Concordia Antarova: about the path of joy from the book “Two Lives. "Two Lives" by Antarova - esotericism in prose Appearance and spiritual level of a person

Two lives

Kora Antarova. (Konkordia Evgenievna Antarova)

The book "Two Lives" was recorded by Concordia Evgenievna Antarova through communication with the real Author through clairaudience - in the way that the books "Living Ethics" by H.I. Roerich and N.K. Roerich, "The Secret Doctrine" - by H.P. The unity of the Source of these books is quite evident to those who have read them. The teaching set forth in the books of "Living Ethics" is, as it were, illustrated by the fates of the heroes of the book "Two Lives". This is the same Source of the One Truth, from which came the Teachings of Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and other Great Teachers.

For the first time in a book intended for a wide range of readers, bright and deep Images of the Great Teachers are given, written out with great love, showing Their selfless work to reveal the Spirit of man.

The book, originally intended for a very narrow circle of students who received guidance from the Great Teachers through K.E. Antarova

Chapter I. At my brother's

Chapter II. Ali's feast

Chapter III. Lord Benedict and a trip to Ali's dacha

Chapter IV. My transformation into a dervish

Chapter V

Chapter VI. We don't get to K.

Chapter VII. New friends

Chapter VIII. Another bitter disappointment and departure from Moscow

Chapter IX. We are going to Sevastopol

Chapter X. In Sevastopol

Chapter XI. On a steamship

Chapter XII. Storm on the sea

Chapter XIII. Stranger from cabin 1A

Chapter XIV. Parking in B. and unexpected experiences

Chapter XV. We sail to Constantinople

Chapter XVI. In Constantinople

Chapter XVII. The beginning of a new life for Jeanne and the prince

Chapter XVIII. Dinner at the Stroganovs

Chapter XIX. We are in the prince's house

Chapter XX. Ananda's arrival and once again music

Chapter XXI. My illness. Henry and the test of my loyalty

Chapter XXII. The unexpected arrival of Sir Womy and his first meeting with Anna

Chapter XXIII. Evening at the Stroganovs and exposure of Brazzano

Chapter XXIV. Our Last Days in Constantinople

Chapter XXV. Lunch on the boat. Again Brazzano and Ibrahim. Departure of the captain. Rogues and Olga

Chapter XXVI. Last days in Constantinople

Chapter I. Flight of Captain T. and Nal from K. to London. Wedding

Chapter II. What did the pastor pray for? Jenny remembers

Chapter III. Jenny's letters. Her frustration and struggle

Chapter IV. An important event in the family of Count T. On the balcony near Nal. Pastor's testament

Chapter V. Racing

Chapter VI. Illness and death of the pastor, his testament

Chapter VII. Alice's illness, Florentine's letter to Jenny. Nicholas

Chapter VIII. Reading the will in the pastor's house

Chapter IX. Lord Benedict's second letter to Jenny. Tendl visiting Lord Benedict in the countryside

Chapter X. Mr. Tendl keeps his word. Henry Oberswood. Arrival of Captain James

Chapter XI. Henry with Lord Benedict. Arrival of Captain Retedley. Lord Benedict's commission

Chapter XII. Doria, Captain and Mr. Tendle in London

Chapter XIII. Lady Cecilia Retedley in the village with Lord Benedict

Chapter XIV. James Retedley and Lisa at Lord Benedict's

Chapter XV. Jenny and her fiancé. Jenny's wedding

Chapter XVI. Judicial office. Martin and Prince Senger

Chapter XVII. Mother and daughter. James and Ananda. Ananda and the pastor. Life plans of Nikolai and Doria

Chapter XVIII. Evening at Lord Benedict's. Lisa and Captain's wedding

Chapter XIX. Jenny's life and attempts to see her mother and sister

Chapter XX. The last days of Lord Benedict and his friends in London. Tendl. Confession and death of Martin. Once again music. Farewell conversations

Chapter XXI. Jenny and her date with Sir Womy

Chapter I. Arrival at Ali's estate. First impressions and first day meetings

Chapter II. Second day in the Community. We are visiting a dwarf. Arab gifts. Francis

Chapter III. A simple day of Francis and my rapprochement with him. Evil dwarfs, the fight against them and their emancipation

Chapter IV. I get acquainted with many more houses of the Community. Orange house. Who did I see in him and what was in him

Chapter V. My happiness of new knowledge and three meetings in it

Chapter VI. Francis and the dwarfs. My new attitude to things and people. Notebook of my brother Nicholas

Chapter VII. My brother's notebook

Chapter VIII. An ordinary night of the Community and what I saw in it. The second entry of brother Nikolai. My powerlessness before "to be" and "become". Conversation with Francis and his letters

