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APPENDIX 2:
About the attitude of Helena Roerich to some correspondents This paragraph presents the characteristics of some of the correspondents of Helena Roerich, compiled on the basis of her letters. These characteristics will allow us to assess the level of trust of Helena Roerich to her correspondents, their ideological closeness to the Roerichs with a high degree of reliability. A.M.Aseev – a doctor, the correspondent of Helena Roerich from Belgrade (Yugoslavia) and later from Asuncion (Paraguay). In the 9-volume book edited by the International Center of the Roerich (ICR), 60 letters of Helena Roerich to A.M.Aseev were published, all of them dated 1931–1939 and 1948–1955. The study of references to A.M.Aseev in Helena Roerich's letters to third persons leads to the conclusion that her opinion of A.M.Aseev did not undergo significant changes during her life. It is quite restrained: listing the advantages of A.M.Aseev and referring to him as a valuable coworker, Helena Roerich pointed out at the same a number of his shortcomings. So, Helena Roerich generally spoke positively about the magazine "Occultism and Yoga" published by A.M.Aseev, thanks to which many people got acquainted with the Living Ethics. At the same time, she repeatedly spoke about distortions and false coverage of the Living Ethics in "Occultism...", the harmful "hodgepodge of all yogas"1, which was held in the magazine, etc. Referring to the personal qualities of A.M.Aseev, Helena Roerich noted his hard work, purity of motives, unselfishness, responsiveness. At the same time, her correspondence discusses a number of actions and judgments of A.M.Aseev, indicating his inexperience, lack of a sense of proportionality, dislike for warnings and advice, arrogance, as well as promiscuity in people and books. Helena Roerich wrote in the late 1930s, shortly before the big break in correspondence: "The everyday experience of Al[exander] M[ikhailovich] [Aseev] is still insignificant because of his youth, and therefore he is far from recognizing masks. He feels his duty to open his heart and give a helping hand to every wolf in sheep's clothing. He does not understand that in this way the greatest treachery can be allowed. Comparability is not yet available"2. It is noteworthy that 18 years later Helena Roerich, at the very end of her life, wrote about A.M.Aseev the same words: "He is a very good and sympathetic person, but he is too trusting and does not understand people. He is inclined to see in everyone the innocent victims and people who sincerely devoted to the Teaching. He is also too full of respect for all "esotericists and foreign occultists", most of whom are infected with cheap occultism based on black magic and ignorant mediumism. <...> But he is an extremely good person, absolutely selfless, and generous, and a hard worker. He loves Teaching, but it seems to me that he cannot contain the Greatness and Scope of what is Given [by the Great Master] to us yet, and therefore he is sometimes inclined to stagger and believes in the “esotericists”. Admits that G[reat] M[aster] can be mistaken..."3 Nevertheless, despite this ambiguity of the personality and activity of A.M.Aseev, Helena Roerich did not tire of writing him voluminous letters, in which she touched on some of the most intimate moments of the Teaching, complex relationships with other correspondents, the situation in various groups. In a number of Helena Roerich’s letters, there are notes about the confidential nature of the information communicated to him, although, as it can be seen from letters to other correspondents, Helena Roerich kept a certain framework even here. In the letters of the second half of the 1930s, there are signs of a spiritual rapprochement between A.M.Aseev and the Roerichs. Helena Roerich wrote to A.M.Aseev in 1936: "...I send you and your sister Raisa Mikhailovna Signs of the Great Trust. In the days of the terrible Armageddon, all true warriors of Light receive this Sign. Accept him with all the love and devotion in your heart to the Great M[aster]. Receiving the Sign is an approximation. <...> Except you and your sister, no one in Yugosl[avia] will receive them now."4 F.R.Grant – a coworker of the Roerichs, since the beginning of the 1920s she was a member of the Circle of their closest disciples. In the 9-volume book published by the ICR, 239 letters of Helena Roerich addressed to F.R.Grant were published: 9 letters – personally to her (1929, 1935, 1937) and 230 letters – as to a part of the group of addressees (1926, 1928–1938). Helena Roerich's letters paint a very sad picture. Despite all good intentions and many years of work in Roerich institutions, F.R.Grant rather complicated their activities than helped. And the reason for this is a difficult character. Careless, slow, touchy, jealous, sluggish, indecisive, unbalanced, suffering from suspicion, full of selfishness and self-conceit, she often showed a lack of understanding of the scale and meaning of what the Roerichs were doing, and was not able to say the right words at the right time. Helena Roerich wrote to her many times with encouraging letters, in which she pointed out to F.R.Grant both kindly and severely – but always with