Rerikhism

Teachers and their teachings

Helena Roerich

Helena Roerich (1879-1955) was a Russian theosophist, writer, and public figure . In the 20th century, she created, in cooperation with the Teachers of the East ( Masters of the Ancient Wisdom ), a philosophical teaching of Living Ethics ( Agni Yoga ).

Helena was born in the family of Ivan Shaposhnikov , a well-known Saint Petersburg architect. Helena’s mother, belonged to an ancient Golenischev-Kutuzov family, which originated from Novgorod at the end of the 13th century. Significant members of this family included knyaz Mikhail Kutuzov , Field Marshal of the Russian Empire ; Arseny Golenishchev-Kutuzov , poet of the end of 19th century; Ilya Golenishchev-Kutuzov , philologist, poet; and Modest Mussorgsky , well-known composer. It was a nobiliary family distinguished not only for its nobilitybut for its cultural traditions too. Helena Was in frequent communication with the artists and scientists of the era, Such As Vladimir Bekhterev , Alexander Blok , Sergei Diaghilev , Arkhip Kuindzhi , Vladimir Solovyov , Vladimir Stasov , Igor Stravinsky , and Mikhail Vrubel . ^[6]

In 1901 Helena married Nicholas Roerich. Since that time they have been inseparable on life and spiritual-creative paths. She became his companion-in-arms in all his public and cultural undertakings. The Agni Yoga Society was founded by Nicholas and Helena in 1920 in the United States. It is a non-profit educational institution under the laws of the State of New York. ^[7]Together with her husband she participated in the heroical transhimalayan expedition (1924-1928). After the Roerich family settled in Kullu Valley in Himalayas was established at the Himalayan Institute of Scientific Studies and its honorary president – the foundress was Helena Roerich. ^[8]The years of life in India were the most intensive work of Helena. Here she completed a major part of Agni Yoga series. There were published 14 volumes of that series. The title of the author is Helena Roerich, which is considered to be the author’s property. She considered herself an author of three books only. They were published under different pen-names: “The Foundations of Buddhism” (1927), “The Cryptograms of the East” (1929), “The Banner of the Reverent Sergius ” (1934). Besides, she maintained very active correspondence with many people from Europe, Asia and America.Riga in 1940. Helena also did the translations. She translated into Russian the extracts from the book The Mahatma Letters to AP Sinnett ( The Chalice of the East ) and aussi two volumes of The Secret Doctrine by Helena Blavatsky . ^[8]

Nicholas Roerich

Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) was a Russian painter, writer, archaeologist , theosophist , philosopher, public figure . He is seen by some people as a spiritual teacher and guru . ^[11] [12]

He studied at the Karl May School , at the Imperial Academy of Arts , and at St. Petersburg University from 1893-1898, simultaneously at the Law University. ^[13] He wrote, “From 1890s, I saw accurate symbolisms of their people’s morals shown in the hand directions of philosophy, cultural memorials, monuments, literature and religions from ancient India, China, Tibet and Mongolian culture .” For 42 years Roerich lived in Russia, in India for 20 years, US for 3 years, Finland for 2 years, France for 1 year, China for 2 years, Tibet for half a year and Mongolia ^[14]for 7-8 months. Roerich twice toured through Central and Eastern Asia, in 1924 and 1934, and following his travels in Mongolia’s Gobi and Altai Mountains and the Himalayan Mountains , wrote the books “Heart of Asia” and “Altai-Himalaya”. An important role for humankind to coexist peacefully, together with well-known international figures ( Einstein , Tagore ), initiated the Roerich Pact during World War II for the purpose of protecting world cultural values. Roerich’s paintings, so attractive with their combinations of colors, amazing symbols and secrets, depict hidden ideas and deep meanings. Roerich, knowing the Buddha legend,Shambhala . The Roerichs are also famous for introducing Shambhala in Buddhist teachings in western countries . ^[15]

Jawaharlal Nehru’s tribute to Roerich, ^[16]

When I think of Nicholas Roerich I am astounded at the scope and abundance of his activities and creative genius. A great artist, a great scholar and writer, archaeologist and explorer, he has touched and lighted up so many aspects of human endeavor. The very quantity is stupendous – thousands of paintings and each one of them a great work of art. When you look at these paintings, so many of them of the Himalayas, you seem to catch the spirit of those great towers. They think of us in our history, our thought, our cultural and spiritual heritage is much more than just India,

