24.11.04

The book
"Wayfarers:
The Spiritual Journeys of Nicholas & Helena Roerich"
by Ruth Drayer

We rush to inform our English-speaking Roerich-followers about the wonderful news of the American researcher of the Roerich's creativity, Ruth Drayer. After some years investigating into the lives of the Roerich's family, the results of this research have become a book called "Wayfarers: The Spiritual Journeys of Nicholas & Helena Roerich".

The book "Wayfarers" brings to light many unknown facts concerning two Russian visionaries and their connection with America. It is true account of charismatic Nicholas Roerich, who produced over 7,000 paintings and his mystical wife, Helena, author of the Agni Yoga series. Moving to New York City during the Roaring Twenties they built a 27-story skyscraper, the Master Institute of United Arts, the first school to teach all of the arts under one roof. The innovative school attracted artists from across America including Marsden Hartley, Deems Taylor and Rockwell Kent.

Directed to create a Buddhist country around Siberia, Mongolia and the Gobi from 1924-28, the couple courageously crossed the remote and dangerous regions of India and Asia. They searched for signs of the sacred Buddhist site, Shambhala, for Maitreya (the Coming Buddha), whose presence would signal the New Era of peace and for ancient relics and books hidden in crypt libraries and caves in the Gobi. Six years after this effort failed, President F. D. Roosevelt and the Department of Agriculture funded a second expedition so they could continue their search.

Wayfarers is the first book to interweave the Roerichs spiritual teachings with their fascinating travels. A must for artists, students of yoga, spirituality and metaphysics, historians and anyone who searches and seeks for truth. Contains: 2 maps, 44 photos, 11 seldom-seen color prints from Russia.

Ruth Drayer has kindly agreed to answer some questions especially for our readers. Below we offer our virtual interview regarding her new book "Wayfarers: The Spiritual Journeys of Nicholas & Helena Roerich".

 

---

Editor: Dear Ruth, where do you live?

Ruth: I live in a small village on the southern edge of New Mexico. I am close to the state of Texas and the country of Mexico.

Editor: When and how did you meet with Roerich's works?

Ruth: I first met Roerich's work in 1982 when I visited the Roerich Museum in New York City. The paintings moved me so deeply that I committed to doing whatever I could to bring his work to the attention of the American people. (Recently, I have met other Americans who have made that a similar commitment.)

Editor: What Roerich's travel it is spoken in your book about?

Ruth: In the first few chapters, my book covers their early life in Russia and their travels before arriving in America in 1920. It then continues with them on all of their travels until 1947. In researching for Wayfarers, I used Roerich's travel diary, Alta-Himalaya, to keep me on track as to where they went. I did much research into the 2nd big expedition - to Japan, China, Manchuria and the Gobi, and that is covered thoroughly as well.

Editor: Why did you decide that Roerichs wanted to create the Buddhist country around Siberia, Mongolia and the Gobi? Have you got documentary proofs?

Ruth: Everyone's favorite question now! The Russian scholar, Vladimir Rosov (see page 7, paragraph 4 - Acknowledgements in Wayfarers) has just completed 11 years of research into Roerich's papers in Moscow and pieced together this story. He published it in Vol. 1 of his Russian book, Nicholas Roerich, The Messenger of Zvenigorod (English translation of book name). Aida Tulskaya, who works at the NY Roerich Museum, translated the book for me so I could use the surprising information in mine. Vol. 2 has recently been published in Russia with further information on this subject.¹

Editor: Yes, Vladimir Rosov has collected many documents on this matter. In your book did you quote the Mahatmas letter to the Russian government which Roerich passed to Ministers Lunacharsky and Tchitcherin. Can you quote it for our English-speaking readers?

Ruth: I saw a few translations but this is the one I preferred, and used in my book:

"In the Himalayas, we know what you are accomplishing. You abolished the church, which was a breeding ground of lies and superstition. You destroyed the bourgeoisie who had become agents of prejudice. You demolished the educational prisons. You destroyed the hypocritical family. You did away with the army, which had ruled as over slaves. You crushed the spiders of greed. You closed the night dens of cutthroats. You freed the land of wealthy traitors. You recognized that religion is the teaching of universal matter. You recognized the insignificance of private ownership. You foresaw the evolution of community. You pointed out the importance of knowledge. You bowed down before beauty. You brought the entire power of the Cosmos to the children. You opened the windows of the palaces. You saw the urgency of building homes for the Common Good. We stopped the revolt in India because it was premature, but we recognized the timeliness of your movement, and We send you all our help, affirming the Unity of Asia."

