Passing by the Way of Blessed Ones

It is of a symbolical significance that the Roerich Pact marks its 75 anniversary in India. It is India, a cradle of the world spiritual culture that became Nicholas Roerich’s another homeland. India has preserved Her great regard for Nicholas Roerich as the great friend of India, as Her spiritual Teacher – Maharishi.

The main subject of all conferencies and seminars of the forum «Culture and Peace as Sacred Stronghold of the Humanity» was Unity.

The Forum members were able to take an active part in the cultural and scientific programmes. The Forum members were able to get a vivid sense and comprehension of the spiritual culture and aesthetics of India. And thus thanks to this remarkable experience they were able to comprehend those motivating forces that were behind the Roerich’s motto of life, behind their creative activities.

And the Heart of India Wants to Approach Russia the Unbounded…

What is there in common between Russia and such an exotic country as India? Why does Nicholas Roerich call Russia and India sister-countries? We could answer the questions after our communicating with Indian people just in the streets. They often asked us “What country are you from?” and on hearing in answer «Russia», they smiled a broad smile and said with their sincere warm openness, «Russia: Kharasho!» Such kind of sincere openness and warmness is also characteristic of Russian people. Indeed there is an obviously inward relationship between Indians and Russians…

When visiting Khadimba Temple in Manali we saw on its walls garlands of leaves resembling the leaves of our birch-trees. By the garlands of leaves there were stretched flounces decorated with the embroidering which resembled that one typical of Russia…

We happened to see temples with pent roofs of wood sloping on two sides from their central ridges. It is necessary to mention that pent roofs with their central ridges are characteristic of traditionally Russian peasant houses…

In the Kullu valley, near the Roerich’s house, we saw a stone image of Guga Chohan, the revered Protector of the Valley. The image of Guga Chohan, riding a horse, reminded to us of the Russian warrior Mercury Smolensky, one of the devoted protectors of old Russia, who even beheaded continued to fight against the enemies of his Motherland.

All these enigmatic illustrations confirm the fact of spiritual unity and relationship of India and Russia.

The reports and lectures by the members of the Forum also conveyed the spirit of Unity. Doctor of philosophic science A.V. Ivanov in his report «The Idea of Similarity and Unity of Russian and Indian Philosophy of XIX century» drew a parallel between philosophy of neo – vedantism in the works by Svami Vivekananda and philosophy of all-unity in the works by Russian religious philosopher Vladimir Solovyov.

Director of the Humane Pedagogical Centre D.A. Kutmanaliyeva spoke on Indian motifs in the works by a well-known Kirghizian writer Chingiz Aitmatov.

Doctor of philosophic science M. Shishin (Barnaul) spoke on the resemblance of spiritual religious practices of the Altai and India.

Professor Lokesh Chandra (Delhi) spoke on the spiritual unity of India and Russia. Lokesh Chandra called Nicholas Roerich the herald of that unity. Lokesh Chandra affirmed that Russia was a great world power. «It is Russia that will open the gates towards Future for the humanity», said Lokesh Chandra. Lokesh Chandra spoke favourably about the works by a young sculptor Aleksey Leonov. He said that A Leonov was a subtle artist with a delicate perception of spiritual culture of India.

Professor O.A. Urozhenko in her report «The Roerich Pact as an Expression of Philosophy of Cosmic Reality» revealed the meta-historical significance of the Pact. She gave a deep analysis of a philosophic and energetic aspect of the Banner of Peace being guided by the Teaching of Living Ethics, by Indian and Russian spiritual traditions. Candidate of history of arts, E. S. Kulakova spoke on the subject. «Nicholas Roerich as Leader of Culture in the Paintings by Svyatoslav Roerich».

The name of N.K. Roerich and the Pact of Culture became the main subject of the Round Table which was held at the State University named after Jawarharlal Nehru. In the work of the Round Table there participated professors, post-graduate students and students of the University and also the members of the Russian delegation. All those gathered came to the conclusion that the Heritage of the Roerich’s was greatly important both for Russia and India. The two countries are united by the name of the great peace-lover – Nicholas Roerich who deeply sensed the spiritual unity of Russia and India in spite of the evident difference between them. Nicholas Roerich could render his sense of the spiritual unity of the two countries by his Highly Inspired creative works.

The Bowl Flourishing with Fire

In one of the museum rooms of the Institute «Urusvati» we saw an ancient stone bas-relief with the image of a woman pressing to her breast a bowl, kind of lotus, all with tongues of flame. And we all remembered involuntarily the statue of E.I. Roerich at the entrance of Nicholas Roerich Museum in Moscow. The statue shows Helena Roerich pressing a blossoming rose to her heart, the symbol of Supreme Spirituality.

In the canvas «Agni-Yoga» by Nicholas Roerich a woman raises high above her head a fiery bowl to light up the path from the summit of the cliff which she has been raised upon. Thus the symbol from the past was reflected in enunciation of the Future…

The name of the outstanding emperor of India Akbar is highly revered both by Hindus and by Moslems. On the famous Akbar’s throne there were depicted the symbols of the world religions (Christianity, Hinduism, Islum). In the remote time Akbar the Great pointed to the single source of various religious beliefs. He managed to build his empire on the principles of peaceful co-existence. Nowadays the Teaching of Living Ethics continues these Ideas.

