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Here is the amazing story of two early twentieth-century Russian visionaries whose quest to unite humanity through art and culture still echoes powerfully today.
Artistically Inspirational, Intellectually CuriousReviewed by Imperial Book Man, 2009-01-30
This book offers a brutally chronological life story of Nicholas
and Helena Roerich, two talented artists with often nutty ideas.
Fans of Nicholas' paintings are offered details of his travels, and
shown possible sources of inspiration for his hundreds of powerful
paintings, rich in symbolism and meaning. Followers of Helena are
likewise provided with a glimpse of her personal life that inspired
her Agni Yoga teachings. Unfortunately, this work often raises more
questions than it answers, brushes over curious events with huge
question marks, and sometimes makes the Roerichs seem comic.
The Roerichs were members of the over privileged (bourgeoisie) who
escaped Russia after the "Reds" took over there. They soon found
themselves in New York, steeped in the mystical spiritual movement
known as the Theosophical Society, which was popular among the rich
and bored before the market crash of 1929. One common theme among
the Theosophists seemed to be that Tibetan Buddhism (then recently
"discovered" at cocktail parties in the West) offered some kind of
hidden secrets to the afterlife ... or whatever one may be looking
for at a séance.
Sadly, most Theosophists did not know Buddhism from sick'em. The
resulting spiritual melee that ensued in the West in the name of
this movement has overcast Buddhist teachings with ignorance that
continues to this day. In this light, Professor Roerich's search
for Shambhala throughout Asia at times paints a picture similar to
the original "De Vinci Code" quest -- grandiose in conception,
superfluous in meaning.
After setting up an art institute in New York, the Roerichs travel
to India, where they begin a five-year journey north through the
Himalayas, eastern China, Russia, then back through Mongolia and
Tibet. During these travels, Helena supposedly received telepathic
messages from their "Tibetan Master," who apparently no one other
than Helena and Nicholas have met. There are no photos of the
"Master," which is even more suspicious. It is quite obvious to any
one familiar with Buddhism that this "Master" is none other than
Helena herself, dishing out esoteric messages to build support from
her followers and fellow caravaners. Indeed, the messages of this
unseen "Master" sounds just like Helena writes and never coveys any
teaching that rings anything remotely Buddhist. When Drayer's
mentions that hired hands of the Roerich caravan were smoking
opium, the reader is left to wonder if everyone on that trip was
high.
Meanwhile, during these years of caravanning, Nicholas is
apparently looking under every stone for the lost Buddhist Kingdom
of Shambhala. We learn that Professor Roerich actually believes
that it is his destiny to uncover this kingdom, where he will be
the leader of the New Russia, a new spiritual empire of light and
peace. Where he cannot find it, he paints it. This indeed may be
his greatest teaching, whether intended or not. As far as we know,
he never found Shambhala, but his beautiful paintings suggest that
rather than a physical place, it is a merely a spiritual
destination where one cannot travel by foot.
One will not find critical scholarly work in this story of the
Roerichs. For example, it is mentioned only in passing that the
Roerich's were waiting outside the office of Felix Dzherzhinsky,
head of the CHEKA, when the man "suddenly dropped dead in his
office." Only in a footnote at the back of the book does the author
mention that Dzherzhinsky was the head of the precursor to the KGB.
(His statue was the same that all those protestors in Moscow back
in 1991 tore down from the front steps of the KGB headquarters
during the fall of the U.S.S.R. due to his well-known brutality.)
So, the burning questions include: how on earth did the Roerich's
get an appointment with him and what were they going to talk about?
Drayer never says nor speculates. Nor does she take any particular
notice of the fact that the Roerich's were accompanied from Moscow
to Mongolia and into Tibet by N.V. Korashevski, apparently a
Colonel of the Soviet Army. Nicholas clearly leaned "left" as long
as Russia was with him.