a motherly heart – her shortcomings and mistakes. However, these desperate appeals had little effect... In the late 1930s, F.R.Grant gradually retired. However, without resorting to deliberate sabotage or public accusations of the Roerichs, as was in the case with the three other members of the Circle who retired in 1935. Nevertheless, according to its consequences, the activities of F.R.Grant and her departure were equated by Helena Roerich to the betrayal of the mentioned trio. She said in 1947: "Your decision not to give books to Frances [F.R.Grant] pleased me. Try to avoid any contact with her in the future. This may surprise you, but I consider her № 2 among the four [betrayers]. Her aura is unhealthy, if not worse, it is better to avoid it."5 And yet for about 15 years, F.R.Grant was in the heart of the Roerich institutions, she was given complex and responsible assignments, trusted with confidential information. Therefore, despite the complexity of her nature, we believe that, at least until the mid-1930s, the letters of Helena Roerich to F.R.Grant showed quite a high level of confidence. A.I.Klizovsky – a member of the Latvian Roerich society and a writer. In the 9-volume book published by the ICR, 47 letters by Helena Roerich addressed to him were published, all of them dated 1934–1940. In 1941, A.I.Klizovsky was arrested by the chekists, sent to the prison of Petropavlovsk (Kazakhstan, USSR) and shot in 1942. Since the mention of a society similar to the "Arcane School" is contained only in one of the 47 letters (23.08.1934), we tried to understand what was the attitude of Helena Roerich to A.I.Klizovsky up to this moment. To do this, we studied all the letters of Helena Roerich to A.I.Klizovsky from the 9-volume book of ICR, dated no later than August 23, 1934 (there are 8 such letters), as well as references to A.I.Klizovsky in the letters of Helena Roerich to other correspondents from the same publication, dated no later than August 23, 1934. Almost all of these letters and references relate to the preparation of the first volume of the 3-volume book "Fundamentals of the New Era Worldview"6 by A.I.Klizovsky. Helena Roerich felt great joy that there was a person who took on "such a beautiful and urgently needed job"7, and transferred the Approval of the Master M. to A.I.Klizovsky.8 Her long letters to him are mainly answers to numerous questions, correction of inaccuracies in the sent manuscripts of the forthcoming volume, clarification of complex questions of the Living Ethics, including very intimate ones. Helena Roerich wrote to her husband and son: "Kliz[ovsky] continues to send me chapters of his book for viewing. He writes clearly, but sometimes also nonsense, which must have been borrowed from Ledbeat[er]’s books. I write very frankly to him about all the errors, but still his work is not bad. Although by the end there has no growth that I love so much, and there is more superficial materials, but still his work is useful”9. We did not see any signs of distrust, caution, or streamlined wording in the letters of Helena Roerich to A.I.Klizovsky. In letters to other correspondents, Helena Roerich does not express concerns about the unreliability of A.I.Klizovsky, the complexity of his character, "narrow-mindedness", etc. In general, it seems that she was quite sincere with A.I.Klizovsky, at least within the limits set by their joint work on the first volume of "Fundamentals..." V.V.Tarto-Mazinsky – a correspondent of Helena Roerich from Warsaw (Poland), with whom she exchanged, apparently, counted letters; in any case, in the 9-volume book published by the ICR, among 1843 letters of Helena Roerich, only 3 are addressed to V.V.Tarto-Mazinsky.10 In letters to other correspondents, Helena Roerich rarely mentions his name. For example, she once revealed to A.M.Aseev: "Tarto-Mazinsky writes to me occasionally, but I still don't feel his sincerity and real usefulness. He requests to send him by mail the drawing of the device for collecting psychic energy, at the same time attach a description of the meter of fire energy (!!!). Comments are unnecessary. I write this to you, of course, in confidence, but so that you know the level of consciousness"11. Helena Roerich did not send the requested drawing, and V.V.Tarto-Mazinsky – either disappointed, or under the pressure of other circumstances – became cold to the Roerichs: he stopped correspondence with Helena Roerich and refused to translate the book "Agni Yoga" from the Living Ethics series, for which he requested permission. Helena Roerich wrote to Latvian employees: "Someone Tarto-Mazinsky also offered to translate these books, I also had a brief correspondence with him, which ended when I refused to mail him the formula for psychic energy and the blueprints for collecting this power, and also to make him the only transmitter of the Teaching to Poland!! I don't know whether to be more surprised when receive such requests – its naivety or its self-conceit."12 In general, Helena Roerich had a low opinion of V.V.Tarto-Mazinsky, although she did not speak about him as a potentially harmful and/or dangerous person. N.P.Serafinina13 – a founder of several groups of the Living Ethics in Lithuania, including the Lithuanian Roerich society, established