2011
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
Andreev Alexandre, « Оккультизм и мистика в жизни и творчестве Н.К. и Е.И. Рерих », HAL-SHS : histoire, ID : 10670/1.p9axyg
This essay is devoted to a delicate subject, generally evaded by rerikhovedy, or contemporary biographers of Nicholas and Helena Roerich, most of whom consider the terms "occultism" or "mysticism" irrelevant where the couple is concerned, instead perceiving the Roerichs' esoteric activities as a unique "cosmic experience." By contrast, this author regards the Roerichs as typical occultists, mystics, and myth-makers who forged their own version of the theosophical myth of the Himalayan Brotherhood. While living in St Petersburg (prior to 1918), they enthusiastically embraced spiritualist activities such as table-turning, theosophical literature, and Indian religious philosophy. After emigrating to the West, they posed as spiritual gurus, proclaiming their own set of teachings: Agni Yoga, also styled the "system of Living Ethics," a strain of quasi-religious mysticism of the New Age type. The subject matter is divided into several sections: "Spiritualism and mahatmas," "The Great Plan," "The creative work of the mystical Roerichs: A breakthrough to the other world," and "Helena Roerich's Fiery Experience." The author shows how under the influence of spiritualism, theosophy and Helena's channelling (her special "fiery" rapport with otherworldly "teachers"), the world-famous artist and his wife transformed themselves into "messengers of the Supreme forces," who strove to change the world by establishing Shambhala as an ideal earthly state. This was the goal of their utopian Great Plan, in which a revived New Russia was predestined to become the new world leader. With the help of their tiny group of followers in America, Europe, and Asia, they worked hard to make this scheme reality. The author presents the Roerichs' Great Plan, their master-project of the future, as a grandiose social utopia which, paradoxically enough, joined together religious and mystical elements (Christian and Buddhist prophesies of Armageddon and the War of Shambhala, and of the advent of Christ-Maitreya as the Messiah) with sober American practicality. Helena subsequently dubbed this project the "Great Plan of the Hierarchy of Light for World Salvation." The mystical communion the Roerichs claimed to have with their otherworldly teacher, Mahatma Morya, served as a powerful incentive and inspired them both. While Helena tirelessly produced the revelatory books of the new teaching (Agni Yoga), her husband produced his captivating icon-like paintings which served as "windows" into the unseen otherworld. Both of them eagerly anticipated the future coming of the Savior, the Christ-Buddha, and even tried to expedite this event. The essay attempts to analyze and assess the bizarre occult and mystical ideas and schemes of Nicholas and Helena Roerich in the 1920s and 1930s, by showing the ultimate futility of their endeavors to bring world leaders (those of the USSR and the USA) under the control of their invisible masters. The artist failed to realize much of what he had conceived. His fantastic "City of Knowledge" did not emerge either in the Altai or the Himalayas, and the Urusvati Research Institute he established on his estate in the Kulu Valley collapsed in the mid-1930s, soon after the break-up of the Roerich Circle. Likewise, none of the promises and prophesies of Master Morya came true, which, in the opinion of the author, only proves that no "cosmic teachers" in fact guided the Roerichs, and that their mahatmas were no more than incorporeal phantoms whose voices Helena heard in her head.