THE BEGINNING OF THE PATH
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In 1916 Nicholas Roerich became ill with pneumonia. He was getting well slowly and was sent by his doctor to Serdobl (Sortavala), Finland, to recuperate. Nicholas Roerich went there with his family.
At the time Finland formed a part of the Russian Empire. In St. Petersburg, Nicholas Roerich was serving as the director of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. Because Serdobl wasn’t far from St. Petersburg, he was able to journey back and forth to take care of the School’s affairs.
In 1917 the October Revolution took place in Russia. Soon after the revolution, Finland separated from Russia, thus the Roerich family unexpectedly found themselves in a foreign country. The Roerichs stayed in Serdobl till the spring of 1919.
After graduation from the Academy, Nicholas Roerich continued to paint, and he was especially attracted to the themes of ancient Russia and the Oriental countries. The family began making plans to visit India, whose magnetic appeal had been growing during these years.
“From my earliest years,” recalls Svetoslav, “I remember that Nicholas and Helena were extremely interested in India; India occupied a special place in their lives.” Nicholas knew somehow that in antiquity Russia and India were closely connected, that the cultures of these two countries had common historical roots. He expected to find confirmation of this during his next trip to the Orient. Nicholas Roerich also foresaw a particular and exceptional role that Russia and India would play in the future history of humanity.
During the three years the family lived in Finland, there occurred an event that from the outside didn’t seem significant but was very important. Gradually, Nicholas and Helena felt a deep realization that there existed an invisible connection between their family and the Great Himalayan Mahatmas. They learned to receive and understand thoughts sent by the Great Teacher, and they also started to remember their previous incarnations. They clearly realized the aim of their present incarnation and the difficult Mission that they were to fulfill in their lives.
In 1920 the family moved to London. It was here that exhibitions were held of Nicholas Roerich’s paintings. The Roerichs became acquainted with famous writers and the cultural workers of the time. In London they met with the famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. From their first meeting Nicholas Roerich and Rabindranath Tagore became good friends, and their friendship and the correspondence between them lasted their whole life.
In London there occurred an event of great importance. Helena Roerich met with the Great Teachers, Mahatma Morya and Mahatma Koot Hoomi, who visited London in person, forming part of an Indian delegation.
It is not difficult to realize the importance of this event, because during the stay of the Great Teachers in London, on the 24th of March, 1920, the first lines of the Great Teaching were written — an event of exceptional significance for the destiny of our planet and for the whole of humanity. This Teaching received two names: Agni Yoga and the Living Ethics.
Thus the 24th of March became the birthday of Living Ethics. The first book was received and written by Nicholas Roerich, but all the following ones were written, composed and edited by Helena. This work, which was engaged in daily, went on till the last days of the earthly life of Helena Roerich. At present, many people have come to know about Living Ethics: the fourteen books of the Teaching are being reprinted now in numerous editions.
