Sense of Rhythm
1. "In the human organism rhythm and harmony lie dormant, but we must awaken them, for this music must become an important part of our education. Without rhythm and harmony we will not enter the Highest Realms. The Universe exists by motion, which is regulated by rhythm, but people do not realize that the beat of the heart is a symbol of the movement of the Universe." [Supermundane, 195]
2. "Remember firmly: everything is achievable, and where there is not enough human strength to achieve it, you will achieve it by rhythm, because rhythm is the accumulation of energies in the sequence of increase. ...The life of the entire Cosmos is based on rhythm. This is the basic Law of Life. Approve the rhythm and you in everything that you want to stay with you forever. Rhythm is a powerful lever of life, especially when consciously called by the will. Save and strengthen what you think is necessary with the rhythm. Go with rhythm to a distant goal, for great power is hidden in it." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1956, 916]
3. "The feeling of rhythm is inherent, but the disorder of chaos deadens it. …If someone wants to take a decisive action, his instinct can correctly prompt him to first establish the necessary rhythm, and in this cadence the required harmony is found… Let us recall the most ancient meters of the Sanskrit language and of the worlds of ancient Greece and Rome. In them one can find highly-developed, well-considered patterns of rhythmic sound. The ancients knew the necessity for communion with Cosmos… Rhythm is both the cement and the wings of space." [Supermundane, 605]
4. "Rhythm should be expressed in all work, in all creativeness, in all of life. Only experienced workers are aware that rhythmic labor is the most productive." [Supermundane, 214]
5. "Undoubtedly, rhythm contributes to efficiency and each job requires its own rhythm. It is very desirable that this rhythm be subtle in quality and correspond as closely as possible to the individual rhythm of the worker. Some rhythms not only completely suppress a person's susceptibility to more subtle vibrations, but even excite the lowest and grossest manifestations in him. ...That is why I so welcome the reduction of hours of machine labor, as well as the reduction of the number of working masses employed in factories and manufactories." [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 6. 043]
6. "Rhythm is the progenitor of cooperation. From hoary antiquity people have understood the significance of rhythmic choirs, of musical movements; thus has the consciousness accumulated knowledge about the impelling force of collective labor. People knew long ago that rhythm kindled collective fires and helped in avoiding irritation and disunity. It affirmed identical aspirations, therefore music is the sign of unity before collective work. It is a pity that modern music is so often lacking in rhythm. Perhaps it serves as the beginning of many spiritual ulcers, but the question of harmony is unusually complicated. Lack of rhythm is disunity, but crude rhythm is stupor. Thus only a fiery consciousness will prompt the refinement of rhythm… Only the true rhythm carries us forward and preserves us from delay… Precisely this rhythm saves one from sorrowful ponderings and leads one forward in spirit; therefore let us not limit the effectiveness of the rhythm by external motion only, let us introduce it into spiritual life." [Fiery World II, 17]
7. "Let each of you set your own individual rhythm, the most suitable for him, but let him set it. Scattered, random, spasmodic efforts are zero in their consequences, although forces are expended on them. But the rhythm, even a small one, gives obvious consequences. You will succeed with the rhythm. In rhythm, the will grows like a flower watered regularly. Break the rhythm and the flower will wither." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1958, 198]
8. "Constant aspiration is harmonious and generates beautiful rhythms, while impatience is discordant and acts fitfully, disturbing the rhythm." [Supermundane, 411]
9. "Reiteration generates an accumulation of precipitations, providing an increased power of psychic energy, but these precipitations should be subject to a certain rhythm... every good deed is rhythmical." [Supermundane, 333]
10. "Where it is necessary to succeed in something, a rhythm is approved and introduced. He collects and accumulates the force necessary for movement and creates the inertia of a powerful movement." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1954, 558]
11. "Big things are done under the condition of rhythmic work. Let it be little by little, but rhythmically, and the speed will begin to increase in unusual proportions." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1954, 533]
12. "Success is achieved by repeated efforts. Moreover, the experience is repeated until the desired results are achieved. Stopping it earlier means admitting defeat. ...The unattainable is achieved by a series of repeated, that is, rhythmic efforts. Let's introduce rhythm into the sphere of spiritual achievements. There is no progress without rhythm." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1953, 208]
13. "The way is long, and it is necessary to reach. How? By the rhythm. Affirm the rhythm in all your actions that have a special meaning for you." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1956, 595]
14. "The constancy of rhythm must be observed in everything that is subject to protection and approval." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1954, 558]
Musicality
1. "This proficiency [musicality] is achieved as the result of much labor in other lives. According to the Teachings of Plato, music should not be understood in the narrow sense of music alone, but as participation in all the harmonious arts. In singing, in poetry, in painting, in sculpture, in architecture, in speech, and, finally, in all manifestations of sound, musicality is expressed. In Hellas a ceremony to all the Muses was performed. Tragedy, dance, and all rhythmic movement served the harmony of Cosmos… Everyone who expresses music in himself sacrifices, not for himself, but for others, for humanity, for Cosmos.
Perfection of thought is an expression of beautiful musicality. The highest rhythm is the best prophylaxis, a pure bridge to the highest worlds. Thus We affirm Beauty in Our Abode…
The heart’s feeling is sensed not in the words themselves but in their sound. There can be no irritation in harmony. Malice cannot exist where the spirit ascends. It is not by chance that in antiquity the epic scriptures were sung, not only to facilitate memorizing but also for inspiration." [Supermundane, 42]
2. "From childhood one should be accustomed to assimilating the beauty of sound. Musical faculties are in need of education. It is true that in each man has been implanted an inclination for sound, but without cultivation it remains asleep. Man ought to hear beautiful music and song. Sometimes a single harmony will awaken forever a sense of the beautiful… Without realization of the significance of music it is also impossible to understand the sounding of nature; and, of course, it is impossible to think about the music of the spheres—only noise will be accessible to the spirit of the ignorant. The song of waterfall or river or ocean will be only a roar; the wind will not bring melody and will not resound in the trees as a solemn hymn. The best harmonies vanish for the unopened ear. Can people accomplish their ascent without song? Can Brotherhood stand without song?" [Brotherhood, 292]
3. "An unbalanced person is like a badly tuned stringed instrument. In such a state he is not fit for creative labor, just as the out-of-tune instrument is not fit for music... Likewise, one’s free will can strengthen the consciousness and bring the nervous system into harmony… The Thinker said, “Keep the strings of your heart in harmony." [Supermundane, 771]
4. "Your letter, or rather, the music of your soul, brought me joy... Talent is not narrow, not any one-sided ability, but it is the sound of your soul on the multi-stringed harp of Life that is a high gift. But how rare are its bearers, especially now... Capable of one or another manifestation on the diverse paths of life, maybe not a few, but the musicality of the soul in the sense given to this determinative by Plato remains as before the rarest gift..." [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 7. 094]
5. "Constant conscious tuning of consciousness in a certain way gives it a higher tonality, that is, the ability to sound in harmony with higher energies. Of course, thoughts sound, and, of course, the microcosm primarily sounds on thoughts. Each thought sounds in its own key, tuning up the whole body. ... It has to sound your note, you have to sound your note. It is necessary that your powerful note always overcomes the hoarseness of human infirmity surrounding. It has always to win." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1953, 540]
6. "Only when the created forms are in full harmony with their inner content do they acquire a dynamic force of influence on human consciousness. ...Forms of speech consonant, born of beauty and saturated with the power of the rhythm of combined words, will be phenomena that give birth to light." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1955, 215]