Roerich’s sounds

Nicholas and Helena had two children. In August 1902 their eldest son, George, was born in Okulovka , Novgorod Oblast . After finishing his studies at Karl May School , he entered the Indian and Iranian Department of Oriental Languages ​​at London University in 1918. Under Indologist Professor Edward Denison Ross studied Sanskrit and Pali . ^[17] Later he became a world-renowned scientist, orientalist, and guru . ^[18] George is known for his contributions to Tibetan dialectology , his monumental translation of the Blue Annals, and his 11-volume Tibetan-Russian-English dictionary with Sanskrit parallels. ^[19] After spending almost 30 years in India George returned in 1957 to Russia. His return and acquisition of Soviet citizenship was courageous as the USSR’s opinion of his family was rather distorted. Because of his effort, they have been lifted on everything associated with Rerikhism and the legacy of research by the family is preserved. The first of Nicholas Roerich’s exhibitions was organized in Moscow in 1958, then spread to Leningrad , Riga , Kiev , Tbilisi , and other cities. He was able to dispel myths about the family’s philosophy of Agni Yogaand start a cultural movement using this philosophy spread to Living Ethics in the USSR. ^[20] George died on May 21, 1960, and his ashes were placed in Moscow, at the Novodevichy Cemetery . Svetoslav Roerich is the author of the memorial to this outstanding Russian scientist . ^[21] [22]

Their younger son, Svetoslav, was born on October 23, 1904, in St.Petersburg. In 1914-1916 he studied at the Karl May School . Since 1920 he lived in the United States. Svetoslav entered the Columbia University , the department of architecture which graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Since 1923 he was a director of the International Center of Art “Corona Mundi” in New York, which was founded by Nicholas Roerich. In 1928 Svetoslav moved from USA to India ( Darjiling ) to his family. Studying the culture , art and philosophy of India he created many wonderful paintings. Together with landscapes he painted many portraits. The portraits of Nicholas Roerich, Jawaharlal Nehruand Devika Rani – Svetoslav’s wife, must be specially marked. One of the most beautiful ones is a portrait of his mother Helena Roerich, the woman of exceptional spiritual and physical beauty. Svetoslav headed the department of folk art and pharmacopoeia at the Institute of Himalayan Studies “Urusvati” . In 1989, the initiative of Svetoslav in the USSR was established by the Soviet Foundation of the Roerichs on the basis of which there were studies and spreading of the ideas of Agni Yoga. In 1991 he was granted the Foundation with the archives of his parents and his brother, who were kept in India before. On January 30, 1993, Svetoslav passed away in Bangalore . ^[23] [24]

Agni Yoga

Agni Yoga is a religious doctrine transmitted by the Helena and Nicholas Roerichs from 1920. The followers of Agni Yoga believe that the teaching was given to the Roerich family and their associates by Master Morya , the guru of Helena Roerich and Helena Blavatsky , a founder of the Theosophical Society . In the sixteen volumes of the Teaching of Living Ethics That-have-been translated into English from the original Russian, ^[25] as well as in the letters of Helena Roerich, the Agni Yoga teaching est Referred to as the Teaching of Living Ethics , the Teaching of Life, Teaching of Light, or Simply Teaching. ^[26]

Based on the ancient knowledge of the East and the achievements of modern science in the West, Agni Yoga concerns peculiarities of cosmic evolution of humanity and creates a new system of its perception. The particular country pays attention to the Cosmic Laws that determines the motion of planets and growth of natural structures, birth of stars, and also human behavior and the development of Universe . The authors of the Teaching state that these Laws influence the historic and social processes in human life and unless the human realizes this life can not be improved. According to Agni Yoga, Universe is the most important spiritual-energy system in which man plays the most important role. The moral perfectionStrict Observance of Ethical Laws and Understanding of Key Factor of Culture in the Development of Human Society. ^[27] It’s impossible to build the future.

