OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER • 2020 • VOL. XLII / NO. 4

Inside This Issue For the Common Good For the Common Good Page One New Era Community, 1926, (updated July 2019) Supermundane, 1938, (updated July 2020) New Era Community, 147. He is a hero who acts Supermundane, 472. Urusvati knows of those Networkers Letter self-sacrificingly, unwaveringly, consciously, and moments when one is unable to discern the bound- Page Two who, acting in the name of the Common Good, ary between the personal good and the Common An Example of thus brings nearer the current of cosmic evolution. Good. The mind whispers that personal gain the Life of Yuri Letters of II (1935–1939) is in conflict with general welfare, but the heart Nikolaevich Roerich says otherwise. Disharmony as an Agni Yogi Letters of Helena Roerich II, will cause a contradiction Page Three 13 August 1938. [T]he Teach- between the personal good ing of Living Ethics is also a “All labor, especially Realm of Beauty and the Common Good, Page Seven call to Love, to Service for the if accompanied by but it is possible to imagine a Common Good, which is the point at which the Common Thoughts on Agni highest form of love, because it good thoughts, brings Good becomes the personal. Page Eight is devoid of selfhood. Love for It is a harmonious state that humanity demands complete help to someone.” Conversations with requires an equal harmony of Daniel Entin self-abnegation and self-sac- all surrounding conditions. rifice. Page Nine Supermundane, 509. The chief enemy of truth Letters of Helena Roerich II, 6 August 1938. The is intolerance, and the more tolerance and benev- present era is reminiscent of a certain period in olence there is the stronger will be the foundation. . At that time they could not find equilib- Every step of truth is directed toward the Common rium; however, though one is now aware of a like Good—this is the defining criterion. nonconformity, some, more vitally alive nations Supermundane, 542. When one’s heart strives may find the necessary concordance. We see where toward the Common Good, all of one’s thoughts Welcome the inception of synthesis may be realized. It will not are attuned to it. The striving can be austere or For discussions be where the pendulum of life is inert, but where joyous, or steadily compassionate; all can be it is swinging to the utmost. There the significance the keynote of one’s thinking. and posts on the of the Common Good is understood; there it is Supermundane, 611. Let everyone think Teachings, known that it can originate only with the Common how to serve the Common Good. Every farmer please visit our “Agni Good. The formula is not yet pronounced; however, sows and reaps not just for himself, but also Yoga – Living Ethics it already ripens in the depth of consciousness. . . . for others, unknown to him. Let him think that Service, above all, discloses the path of realization the grain that he produces will bring good to Community” site on of the Common Good. Not finery or rituals, but somebody. The thoughts themselves encour- Facebook: service to mankind. For many centuries words age humanity with universal understanding. https://www.facebook. about cooperation have been uttered. Frequently, All labor, especially if accompanied by good com/groups/Agni.Yoga. ideas were in advance of material possibilities, but thoughts, brings help to someone. Living.Ethics.Community/ at present people have found a multitude of useful Supermundane, 360. The Thinker said, adaptations, and the time has come when it will be “Whether I serve Nature, or Nature serves me, and WMEA on necessary to remember about the Common Good. does not matter. The important thing is that all the Web: Thus, look to where the pendulum is swinging to my knowledge and experience are offered in the service of the Common Good.” https://www.wmea-world.org the utmost. 2 Agni Yoga Quarterly

NETWORKERS LETTER Dear Friends, he WMEA is happy to announce the release of the Community second edition of At the “Begin to build the community as a TThreshold of the New World, by Helen home of knowledge and beauty.” Roerich, which we now offer in – New Era Community, verse 229 paperback and as a Kindle eBook. At the Threshold of the New World may Rev. Joleen D. DuBois be purchased through the WMEA online bookstore, or on Amazon. entries were recorded in 1924.3 “Your com. spirit receives rays and currents—not only Corrections, new information, and K.H.’s and Mine, but also those of Ter., the index, and easy-to-read footnotes Chinese Tara, Moh., Lao Tze, Vaugh[han], are included in this second edition, Confucius, and, of course, Buddha and which is dedicated to Daniel Entin. Chr[ist]. (So it is still difficult for me to If you are a student of Agni Yoga, receive other rays, right?) Not difficult, you will recognize the name of Dan- but rather that you cannot discern them. iel Entin, whose Conversations with (How does the Ray of Teacher Rak[ozzi] Daniel Entin are included in each affect me?) It strikes you on your knees. issue of Agni Yoga Quarterly. (It is disappointing to me that I cannot yet discern by sound who is talking to me.) The April/May/June 2017 issue of Not so important. . . . (During the talk I felt Agni Yoga Quarterly was a special a rotation of the centers in my head.)”4 issue dedicated to the life of Daniel Entin—“Daniel Entin, who was the “Urusvati may calmly accept every- executive director of the Nicholas thing. Inasmuch as self-confidence is Roerich Museum and the Agni Yoga blessed in action, so is self-conceit ruinous. Society, in New York City, New York, Self-conceit is hostile to simplicity. Even U.S.A, from 1983 to 2016, and then great minds are subject to this malady, and became director emeritus.” Daniel continued on page 11 Entin, Aida Tulskaya, Max Osinovsky, in 1949 that Helena Roerich herself put and Raya Urmalsky were the transla- 1 At the Threshold of the New World, Helena Roerich them together. She wrote about it in (Prescott, AZ: White Mountain Education Association, tors and editors of the first edition of her letter of February 7, 1949,1 to Sina Inc., [1998] 2020), 28. At the Threshold of the New World. It 2 For further information about Sina Fosdick and her Fosdick, the director of the Nicholas is my joy to dedicate this second edi- experiences with Helena Roerich, see My Teachers, Meet- Roerich Museum in New York.”2 ings with the Roerichs, Diary Leaves. first English edition tion to our beloved friend Daniel. (Prescott, AZ: White Mountain Education Association, The Fiery Experience, A typewritten, Inc., 2015). “Different parts of the essay, ‘Dreams authorized original of “The Fiery Expe- 3 In the following excerpt from “The Fiery Experience,” and Visions,’ were written at various M.M. is speaking, and questions and comments made by rience” essay is stored in the Manuscript times over many years, and it was only Helena Roerich are shown in parentheses. Department of the ICR in Moscow. All 4 At the Threshold of the New World, 164.