Chapter IX. The third entry of brother Nikolai

Chapter X. Night visits to new places of the Community with Francis. New people and my new meetings-lessons

Chapter XI. I. receives a scientist. Anninov and Beata Scalradi. Instruction to me and Bronsky

Chapter XII. We are reading a book in Ali's room. ancient tale

THE TALE OF THE ANCIENT OLD MAN

Chapter XIV. My reflections on Beate's new life. We are finishing reading the ancient book. Professor Saltzman

Chapter XV. The first experiences of the professor's new life. His conversation with I. Scenes from his past lives. Francis and again the dwarfs

Chapter XVI. I am reading a little book to Gerda. Our departure from the Community. First day of travel in the desert. Oasis, meeting in it. A night spent by the fire. Farewell I. with the professor. His last instructions to the scientist

Chapter XVII. Our departure from the oasis. The second day of travel, through the desert. An ominous meeting in her.

Chapter XVIII. Refectory. events in it. My new understanding of human life paths

Chapter XIX. First breakfast in the new dining room. School. I give Francis' letter to the mother of a sick child. Help I. in my acquaintance with the skete of difficult shrews. Elder Staranda and meeting with him

Chapter XX. My new acquaintances in the Community. The first failure in the meeting with the inhabitants of the oasis of Dartan. Radanda. Chapel of Joy. Execution of an order. Dartana with the help of Radanda

Chapter XXI. We are going to meet Yassa. The story of his life, told to us by I. Meeting with Yassa and an extraordinary vision in the desert. Return to the Community and dedication of Iasi. Refectory. Conversation with Gregor. Two speeches by I. in the refectory and on the balcony

Chapter XXII. Last morning breakfast for departing guests. Instructions for children. Once again, Ariadne. Mulga's story about Radanda. The secluded skete of the shrews. Staranda and George. I.'s conversation with Andreeva and Oldenkott

An occult novel, very popular among people who are interested in the ideas of Theosophy and the Teachings of Living Ethics. The heroes of the novel are great souls who completed their spiritual evolution on Earth, but remained here to help people in their spiritual ascent. According to the author, a famous opera singer, student of K.S. Stanislavsky, soloist of the Bolshoi Theater K.E. Antarova (1886-1959), the book was written by her under dictation and was started during the Second World War. The book "Two Lives" was recorded by Concordia Evgenievna Antarova through communication with the real Author through clairaudience - in the way that the books "Living Ethics" by H.I. Roerich and N.K. Roerich, "The Secret Doctrine" - H.P. The unity of the Source of these books is quite evident to those who have read them. The teaching set forth in the books of "Living Ethics" is, as it were, illustrated by the fates of the heroes of the book "Two Lives". This is the same Source of the One Truth, from which came the Teachings of Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and other Great Teachers. For the first time in a book intended for a wide range of readers, bright and deep Images of the Great Teachers are given, written out with great love, showing Their selfless work to reveal the Spirit of man. The book, originally intended for a very narrow circle of students who received guidance from the Great Teachers through K.E. Antarova

Serria "Golden Fund of Esotericism"

The illustration used in the interior design:

atdigit / Shutterstock.com

Used under license from Shutterstock.com

* * *

Foreword

Among the works of art devoted to spiritual, psychological and philosophical topics, the novel by K. E. Antarova "Two Lives" occupies a special place.

Let us dwell a little on the life of the author of this work, Concordia Evgenievna Antarova (1886–1959). Konkordia Evgenievna was born on April 13 (according to the new style on April 25), 1886 in Warsaw. Life has not spoiled her since childhood: when she was 11 years old, her father died. Concordia, or, as she was called, Cora, lived with her mother on her small pension and the money that her mother earned with foreign language lessons. At the age of 14, the girl suffered an even greater blow of fate: her mother died, and Cora was left completely alone. Then she studied in the 6th grade of the gymnasium. She had no relatives who could help her financially, but the girl did not drop out of school - she began to earn her own living by giving lessons, as her mother had done before, and was able to finish high school in 1901. Nevertheless, a very young girl, left alone in the whole wide world, had the idea of leaving for a monastery, and Kora became a novice. In the surviving photograph of those years, we see a beautiful, surprisingly spiritual young face in monastic vestments.

