Jouko Ikonen – Finland
Jouko, a lifelong seeker. He is member of the Theosophical Society (Adyar) and The Finnish Rosy Cross
I. BE CLEAN
When you work in the world, keep nature clean so that future generations can take pleasure in its purity. Leave the earth, water, air, and fire clean for those that will come after you, as your ancestors left them for you.
When you work on your inner self, watch over your emotions and thoughts so they are clean for yourself and others.
In this way, you will gradually build your being—your soul, spirit, and physical body—to be pure and brilliant, and you will be ready to encounter what is highest in you.
II. BE ALWAYS TRUE
When you are true in your deeds, speech, emotions, and thoughts, you will develop the capacity to distinguish between right and wrong.
Be truthful when working with your inner self, which is the altar of truth, and when you work in the world.
In this way, your qualities will be in tune with one another and will unite you with a circle of life that is now unknown to you. Then you will be able to use your powers for the service of Creation.
III. ONLY TAKE THAT WHICH IS YOURS
Consider precisely what you need here in the world, and take only that.
Nobody will starve or live in need if you take only what you need, because the natural economy is so founded that it will feed everybody in moderation.
If you take too much, somebody else will get too little.
Also consider what you truly need at the level of your finer qualities. Give away what is not necessary for you.
If we lead a simple and moderate life, we will not create demand for things whose production pollutes our environment and our lives.
IV. DIRECT YOUR POWER TO THE ESSENTIAL
The powers of willing, thinking, feeling, speaking, and doing are yours and yours only. Use these capacities to forward your essential goals and benefit others. If you do work that worsens conditions for others, give it up and work instead to grow a tree of life for them.
Do not use your powers to resist evil but to encourage good.
Be aware of the action of your finer qualities in yourself and use them to serve good. In this way, your tree of life will bear fruit for future generations.
V. MEET LIFE
The sphere of experience changes year by year. Sometimes you float on the waves of joy, sometimes you wander in the valley of sorrow, and sometimes you are met with pain. Take them all into your life and have them all as your teachers. You cannot choose joy if you do not accept sorrow as its companion.
You create the grounds of your joy and sorrow.
Do not walk stupidly forever in the circle of life, but learn what creates joy, sorrow, and pain.
VI. SHOW GREAT TOLERANCE FOR OTHERS
Remember that your religion grows from the same root as other religions. If your religion and faith are living, you will bring forth living deeds. If it is dead, you will bring forth dead deeds.
Let your fruits prove your faith. If they ripen in you, others will see that you have found your root.
If you do not bear fruits that are true to your faith, it is useless to speak about your doctrine.
If someone wants to express their soul by dancing, allow them.
If someone wants to paint a picture of their soul, let it be so.
If someone only wants to meditate, let them also have the right to do it.
Take care to do what feels best and worthiest in your innermost heart.
If your doctrine is true, people will absorb it from your lips; you need not impose it. But first this tune must sound purely in yourself.
VII. LEARN NOT TO KILL AND NOT TO HURT
Do not kill a human or animal.
Do not cause others to kill for you.
Control your emotional and mental powers. Do not use them to kill.
Learn to use your speech without hurting. Instead, build, animate, heal, and bring joy and solace.
VIII. FORGIVE
Forgiving will free you from the burdens of the past, and life will stay with you.
IX. LEARN CALMNESS OF MIND
Watch over the variations of your temper. Learn to see past the waves of life.
You are not your emotions or thoughts.
Anger weakens your mind. It will take you a long time to repair the damage of your hate, both outside and inside yourself. Your outbursts of anger can harm your finer qualities.
X. WATCH OVER YOUR MOTIVES
If you build only for yourself, you will make a wall around you.
Learn to serve the whole world.
When you begin to act, consider whether your motives are pure.
XI. MAINTAIN YOUR CONNECTION WITH THE HIGHEST IN YOU
All your life experiences are included in your highest essence: the Christ in you, your Overself, your higher trinity, your God; call it what you like.
You can feel this connection throughout your being.
Therefore seek it by praying, meditating, devoting yourself to your ideals, and doing righteous activities.’
If this connection is lost, you live for nothing.
XII. LOVE
Love the whole creation, where you have only teachers, not enemies.
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