Agni Yoga Quarterly WMEA Copyright and Permissions Notice Vol. XLII No. 4 All materials contained within Agni Yoga Quarterly White Mountain Agni Yoga Quarterly can be found on are protected by United States copyright law the internet: and may not be reproduced, distributed, trans- Education https://www.wmea-world.org mitted, displayed, published, or broadcast Email: [email protected] without prior written permission of the White Association, Inc. Mountain Education Association, Inc.: https://wmea-world.org/wmea/copyright/ Agni Yoga Quarterly 3

An Example of the Life of Yuri Nikolaevich Roerich as an Agni Yogi by I. R. Rudzite

hen everyone gathered for Today, based on my memories and the last time in a small dining observations, I wanted to start a conversa- room, Yuri Nikolayevich never tion about the image of Yuri Nikolaevich Wwanted to sit in the place of honor. As my Roerich, as a life example of a person who father and sister, Gunta, later recalled, could be described as an Agni Yogi. they listened to the record of the heroic The time has come by right to define Yuri Wagnerian opera Parsifal, which had just Nikolaevich in a new way—as an “Agni been presented to Yuri Nikolaevich. On Yogi”—precisely because so many people the other side of the record was “Funeral who read the books of Agni Yoga still have March,” which for some reason they also little idea of what this really means. included. And in Yuri Nikolaevich’s brown eyes, a blue gleam of sadness appeared. There are so many false gods, false For some reason, one of the employees teachers, and false prophets around us! presented him with an album about the So many righteous people have appeared Bratsk cemetery in Riga, the photographs around the Teaching of Living Ethics and of which show a statue of the Mother and around the Roerich societies who consider soldiers of all wars resting at her feet. For themselves almost Adepts, but with a char- some reason, Yuri Nikolaevich spoke of a acteristic feature, of not the slightest cordi- ality in their eyes. Or even worse, on my long trip in the near future, and everyone George Roerich reading a Buddhist thought of . . . . manuscript way I met an infinite number of mediums with different “superpowers”: “seeing” the Helena Roerich, before her departure, subtle world, “hearing” voices, dictating all told Yuri Nikolaevich, “When a new star From August 1957 to May 1960, my kinds of “new teachings” or possession of appears, then it’s time to go.” father met with Yuri Nikolaevich Roerich so-called “automatic writings,” “clairvoy- Nikolai Konstantinovich’s painting about twenty times; there was also an ance,” and even “the ability to fly to other The Star of the Hero is dedicated to Yuri exchange of letters, which are stored in the planets”! Nikolayevich, a man ready to undertake archive of Gunta Rudzite in Riga, of which I have photocopies. Yuri Nikolaevich had none of the above another sacrificial feat, that the appearance abilities (and my father knew him very of a comet was a sign to him that the time Usually my father took my sister, Gunta well and maintained very close relations had come for a new feat. Then, before the (now the chairperson of the Riga Roerich with him, as one of the Roerich family’s arrival of Yuri Nikolaevich to his home- Society), and me to Moscow. Due to ill- closest friends). land, a new star was seen in . In par- ness, I did not participate in the first and ticular, my father, Richard Yakovlevich last meetings, but my sister and I some- In his way of life, his norms of behavior Rudzitis, read about this at that time in the times met with Yuri Nikolaevich, even in general, Yuri Nikolaevich did not par- Latvian newspaper Tsinya. without our father. ticularly stand out among those around him. As it is said in the book Agni Yoga: According to the Bogdanovs, Elena After each meeting, the three of us “Agni Yoga must be introduced into life, Ivanovna said that Yuri Nikolaevich was recalled what was said, and our father but its bearers must not differ externally going to for three years. Obviously, wrote down the content of the conver- from others in life. The Agni Yogi lives he knew the date of his departure. Having sations, which made up the diary of unnoticed” (187). The only thing Yuri completed his mission, he left on May 21, our father, who began to publish the Nikolayevich observed was some auster- 1960. Another big heart took the cup of Latvian magazine Light of Fire in the ity: he was unmarried; did not smoke; did the poison of human egoism. November issues of 1980 and 1981. 4 Agni Yoga Quarterly