Apparently, the brightest phenomenon in her novice life was singing in the church choir: it was then that it became clear that fate had endowed her with a surprisingly beautiful contralto of an original, unusual timbre. This gift, together with a love of music and theater, subsequently determined the path of her life. But Concordia did not immediately understand her true calling: having arrived in St. Petersburg after graduating from the gymnasium, she first enters the Faculty of History and Philology of the Bestuzhev Higher Women's Courses and only then - to the St. Petersburg Conservatory. She completed her studies in 1904. She had the opportunity to get a job as a teacher at the same educational institution, but it was then that the girl realized that her true calling was in art, in music. She decided to specialize in vocal class and began to take singing lessons from the professor of the conservatory I.P. Pryanishnikov. To be able to pay for these lessons, she had to work hard. Hard work undermined her strength, she was often sick, but stubbornly went to her goal, not deviating from her plan. It was in those difficult, half-starved years that she began a serious illness, which later put an end to her artistic career - bronchial asthma. In 1907, Antarova auditioned at the Mariinsky Theatre. Despite the huge competition, she is hired by the troupe of the famous theater.

But Antarova worked at the Mariinsky Theater for no more than a year - one of the Bolshoi Theater singers moved to St. Petersburg for family reasons, and Antarova agreed to replace her in Moscow, becoming an artist of the Bolshoi Theater in 1908.

Her dream came true - she became an opera singer. She devoted more than 20 years of her life to the stage. Antarova's repertoire was huge, her unique, unforgettable voice sounded in all the operas that were staged at the Bolshoi Theater during this time. Later (presumably in 1933, after leaving the stage) she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR.

Since 1930, changes have taken place in Antarova's life: it is known that since that time Konkordia Evgenievna has ceased her artistic activities on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater. With what it was connected - with a progressive disease or with other circumstances - it is difficult to say; There are different versions explaining this fact. It is possible that after leaving the Bolshoi Theater K.E. for some time she continued her concert activity, but soon she was forced to finally leave the stage.

Meanwhile, the time was coming for one of the most dramatic periods in the history of Russia, the period of Stalin's dictatorship; The tragedy of millions of people who were innocently executed and exiled did not bypass the house of Concordia Antarova. Her beloved husband was shot in the Gulag, and only God knows at the cost of what suffering she survived this drama. After completing her artistic career, the singer took up literary work. During her work at the Bolshoi Theater, she, along with other young artists, studied acting under the guidance of K. S. Stanislavsky. For this, a special Opera Studio of the Bolshoi Theater was created, the purpose of which was to develop the creative acting skills of singers. Acquaintance with Stanislavsky brought a lot of positive things to Antarova's life; the singer diligently outlined the conversations of the famous director. After leaving the Bolshoi Theater, Antarova wrote the book “Conversations of K. S. Stanislavsky” based on these notes. This work went through several editions and was translated into foreign languages.

But, of course, the novel "Two Lives" became the main literary work of the whole life of Concordia Antarova. The novel was created by her during the difficult years of the war (she then lived in Moscow). Antarova's followers argue, referring to the memoirs of her contemporaries, that the birth of this work is shrouded in mystery; the multi-volume work was created in an exceptionally short time. They see the reason for such a quick creation of this novel in the fact that it was not so much written as written down by Konkordia Evgenievna. From these statements, it can be assumed that the novel was created by Antarova in the same way that H. P. Blavatsky wrote her works in her time, partly finding materials for them herself, but to a greater extent hearing the voices of her spiritual Teachers, inaudible to others, dictating the text to her, or seeing in the astral light, with the help of clairvoyance, a ready-made text that she had to transfer to paper. Be that as it may, K. E. Antarova undoubtedly had a spiritual connection with the White Brotherhood, thanks to which she wrote Two Lives. One of the spiritual students of K. E. Antarova, the Indologist S. I. Tyulyaev, testified that, although Antarova was not a member of the Russian Theosophical Society, she communicated with some of its members, that is, she was clearly familiar with theosophical teachings.

The closest friend of K. E. Antarova was the outstanding mathematician Olga Nikolaevna Tsuberbiller. Like Konkordia Evgenievna, she was also a follower of theosophical teachings and the Teachers of the East.

Konkordia Evgenievna died in 1959. Copies of the manuscript of the novel "Two Lives" were kept by a small number of her friends and followers, including S. I. Tyulyaev and E. F. Ter-Arutyunova. The novel was not intended for publication, in those years it was impossible to even think about it. But people who are interested in the philosophical and esoteric heritage of the East, as well as everything else that was forbidden by Soviet censorship, have always been in Russia, which is why samizdat existed in the USSR for many decades. Thanks to him, works forbidden for publication, including the works of H. P. Blavatsky, books of Agni Yoga and other literature located in a special depository, were secretly reprinted, photocopied and passed from hand to hand. Thus, the esoteric novel by K. E. Antarova, from its very birth, has invariably found readers and admirers and has always been in demand by thinking people. It was first published in 1993 and since then has become the favorite book of all who seek self-improvement and comprehension of the secret wisdom of the East.

