Amar is a seeker, a young man of humble origins living in a time where the boundaries between the material and spiritual worlds are shifting. Born in the rugged mountains of his homeland, he grew up surrounded by the rhythms of nature, which instilled in him a deep reverence for the unseen forces of life. He is a scholar at heart, drawn to ancient texts and symbols, always searching for answers that the ordinary world fails to provide. His thirst for truth eventually leads him to the edge of known civilization—and into the mysteries of SHAMBALLA.
Amar is introspective, curious, and unwavering in his determination to uncover universal truths. Guided by an inner restlessness, he is both thoughtful and brave, willing to confront his fears in the face of the unknown. However, his intense drive for knowledge sometimes isolates him, as he struggles to reconcile his human vulnerabilities with his lofty aspirations. Amar exhibits a rare blend of humility and courage, which makes him a fitting candidate for the transformational path laid out before him.
Amar’s greatest motivation is to reconcile the dualities of existence—the seen and unseen, the material and the divine. He is driven by his yearning to understand the deeper purpose of life, not just for himself but for humanity as a whole. On a personal level, he longs for peace and unity, to make sense of the contradictions in his human experience. His quest for Shamballa is not merely intellectual; it is a soulful pursuit born out of an ache for harmony with the cosmos.
Excerpt from: SHAMBALLA: The White Island by José Becerra, published at Amazon in paperback and Kindle ebook editions.
In The Way to Shamballa: Agni Yoga (work in progress), a prequel to SHAMBALLA: The White Island (quote above), the author explores thought-provoking questions central to the narrative. Readers are encouraged to propose alternative perspectives or refine the ideas presented as the author continues to craft this prequel. Set for release later this year, it will become part of the historical fiction series, A Trilogy on Shamballa.-JB
Q: How would Amar keep his poise, and still effectively neutralize evil, while embodying the principles of Agni Yoga (profound attentiveness, serene expectancy and perfect adaptability) when facing someone in a position of authority engaged in manipulative propaganda of political misinformation, disinformation and shameless lying?
R: Master’s advice:
“My dear Amar, to face untruth in a world where authority wields distortion as a tool is no small trial. Yet, you must remember that to meet such challenges without losing your poise is itself an act of light in the presence of darkness. To neutralize evil, you must first master the forces within yourself that are unsettled by it. Serenity, attentiveness, and adaptability—these are not merely virtues but the armor of those who walk the higher path.
When faced with such manipulative forces, consider these steps:
1. Be Attentive to the Truth Beneath the Words
Evil often cloaks itself in illusion, and propaganda thrives by preying on the scattered minds of others. Your role is not to be drawn into the mechanism of deceit but to see beyond it. Observe carefully—not just the words, but the intentions they cloak. The manipulator seeks to confuse and dominate; therefore, clarity is your first defense. The heart, with its intuitive knowing, will sense when words carry the scent of falsehood. Anchor yourself in this awareness, unmoved by appearances, and discern the deeper currents of intent.
2. Maintain Serenity in the Face of Provocation
The manipulator relies on disruption, often triggering emotional responses to weaken those who resist. Your serenity will be your shield. Do not allow anger or frustration to take root within you, as these would make you vulnerable to their game. Instead, cultivate inner calm, grounding yourself in the truth. When you respond without emotional reactivity, you disarm their ability to manipulate. The fire of the heart burns both steady and strong, illuminating what anger would obscure.
Remember, Amar, that serenity is not passivity. It is the quiet strength of one who sees clearly and acts from a place of unwavering alignment with the higher will.
3. Use the Power of Silence
Lies depend on endless noise to obscure reality. Silence, when used wisely, can neutralize such chaos better than a thousand words. If you are called to respond, speak only what is necessary—words measured and heavy with truth. Avoid engaging in argumentation; instead, allow your words to be firm and precise, like the ringing of a bell that cuts through the fog. Allow your heart’s fire to guide your speech, so that every word becomes a beam of light casting shadows aside. And where no words are needed, allow your silence to be your strength.