Edition: I located this letter in the first publication of the Russian magazine "International Life" (1965, N.1, page 104-105, article "The Way to the Native country", authors S.Zarnitsky and L.Trofimova). Translation is correct, except last two lines are missing: "We know that many constructions will be made in years 28 - 31 - 36. Greetings to you who are looking for Common Welfare!" In the Rosov's book this letter contains one more last line: "It is given in Burhan Bulat, 1925."² Rosov has found in archives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs other Mahatmas letter which had been addressed personally to Minister Tchitcherin. This letter removes all questions about of the Roerichs mission in connection with their trip to Moscow in 1926. Here is this letter:

"Only deep comprehension of communism will give full well-being to peoples. We know that some layers of peasantry cannot contain idea of communism. It is necessary of the new circumstance which will enter them into a channel of a true Community. Such world circumstance will be acceptance of communism by Buddhist consciousness.
If the Union of Advice recognizes the Buddhism as the doctrine of communism than our Communities can submit the active help, and hundred millions the Buddhists which scattered on the world, will give necessary power of unexpectedness.
We trust ours Messenger Akdorddze³ to pass details of our offer - we can insist that the measures are urgently necessary for introduction of world communism as a step of urgent evolution.
We send dirt for the tomb of our brother Mahatma Lenin.
Accept advice and our greetings."⁴

Apparently, V.Rosov saw both these letters, together with a casket which was passed by N.K.Roerich to the Bolshewik government. Rosow writes: "Both letters have been written on Tibetan language. Under texts of letters there were names Gulab Lal Singh⁵ and D.M. In the casket there was dirt which has been packed into a matter. At the bottoms of the casket there was a Tibetan inscription also: "Mahatmas - to the tomb of Russian Mahatma". The casket itself represented a box from an ivory of times Akbar." It sees that in the letter to Tchitcherin and in inscription at the bottom of the casket Lenin is called as Mahatma. But Russian people count Lenin as the "red" dictator. How do you understand this contradiction?

Ruth: The Mahatmas are evolved beings and they are also idealists, also capable of mistakes. Just because they want a thing to occur - does not mean it does occur - because humans - having free will - very often distort things away from the beauty of their true potential. History looks very different after the facts than before - in other words, living through something and looking back at it afterwards, is completely different than how it looked at the beginning. The Hierarchy saw Lenin's full potential for greatness (and it must have been very great). But for reasons only Lenin could tell us, he chose to use it in a negative way rather than make the positive changes and the impact he was capable of making. Maybe the darkness around him was too great and he was not strong enough to accomplish what he had the potential to accomplish.
Every person on the planet has the potential for both good and evil - moment by moment - the choices we make come from our free will. There is much we are not able to change, but each of us has complete control over our approach to a situation. That is where free will can best be seen. No matter the circumstances, kindness and caring or meanness and bitterness - those are chosen responses. The door where evil dwells exists in the heart inside each of us. People of greatness have the potential for great good and great evil. The Hierarchy could see Lenin's potential and were holding out the hope that his choices would be in-line with the highest light. We are all filled with contradictions - however, we are also filled with opportunities to work for the light or chose the darkness. But unfortunately, the darkness is much more present on the planet than the light -- therefore, it takes greater effort to work for good. That is why we all need to be vigilant in our choices.

Editor: It seems that all incarnate people are exposed to all temptations of this life, and the Mahatmas are not exceptions. Besides, the dark loge does everything to pervert the light task of the Mahatma. The dark loge does everything for his spiritual ruin. Basically, it concerns all incarnates who battle for Light - "The demons are of many forms and each toiler of Light undergoes attacks." (Fiery World, book 1, paragraph 142). Though Lenin signed orders on executions, he never received pleasure from this… Let's return to Roerichs.
Roerichs carried a casket with the Himalaya ground to Lenin's tomb. How do you understand this fact?

Ruth: Roerich was a great idealist who believed Unity and Community were possible - the Roerichs had high hopes of what this mission could accomplish for the Russian people. Also, you must remember - communication in the 1920s, was not what it is today. The Roerichs were enjoying nightly campfires and dealing with the problems they were encountering in the desert -they did not turn on the TV for nightly news when their day was over. They did not have telephones, e-mail or cell phones. They received letters from home once in a blue moon, were v e r y far away and did not really understand what was occurring inside the Soviet Union. Maybe they also could not comprehend the magnitude of it. The dirt in the chest was to connect the sacred land of Buddha and the Mahatmas with the high possibility of what Lenin had begun and the Soviet Union might become.

Editor: Yes, Roerichs might not have had cell phones and TVs, but they had something better - they had a telepathic connection with Shambhala, to which the modern level of communication is simply primitive. Shambhala can "read waves of incautious thoughts of the world", let alone reports of simple news (look, for example, paragraph 210 from the book "New Era Community"). Concerning this casket, Russians think that the Mahatmas wanted Lenin to be buried in the ground, not mummify in the mausoleum.⁶ Let's return to Roerichs.
The Roerichs have passed to the Soviet government the offer from Mahatmas about the creation of the Buddhist-communistic Siberian-Tibetan country. The Soviet government has rejected this offer. Suppose they had accepted this offer. What do you think?

Ruth: Oh, my gosh! Change history! What a wonderful question! It would have become a safe haven for the Buddhists who needed a place to escape from the Chinese Communists. And as has been proven, the Buddhists bring with them many wonderful things: their culture, their philosophy, their religion - all are influencing many people everywhere. If the Soviet government had chosen to work with the Mahatmas, Russia today MIGHT be a country without poverty, hardship, starvation...rather a place where people have enough to eat and can freely express themselves - through their artistic soul - in all aspects of life: the arts, commerce, agriculture, politics. That would truly be Shambhala! And that was what the Mahatmas hoped - but unfortunately, it also might not be - because everything depends on the choices people make.

