Nickolas Roerich

[gamavor]

I don't know why and how, but while I made a reference to Tciolkovsky in the thread about Creationist theory (Creationist scientific theory to be precise) the name of one of the greatest thinkers of the modern era came to mind. Our modest Religion Forum is too "narrow" to accommodate the greatness of this man.

 

Nicholas (Nikolai) Roerich has been widely known in the West thanks to his paintings. He was not just an artist, but a noteworthy thinker, philosopher, theologian, architect, teacher.

 

He had created his own cosmogonic theory based on the Eastern thought.

 

The most widely known book written by him was Living Ethics.

 

The web page below is a brief introduction to his philosophy and art.

 

http://www.frankperry.co.uk/Roerich%20Art.htm

 

http://www.vor.ru/culture/cultarch90_eng.html

 

 

PS: Creationist scientific theory is precise as long as one believes that the energy of the proton is not and cannot be a product of an evolution, nor it can possibly have independent existence.

 

 

 

AN ESOTERICIST'S JOURNEY IN AMERICA

Part 3. LECTURES AND ARTICLES

 

C --- Introduction to Agni Yoga

 

1. Three Sources of Agni Yoga

 

 

Many of those in Russia, who take a great interest in the Living Ethics, recognize it as the only true and unique universal teaching and studiously disseminate it to the masses. For many of those in Russia, who are led to esotericism, Agni Yoga is perceived as a complete course of the esoteric philosophy.

 

The popularity of ideas of Agni Yoga among a certain part of the Russian intelligentsia can be explained by two factors.

 

Firstly, by the popularity of books and pictures by Nikolai Roerich. His separate works were reprinted many times in Soviet Russia. His ideas about the necessity of preservation of the world culture, of his Peace Pact were popularized in every way and were pragmatically used by the Communist regime. His sincere service to Russia – to Soviet Russia, was emphasized by the regime. In its ideological work the Soviet regime laid a special stress on the activity of the International nongovernmental and nonpolitical association "Peace Through Culture". Its branches were established in a number of countries of the world.

 

Nikolai Roerich is recognized as an outstanding thinker, writer and artist in Russia. As for Helena Roerich, her work was hidden from the Soviet reading audience, and only a very small group of the Soviet people was aware of her Agni Yoga series almost up to the late 1980s. One will not find her name in Soviet encyclopedias or dictionaries. A brief biography of this remarkable woman was published in Russia for the first time in the early 1990s.

 

The second factor was the broad circulation and low prices of books of the Agni Yoga series. In the late 1980s. A. Klizovsky's book on Agni Yoga philosophy called Basics of Understanding of the New Epoch was published. I suppose that this book was never translated to English and it is a pity that a western reader cannot study it. It is the only work, which was written about the Living Ethics under the supervision of Helena Roerich. This book opened my eyes on the Universe and on right human relations, when I read it for the first time. This is the best book about the Living Ethics ever written.

 

However, the publication of translations of esoteric books of modern foreign authors, occult and theosophical classics naturally resulted in the fall of popularity of the Agni Yoga teaching. Many of its former followers were later led away from it by the Toltec Magic of Karlos Kostaneda, by the Tibetan's teaching, and numerous titles on Magic, Tarot, and Eastern philosophy.

 

Today in Russia esotericists understand the complete character of the Agni Yoga books. The sources of this teaching can be easily found. Moreover Nikolai Roerich and Helena Roerich described these sources in some detail by themselves.

 

The first source was theosophy and Oriental philosophy. The Roerichs displayed a great interest in the Oriental teaching in their youth. Remarkable Russian orientalists were invited to visit their house. Many of them had traveled or lived in Asian countries for a certain period of time and published their works. The Roerichs read these works. Books of Russian travelers around Asia were of a particular interest for them. Amongst Russian books, published about India were the ones written by H.P. Blavatsky. They never met with her in person, but constantly her books were an endless reference for them. Moreover, Helena Roerich translated The Secret Doctrine into Russian and published an abridged translation of The Mahatmas' Letters to A.P. Sinnett. In the 1990s all Russian esotericists studied both volumes of The Secret Doctrine in her translation.

 

The second source was their work under the Master Moria's guidance since 1920. Helena Roerich constantly emphasized her close cooperation with the Hierarchy, but published books of Agni Yoga anonymously. Nikolai Roerich never emphasized his collaboration with the Master.

 

The theme of telepathic or other contacts of rare and advanced representatives of the human race with the Masters is very delicate, because these facts cannot be proved experimentally with the help of special instruments by rational science. Only indirect proofs and arguments could be presented. Contacts or meetings of rare individuals, called "flowers of humanity" by the Roerichs, with the Masters from the subtle planes always caused disputes and discussions, on the one hand, and mistrust in such information by the majority of people on the other. This is a quite natural reaction by the absolute majority of materialistically thinking people. Due to a rather low level of spiritual development these people, as a rule, were unable to understand the mystical nature of such phenomena.

 

Frequent meetings or visions of Angels, Saints, and Jesus were known in history and described in all the sacred books and theological literature. In the Bible, as you remember, Moses' conversation with God, and in the Koran – Mohammed's meeting with Allah are described. Believers cannot avoid acknowledging such facts as trustworthy, positive and reliable sources. The masses could hardly understand the process of birth of new religious concepts, of new ideals of mankind, could they?

 

Helena Blavatsky was, perhaps, the first researcher who brought up for discussion the theme of contacts with the Mahatmas and the possibility of long and effective work of disciples chosen by Them under Their wise, and selective guidance, and the forms for such work. Few modern esotericists publicly describe their contacts with higher planes.

 

H. Roerich and A. Bailey openly discussed the nature of their work under the guidance of the Masters. They wrote that the acknowledgment of the need and efficiency of management of humanity under the guidance of the Hierarchy is one of the main conditions for further evolution of humanity.

 

The third and the main source was antique and medieval classic occultism. Classic occult works were translated and printed by Russian masons in the 18th-20th centuries. Many of those titles were also reprinted in the 1990s.

 

It is well known that at the end of the 19th century the Ageless Wisdom or Archaic Science was opened to mankind by H.P. Blavatsky through Theosophy, the well-elaborated occult system. The Ageless Wisdom is an esoteric component of human culture. It has existed on Earth for ages. During the 20th century the Ageless Wisdom was revealed simultaneously through the teaching of anthroposophy of R. Steiner, the Living Ethics and in A. Bailey's teachings.

 

All three teachings clearly state the basics of energetic understanding of the Universe, humanity and a human being. They clearly state the basics of the energetic hierarchy of planes and worlds of different density up to the subtle spiritual world.

 

Theosophy and the three teachings based upon it are intended in the first place for scientists, whose task is to synthesize experimental and esoteric sciences. The most valuable process today is the process of synthesis of four components – science, religion, philosophy and modern occultism, not just the synthesis of three components – science, religion and philosophy, as it was in Blavatsky's time.

 

All three teachings confirmed the fact of the beginning of a process of new energetic changes for the present human race and its consciousness. They contain clear practical recommendations about ways and methods of changing human consciousness.

 

Thus, it is useless to argue today about the authenticity of all three teachings and their sources. Today the missions of all theosophical, anthroposophic, Agni Yoga, esoteric, occult, New Age associations, organizations and lodges are not to clear up the relationships among themselves, but to popularize knowledge of all the components of the Modern esoteric philosophy among the people, to prepare them for self-perfection, to teach them to meditate and to serve humanity during the present stage of transition of our consciousness into a new energetic state or quality.

 

 

 

http://www.nw.com.au/~keane/synthesis/E%20...203/C/C%201.htm