not drink; ate rather modestly, usually veg- homeland, he joined the work with great etarian food; slept on a simple folding bed; tension. During the three years he lived and so forth. Regarding smoking, I recall a in Russia, he did an incredible amount of case: at an exhibition of paintings by Niko- work to awaken a true spiritual culture. I lai Konstantinovich, a young man asked must say that these were the incredibly dif- how they could work at such a height, to ficult years of “Khrushchevism,” only three which Yuri Nikolaevich replied that this years having passed since Stalin’s death, requires some preparation—for example, and all the activities of the great scientist you cannot smoke or drink. Hearing this, took place under the shameful supervision the young man dropped his eyes. of the KGB. I will not list all that he did; I In Moscow, when in the last year Yuri will indicate only a few of what he shared Nikolayevich felt tired, both he and the with us in conversations and letters. Bogdanovs had a decrease in hemoglobin Now, after more than seven months, in their blood. Yuri Nikolayevich got up it is difficult to imagine what incredible very early and strolled around the near- obstacles, especially on the part of artists, est square until dawn. Earlier, in , he he had to overcome before the first exhibi- went horseback riding every morning. tion of ’s paintings could Yuri Nikolayevich dressed cleanly, open in Moscow, which was followed neatly, usually in a European suit, light by exhibitions in Leningrad, Riga, Kiev, shirts, a tie; he also dressed for traveling in Tbilisi, and so on. And in 1960, an exhi- George Roerich studying a hiking suit, brought from India, consist- bition of his brother’s, Svyatoslav Niko- ing of a tunic and breeches of sandy color laevich, took place. Together, they began with brown leather buttons. us, hugs his father, and warmly squeezes publishing the literary heritage of Nikolai Konstantinovich: Reproductions, albums, I saw Yuri Nikolaevich several times; my and Gunta’s palms with both hands. He greets me as if we have been the closest and monographs were published; a film what struck me the most? Firstly, the fact was shot; programs were broadcast on that not a single photograph, not even a friends for a long time. Since then, I never again felt his testing gaze on me.” radio and television. He himself read a film shot by his student A. N. Zelinsky, huge number of lectures about his father, could reflect the true fieriness of his eyes, “Yuri Nikolaevich was sitting in his about his painting, literary works, philos- movements, facial expressions, and hands. chair at the writing table, calmly resting ophy, and expeditions. With his lectures, His whole being radiated a special energy his hands on the armrests, at times cross- he began to clarify questions about Eastern and an inexhaustible inner strength, along ing his fingers, and only by the constantly Yogis. He also read a lot of lectures on East- with a special charm and sensitivity. changing expression of his face, by the way ern literature, philosophy, and religion, At the beginning of this story about him, at times his thick, arched eyebrows were and began publishing a series of books on I would like to share a few fragments from flying high and then calmly down, as in Buddhist classical literature, which was my memoirs regarding the description of large [missing words]. At times, brown largely hindered by atheist colleagues. He his appearance: eyes displayed a crafty gaiety, and then prepared his works for publication and a hidden sadness appeared, and then an “At the doorway to the opposite room, also taught new postgraduate researchers unexpected radiance flashed; and I under- at the Institute of Oriental Studies. a man of medium height and strong build stood what wealth of the soul is hidden in appears. A light, oval face with prominent this seemingly, so outwardly modest man. Yuri Nikolaevich conquered obstacle cheekbones and a short-cropped gray after obstacle, creating as much as he could. beard. The rise of black-winged eyebrows, When they talked about the most inti- Here is another milestone of an Agni Yogi. and for a few seconds a penetrating look mate, the closest, his eyes became seem- “Around an Agni Yogi you will always piercing me through and through. And ingly bottomless, going into the infinity of find construction, whose very difficulties after half a minute, his large almond- millennia, reminiscent of the mysterious are stepping stones in the overcoming of shaped, brown eyes light up with a charm- huge black pupils of the statues of Egyp- imperfection” (Agni Yoga, 403). tian sarcophagi.” ing smile, and expressive deep dimples The scientist worked hard but harmoni- appear on his cheeks. He comes to meet When Yuri Nikolayevich returned to his ously, without fuss, carefully using his own Agni Yoga Quarterly 5