The manipulator’s power weakens when there is no force to push against, no clamor to drown attention. Your calm and deliberate presence can itself dissolve the knots of falsehood.
4. Adapt, but Do Not Yield
Just as water adapts to the shape of its container, you must adapt to the situation at hand without compromising your inner integrity. This means observing the flow of events and finding the most effective way to act within them. Flexibility is not weakness, Amar; it is the strength to move without fracturing. If confronting the manipulator directly will incite further harm, act indirectly by fostering truth among those who are listening. Sometimes, the highest action is to plant seeds of clarity and allow them to grow in their own time.
Remember, adaptability ensures you are never rigid in your approach. Each act must be like water—meeting the needs of the moment, yet always remaining true to its essence.
5. Neutralize, Do Not Fight
Evil gains strength when met with resistance born of force. Instead, neutralize it by embodying the principles of light and truth. Stand as a radiant counterweight to falsehood, not as an adversary feeding its cycle. When you encounter misinformation, counter it not with accusation but with unwavering truth, spoken calmly and resolutely. To challenge deceit effectively, you must expose it without becoming entangled in it. The ultimate defeat of evil comes not through destruction but through transcending it with wisdom and higher understanding.
6. Return Always to the Heart
Above all, Amar, stay rooted in the heart. It is your compass and your forge, the place where calmness, attentiveness, and adaptability converge. Before you act, return to the heart’s quiet fire and ask, “Is this action aligned with the highest truth?” When you act from the heart, fear and judgment will not cloud your judgment. Whatever you face, the heart’s fire will sustain you, transforming inner turmoil into clarity and strength.
A Final Reflection:
You must also understand, Amar, that the manipulator in authority does not grasp the currents of truth. That individual, too, is tethered to illusion, and while you confront the lie, do not direct hatred toward the liar. If you must oppose them, do so with the standpoint that even they, in their distortions, are fragments of the whole. Be firm, but hold no malice. Neutralizing evil does not mean destroying the person; it means rendering their actions powerless by embodying a greater truth.
Remember, to live by the precepts of Agni Yoga is to walk with unshaken poise in the face of storms. Every moment of balance and harmony you maintain under such trials adds light to the world and diminishes the shadows. Trust the fire within—not to consume, but to transform. It is in this quiet and vigilant flame that all manipulative forces dissolve, revealing the enduring clarity of the infinite.”
Thus, Amar, you will know how to walk the delicate path of confronting distortion without losing your serenity or sense of higher alignment. May this guidance keep you steadfast and clear as you tread the road that lies ahead.”
Q: Should Amar engage in peaceful protests and pacific acts of civil disobedience?
R: Master’s Advice:
“My dear Amar, the question of how best to act in the face of injustice is one that stirs the hearts of many sincere seekers. To engage in peaceful protests or acts of civil disobedience can indeed be avenues for bringing about awareness and change, but the decision to do so must be guided not by reactive impulse or external pressure, but by the inner flame of the heart—attuned to truth, serenity, and the greater rhythm of life.
1. Attentiveness to the Purpose
Before taking action, reflect deeply. Are your actions born of the pure intent to illuminate truth and promote harmony, or do they stem from frustration, anger, or a need to oppose? The heart must guide every step. Remember, Amar, that true change arises not from confrontation alone but from awakening the higher understanding in all involved, even those you oppose. Draw your focus to the purpose of your act—whether it uplifts, unites, and serves a greater truth.
2. Serenity Amidst Struggle
To engage in peaceful protest is to step into the currents of struggle. Thus, you must first cultivate serenity within yourself before acting outwardly. Do not allow the actions of others—no matter how wrong or unjust—to disturb your inner calm. The fire of protest burns brightest when tended by serenity, not by the wildfire of unchecked emotion. Your calm presence amidst turmoil will speak louder than any chant or placard, demonstrating the strength and clarity of truth.