Why did readers love it so much?

Among admirers of esoteric teachings, the novel became especially famous for its philosophical aphorisms scattered like pearls in various episodes of the story about the adventures of Levushka and his patrons. In this edition, these aphorisms of Eastern wisdom are marked with asterisks in the margins to make it easier for the reader to find them in the text. We also note that in its external form and plot development, this work resembles ordinary fiction, an interesting adventure novel written in a somewhat old-fashioned prose style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The events described in the novel also take place in the 19th century. However, behind the external fascinating form of narration lies the presentation of the foundations of the great philosophical and esoteric knowledge brought to the Western world by H. P. Blavatsky and the Roerich family in the teachings of Theosophy and Agni Yoga (Living Ethics). Moreover, the heroes of the novel themselves are the prototypes of the spiritual Teachers of the East - the Mahatmas - and their students. Mahatma Moriah is recognizable in the majestic and at the same time humane image of Ali Mohammed; his closest colleague Teacher Kut-Humi - in the form of Sir Ut-Uomi. Illofillion is associated with the Teacher Hilarion, the Florentine, apparently, is a prototype of the Venetian - such was the spiritual name of one of the Great Teachers. In subsequent volumes, the reader will meet the prototypes of other Teachers of the White Brotherhood who have become famous in the West, as well as talented creative figures from all over the world. The protagonist of the novel, on whose behalf the narration is being conducted, a disciple of the spiritual Teachers Levushka, or Lev Nikolaevich, Count T., is, of course, L. N. Tolstoy, a great writer and sage. Many details of Levushka's biography coincide with real facts from Tolstoy's life. Why exactly he was chosen as the prototype of the protagonist of the novel is difficult to say, but one thing is known: all his life Tolstoy deeply appreciated oriental wisdom, which was reflected in such works as the collection "Circle of Reading", the story "Karma", the collection of aphorisms "The Way of Life ", and many others.

The story about the life and adventures of the main characters of this book is skillfully woven into a description of the process of spiritual, psychological and moral self-improvement that a person has to go through when he decides to follow the path of accelerated spiritual self-realization taught in the teachings of the Mahatmas.

In the dynamism of the narrative, in the constant adventures in which the heroes of the book who escape from the chase find themselves, there are the foundations of the philosophy and ethics of Eastern esotericism. Multidimensionality of the universe; the existence of another plane of being; the ability of a person's consciousness to arbitrarily separate from his physical body and perceive what is happening in other parts of the world; the existence on the planet of light forces - Teachers of the White Brotherhood - and dark forces in the form of adepts of black magic; the laws of karma and reincarnations in all their manifold manifestations; psychological difficulties and inevitable mistakes of students of spiritual knowledge, sometimes leading to real dramas of their lives and brilliant aphorisms of wisdom in the form of instructions given by the Teachers to their students - all this, set out on the pages of this book, makes it literally a storehouse of valuable information for a person interested in spiritual wisdom East and questions of self-improvement. Outwardly similar to a fascinating fairy tale, this novel contains the most serious psychological examples of how the practical principles of Eastern spiritual practices are refracted in real everyday life.

It is no coincidence that this novel has been read by more than one generation of readers who are interested in the practices of improvement set forth in the teachings of the spiritual Teachers of the East. "Two Lives" is, in fact, a book-teacher, necessary for everyone who has ever thought about their place in life and the meaning of their existence in general. The type of characters in the novel corresponds to the diverse psychological types of people that each of us has met or can meet in real life. Readers of "Two Lives" in the course of the story "recognize" themselves in certain characters of the novel, and looking at their actions from the outside, they begin to understand both their own mistakes in relations with people, and those illusions that prevent them from realizing their best dreams. and plans, and internal psychological reasons for the failures that they had to endure, and much, much more. And after understanding comes the realization of how to act in this or that life situation and how to respond to the challenges that life itself brings to all of us in order to be able to accept them and emerge victorious from the most difficult situations.

It is precisely this, in our opinion - its practical, vital value - that the novel by K. E. Antarova so loved by many readers. The new edition of this novel includes comments explaining a number of interesting details of the story from the point of view of the main provisions of Theosophy and Agni Yoga. It seems that this, on the one hand, will facilitate the reading of the novel by readers who are not familiar with these teachings; and on the other hand, it will help in the future to perceive the books of these teachings themselves, if interest arises in them.

A. Milanova.

Chapter 1
My brother has

The events that I now recall relate to bygone days, to my distant youth.