and others’ time. It was incomprehensible others. In art, a person does not always to him the great waste of time spent in fre- correspond to his inner appearance. It quent, senseless meetings in stuffy, smoky must be judged by the inner appearance. rooms—about which he most recently Lermontov’s beginnings are closer. Push- complained. kin is a great talent, but Lermontov is In the book Heart we read: “An Agni higher in appearance than Pushkin, if we Yogi is economical in everything, not out compare the same-named poems, “The of stinginess but because he knows the Prophet,” in both. In Russian literature, at value of the energy that is poured forth this time, Chaadaev was the most advanced from above. Thus, he conserves his own as a person. Herzen once said that it was energy as well as the energy around him” simply impossible not to notice Chaadaev (Heart, 37). in the crowd, even in his eyes. . . . Raphael also had his weaknesses. The life of Yuri Nikolaevich is the path of sacrifice, the path of labor for the Com- “The main thing is the inner appear- mon Good. Few people knew about the ance,” Yuri Nikolaevich repeated over and spiritual loneliness of Yuri Nikolayevich, over again. “Ascetics are those in whom all or the severe fatigue from the big city, the aspects of their character already corre- continuous difficulties and obstacles, or spond to their Credo.” And I realized that the everyday inconveniences. Sometimes the same can be said about an Agni Yogi. the “sisters,” which was the name for the Young George Roerich in a winter coat What made up this person’s Credo? Bogdanovs, went down to the store for “This is the inner vision and hearing of all groceries and not being able to stand the Better even [to] lie than betray.” life; this is the special receptivity of the qual- huge lines, returned empty-handed. The From the diaries of Nikolai Konstan- ities of his heart,” which to a large extent scientist himself had to replace them. tinovich and Yuri Nikolaevich, we knew corresponds to paragraph 374 from the Everyone came to him for help, advice, about the meetings with the Mahatmas book Infinity II: “Each refined sensation energy, and joy. “The Agni Yogi is not only and about the Roerichs’ visits to the Hima- means contact with the Spatial Fire. There- a magnetic focus, but he also improves the layan Ashrams. fore, only the highest Agni Yogi transmits to health conditions of a locality. . . . Thus . . . humanity the subtlest receptivity. The entire Our friend G. (Golubkina) said that once evolution is based on refinement.” the Agni Yogi take[s] upon [himself] the when Yuri Nikolaevich was leaving the currents of space (Fiery World I, 286). exhibition hall, a woman approached him His heart was so developed that he saw Few people understood how often Yuri and asked the question, “Does Shambala and felt in seemingly ordinary phenomena Nikolaevich suffered from people’s dis- exist?” To which Yuri Nikolaevich, look- the signs he was guided by, which deter- harmony. “[E]veryone can burden him, ing the woman in the eyes and after some mined his choice at decisive moments. but only few can help” (Fiery World I, 286). silence, replied, “Yes, I myself was there.” “Many signs are bestowed on humanity, only let us not forget them. Each of you Yet almost no one saw signs of fatigue in The next day after the closing of the first remembers these landmarks which are him, and everyone received a great boost of exhibition of Nikolai Konstantinovich, scattered throughout different years of life. energy. “Indeed, the highest Agni Yogi cre- other friends besides us from Riga, G. F. When the Tablets are revealed, one must ates without tiring in spirit” (Infinity I, 263). Lukin and Br. Yakobson, came to Yuri just read them and courageously walk on And yet, what was the source of the Nikolaevich. They started talking about toward the Light” (Fiery World I, 648). personalities close to the White Broth- seemingly inexhaustible strength and “But only a fiery heart will understand unceasing renewal of this man? erhood in spiritual qualities, and Harald Feliksovich asked about R. Wagner in this the hidden meaning of subtle signs. Let Yuri Nikolaevich really was an “oriental” regard to which he received an exhaustive employees understand that every sign has person and never spoke about the inner- answer: “Yes, Wagner could have come a purpose. How many High Beings send most or spoke so simply, almost impercep- close, but the hard aspects of his life were prayers and hope that they will be under- tibly, that one could hear it and one could alienating him. Wagner is a difficult man. stood” (Fiery World II, 178). miss it. According to the scientist, “Eastern Beethoven, in terms of his light, could For example, in a letter dated December people are very afraid to say the secret. have been a closer candidate than all the 8, 1959, he writes to Richard Yakovlevich: 6 Agni Yoga Quarterly

