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Leaves of Morya's Garden - Book 2 - Illumination (1925) - 2.7.5:
A shepherd beheld a man seated in meditation beneath a tree. Seating himself beside the man, he tried in emulation of him also to think. He began to count his sheep and mentally to figure out the profit from the sale of the wool. Both sat silent. Leaves of Morya's Garden - Book 2 - Illumination (1925) - 2.7.5:
Finally the shepherd said: "Lord, of what art thou thinking?" Leaves of Morya's Garden - Book 2 - Illumination (1925) - 2.7.5:
The shepherd asked: "Dost thou know of what I was thinking?" New Era Community (1926) - 41:
Swimmers, if you do everything possible within your strength, whither can the most destructive wave carry you? It can only bear you upwards. And thou, sower, when thou wilt distribute the seeds, thou mayst expect a harvest. And thou, shepherd, when thou dost recount thy sheep, thou wilt kindle a manifest light. Agni Yoga (1929) - 335:
Is it important to the shepherd to know which of his sheep will give the better wool? Is it important to the gardener to know how much fruit each of his cultivated trees will yield? No, the shepherd's care is for his entire flock, and the gardener's love is for his whole orchard. Agni Yoga (1929) - 570:
Teros was called a warrior; surely he is not a harvester, or a shepherd. In his nature Teros is conqueror and victor; but the joy of attainment does not turn him into a tyrant. Four prescriptions given long ago are: Reverence of Hierarchy; Realization of Unity; Realization of Co-measurement; and Application of the Canon "By thy God." With these, the disciple provides Teros with a proper basis for understanding. How else can he find where lies the path of the Good? Brotherhood (1937) - 60:
60. We strengthen our listeners with all the qualities necessary on the path to Brotherhood. It is not enough to possess only certain separate qualities, it is needful to realize their complete combination. The symphony of qualities is like the symphony of the spheres. If one quality develops beautifully while others are straggling, there results a destructive dissonance. Dissonances can be weakening or irritating, or even destructive. Equilibrium of qualities is achieved through great tension of consciousness. The shepherd must carefully tend his flock, and likewise man must cure an ailing quality. A man himself knows definitely which of his qualities is ailing. Life provides him with an opportunity to test any quality whatsoever. In everyday life there can be found the possibility of application of any quality. If a man begins to insist that he has been deprived of the possibility of applying his best qualities, he will reveal his own dullness. On the other hand, if a man rejoices at a chance to apply his qualities, he exhibits broadening of consciousness. Then comes the next step of joy, precisely that concerning the beauty of symphony of qualities. Supermundane - The Inner Life - Book 1 (1938) - 165:
Imagine a shepherd trying to lead his flock through a thicket - how many branches he must break and rocks he must push aside to clear the way! The shepherd's task is to bring his flock home before dark, and he is well armed for protection against the wild beasts that will threaten him on the way. Such is the role of the leader who must possess courage, decisiveness, aspiration, and self-denial. Supermundane - The Inner Life - Book 2 (1938) - 359:
The Thinker once saw a shepherd who was followed by his large flock of sheep. The Thinker smilingly asked, "By what magic do you compel the animals to follow you so obediently?" The shepherd answered, "I live with them and love them, and they feel that they are safe if they follow me."
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