A man, according to the Teaching, influences the Cosmic processes greatly. Particular attention is paid to the consciousness of a man and the culture of thinking, as thought is energy, capable of filling space and effecting its surroundings. A man is directly responsible for the quality of his thoughts, words, and deeds, because it is not only his spiritual and physical health, but also the condition of the entire planet. Cosmic Laws, The Agni Yoga opens up possibilities for the spiritual transformation of life, the expansion of consciousness, and the acquisition of high moral standards . ^[28]

The Agni Yoga Society

The Agni Yoga Society was founded in 1920 by Helena and Nicholas Roerich. It is a non-profit educational institution incorporated in 1946 under the laws of the State of New York , and is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and membership dues. The aims of the Society are embodied in the philosophy of Agni Yoga-as contained in the Agni Yoga Series published by the Society. In the old days of modern thinking and modernism, the concept of Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Unlike previous yogas , Agni Yoga is a path of physical discipline, meditation , or asceticism-but of practice in daily life. It is the yoga of fiery energy, of consciousness, of responsible, directed thought. It teaches that the evolution of the planetary consciousness is a necessity, which is an attainable aspiration for mankind. It affirms the existence of the Hierarchy of Light and the center of the heart as well as the hierarchy and the far-off worlds. Agni Yoga is a Teaching that helps the discerning student to moral discover and spiritual guide-posts by which to learn to govern his or her life and to contribute to the common good . For this reason Agni Yoga has been called a “living ethic.” Speaking about the individual’s role in human spiritual evolution, Helena Roerich wrote, “The greatest benefit that we can contribute consists of the broadening of consciousness, and the improvement and enrichment of our thinking, which, together with the purification of the heart, strengthens our emanations. we restore the health of all that surrounds us. ” ^[7]

The Master Institute of Arts and Nicholas Roerich Museum

The Master Institute of United Arts came into being in 1920 as the Master School of United Arts. It struggled to survive until, in 1922, Louis Horch financed from a single-room, all-in-one studio at 314 West 54th Street to be built on the site where the Master Building would later be constructed. Originally built to house a museum for Nicholas Roerich , a school, an auditorium and a restaurant, the building was designed by Helmle, Corbett & Harrison and Sugarman & Berger. ^[29] [30]They were attracted to the spiritual quest in which the Roeriches were engaged and participated in which Helena Roerich would receive instructions from MahātmāMorya and Nicholas Roerich would record the papers in a series of texts, the Leaves of Morya’s Garden , ^[31] which follows, appears to encourage the construction of a building, such as the Master Building , as an educational center for spiritual enlightenment. The Master Institute aims to give students a good round of education in the arts and also to “open the gates to spiritual enlightenment” through culture. ^[32]

The mansion where it was located Nicholas Roerich Museum , containing many of the paintings Roerich had created, and Corona Mundi , which arranged for exhibitions by Roerich and international artists. The Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York City is dedicated to the works of Nicholas Roerich , whose work focuses on nature scenes from the Himalayas . ^[33] The museum is located in a brownstone at 319 West 107th Street on Manhattan ‘s Upper West Side . The museum was originally located in the Master Apartments at 103rd Street and Riverside Drive, which were built especially for Roerich in 1929. ^[34] Currently, the museum includes between 100 and 200 of Roerich’s works as a collection of archival materials. ^[35] [36] The Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York is the largest center of Roerich-related activity outside of Russia. ^[37]

Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace

The Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace movement grew rapidly during the early nineteen-thirties, with centers in a number of countries. There were three international conferences, in Bruges , Belgium , in Montevideo , Uruguay , and in Washington, DC The Pact itself declared the need for protection of the cultural product of the world and the world. which all sites of cultural value would be declared neutral and protected, just as the Red Cross does with hospitals. Indeed, the Roerich Pact was often called The Red Cross of Culture: ^[38]

NOW, THEREFORE be it known that I, Franklin D. Roosevelt , President of the United States of America, caused the said Treaty to be made public and well faith by the United States of America and the citizens thereof. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have caused the Seal of the United States of America to be hereunto affixed. DONE at the city of Washington this twenty-fifth day of the year of the one hundred and thirty-five, and the independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixtieth.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

By the President: Cordell Hull Secretary of State.