“The next year, in general, promises to be At the same time, he said warmly that significant. There have been many differ- his father’s painting St. Sergius Will Save ent signs lately.” He spoke about many Russia Three Times, from the Prague col- signs in conversations with us. Many times lections, was transferred to the Tretyakov he foresaw good luck and Help in his Gallery, where it is kept in one of the store- affairs when, according to him, he noted rooms. Local employees, when they go to “good signs” in the various signs of Sham- this hall, say, “Let’s go to Sergius.” Some are bhala; for example, someone had a sign in baptized, while others kneel to pray. a medallion on his chest, or somehow he The historical opening of the first exhi- saw books about . bition of N. K. Roerich was scheduled for “Thus, in everything actions under signs Sunday, April 12, 1958, at 4 p.m., the day of can be seen. The concept of the symbol is Orthodox Easter. In the morning, my sister nothing but a reminder about a sign. The and I came to Yuri Nikolaevich with flow- success of entire nations takes place under ers and a gift, alone, without our father. It a symbol. so happened that we along with Yuri Niko- laevich and the Bogdanov sisters dined on “I consider it possible to proceed under Easter cake, and Easter and painted eggs; the Higher Sign during the most perilous and I remember how Yuri Nikolaevich, crossings” (Aum, 126). assessing the loss of the inner content of the These signs, in different forms and dif- rituals, noted with bitterness that in Russia George Roerich, Moscow (1957–1960) ferent contents, which Yuri Nikolaevich only eggs and Easter cakes remained from was guided by, often meant joining the Easter. When we took a taxi with Yuri Niko- wire of the Cosmic Fire, the wire of the ment of thinking, are indisputably one of laevich to the exhibition, I witnessed his Cosmic Magnet—Reason. the main qualities of an Agni Yogi. unusually quick reaction to his surround- “Contact with the current of the Cosmic “Thus knowledge is the fiery path. Is it ings, when he, several times, drew our Fire imparts a stimulus to the spirit; and a not inspiring to know how near is the path attention to the crowds of people standing vital action is intensified by this vital fire. to the Fiery World?” (Fiery World III, 497). near crowded churches in the side streets, Hence, the fiery Agni Yogi senses all cos- which I, unlike him, did not notice. I think it is necessary to touch upon mic perturbations and tautens all spatial Indeed, Yuri Nikolaevich had an amaz- threads” (Infinity II, 464). one aspect of the life of the Roerich fam- ily, about which I often met misunder- ing inner mobility; one might say, he had Yuri Nikolayevich evaluated people by standings and misinterpretations—this an “eagle eye,” combined with great calm- their inner fire, which he simply called was the attitude of Yuri Nikolaevich ness and harmony. And since I personally enthusiasm, in other words, by the ability and the entire Roerich family to reli- have not developed this quality, that is why to selflessly devote oneself to work for the gion and, in particular, to orthodoxy. it amazed me so many times in commu- Common Good. When many turned to The entire Roerich family was deeply nicating with him! So, once at a crowded him with the question “What to do?” he orthodox. The “sisters” personally told exhibition of Nikolai Konstantinovich in answered simply, “We need to raise enthu- me about this, that, in particular, Yuri Leningrad, my father and I had to find Yuri siasm and heroism. It is necessary to main- Nikolayevich wore a cross all of his life Nikolaevich. Richard Yakovlevich did not tain enthusiasm in everything and always, if and observed rituals when he attended feel well and sat aside. And several times it is directed toward the Common Good.” church—he was baptized; [he] lit can- I went through the entire exhibition, and not finding Yuri Nikolaevich, I was about What else amazed us at our meetings? dles. He traveled to the Trinity Lavra of to go back to my father, when quite unex- This was the encyclopedic nature of his St. Sergius many times, and I remember pectedly someone’s arms warmly hugged knowledge, open-mindedness, and inter- how he happily shared with us what an my shoulders, and then that someone est in everything. Each meeting was so indelible impression this left on him: turned to face me—it was Yuri Nikolae- educational that my father’s diary, which “The Church of the Holy Trinity is mag- vich. He did not know that we were here basically recorded only what we talked nificent. The choir sounded powerful. There about, was about 150 pages. were many young people and soldiers.” The breadth of knowledge, the develop- Continued on page 11 Agni Yoga Quarterly 7

Natalia Dmitrievna Spirina1 The Realm of Beauty Natalia Dmitrievna Spirina "In beauty we are united, through beauty (1911–2004), a famous Roerich we pray, with beauty we conquer." scholar, poet, founder of the Siberian Roerich Society, N. Roerich and Nicholas Roerich museums in and Altai