Editor: You have written that during of preparation of your book you did own journey. Where did you travel?

Ruth: I traveled first to Singapore, Indonesia, India, later to Egypt, Israel, Paris, Chicago, New York several times, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, California, Washington, D.C.(to the Library of Congress and the National Archives) and many, many trips on what is called here "armchair travel" to libraries where I researched the Gobi, Mongolia, Ladak, Tibet, Chinese Turkistan, Soviet Union/Russia, China and other places mentioned in Wayfarers and also corresponded with a woman in Riga, Latvia and a man in the U.K. But that is on the physical. My own development and growth are really what I am referring to as my own journey.

Editor: You paint pictures. Is it your hobby, call of soul, or simple entertainment?

Ruth: I have always been an "artist" but rather than painting, I worked with flowers, pottery, sculpture, interior design - with no desire to paint. As I have aged, my desire to work with color has intensified. For that reason, I studied color from the metaphysical/esoteric side. But as the work on Wayfarers progressed, my desire to work with color grew until I began painting it. It is clearly the call of my soul and becomes more so now that I have completed my book. Roerich's use of color was one of the first things that drew me to him and after 15 years of studying his work, although my work does not resemble his, I am aware that I was being taught by a master. That seems to be one of my gifts for writing this book.

Editor: You invite other people to go with you to Russia in May, 2005. What do you want from this travel?

Ruth: For me personally, it will be getting to see - on the physical - places I have had in my head from all of my reading and research throughout these years. And as an artist, it will expand me tremendously. For others, it will be interesting to see who is called to share this trip with me, who we will meet and the adventures we will have - individually and collectively. Roerich wanted Americans and Russians to understand each other better. That was one of his hopes and dreams. So this is a hands-across-the-world trip - and of course, the language we will all be communicating with will be Beauty.

Editor: Dear Ruth! Thanks for this interview and thanks for your book which will bring a lot of pleasure for all English-speaking Roerich-followers of our planet! We are glad to give your web pages of our website. We also recommend that our readers visit Ruth Drayer's personal website on the address: www.nicholas-roerich.com

Ruth: Dear Edition! Thank you so very much for this exchange. I am sure the questions you have asked me are the same ones most of your readers are wondering about. Now that my years of working alone on this project are over, I am so enjoying meeting all of the interesting people in the worldwide "Roerich family." Truthfully, I still find it hard to believe that I was given the privilege (and blessing) of writing about this amazing couple.
I would welcome any foreign publishers, who are interested in purchasing the rights and translating Wayfarers into their language.
As I was working on Wayfarers, it came very clear to me that it is the story of the Roerichs, but it also is the story of the Mahatmas. My heartfelt wish is that all people everywhere turn towards Beauty and the light and work for Community - so that we can finally live in peace and creativity. CyberHugs from me in New Mexico to you and all of your readers. Ruth Drayer.
"Wayfarer, friend, let us travel together. Night is near, wild beasts are about. But we can conserve our forces if we agree to share the night watch." (Opening page "New Era Community.")

 

---

Editor's Notes:

1. The first V.Rosov's book "Nicholas Roerich. The Messenger of Zvenigorod. The Great Plan", published in 2002, is downloaded from on-line library of website "Oriflamma" from the following address: http://www.roerich.com/zip2/rosov_1.zip The second V.Rosov's book "Nicholas Roerich. The Messenger of Zvenigorod. The New Country", published in 2004, is downloaded from this address: http://www.roerich.com/zip2/rosov_2.zip

2. Burhan Bulat - either the city of Khotan, or a place nearby, located in Chinese Turkestan, in the southern part of the Takla Makan desert. The Roerichs were held under "house arrest" for four months in Khotan. Burhan Bulat may be an old name of Khotan.

3. Akdorddze is one of N.K.Roerich's pseudonyms.

4. This was taken from V.Rosov's book "Nikolas Roerich. The Messenger of Zwenigorod." (V.Rosov gives the number of this letter in the Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: AWP RF. F. Otdel Dalnego Wostoka. NKID, on. 1, papka 4, portfel 35, l. 7-8., a typewritten copy).

5. Gulal Lal Singh - one of the pseudonyms of Mahatma Morya.

6. Concerning transfer of the dirt to Lenin's tomb is interesting the 342-nd paragraph from the book "Fiery World. Book One": " <...> When a ploughman carries with him a bit of his native soil, he recalls, as it were, the ancient custom of bringing a handful of earth as an irrefutable token. And now you also know how some commemorative soil was brought. Its destiny is not simple; an evil one wished to scatter it, but a benign hand intentionally concealed the treasure and it remained forgotten. Still, the thought attached to this offering exists and is more effective than one might think-thus thought lives on. An object magnetized by thought, verily, has power. Thus, without superstition, but quite scientifically, one should study the stratifications of thought-they are the work of Fire."

© is free