From Agni Yoga: verses 289 and 290
289 The Blessed One spoke of three spiritual teachers. One received divine gifts, then 
abandoned earthly labor. Another received these gifts, then dropped the thread of understanding. The third one, having received the gifts, and knowing how to tie the thread of understanding, continued to bear his labors on Earth. His usefulness exceeds that of the others.
The cross is the symbol of Life. When the great Plato was departing from Us his last advice was, “Create heroes.”
290 Did the heroes of ancient times resemble today’s heroes? Did the heroes of antiquity need an exhaustible store of enthusiasm? The achievements were brief, and one explosion of fire was enough to feed their energy. Now, the extended duration of achievement, with the complete depletion of forces within the earthly atmosphere, puts an unbearable strain on the energy. The most powerful stroke, the earnest call can flash out from but a single explosion; but continuous and repeated action require a whole sequence of currents of energy.
The present-day hero is sustained by the realization that from no earthly quarter can he expect cooperation. When he says, “I will not abandon the field of battle,” he already finds new strength. We are ready to provide the strengthening current in accordance with the firmness of his decision not to abandon the battle. We do know, however, how difficult it is to carry the light in the darkness because this light is seen by others but not by the one who carries it. Besides, those who sleep cannot stand the light.
In general, take note of those who do not need darkness for their sleep. The fire of their spirit dispels the darkness. We recognize the fighters by certain habits. When their eye wanders in the darkness, and they shudder at the gloom. We comfort them with the words, “Space harkens you.”
The sower does not count the scattered seeds, for he is the sower and not the reaper. Who goes more joyously to his labor? The upright sower – not the bent reaper. With his right hand the sower broadly scatters his seeds. The wind carries away many seeds, but the sower sings because he knows that the field is no longer empty. He will depart when the field is full. It does not matter to him who will reap the harvest or who will collect the new seeds. The task of sowing is given to the most trusted toiler. Large is the field, but the skilled hand does not tire.
We are told once again, “Create heroes.”
(graphic; Van Gogh’s The Sower)