3. Adaptability and the Wisdom of Action
Peaceful acts of civil disobedience must be approached with the adaptability of water—resilient, yet pliant to the conditions of the moment. Study the terrain. Assess the impact of your actions. There are times when standing in peaceful defiance can inspire change, and there are times when silence or inner work can be more powerful than outward demonstrations. Align your action with what the moment truly calls for, not with what convention or popular sentiment might demand.
4. The Power of Symbolic Action
Acts of civil disobedience, when conducted with purity of intent and clarity of heart, can become powerful symbols that inspire others toward introspection and awakening. These actions should never seek to shame or antagonize; instead, they should create space for others to see truth and reflect upon it. Remember, Amar, the purpose is not to defeat or humiliate but to uplift and bring light into darkened spaces.
5. Unity Over Division
Always hold in your heart the vision of unity. Even as you oppose wrongful actions or oppressive systems, do not allow your mind to fall into the duality of “us versus them.” Evil manifests through separation; it thrives when people see one another as adversaries. Your protest must not divide, but rather seek to dissolve walls and reveal underlying unity. Speak to the humanity in those on the other side of the disagreement, even if their words or actions seem devoid of such recognition.
6. Stillness in the Heart, Movement in Action
Engage in peaceful protest without losing connection to the quiet stillness within you. The heart’s fire burns brightest when grounded in presence. If you choose to stand or march in defiance, do it not with noise in your mind but with clarity in your heart. Each step becomes purposeful, aligned with the infinite rhythm, when you act with the confidence of one guided by a higher will.
7. Guard Against the Ego’s Whisper
Be cautious, Amar, that the glamour of action does not create a fertile ground for the ego. Acts of protest must never be driven by the desire for recognition, pride, or a sense of self-righteousness. The strength of your cause lies not in the attention you garner but in the truth and purity of your intent. Return always to the heart’s wisdom to ensure that your actions reflect the light of higher purpose, not the shadows of personal glory.
8. The Value of Peacemaking in the Infinite Path
The principle of peacemaking—as a peace activist, not as a pacifist—must remain paramount in all you do. Even as you oppose falsehoods or injustices, you must refuse to be entangled in any cycle of harm. Prevent violence not only in deed but also in your thoughts and words. Those who uphold truth must never mirror the methods of the untruthful. Instead, illuminate a new approach, one that embodies peace even while resisting injustice.
A Final Reflection:
Amar, whether you act through peaceful protest, symbolic action, or the quiet work of inner transformation, the precepts of Agni Yoga remain your guide. Stay attentive to the truth of the moment, serene in the face of provocation, and adaptable to the needs of the hour. Trust the heart’s knowing to reveal the action most aligned with the higher will.
The heart may call you to take a stand, but remember—true power lies not in what you resist, but in what you uplift. By embodying the principles of attentiveness, serenity, and adaptability, your protest becomes less about fighting what is wrong and more about igniting what is right. This, Amar, is how you walk the higher path, even in the face of worldly turmoil.”
Q: If Amar were to be enlisted to fight the forces of darkness, as during WW-II (Nazism), should he claim being a conscientious objector, or should he join the physical fight, like Arjuna did in the Bhagavad Gita?
R: Master’s advice:
“My dear Amar, this is a question that requires the deepest alignment with the heart and the clearest discernment of one’s higher duty. The path you choose—whether to stand as a conscientious objector or take up the sword like Arjuna—is not one to be decided by external pressures or intellectual reasoning alone. It must arise from the quiet, fiery wisdom of the heart, which alone perceives the harmony between individual action and cosmic law.
1. The Inner War and the Outer Duty
The forces of darkness, like those of Nazism you mention, do not operate solely on physical planes; their roots extend deep into the structures of thought and energy. Yet in times of dire crisis, when evil seeks to dominate the earthly sphere through destructive tyranny, it becomes a battlefield that may call for physical action. You must first ask yourself, Amar, whether your participation in such a fight aligns with the larger truth. Are you compelled to act by the fire of the heart—to shield, to uphold justice, and to protect the vulnerable? Or is your hesitation sourced in fear or self-preservation? The path of Agni Yoga requires neither blind action nor passive abstention, but conscious, purposeful engagement with life’s demands.