Spirina was born on May Dmitrievna. On her initiative, SibRO N.D. 4, 1911, in China, in Har- launched publishing activities and bin—a large center of Russian foreign began to publish the journal Before the countries, to a family of employees. Sunrise (later, Sunrise). N. D. Spirina She received an excellent education, remained the editor-in-chief of this graduating from the classical gymna- journal until the end of her life. sium and the Higher School of Music. The culmination of N. D. Spirina’s life In the 1940s, she became acquainted was the creation of two public Nicho- with the work of the world-famous art- las Roerich Museums, in Novosibirsk ist and thinker N. K. Roerich and with and in the village of Verkh-Uimon the Teaching of Living Ethics. This (). Hundreds of enthu- Teaching became the life and inspira- siasts from Russia and other countries tion of Natalia Dmitrievna. For many took part in the construction of these years she studied it under the guidance museums. of B. N. Abramov, a spiritual student Natalia Spirina received recognition of N. K. Roerich. Reading the books of for her literary work during her life- the , imbued with time. The first time her poems became its grandeur and beauty, N. D. Spirina Natalia Dmitrievna Spirina known was when they were published began to write poems in which the in the collections of Drops and Before thoughts of the The Secret Doctrine the Akademgorodok. Sunrise. Later, prose began to appear were reflected in a poetic form. Natalia Dmitrievna became a perma- in separate collections: Tales—philo- In 1959, following the Roerich’s nent guide at this and all subsequent sophical parables, and Gleams—arti- decree, B. N. Abramov and N. D. Spir- Roerich exhibitions in Novosibirsk. In cles and speeches on the Roerich heri- ina came to Russia. Boris Nikolaevich the 1970s, together with academician tage and others. settled in Venev, in the Tula region; A.P., she organized literary evenings In all of her speeches, slide pro- Natalia Dmitrievna, in Novosibirsk, with stories about N. K. Roerich and grams, and conversations, she sought in the Akademgorodok. For many his work. to convey to people the knowledge of years she worked as a music teacher, Several times, N. D. Spirina met the great power of culture—the only but the main business of her life was S.N., the youngest son of the Roerichs, factor that could transform the lives of to study the creative heritage of the who lived in India and came to the people. Roerich family and the Teaching of . Living Ethics. Upon retiring, Natalia N. D. Spirina passed away on Decem- Over time, the circle of like-minded Dmitrievna was able to engage more ber 10, 2004. The life she lived can be people expanded, as did the cultural in public activities. In August 1973, an briefly described in these words— and educational activities of N. D. exhibition of 150 works by N.K. and serving the Common Good. Spirina. In 1991, the Siberian Roerich several works by S. N. Roerich was Society was formed in Novosibirsk, the 1 Reprinted with the permission of Olga Olhovaya, opened at the House of Scientists in spiritual focus of which was Natalia Director of SibRO, the Siberian Roerich Society. 8 Agni Yoga Quarterly

Let There Be Light!1 Helena Roerich Thoughts on Agni Yoga The following inspiring message has been kindly sent by Mme. Helena We invite our readers to send us Roerich to the Mira girls, from their thoughts on a quote Nagar, Kulu, in the : from the Agni Yoga Teachings Beloved Sisters, n the grievous days of cosmic per- turbances and of human disunity and degeneration, of forgetfulness culture, of thought, of Iof all the higher principles of existence knowledge; Woman, and of those who bestow true life and the inspiration of lead to the evolution of the world, a Beauty, knows all the voice must be raised in calling to the force, all the synthetic resurrection of the spirit, to bring the power of Beauty. fire of achievement into all the actions of life, and certainly this voice must be Thus let us immedi- the voice of woman who has drained ately set about rais- the cup of suffering and abasement ing the Great Banner and who has been tempered in great of the New Era, the endurance. era of the Mother of the World. Let each Now let woman—the Mother of the woman set aside the World—say, Let there be Light! limits of her own Of what sort then will be this Light, and heart and contain in what manner will fiery achievement the hearths of the consist? In the concept of the banner whole world. These multiple hearths will strengthen “Let us keep in mind that and adorn her own each limitation leads to hearth. destruction and that each Let us keep in mind broadening will result in that each limitation construction.” leads to destruction and that each broad- ening will result in construction. There- of the Spirit on which will be inscribed: fore, with all our Love, Knowledge, and Beauty. forces, let us strive Yes, only the heart of woman, the mother, for the broadening Mother of the World by Nicholas Roerich can collect under this banner the children of our consciousness, of all the world, without distinction of for the refinement foresaw the coming era of the Mother of the sex, race, nationality, or religion. of our thoughts and feeling, in order to World. Woman, mother, and wife, the witness kindle our hearths with this fire. Helena Roerich of the development of the male genius, The great Vivekananda said, “The bird of 1 This article was printed in the magazine can appraise all the great significance of humanity cannot fly on one wing.” Thus, he Mira, May 1938, vol. 4. Agni Yoga Quarterly 9