When visiting the Roerich’s estate in Kullu one feels like meeting its hosts after their going for a walk. Why so? The fact is that there are not any show-cases typical of a museum in the estate. The estate building is not a museum at all, it is a dwelling house. In the sitting-room one can see comfortable arm-chairs with lovely small cushions. And it seems that this very moment Nikolai Konstantinovich and Helena Ivanovna will enter the room and make themselves comfortable in the armchairs… There on the desk in a piece of a rock-crystal begins sparkling the light coming out of the burnt desk-lamp… It is that very sitting-room where Conversation with the Teacher took place. It is that very sitting-room where Helena Ivanovna Roerich wrote down the text of the Living Ethics… It is that very sitting-room where inspired canvases and ardent articles by Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich got their birth… And as the promising of the radiant Future there float in a clear blue sky on a cushion of clouds the snowy peaks of the «Mount M» - the sacred Gepang…

The unique geo-cultural space of the Kullu Valley was chosen by the Roerichs for forming a new science in its ashram, the Institute for Himalayan Research «Urusvati». The Institute was called upon combining scientific and meta-scientific (beyond- scientific) methods of cognition alongside with the achievements of both Western and Eastern scientific thought.

M.N. Chiryatyev^,s report concerning the activities of the Institute for Himalayan Research «Urusvati» appeared to be a kind of introduction to the Forum member^,s visiting the Institute.

At present in two buildings of «Urusvati» there accommodate a museum of College of Arts and halls for expositions.

It is worth mentioning that the Institute became the first in the world Alpine Laboratory with its unique expeditionary possibilities. The collaboration of the Institute with the Keepers of Knowledge, whom European scientists are not aware of, would allow to get access to that kind of the Knowledge and to decipher its complicated symbolics - on the one hand. On the other hand, collaboration of Western scientific organizations with «Urusvati» could introduce a broad stratum of that specific but a very valuable kind of Knowledge into scientific circulation. Unfortunately the beginning of the World War the Second stopped realizing those ideas which at present may be called as the ideas in waiting…

The Round Table work with the scientists of the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (Shimla) gave hope relating the revival of «Urusvati». Some Agreements on broadening connections with Indian cultural and scientific organizations were concluded. For example, there was concluded the Agreement between Himachal Pradesh and the Altai Region with the object of preserving the unique nature both of the Russian Altai and of the Hindu Himalayas.

… In the last starry evening we lighted up our candles near the Stone bearing the following inscription: « The body of Maharishi Nicholas Roerich, great friend of India, was cremated on this spot in December 15, 1947. OM RAM». Out of the burning candles we laid a sphere with the sign of Trinity mush alike a bowl flourishing with Fire…

Treasures of Unspoken Value

… We went on raising upper and upper. Roerich’s Himalayan paintings revived before our eyes. The blue mountain chains seemed to turn into a magnificent cosmic ocean. It was a breathtaking view… The path led us to a sacred lake. Near it there was a monastery and a Cave Temple where Padma Sambhawa prayed…

In the Cave we saw His gilded figure. A dull light penetrated in through a small opening just above the head of His figure. A strange, unearthly silence enveloped our hearts and entered deeply inside. We saw and heard nothing around us. Only strange ringing of Silence went on carrying us far away towards the unbounded ocean of Silence… Past, Present and Future poured together. Our earthly feelings vanished, our unwanted thoughts disappeared. We felt enjoying our touch to the Infinity…

…In the town of Kalimpong we saw a lovely house where E.I. Roerich spent the last 7 years of her life. Everything around the house was carefully restored by the new owners of the estate – by hospitable Italians from the community of Living Ethics.

In one of the niches of room we saw a portrait of the Teacher. We sensed Helena Roerich’s Spiritual Space…

The most high feelings we experienced at the Spot where E.I. Roerich was cremated. It is near a Buddhi monastery, in the centre of a small garden. There we saw a towering snow-white stupa, an embodiment of a quiet sublimity…

…In the town of Darjeeling we visited the Temple of Meeting. It was in this temple where the Roerich’s met with the Teacher before their starting on the Central Asian expedition.

In this small Temple of Meeting we paid our attention to the signs of Triunity decorating its walls. All the religions of the world gathered in this small Temple. Their spiritual relationship was embodied in the signs of Triunity, the symbol of a New World…

In Delhi we had a meeting with the Ambassador of Russia in India A.M. Kadakin. On behalf of the International Council of Roerich Organizations named after Svyatoslav Roerich professor O.A. Urozhenko presented A.M. Kadakin with an honourable badge “Sword of Fortitude” for his contribution into studying, preserving and popularizing the Roerichs Hatritage. The badge “Sword of Fortitude” was also handed in to academician Lokesh Chandra.

From India we took to Russia the treasures which we should have to master and appreciate in order to carry them into our new affairs and programs.

L.V. Khomenok

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• The Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace as a Remarkable Phenomenon of the World Culture
Reports and Speeches at the International Social and Scientific Conference.
Delhi – Kullu – Shimla – Kalimpong October 22– November 5 2010