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Since September, 2011 till May, 2012 a lecture series by the St.Petersburg Branch of the International Centre of the Roerichs was held in the History and Culture Library (72, Marata st., St.Petersburg, RF). The lectures were devoted to Nicholas Roerich’s series “Banners of the East”. The Roerich series was painted by the artist during famous Central-Asian Expedition.

In the “Banners of the East” series Nicholas Roerich depicted the founders of teachings  and religions, philosophers and saints, thinkers and reformers of the East. The SPBranch lecturers speaking about the famous Roerich’s series presented 11 lectures and video-presentations which told the visitors about  selfless and devoted to people lives of great luminaries and their spiritual heritage.

The first meeting was dedicated to all paintings of the series, to history of its creation, and to modern understanding of its philosophical and artistic value.  E.A.Tomsha, chairman of the SPB ICR, considered that 19 paintings which compile the series are united with common philosophical and artistic thought.  The “Banners of the East” series shows saints and hermits, wise men of various historical epochs and peoples who by their lives gave examples of selfless and continuous serving to the general good.

The second lecture by E.A.Tomsha was devoted to “Saint Serguis, the Builder” painting, 1924. The visitors listened to the story about life of Sergius of Radonezh, his role in the Russian people consciousness and national character formation, and about his creation of the basis for the Russian statehood.  Image of Saint Serguis entered the Russian people consciousness and people understand him as their Spiritual Teacher, inspirer, protector and Russian culture builder.

Next lecture was about Budda: “Buddha the Conqueror”, 1925. Kucheryavenko Yelena, the lecturer,  told about Budda’s life, the first religion founder. Budda teaching was a serious attempt to change Brahmanism in India, to clean it from cult practice, to destroy caste system and to create true and fair life on the basis of Sanghas (communities). Communities should have created new and the best conditions for all people seeking for true knowledge and the general good. Budda, the Teacher, brought to people spirit of fraternity, mercy and  compassion.

The fourth lecture was devoted to the great Chinese thinker and creator of ethical and social teaching – to Confucius the Just. Nicholas Roerich’s painting “Confucius the Just”, 1925. Confucius was an extraordinary deep thinker; he is still one of the greatest figures in spiritual history of humanity. His striving to knowledge, his struggle for high moral ideal of a man, his protection of culture and preservation of cultural traditions, high responsibility, respect to the elder people and parents are still alive today.

“Moses the Leader”, 1925, Nicholas Roerich’s painting was the point of the fifth lecture. Morozova M.Ya., the lecturer spoke about great liberator and law-maker of the Jews. His famous “ Dekalog” (Ten  commandments) became the basis of moral code for the cultural humanity. Helena Roerich wrote that “Moses was a true Leader and Lawmaker; he had a hard task to create people out of a nomadic tribe, which was long in slavery <…> and to create basis of order, life construction and statehood in it”.

The sixth lecture described life of Jesus Christ. “Signs of Christ. 1924”, the painting by N.Roerich. Ye.Yu.Tomsha, head of the scientific and research department of the SPBranch of the ICR, brightly colored life of Jesus Christ, one of the most luminous and tragic pages in the history of mankind. For 2 thousand years his Teaching and fiery heroic deed light love and belief in the hearts of his followers, strive and strengthen them on their spiritual way. During the Central-Asian expedition Nicholas and Helena Roerich met with evidence of deep respect to Christ in the East; the East believes that the Teacher visited Asia.

Next lecture was about N.Roerich’s  painting “Oirot the Messenger of the White Burkhan”, 1925. Chernenko S.A., the lecturer, described the story which is based on the Altai legends of the White Burkhan, the governer, who will make peace and order on Earth. N.Roerich wrote: “All know about the White Burkhan <…>  to the South shamanism was replaced by the White Burkhan and his friend Oirot teaching… They are waiting fast approach of new epoch. The White  Burkhan is of course the blessed Budda.”. In Altai members of the Central-Asian expedition heard a lot of legends about Oirot, messanger of the White Burkhan.

The eighth lecture, made by Tsareva M.V.,  was devoted to “Nagarjuna, Conqueror of the Serpent”, 1924. The painting is to the greatest philosopher of ancient India – Nagarjuna – reformer and commentator of Buddism, founder of Madhyamaka teaching, the Middle Path teaching, the first religious and philosophical school of Mahayana. The greatest spiritual teachers of India in IV-XV centuries told about legendary Nagarjuna, respected as Buddha and Bodhisattva.

The ninth lecture, made by Gladysheva V.G., described little known in the West Milarepa, the Tibet hermit. N.Roerich’s painting “Milarepa, the One Who Hearkened”, 1925. Milarepa was a Buddist hermit, the Tibet people called him Thrice Great: a great poet, a great Yogi and a great saint. Milarepa after Enlightenment  wrote a lot of spiritual Hymns in which he gave his Teaching. The most part of the songs still exists in Tibet.

The tenth lecture was about a great philosopher of ancient China. N.Roerich’s painting “Lao Tze”, 1924. Shestakova L.I., the lecturer told about the Chinese philosopher, founder of Daoism, author of  “Dào Dé Jīng” (a “Book of Path and Heaven”). Lao Tze’s philosophy became one of the most important part of Chinese Culture and basis for one of three great Chinese religions: Daoism, which influenced greatly the whole spiritual culture of China and Far East countries.

The Lecture Centre program was concluded with the lecture devoted to the Mother of the World. N.Roerich’s painting “Mother of the World”, 1924. Korchemkina Ye.Ye. presented the lecture and video-presentation. During the mankind history various peoples differently reflected Woman Devine Being. “Image of Mother of the World, Madonna, Mother Kālī, Dukkar, Ishtar, Guānyīn, Miriam, White Tārā, Raj-Rajeshwari, Niuka – all they are great images, all they are donors. Each of them spoke in her own language, though clear to all…”, wrote N.Roerich. “Mother of the World” painting by its inner content can be considered to be the center of the “Banners of the East” series.

Nicholas Roeruich by painting great devotees of different times and countries reminds the mankind about these “lighthouses”, about their selfless life, about their teachings and advice, so that people could have them as spiritual guidelines which lead humanity to evolution. Nicholas Roerich wrote: “Among waves of unsolved social problems it is truly wonderful and beautiful to see before us these lighting luminaries of all centuries. It is beautiful to study life descriptions of the great Seekers and Devotees and find in them strengthening of our courage, inexhaustible energy and tolerance.” .

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