September 4, 2002 Meditation Dear ——, Conversations with

I think you are right. Everything changes, all the time. But about med- Daniel Entin itation, it is not so clear a statement. The Daniel Entin (1927–2017), Former Executive one reference I gave, from the book Agni Director of the Yoga, simply says that meditation is out- moded. (The should give alter- native translations for the original; I think outmoded is not exactly right.) But I do September 4, 2002 don’t fight over every difference. There are know that in her many letters to disciples, other Agni Yoga groups (and new ones Helena Roerich clearly warned them away A Tribute to Helena Petrovna Blavatsky could be started) for those who can’t abide from meditation practices, from the very Dear ——, him. routine meditations that we have all prac- ticed and loved. HOWEVER, all through Maybe you should not sign such a mes- There is so much that is of common the Teaching, you find the word “commu- sage with “kindly.” It’s actually quite odi- interest, and that is what we have always nion.” To sit in communion, holding the ous. From the very beginning of the Agni tried to adhere to—as he wrote, our com- image of the Master in the mind, is rec- Yoga group formed by the Roerichs when mitment to Agni Yoga, our shared desire ommended more than once. That may be they came to New York, the students were to help one another understand the Teach- hardly distinguishable from meditation, required to study The Secret Doctrine and ing, and to discuss ways to implement it in and the difference, if there is one, has to be other Theosophical literature. A large por- our lives. Not too bad as a mission, I think. examined. tion of Helena Roerich’s letters to her stu- Why do you threaten an “election” to I think the root of this has, first, to dents, throughout the twenties, thirties, unseat the moderator? What a horrifying do with Agni Yoga being a teaching of forties, and fifties, were devoted to instruc- prospect! You would simply be trying to action in the world, and the point is tion in Theosophical questions. Today, of hijack the forum as it has been from the made, strongly, that we learn and grow the Agni Yoga students I know, easily half beginning. What’s going on? of them read Theosophical literature reg- by our commitment to Love in Action. Daniel Second, we are warned against ritualized ularly—and base their understanding of Agni Yoga on its Theosophical origins. practices, things that are done in a repet- September 5, 2002 itive, routine way, comforting as they You often just get carried away with Odiously! may be. your arguments and sink to a level of nasty Daniel insult. That is your right, but please don’t Dear ——, expect us to thank you for it. Modesty is always good to see. Thank September 4, 2002 Daniel you for yours. [Editor – Daniel is respond- Striving ing to the founder of the forum who com- Dear ——, September 5, 2002 mented on the discussion.] Odiously! I must go on record right here, however, The phrase “disease of striving” is to say that if there is some movement to get problematic if you are looking for Dear ——, rid of you as moderator, for reasons beyond parallels with Agni Yoga. “Striving” Do your homework. —— is the founder reason, I would take it as a real attack and is a hallowed word in Agni Yoga. The would rather see the group dissolved than entire Teaching is built on the con- of this forum; it was established by him according to principles articulated by him, see it taken over by people who out of their cepts of striving, action, and effort, own motives want to transform it. A few even battle. and he has every right to express himself here according to those principles. Many people have just appeared in the past few weeks and have decided to raise us up out Daniel of us agree with him, many do not, but we 10 Agni Yoga Quarterly

of our ignorance, with a persistence and way it was; they didn’t see anything And beauty is a good reminder. arrogance that is breathtaking. They are deficient in our discussions. But they convinced that we cannot advance with- felt that the new folks were hijacking To my mind, there are two beauties. The out whatever it is that they have to give us. the group, and chose to leave. one, beauty, is what you describe. It is the opposite pole of ugliness. This is a distinc- One wonders why they have chosen to do After each of these occasional outbreaks, that. tion on the level of duality. When we are always on the same subject, we lose some told to turn away from ugliness, to strive to Now, I have to clarify my own posi- people. Depending on individual points of make everything beautiful, it is that beauty tion in the group. Some people have view, the departures are seen with regret, that is meant. We are taught to consciously written to me privately, dissatisfied that I or with relief. What does that achieve? try to make everything we do beautiful. have “lost control” of the group. Well, of There is a European “umbrella group” Both the action and the result of the action course, I never had any control. I did not for the people in every country who must be as beautiful as we can make them. establish the group; I simply joined quite translate and publish the Teaching in a while after it started, as a new member. But then there is Beauty, the Beauty their own languages. We have an annual that is the state in which everything Now another new one tells me that I meeting that lasts three days. Almost all exists. The Teaching often uses the term am just a worn-out old Jew, who is just in the people, especially the Europeans, Be-ness, which can only be a state of the way. Very nice. Where did he come who translate the Agni Yoga books Beauty. It includes what on the lower level from, and why? What are his intentions? also translate the Bailey books. There can be seen as ugly. I think we all strive to Collecting all his messages shows great is never any conflict. One year, how- attain awareness of that sense of Beauty. lurchings from deep offensiveness to a ever, one person was invited to give the Beauty is the condition of the Universe, sometimes conciliatory tone, which I do opening talk, and he lectured us all for and it is sustained by Love, expressed in not trust. What does he want from us? Is three hours about the Seven Rays. His Action. This triad is fundamental to Agni he looking for followers? own colleagues, all adherents of AAB/ Yoga thinking and to the thinking of These people are accusing us of being DK’s work, reprimanded him, and a res- many other teachings, too, I am sure. olution was taken by them to remem- vile, simply because we respond to their One exercise I undertake is to select messages as we feel them, from our ber that this was an Agni Yoga meeting and that the discussions should explore something that is unarguably ugly, hearts. Were we vile before they showed dirty, or misshapen, broken or sick, and up? I don’t think so. What is it, then, Agni Yoga concepts. These people had no feelings that one teaching was supe- watch it for a long time, to try to dis- in them, that provoked such anger in cern its Beauty. It’s always there. some of us? Why are they doing that? rior to the other; their feeling was sim- They should read through some of their ply about what is appropriate. Just an When I was a young photographer, I earlier messages and see who is vile. example, offered for consideration. used to go to a summer camp for hand- Daniel icapped children, to do some docu- And someone gets it all wrong, and mentary work there. I always arrived in sees it as a gender problem, the bad boys September 6, 2002 a state of shock because of the assault duking it out in the schoolyard, while the A Sense of Beauty! of “ugliness” on my senses. By the time enlightened women wait patiently for I left, I saw only beauty all around me. them to stop. Well then, where does —— Dear ——, Some magic always occurred, whereby fit in to that picture? What is going on? Thank you, —— and others, for the true condition of all those suffering Some of our best members have taking us out of the self-destructive young people revealed itself. already left in disgust. They liked it the whirlpool in which we find ourselves. Daniel

