and some time you may be able to prove by it how much the value of these objects increases in times of war and revolution. Ask someone to give you the exact value of a share -- it is impossible. So much depends upon the demand. So, often an object which seems to have little value, proves to be of great worth, and is practically priceless. Often bankers and business men have been wiped out during a revolution, while artists and art collectors have survived. Thus creative production survives, scientific inventions survive and thought survives! So let us learn to direct all our thoughts in the direction of the Beautiful.
In all fairy tales we read of bolted doors with hidden treasures, which open only to a magic key. Within ourselves the poison of anger and irritation collects in harmful strata and in order to overcome its power we must eradicate it as something destructive and impractical. In the same way cancers form, holding and gathering poisons which destroy us if they are not eliminated. There have been cases of cancer cured by psychic power. Learn to eradicate all poisonous thoughts - see the sparks and lights and study these lights. Then you will create something for the future of humanity.
Help to grow the wings of humanity.
Published in Silpi, May 1947