For more than two decades they have called me "grandfather", but I do not feel old at all; my outward appearance, forcing me to give way to me or pick up a thing I have dropped, is so out of harmony with my inner vigor that it makes me embarrassed whenever people show such respect for my gray beard.

I was twenty years old when I arrived in a large Central Asian trading city to stay with my brother, the captain of the N regiment. The heat, the clear blue sky, hitherto unseen; wide streets with avenues of the highest branching and shady trees in the middle struck me with their silence. Occasionally, a merchant on a donkey will slowly drive to the bazaar; a group of women will pass, wrapped in black veils and white or dark veils, like a cloak hiding the shape of the body.

The street where my brother lived was not one of the main ones, it was far from the bazaar, and the silence on it was almost absolute. My brother rented a small house with a garden; I lived in it alone with my batman and used only two rooms, while the other three were entirely at my disposal. The windows of one of my brother's rooms overlooked the street; two windows of the room that I took a fancy to myself as a bedroom and which bore the loud name of the "hall" looked into the same direction.

My brother was a very educated man. The walls of the rooms were lined from top to bottom with shelves and bookcases. The library was perfectly selected, arranged in perfect order and, judging by the catalog compiled by my brother, promised many joys in my new, solitary life.

During the first days, my brother took me around the city, the bazaar, the mosques; at times I wandered alone in huge shopping arcades with painted pillars and small oriental restaurants-kitchens at the crossroads. In the scurrying, talkative crowd, colorfully dressed in multi-colored robes, I felt as if I were in Baghdad, and I kept imagining that Aladdin was passing somewhere very close with his magic lamp or Haroun al-Rashid, who was not recognizable, was wandering around. And Eastern people, with their majestic calmness, or, on the contrary, increased emotionality, seemed to me mysterious and attractive.

One day, wandering absent-mindedly from store to store, I suddenly started as if from an electric shock, and involuntarily looked around. The completely black eyes of a very tall, middle-aged man with a thick, short black beard were staring at me intently. And next to him stood a young man of extraordinary beauty, and his blue, almost purple eyes were also fixed on me. The tall brunette and the young man were both wearing white turbans and colorful silk robes. Their posture and manners differed significantly from those around them; many of the passers-by obsequiously bowed to them.

Both of them had already moved towards the exit for a long time, and I still stood spellbound, unable to overcome the impression from those wonderful eyes. Coming to my senses, I rushed after them, but ran up to the exit from the gallery at the very moment when the strangers who had so amazed me were already in the cab and driving away from the bazaar. The young man sat by my side. Looking around, he smiled a little and said something to the elder. But the thick dust that the three donkeys had raised covered everything, I could no longer see anything, and I was no longer able to stand under the sheer rays of the scorching sun.

"Who could it be?" I thought as I walked back to where I had met them. I walked past the shop several times and finally decided to ask the owner:

- Tell me, please, who are these people who just visited you?

- People? People went to my shop a lot today,” he said with a sly smile. - Only yours, right, not people want to know, but one tall black people?

“Yes, yes,” I hastened to agree. - I saw a tall brunette and a handsome young man with him. What are they?

- They are our big, rich landowners. Vineyards, ooh, vineyard! Ba-a-shoy trade is with England.

“But what is his name?” I continued.

“Oh, me,” laughed the owner. - You're on fire, do you want to get acquainted? He is Muhammad Ali. And the young one is Mahmoud Ali.

“Is that so, both Mohammedans?”

- No, no, Mohammed is only an uncle, and the nephew is Mahmoud.

– Do they live here? I kept asking, examining the silks on the shelves and wondering what to buy in order to gain time and find out something else about the strangers that interested me.

- What you are watching? Do you want a robe? – noticing my soaring glance, the owner asked.

“Yes, yes,” I rejoiced at the suggestion. - Show me the coat, please. I want to give a present to my brother.

- And who is your brother? Which one does he like?

I had no idea what kind of dressing gowns my brother might like, since I had not yet seen him in anything else, like in a tunic or pajamas.

“My brother is Captain T,” I said.

– Captain T.? exclaimed the merchant with oriental temperament. - I know him well. He already has seven bathrobes. What else is there for him?

I was embarrassed, but hiding my confusion, I said bravely:

- Yes, he gave them all away, it seems.

– That's how! Probably sent to friends in St. Petersburg. Ha-a-ro-she bought bathrobes! Look, Mohammed Ali ordered to send for his niece. Ooh, robe!

And the merchant took out from under the counter a wonderful pink-colored dressing gown with grayish-purple matte stains.

“That won’t suit me,” I said.

The merchant laughed merrily.