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Yuri Roerich Yuri Nikolaevich was an exceptionally Networkers Letter (continued from page 6) generous person. He did not condemn (continued from page 2) anyone but carefully evaluated. So when and that we were looking for him, but he Harald Feliksovich violently began to must return an additional time to labor could easily perceive our thoughts and the attack the person of Napoleon, the scientist until they eradicate this husk. No member thoughts of others. stopped him, saying that Kutuzov spoke of the Brotherhood suffers from this.”5 I remember once when he felt that peo- well of Bonaparte, and as he expressed a reproach to some officer: “Who gave you “When I lived in the body of Akbar, ple were coming up to his apartment, but due to bodily forgetfulness, I began without notice, they left, and in bewilder- the right to condemn him?” The father added that when he was in Paris, in the to build a Temple with a pistil in the ment he asked us who it was. It turned middle of a square. I consulted the out that two from Riga (the Kalns couple) Panthéon of Napoleon, he felt that all the French respected Napoleon very much. stars, but the dates eluded me. Pisces came to see him, but at the last moment is His physical sign, but the sign of they were ashamed to disturb him and Another time, my sister, Gunta, com- His podvig is Orion. The Star of the turned back. He fully felt the radiation of plained about a guide who told ridicu- Morning is the sign of the Great Epoch people, and I remember how I asked my lous things about the paintings of Nikolai which will flash at the first ray from father not to bother him if a person called Konstantinovich, to which Yuri Niko- the Teaching of Christ. For who is to who is known as a medium, a psychic, or layevich only smiled and in response extol the Mother of the World if not had a personal interest in him, and the like. mentioned an anecdote from Tsarist Christ, the One so demeaned by the I noticed that in his presence, with all times: when at the exhibition some gen- world. Give Us the Arch of the Dome, the people who communicated with him, eral, who did not understand at all, spoke wherein to enter!”6 including me, any excitement, tension, devastatingly about a painting of Nich- shyness, and so on, dissolved, and the per- olas Roerich’s; but when he learned that With love, son began to feel especially good, as if on Roerich was the director of the school par with him. This is truly a sign of a great of the Imperial Society for the Encour- person, who accommodates all people agement of the Arts, he apologized and regardless of their age, education, cultural completely changed his mind. I did not Joleen Dianne DuBois level, nationality, or religious affiliation. participate in the first conversations due to illness, but I sent Yuri Nikolaevich a President and founder Despite his high intellectual level, he long letter, to which he answered me later, White Mountain Education Association, Inc. did not flaunt his knowledge. Everyone as if imperceptibly and gradually, during received spiritual warmth and inner joy many conversation. from him. 5 At the Threshold of the New World, 107. Literally in every meeting, in every 6 At the Threshold of the New World, 136. “The spirit imbued by fiery striv- conversation, Yuri Nikolaevich touched ing manifests a drawing power for all upon Altai, and it is very painful that peo- SUNDAY WEBINAR REGISTRATION vital impulses. As each energy reaches ple still do not appreciate the full signifi- its identical element, so also the spirit cance of Altai and do not understand the https://wmea-world.org/live.html of the higher Agni Yogi reaches the deep reason for which the entire Roerich WHITE MOUNTAIN WEBSITE hearts of those striving to Truth. Thus, family, after returning to their homeland, https://wmea-world.org each energy of the heart molds peo- wanted to settle in Gorno-Altai. ple. The lever of the heart sets all the SUNDAY TALKS strained strivings. This is why peo- Yuri Nikolaevich wanted Altai to be https://youtube.com/wmeaworld/videos allocated the best paintings for the special ple are attracted to the fiery heart of JOLEEN’S BLOG an Agni Yogi. Thus, the power of the Roerich Museum. Unfortunately, this has https://www.wmea-world.org/toay heart affirms the manifested striving of not yet been done, and the Altai muse- an Agni Yogi. The creativeness of the ums still do not have original paintings. AGNI YOGA LIVING ETHICS COMMUNITY heart can bring the pledge of Light. I so By that time, Yuri Nikolaevich himself https://facebook.com/groups/Agni.Yoga.Living.Ethics.Community/ affirm!” (Infinity II, 238). It was said as wanted to move so that he could work in ZODIAC NEWSLETTER if about Yuri Nikolaevich! the Siberian branch of the Academy of https://www.wmea-world.org/zodiac_newsletter.html Sciences. 12 Agni Yoga Quarterly

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