International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 20 | Issue 1 Article 9 1-1-2001 On the History of Mystical Anarchism in Russia V. V. Nalimov Moscow State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Nalimov, V. V. (2001). Nalimov, V. V. (2001). On the history of mystical anarchism in Russia. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 20(1), 85–98.. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 20 (1). http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24972/ ijts.2001.20.1.85 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. On the History of Mystical Anarchism in Russia V. V. Nalimov Moscow State University Moscow, Russia Translated from the Russian by A. V Yarkho T SEEMS that the time is ripe to write about existing regime was regarded by many as a the subject of Mystical Anarchism. It is not a natural and unavoidable historical event. The I simple subject to discuss. It is rooted in the important thing was that the fight for freedom remotest past of Gnostic Christianity and even should not turn into a new nonfreedom. perhaps earlier (according to the legend) in At the end of the 1920s, among some of the Ancient Egypt. Anarchists, the idea offorming a party emerged. In Russia, the development of Mystical Their argument was that Anarchism had failed Anarchism, or otherwise, Mystical Acratism, is in a revolutionary struggle because it had no primarily connected with the name of Professor organization of the Bolshevik type. The ApollonAndreevichKarelin (1863-1926). In 1917 he returned to Russia from Paris after many counterargument was that formation of such a years of forced emigration (Nikitin, 1991a, party would render meaningless the anarchic 1991b). movement. Representatives of Mystical The well-known American historian of Anarchism, A. A. Solonovich in particular, were Anarchism, Avrich (1998), calls Karelin a Soviet sharply against the idea of the party. I was a anarchist, because for a number of years he was witness of this absurd and vehement fight. the leader of a small group of anarchists in the But the philosophical foundations of this fight All-Union Central Executive Committee. The were fairly serious. By the end of the 1920s the members of the group were "observers" in the following alternative had become obvious: either supreme organ of authority. Its task was to make to construct a new society based on a materialistic all that was happening more humanitarian, to position, which unavoidably makes it necessary oppose the death penalty and terror in general. to resort to a dictatorship of the Bolshevik type, Anarcho-Mysticism did not represent any or to take the road of a free quest, in which case political party. It had neither a program nor a the boundaries of human individual definitive ideology.1 A supporter need not have been an anarchist. The term "Anarchism" itself consciousness should be expanded. The latter was interpreted very broadly. It would be more means acquiring spiritual experience, and apt to speak of the principle of nonviolence, establishing contact with mystical experience. understood with sufficient broadness. At the same However, the word mysticism sounded awful to time, it was not a nonviolence of the Tolstoyan many, especially in the 1920s, which were type. The revolution as an overthrow of the penetrated by the spirit of vulgar scientism. The International journal ofTranspersonal Studies, 2001, Vol. 20, 85-98 85 © 2001 by Panigada Press Mystical Anarchism in Russia "Do you know how these authorities behave?" "Take her away!" NSTITUTIONALLY, in somewhat simplified terms, After that the persecution stopped. I Mystical Anarchists could be regarded as A tragic case: a young anarchist for some reason members of a closed religious-philosophical moved (with his family) to Komsomol'sk-na­ fraternity, most often called the Order of the Amure. He never concealed his views and was Temple. Participants could be people of spiritual reported to the police (nothing more). Then he was broad-mindedness, having: (1) uncompromising summoned, an inquest started, and he was beaten moral values (of predominantly Christian type); on the head with revolver butts, which caused his (2) a pronounced awareness of personal dignity; death. All the materials (with many photographs) (3) a faculty of mystic perception, an ability to were again sent to Smidovich. After the recognize spiritual aspects in the environment and investigation was over, the victim's family was in metaphorical texts; and (4) a profound urge granted a pension. What really strikes us about towards the ultimate principle of the Universe. this horrible case is the degree of intolerance. Spiritual broad-mindedness immediately Representatives ofthe authorities, whose job it is excluded the participation of members of the ruling to preserve order, kill a person only because of his party and dogmatists of all sorts. dissidence. That brings about sad thoughts: It is noteworthy that Mystical Anarchists Perhaps, this intolerance is an important index of preserved neutrality toward the ruling party spiritual retardedness in our country? longer than any other dissident revolutionaries. One certainly should be very cautious in Another noteworthy detail is that Karelin lived in evaluations. I am reminded of Karelin who said the apartment house inhabited by government that the revived Gnostic Christianity, transformed members, "The 1st House of Soviets" (former Hotel here into a Mystical Anarchism, nowhere received National, Room 219). 2 such a broad response as in our country. It could Indeed, Solonovich was first arrested in 1925. also be added that its members were never so But then he was interceded for by Kru·elin (with much persecuted as here. the· support ofA. S. Yenukidze) and liberated. He We have to acknowledge that we lived, and was even given back his typed manuscripts, which continue to live, in a very heterogeneous country were accompanied by the declaration that they in which so many different cultures of East and were to be regarded as scientific works. The only West came into contact. True unity failed to be requirement was that Solonovich was not to achieved either through the tsarist regime or that organize any groups, circles, or regular meetings; of its Bolshevik heirs. that is, he was not to work with people. Even then people associated with Solonovich The Scale of the Movement were actively shadowed. A relative of Solonovich's secretary told me that she was regularly UDGING BY fragmentary data, Mystical summoned to a certain place with the suggestion Anarchism in the 1920s (during a short period that she should cooperate with the authorities. 1of time) became very widespread among free Sometimes, when she was out with her young man, professionals and intellectuals: scholars and she was approached in the street by agents who scientists, college professors, artists and actors mysteriously proposed to her that she should from many towns. There were also contacts with follow them. The last menace was that she would noninstitutional spiritual teachings, and be infected with a venereal disease. For help, she somewhere in the Caucasus, contacts with had to address Pyotr Germogenovich Smidovich sectarianism. An attempt was even made to come (deputy of M. I. Kalinin), who usually helped in into contact with the youth (scouts organization). such matters willingly and with success. As a I feel we shall never be able to get exact data result she was summoned by V R. Menzhinsky. even after all the archives are open, as for the She was startled upon entering as she heard the sake of safety, different names were used: orders: Brotherhood of Parakletes,3 Order of the Spirit, "Switch on the radiators!" Order of the Light, Order of the Temple, 4 and "So you don't want to cooperate with the Soviet perhaps many other ones. When I returned after authorities?" the repressions (1936-1954), I recognized many, 86 The lntemationaL]oumaL ofTranspersonaL Studies, 2001, \-01. 20 but did not speak to them: the masks were still our Western allies. Then came the lengthy period on. Not everybody remained as before. Some of the Cold War that we eventually lost against became traitors, some merely went over to former allies. The expected revolution came, and another camp without betrayal and turned into the dictatorship of the Bolshevik party collapsed. non-Party Bolsheviks. How could it be possible But by that time there were practically no to disentangle all that? I am sure there were spiritually-prepared representatives of free people who recognized me, too. thinking. A. A. Solonovich (who knew already of the The policy of dictators to exterminate all future arrest) told me as his farewell: "Now we dissidents was farsighted, and their alternative are numerous and some small roots will remain." dramatic: Ifnot for them, the country would perish. Where are these roots? But was it intelligent and humane? I was saying good-bye to him at the familiar It is difficult for us to understand the course leather sofa where a new blanket lay prepared of history in the twentieth century. We can only for the prison. comprehend the fate ofindividuals, but never that of humankind. Such fate is beyond our grasp. Readiness for Sacrifices In the terms ofthe ancient Greek philosophers we could use the term Epokhe, abstention from HE READER must have long felt a desire to ask further reasoning; or else Aeon, extratemporality.