“Of course it won’t; This is a women's dressing gown. I'll give you here - blue.

And with that, he unrolled a magnificent purple robe on the counter. The dressing gown was somewhat variegated; but his tone, warm and soft, might please a brother.

- Don't be afraid, take it. I know everyone. Your brother is Ali Mohammed's friend. We can't sell it to a buddy badly. Your brother is a good man! Ali Mohammed himself reveres him.

Who is this Ali?

- I told you - a big important merchant. Persia trades and Russia too, - the owner answered.

“It doesn't look like he was a merchant. He must be a scientist, I objected.

- Oh, I'm a scientist! He is such a scientist that even your brother knows all the books. Your brother is also a big scientist.

- Where does Ali live, do you know?

The merchant patted me on the shoulder in a familiar manner and said:

“You don’t seem to live here much. Ali's house is opposite your brother's house.

“In front of my brother’s house there is a very large garden surrounded by a high brick wall. There is always dead silence, and even the gates never open,” I said.

- Silence is silence. But today there will be no silence. Sister Ali Mahmud will arrive. There will be an agreement, she will marry. If you said that Ali Mahmud is handsome, then my sister - oh-ya! - a star from the sky! Braids to the floor, and eyes - wow!

The merchant threw up his hands and even choked.

How could you see her? After all, according to your law, the veil cannot be removed in front of men?

- The street is not allowed. We can't even enter the house. And Ali Mohammed has all the women at home open. Mulla said many times, but he stopped. Ali said: "I will leave." Well, the mullah is silent for now.

I said goodbye to the merchant, took my purchase and went home. I walked for a long time; somewhere he turned in the wrong direction and with great difficulty finally found his street. Thoughts of the rich merchant and his nephew were confused with thoughts of the celestial beauty of the girl, and I could not decide what kind of eyes she had: black, like her uncle's, or violet, like her brother's?

I was walking, looking at my feet, and suddenly I heard: “Levushka, where have you been? I was about to look for you."

The sweet voice of my brother, who had been my mother, father, and family all my life, was full of humor, as were his sparkling eyes. On a slightly tanned, clean-shaven face, white teeth gleamed; he had bright, beautifully defined lips, golden curly hair, dark eyebrows... For the first time I realized how handsome he is, my brother. I was proud and admired him always; and now, like a little one, for no reason at all threw himself on his neck, kissed him on both cheeks and thrust a dressing gown into his hands.

- This is your robe. And your Ali was the reason that I was completely dumbfounded and lost, - I said with a laugh.

- What robe? Which Ali? – with surprise asked brother.

– Bathrobe number 8, which I bought for you as a gift. And Ali No. 1, your friend,” I replied, still laughing.

“You remind me of the little stubborn Levushka, who liked to puzzle everyone. I see that the love of riddles is still alive in you, - smiling with his open smile, which unusually changed his face, said the brother. - Well, let's go home, we can't stand here for a century. Although there is no one, I can not guarantee that somewhere secretly, from behind the edge of the curtain, a curious eye is not looking at us.

We were moving home. But suddenly the sensitive ear of his brother distinguished the clatter of horse hooves in the distance.

"Wait," he said, "they're coming."

I didn't hear anything. My brother took my hand and made me stop under a huge tree, just opposite the closed gate of that quiet house in which, according to the merchant from the mall, Ali Mohammed lived.

“It is possible that now you will see something amazing,” my brother told me. “Just stand so that we can’t be seen either from the house or from the side of the road.

Concordia Antarova

Two lives

Part 1

Serria "Golden Fund of Esotericism"

The illustration used in the interior design:

atdigit / Shutterstock.com

Used under license from Shutterstock.com

Foreword

Among the works of art devoted to spiritual, psychological and philosophical topics, the novel by K. E. Antarova "Two Lives" occupies a special place.

Why did readers love it so much?

A. Milanova

"Two Lives" by Antarova -
esotericism in prose

A book for all time

For decades, the mysterious brainchild of Konkordia Antarova, the famous opera singer and follower of Theosophy, has been igniting the hearts of readers with the great spiritual truths presented in this work in artistic form. The novel "Two Lives" was created by Antarova during the difficult years of the war, and it was written exceptionally quickly - as close friends of Konkordia Evgenievna said, the book was not so much written as dictated to her from the Subtle World by the soul of an unknown follower of the Mahatmas.

Concordia Evgenievna Antarova (1886-1959)

The value of this book cannot be overestimated. This work emphasizes the moral character of both the teachings and the practical activities of the spiritual Teachers of the East. The Living Ethics in its practical everyday application is the main key of the whole story. It seems that if all the participants (and especially, of course, the leaders) of the Roerich movement in Russia lived and acted according to the same principles as the representatives of the White Brotherhood in Antarova’s novel, then they would long ago have constituted the spiritual elite of our entire society and would have made it much cleaner and better.