Ideas of Roerich Pact is not implemented in the international law, especially its principle of the almost unlimited preference of the preservation of cultural values ​​to the military necessity. ^[39]

The American Russian Cultural Association

The American Russian Cultural Association ( Russian : Американо-русская культурная ассоциация ) was organized in the USA in 1942 to promote cultural relations between the Soviet Union and the United States , with Nicholas Roerich as honorary president. The group’s first annual report was issued the following year. Nicholas Roerich’s death in 1947. ^[40] [41]

International Center of the Roerichs and Museum named after Nicholas Roerich

International Center of the Roerichs ( Russian : Международный центр Рерихов ) is a non-governmental public association of public and common associations on the basis of their common interests in the cause of study, preservation, and popularization of the Roerich family inheritance. The Center is an associate member of the Non-Governmental OrganizationsAssociation under the United Nations Department of Public Information . ^[42]

Museum named after Nicholas Roerich ( Russian : Музей имени К. Рериха Международного центра Рерихов ) contents included the Roerichs ‘cultural heritage passed on to the Soviet Roerichs’ Foundation (now International Center of the Roerichs) by Svetoslav Roerich in 1990. It carries in itself a new cosmic world view. The core of the Rerikhism is the philosophy of cosmic reality – the Agni Yoga , which develops the idea of ​​a close relationship between man and cosmos , contains knowledge which assists in the understanding of the specific features peculiar to the new evolutionary stage of mankind’s development. ^[43]

Post-Roerichian teaching of life

The Teaching of Life, which contains a new, cosmic worldview, has played and continues to play an important role in paving the way for spiritual evolution . The Roerich movement, like any social movement in the training process, has its difficulties and problems. ^[44] [45] Some international and regional organizations, whose activity is based on the ideas of Rerikhism, arose many years after the death of all members of the Roerich family.

The World Organization of Culture of Health (WOCH)

This organization was founded in the year 1994. Victor Skumin was elected to the post-President of the World Health Organization – International social movement “To Health via Culture” ( Russian : Международное общественное Движение “К Здоровью через Культуру “). The organization operates under the authority of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation Charter. Key element of a “Culture of Health” is the implementation of a holistic approach to physical, mental and spiritual well-being both inside and outside the workplace. ^[46] [47]

In the Russian Orthodox Church the social activities of this international organization as an ideology of Agni Yoga and New Age (NA), ^[48] [49]

The ideology of the NA serves outstanding contemporary philosophers: Gregory Bateson , Ken Wilber , Paul Feyerabend . A large scale is the creation and support of international organizations, contained in the ideology of the NA. In Russia and in Ukraine , International movement “To Health via Culture”, based on the teachings of Agni Yoga , operates and has a great publishing activity.

Goraschuk VP, Professor of HS Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University . In 2004, he wrote in his thesis for a doctoral degree on general interest pedagogics and history of pedagogics, ^[50]

V. Skumìn developed the problems associated with a culture of health in the context of Roerich.

The anthem of WOCH (“To Health via Culture”) consists of four stanzas. The capital letters each of the four stanzas form the word Agni . ^[51] [52] ( Anthem “To Health via Culture.” On YouTube ). Another hymn by Skumin is termed “Urusvati”. Helena Roerich , known as Tara Urusvati in Agni Yoga and Rerikhism. The hymn begins with the sentence, “The fire of the heart ignites Urusvati, she teaches the spirit take-off on the wings of the grace”. ^[52]

Skerm elaborated on the conceptions of spiritual evolution and proposed (1990) a classification of Homo spiritalis ( Latin : “spiritual man”), the sixth root race , consisting of eight sub-races (subspecies) – HS0 Anabiosis spiritalis, HS1 Scientella spiritalis, HS2 Aurora spiritalis, HS3 Ascensus spiritalis, HS4 Vocatus spiritalis, HS5 Illuminatio spiritalis, НS6 Creatio spiritalis, and HS7 Servitus spiritalis. ^[53]

The Journal of the World Organization of World Health Culture is based in Novocheboksarsk . In 1995, Victor Skumin became the first editor-in-chief of the journal To Health via Culture . The journal received an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) 0204-3440. ^[54] The main topics of the magazine are the dissemination of ideas of health culture, holistic medicine , Rerikhism, and Agni Yoga. ^[55]

The Organization also has its own publishing house (“To Health via Culture”), who has the right to publish the books with the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).