in 1935 in Kovno (Kaunas), at that time the capital of the Republic of Lithuania. She was a homeopathic doctor who practiced astrology. In the 9-volume book published by the ICR, 27 letters of Helena Roerich to N.P.Serafinina were published, all of them dated 1934–1939. At first, Helena Roerich was alarmed by N.P.Serafinina's membership in the Theosophical Society and her certain propensity for psychism, but quite quickly a complete understanding between Helena Roerich and N.P.Serafinina was established. Helena Roerich began to write her large letters on various topics of the Living Ethics, work in groups, the situation among theosophists, the situation with the Roerich Museum in New York, etc. It is clear that the letters of Helena Roerich are written easily, she does not "choose words", writes quite frankly, as to a close coworker. This is evidenced, in particular, by the stamp "Confidential", which marks some letters to N.P.Serafinina. Helena Roerich writes about N.P.Serafinina in 1935: "Mrs. Seraf[inina] is a burning soul, sincerely devoted to Teaching. <...> I am in correspondence with her and I often want to caress her"14. And six months later, to N.P.Serafinina herself: "I hope that you have received the Sign of Great Trust sent to you in complete safety. Knowing by Whom it is given, you will keep it in secret."15 A.Paskevich and his wife A.Kavka – are correspondents of Helena Roerich from Poland. Already in their first letter, they reported that they were members of a certain association called "League" consisting of followers of theosophy, anthroposophy, J.Krishnamurti, P.Donov, and the Living Ethics.16 This circumstance alone, obviously, should have alerted Helena Roerich and she should be extremely selective in giving out confidential information to these two people. Correspondence with A.Paskevich and A.Kavka, in all probability, was limited to a few letters; in any case, in the 9-volume book published by the ICR, among the 1843 letters of Helena Roerich, there are only 2 letters which addressed to these two people. The few references to the spouses in the letters of Helena Roerich to other correspondents indicate that there could be no question of any close cooperation or trusting relationship. Helena Roerich wrote: "The other day we were sent from this country [Poland] a copy of a letter to a certain royal person from the self-appointed patrollers of Mr. Pask[evich] and Mrs. Kavk[a], in which these impostors, using our name and calling us m[essengers] of the W[hite] Br[otherhood] demand material support for their implementation of the ideas expressed in the b[ooks] of the L[iving] Eth[ics]!!! This is a real betrayal! Who gave the right to these persons, whom we do not know at all, to demand on our behalf and assert our allegedly complete confidence in them, citing as proof an excerpt from my only letter to them, where I talk about the beautiful dream of humanity associated with the Stronghold of Light? For some reason I was forced to answer their multi-pound letters, but now for the second time I received the advice [of Master M.] not to write anything. And most terrible, who commissioned them to write about m[essengers] of the W[hite] Br[otherhood]!!! I ask everyone never to mention our name anywhere in conversation with unfamiliar people. The b[ooks] of the L[iving] Eth[ics] should speak for themselves, but it does not matter by whom or how they are recorded. The harm of such treachery is great!»17 Comments are unnecessary. D.L.Gartner – a member of the Roerich movement in the USA, translated all (or almost all) books of the Living Ethics, as well as a number of articles by Nicholas Roerich into English. In the 9-volume book published by the ICR, 10 letters of Helena Roerich to D.L.Gartner were published. All of them are dated to the second half of the 1930s. In these letters she explains the meaning of difficult to translate Russian expressions and specific terms of the Living Ethics, discusses issues related to the publication of English-language books of the Living Ethics, and touches on many topics covered in it. In letters to other correspondents, Helena Roerich admires how quickly D.L.Gartner mastered the Russian language and how well (although not without errors) he translates the texts of the Living Ethics, setting his purposefulness as an example. Other personal qualities of D.L.Gartner are not mentioned in Helena Roerich's letters. How much she trusted him, how she saw the prospects for cooperation with D.L.Gartner, etc., it is difficult to say due to the relative short duration and "narrow focus" of the correspondence. However, none of the letters contain Helena Roerich’s hints at his mental instability, promiscuity in people, unpredictability of behavior, "omnivorous" in matters of spiritual teachings, inexperience, involvement in "dubious" groups, etc., which could influence the openness of Helena Roerich. A.P.Usakovskaya – a member of the Roerich movement in the Far East and in the USA. First Helena Roerich heard about her in 1951, a few years before her death (7.12.1951). Master M. said that "she is a good and necessary employee. Under the condition of her departure from the "Arc[ane] Sch[ool]"" (7.12.1951). A.P.Usakovskaya was really in the "Arcane School", but