Another enduring merit of this book is that the basic principles and ideas of Theosophy and Agni Yoga have found a fascinating and easy-to-understand form in the novel. What impression can the novel of K. E. Antarova make on the reader? Perhaps it will seem to someone a wonderful mystical tale. But the truth of the well-known saying that "a fairy tale is a lie, but there is a hint in it" was clearly reflected in this book.

The Two Lives actually contains a lot of such hints, which are an accurate reflection (interpreted in artistic form) of the foundations of esoteric knowledge set forth in the teachings of Theosophy and Agni Yoga. Let's try briefly and at least on the main topics to compare the main "hints" found in the novel with some regularities appearing in the esoteric philosophical heritage transmitted to the world by the Mahatmas, or the Teachers of the White Brotherhood.

The White Brotherhood and its Spiritual Teachers

The protagonist of the novel - Lyovushka - is honored with the rare happiness of becoming a student of these Teachers. It is they who help his brother Nikolai find happiness with his beloved, and they also lead Lyovushka to the path of self-improvement and service to the high ideal of the Common Good, which, according to their worldview, is the main ethical value in life. Ali Mohammed, his friend the Florentine, Illofilion, Ananda, Sir Ut-Uomi - all these are employees of a community of spiritual Teachers hidden from the world, but serving this world. In the East, this community has long been called Shambhala, in the West - the White Brotherhood.

No matter how fantastic the idea of the existence in the East of a secret abode of Higher knowledge and its collaborators - the Great Brotherhood of Spiritual Teachers, there are many historical facts and evidence that such a Brotherhood is a reality and not fiction. H. P. Blavatsky repeatedly testified that her spiritual Teacher, Mahatma Moriah, whose prototype in the novel by K. E. Antarova is Ali Mohammed, lived on the earthly plane, as a real person in flesh and blood. Another student and collaborator of the same Teacher, He. I. Roerich, wrote to one of her collaborators: “If I say that we saw the Great Teachers not only in Their subtle body, but also in the physical one, would you believe me? If I say that we keep the sacred objects handed over to us, which, according to ancient legends, appear as symbols and milestones at the threshold of a new era, would you believe me?<...>But that’s all it is!” ( From a letter from E. I. Roerich dated May 24, 1938 ) .

Of course, one of the main themes of the book is the absolutely extraordinary by earthly standards, the highest spiritual and moral level of the representatives of the White Brotherhood - senior friends and spiritual leaders of Lyovushka. “I thought, where do these people get so much selflessness and self-control? Why are they so balanced, swiftly going to the aid of a stranger to them, my brother; in what do they find the axis of their life, the basis for their confident calmness?- reflects the main character. The answer to this question is given by real students and employees of the White Brotherhood, H. P. Blavatsky and H. I. Roerich. In one of the letters, Helena Roerich touched upon the moral level of the spiritual Teachers of the East, whom Buddhists call Bodhisattvas. “The word Bodhisattva consists of two concepts: “Bodhi” - illumination or awakening and “Sattva” - essence. Who are these Bodhisattvas? Disciples of the Buddhas who voluntarily renounced personal liberation and, following the example of the Teacher, embarked on a long, painful and thorny path of helping humanity. Such Bodhisattvas appear on Earth in the most varied conditions of life. Physically no different from the rest of humanity, they are completely different in their psychology, invariably being bearers of the principle of the Common Good ... " (From a letter from E. I. Roerich dated 12/20/1934).

In the same letter, E. Roerich quotes from the Mahayana Sutra about the three joys of Bodhisattvas: “The three joys of Bodhisattvas are the happiness of giving, the happiness of helping and the happiness of eternal knowledge.”

That is how, according to the precepts and principles of Bodhisattvas, they live and act on earth - and on the pages of the beautiful novel by Antarova - the Teacher of the White Brotherhood.

Most importantly, the Teachers do not just proclaim and propagate these principles in words - they embody them in their real life, in every ordinary day, when they meet with every person. And the power of a living example in a real life situation turns out to be stronger than thousands of sermons and words about love for one's neighbor. “This is how a person can be happy with his inner state. This is where the power of helping people without words, without sermons, with one of his living examples…” concludes the protagonist.