Drayer does not seem to make much of these details. One wonders
whether President Roosevelt knew about them when his agricultural
secretary later sent Roerich into Japanese controlled Manchuria on
a supposed mission to find drought resistant weeds. Apparently,
Wallace, then the U.S. Agricultural Secretary, was actually a
Theosophist himself, and picked Roerich for the job. Roerich
believed that the real mission (clearly not known to FDR or the US
State Department) was to set up the New Russia kingdom ala
Shambhala in the Gobi Desert. The trip turned out to be a complete
embarrassment for the US government. Professor Roerich returned to
India to joint Helena, where they would remain for the rest of
their days.
There is no doubt that the Roerichs were very talented arts who
inspired many. Nicholas' paintings are powerful and moving, unique
in style and expression. The Roerich family dedicated themselves to
messages of peace. For example, the US and many other countries
actually signed a pact to adopt a flag raised over cultural and
artistic centers to protect them from being bombs and pillaged.
This is a wonderful accomplishment to which many leaders today
should aspire.
The Roerich story reminds this reviewer of "The Life Aquatic," a
Wes Anderson comedy film about independently wealthy "explorers"
whose grandiose adventures inspire close followers with
moment-to-moment excitement, while the rest of the audience shakes
their heads from afar with compelling curiosity. In the end,
nonetheless, the beautify and power of the paintings of Nicholas
Roerich, and the writings of Helena, remind us that artistic
expression and freedom can turn any journey into an unforgettable
spiritual experience.
Nicholas and Helena Roerich The Spiritual Journey of Two Great
Artists and PeacemakersReviewed by Carol J. Anderer, 2008-10-06
Nicholas and Helena Roerich have been in my life since the early 1970's when a wise old friend introduced me to their books and their remarkable lives. I have a good collection of their books and was excited to see this new history of their work. I was not disappointed. The author writes with an artists touch and makes the story come alive in words an images. The research on this book and the sources accessed make it the best book on these heroes of the planet to date. I hope that other authors will follow this path and go even deeper into the lives of these unique and special forerunners of a future humanity. A humanity that has learned to live in harmony and cherishes all the signs of beauty that fill our planet. For me this book was inspiring and left a beautiful deep impression on my heart, mind and soul.
Next I'd like a movie made from this bookReviewed by Theresa Hocking, 2006-09-20
I'm so glad a friend told me about this book. I love the paintings
- so clear and fresh; simplicity with depth of meaning.
It is gratifying that the author was able to compile such a
detailed record of the Roerich's life, work and travels. I enjoyed
traveling in my imagination by way of the diary entries - and to
places I would NOT want to endure physically - 17,000 foot
mountains, for example.
The entire book stretches my imagination - that Helena received so
much direction and information in non-physical ways, all the
miracles of perfect timing, the pull of India and how they overcame
obstacles to visit and live there.
Truly it reads like a novel for which a movie script will be
written - their story is so rich, their lives so full of
adventures, and alas, there is also a betrayal - just like the
movies. Plus, an index - a librarian's dream!
I recommend this to anyone interested in world history, the search
for peace, and the development of spiritual understanding.
Theresa Hocking, retired Librarian, Texas
An adventure of two exceptional soulsReviewed by Genie Poretzky Lee, founding member of the Lotus Foundation, 2006-08-02
The life of Nicolas and Helena Roerich has been veiled by various conflicting assessments. Some coming from guru worshiping admirers others from sceptics or jealous opponents. In her book, Ruth A Drayer's vivid text is that of an intelligent observer showing the reader a dispassionate canvas yet fully aware of the amazing quality of these two people who are still an inspiration to artists and esotericists from all over the world. I could not put the book down and would invite anyone not to miss the reading of a very special journey--an adventure of two exceptional souls.
Moved to tearsReviewed by Lewis Elbinger, 2006-08-02
I just finished reading "Nicholas & Helena Roerich: The
Spiritual Journey of Two Great Artists and Peacemakers," and want
to express my appreciation for your book. Although I knew how it
would end, I was moved to tears when I read of the passing of
Nicholas and Helena. I have been a student of the Roerichs for over
30 years and I greatly value the love and consciousness your book
embodies. Thanks and blessings to you, Ruth.
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