left it, and that allowed her to get closer to the Roerichs. Without permission, she gave the Indian postal address of Helena Roerich to strangers who began to "bombard" the Roerichs with their letters (15.02.1952). Apparently, her correspondence with the Roerichs was limited to a few letters; in any case, in the 9-volume book published by the ICR, among the 1843 letters of Helena Roerich, the only one is addressed to A.P.Usakovskaya.18 It is written in a friendly but cautious manner – this is how Helena Roerich usually wrote to new, unfamiliar correspondents. The letter relates to the notion of Community and carefully touches on the theme of groups, seeking leadership of the Great Masters. Helena Roerich wrote: "For us, who found the Solar Lord and the Great Truth of the Doctrine of Life, it is impossible to be among hearkeneth to the voice of the Teacher which unknown to us, no matter how great he is in the eyes of his followers. <...> We won't intervene and challenge other people's beliefs if they are sincere. Freedom of opinion must be deeply understood, for an unprepared mind can not be raised forcibly to an unusual level. A terrible harm will result from such a lifting of consciousness to an unsuitable level of thinking."19 It is obvious that to a person who recently left such an organization and probably sincerely believed in its leaders, Helena Roerich would not openly say everything that she thinks about this organization; on the contrary, with careful touches, she would gradually, from letter to letter, bring the person to a new understanding. Notes: 1 Е.И.Рерих – Г.Д.Форману от 11 июля 1934 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 2. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. / Ред.-сост., примеч. Т.О.Книжник. М.: МЦР; Благотворительный Фонд им. Е.И.Рерих; Мастер-Банк, 2013. С. 225. 2 Е.И.Рерих – Р.Я.Рудзитису от 19 августа 1937 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 5. М.: МЦР, 2003. С. 213. 3 Е.И.Рерих – З.Г.Фосдик и Д.Фосдику от 19 апреля 1955 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 9. М.: МЦР, 2009. С. 529. 4 Е.И.Рерих – А.М.Асееву от 19 марта 1936 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 4. М.: МЦР, 2002. С. 98. 5 Е.И.Рерих – К.Кэмпбелл от 13 января 1947 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 7. М.: МЦР, 2007. С. 370. 6 First edition: Клизовский А.И. Основы миропонимания Новой Эпохи. Т. 1. Рига: Мир, 1934; Т. 2. Рига: Зиемельстарс, 1936; Т. 3. Рига: Изд-во М.Дидковского, 1938. Subsequently, the book was repeatedly reissued. 7 Е.И.Рерих – А.И.Клизовскому от 5 мая 1934 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 2. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. / Ред.-сост., примеч. Т.О.Книжник. М.: МЦР; Благотворительный Фонд им. Е.И.Рерих; Мастер-Банк, 2013. С. 95. 8 Е.И.Рерих – А.И.Клизовскому от 8 февраля 1934 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 2. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. / Ред.-сост., примеч. Т.О.Книжник. М.: МЦР; Благотворительный Фонд им. Е.И.Рерих; Мастер-Банк, 2013. С. 17. 9 Е.И.Рерих – Н.К. и Ю.Н.Рерихам от 22 июня 1934 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 2. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. / Ред.-сост., примеч. Т.О.Книжник. М.: МЦР; Благотворительный Фонд им. Е.И.Рерих; Мастер-Банк, 2013. С. 185. 10 Е.И.Рерих – В.В.Тарто-Мазинскому от 24 июня 1935 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 3. М.: МЦР, 2001. С. 360–361; Е.И.Рерих – В.В.Тарто-Мазинскому от 25 октября 1935 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 3. М.: МЦР, 2001. С. 606–611; Е.И.Рерих – В.В.Тарто-Мазинскому от 16 апреля 1936 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 4. М.: МЦР, 2002. С. 150–153. 11 Е.И.Рерих – А.М.Асееву от 30 марта 1936 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 4. М.: МЦР, 2002. С. 120. 12 Е.И.Рерих – Р.Я.Рудзитису и Г.Ф.Лукину от 29 октября 1938 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 6. М.: МЦР, 2006. С. 257; См. также: Е.И.Рерих – А.М.Асееву от 15 января 1937 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 5. М.: МЦР, 2003. С. 24. 13 Since we are interested in letters of Helena Roerich with implicit or explicit reference to Alice Bailey written 16.07.1935, 7.01.1937 and 17.06.1937, we made a characteristic of N. P. Cerafinina based on her letters to Helena Roerich until June 17, 1937 and references to her in letters of Helena Roerich to other correspondents up to June 17, 1937. 14 Е.И.Рерих – А.И.Клизовскому от 17 декабря 1935 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 3. М.: МЦР, 2001. С. 706. 15 Е.И.Рерих – Н.П.Серафининой от 12 июня 1936 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 4. М.: МЦР, 2002. С. 224. 16 См. ответ Е.И.Рерих на их письмо: Е.И.Рерих – А.Паскевичу и А.Кавка от 31 июля 1937 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 5. С. 191–192. 17 Е.И.Рерих – А.М.Асееву от 6 августа 1938 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 6. М.: МЦР, 2006. С. 188. 18 Е.И.Рерих – А.П.Усаковской от 23 января 1952 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 9. М.: МЦР, 2009. С. 144–146. 19 Е.И.Рерих – А.П.Усаковской от 23 января 1952 года // Рерих Е.И. Письма. Т. 9. М.: МЦР, 2009. С. 145. |