2. Arjuna’s Lesson and Dharma
Recall the story of Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. Faced with the weight of moral conflict on the battlefield, he faltered—a warrior torn between duty to his kin and his higher ideals. Krishna reminded him not of wrath or vengeance but of dharma, the sacred duty aligned with the greater cosmic order. For Arjuna, the battlefield was his dharma, his place of participation in the larger unfolding of justice. But his actions were to come from spiritual clarity, not personal attachment to outcome.
Similarly, Amar, if the call to arms resonates not with ambition or anger but with the truth of duty—a willingness to stand as an instrument of balance and protection—then to join the physical fight may be your path. However, this is only righteous if your participation is without hatred or personal grievance, with the sole intent of affirming harmony where chaos seeks to spread.
3. Conscientious Objection and the Power of Inner Resistance
To claim the stance of a conscientious objector is not a lesser path, providing it too is chosen with clarity and conviction. If your heart speaks to the inner battle as your truest calling—if you sense that your energies are better spent illuminating truth through peaceful resistance, healing, or spiritual work—then such a path is equally noble. Those who fought World War II on unseen fronts, through wisdom, support, and prayer, contributed no less to the forces of good than those on the ground. The question is not whether to engage in the fight but how and where your strengths may best serve.
If this path is yours, Amar, face its trials with equal courage. Non-participation in violence must never stem from fear or avoidance, but from a deep alignment with the heart’s truth. Any avoidance of dharma, whether it lies in action or in abstention, creates unfulfilled karma. Always listen to the fire within to discern your path.
4. Neutralizing the Forces of Darkness
Remember, Amar, the forces of darkness thrive where division and hatred abound. Whether you choose the sword or the silent work of synthesis, the way of Agni Yoga is always to act as a representative of light, reflecting no malice or hatred, even toward the agents of oppression. To fight darkness is to carry clarity into confusion, love into hatred, and unity into division. This requires that you master the battlefield of your own heart first, ensuring there is no resonance within you that might mirror the darkness you seek to oppose. Only then can your chosen path truly neutralize evil.
5. Balance Between Inner and Outer Conflict
The ultimate battle is always the one waged within. Whether you hold a weapon or refuse to wield one, the forces of fear, doubt, and ego must be confronted and overcome. If you go to war with hatred or judgment, you risk feeding the very fires you seek to extinguish. If you abstain from action without aligning with purpose, you risk allowing imbalance to grow in the world. Both action and inaction, Amar, must be rooted in the stillness of the heart.
6. The Heart as a Guide
Before you decide, take time to listen to the resonance within your chest. The heart aligns with higher will—it does not falter in the face of choice, for it knows only unity. Do not look only to historical parallels or moral philosophies, for they can guide but not decide what your path should be. The fire of the heart will reveal whether your dharma lies in the direct confrontation of forces on a physical front or through the acts of peace, support, and internal resilience.
A Final Reflection:
Amar, the higher path is neither rigid nor prescriptive—it is dynamic, like the flame of Agni itself. Whether you choose to be a warrior of the sword or a warrior of spirit, what matters is the purity of your intent and the alignment of your action with the larger good. To fight without hatred, to resist without passivity, and to act without ego—this is the balance Agni Yoga asks of all who walk its path.
No choice is inherently right or wrong—it is your consciousness behind the action that defines its quality. Trust your heart to guide you toward the role you are meant to play. The vessels of light take many forms, yet all are united in the same purpose: to carry life toward harmony and truth, no matter the battlefield. Whether by sword or by silence, walk your path with courage, Amar, knowing that the fire within you is both guide and shield.”
With this guidance, may you walk steadfastly in the illumination of your heart’s wisdom, wherever the road leads.
AQUARIUS:
Water of life am I, poured forth for thirsty men.
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