Appearance and spiritual level of a person

Perhaps the first thing that Lyovushka pays attention to when meeting with his new friends is their extraordinary beauty and the equally unusual harmonizing influence that comes from them on everyone around them. “In the bright light of the morning, the beauty of my guest struck me even more”- this is how the main character characterizes the appearance of his future Teacher, the Florentine. Many times in the book, through the mouth of Levushka, it is said about the unusually beautiful appearance of his new friends - the Teachers themselves and their closest students. The description of the beauty of the representatives of the White Brotherhood, met by the hero of the story, may at first glance seem somewhat naive or sugary, characteristic of the fiction of the century before last, but in reality one of the laws of being is reflected here: the inner spiritual harmony of a truly perfect person is reflected in his appearance . The beautiful images of the Teachers are only an external reflection of the beauty and harmony of their souls, their inner world. Among the Teachers, external beauty is not the exception, but the rule.

But among ordinary people there are occasionally exceptions, and a beautiful appearance sometimes clothes a low and vile soul. The esoteric aspect of the close relationship that exists between a person's appearance and his spiritual qualities is revealed in one of the episodes of the novel. During lunch at the Stroganovs, Lyovushka suddenly sees, thanks to the gift of clairvoyance awakening in him, the astral body of Leonid, moreover, as it will become in the future, in 20 years. “I turned into “Lyovushka - catch a crow”, forgot everything in the world and suddenly saw some ugly gray creature behind the young man. As if it was him and not him, but his portrait twenty years later. Leonid - Stroganova's spoiled favorite son - an insignificant, cowardly, cynical, soulless young man even in relation to his mother - is described as having a very beautiful appearance (he looked like his beautiful mother). But the baseness of his moral level had already begun to leave its mark on his subtle body; in the future, his astral appearance was destined to become ugly to the point of disgrace, as Lyovushka saw him. In the notes of the spiritual disciple of the Roerichs, Boris Abramov, a similar phenomenon is said: “One can observe how much the faces of vicious people are disfigured by old age, how the dark principle imposes its terrible imprint on the physical appearance and makes it indelible on the thin shell of a person. The lower strata of the astral world amaze with their monstrous ugliness. (The Edges of Agni Yoga. Volume 2, 607. (1961)).

Vegetarianism

From the very first chapters of the novel, we learn a lot of interesting things about the way of life of the Masters. In particular, the main character draws attention to the fact that his patrons do not use either meat or fish for food: “The menu was European, but there was no meat, no fish, no wine.<...>But no matter how much I looked at Ali the elder, I did not see anything in his hands except fruits, honey and something similar to milk.

And in the future, with closer communication with his older friends, Levushka sees that their food consists of fruits, honey, milk, bread and cereals. In the philosophical teachings of the Mahatmas, theosophy and Agni Yoga, vegetarianism is recommended, since it purifies both the physical and subtle bodies of a person and thereby promotes his spiritual development. The book “Aum” says: “Also, when I indicate vegetable food, I protect the subtle body from soaking with blood. The essence of blood very strongly permeates the body and even the subtle body. Blood is so unhealthy that even in extreme cases We allow meat dried in the sun. You can also use those parts of animals where the blood substance is completely processed. Thus, vegetable food is also important for life in the Subtle World.” (Aum, 277). The same is said more than once in books on Theosophy.

However, there are no strict prohibitions and mandatory prescriptions in these teachings. For people living in the conditions of modern ecologically polluted cities, the strict vegetarianism, which the Masters adhered to, may be impossible, causing a breakdown. In this case, it is permissible to confine ourselves to eating fish or, in extreme cases, poultry. But in any case, the use of the meat of warm-blooded animals as food will interfere with the spiritual and mental development of a person. In the most modern source to us, connected with the teachings of Agni Yoga - namely, in the notes of Boris Abramov - it is said that soon most people will replace meat with fish.

Unusual psycho-spiritual abilities of the Teachers

One of the most interesting topics covered in this book is the unusual psycho-spiritual abilities of the Teachers, which are called paranormal in modern science. Lyovushka in her communication with the Teachers meets not only with their unsurpassed mental discipline, expressed in a special culture of mental activity - exceptional restraint, self-control, observation and attentiveness, endless patience and mercy in relation to ordinary, imperfect people and other rare qualities among people. He also has the opportunity to observe clearly unusual spiritual abilities displayed by the Teachers in special life situations. Indicative in this regard are the descriptions of unusual states sometimes practiced by the White Brotherhood employees accompanying Lyovushka, and the main character is convinced that they are just sleeping, but somehow strange: “He seemed to be carried away to distant Moscow, and his gaze became absent. He himself, leaning his head on the back of the sofa, sat motionless; and I thought that each person, obviously, has his own way of sleeping, but somehow I had not looked closely until now at how people sleep. The Florentine slept as if dead, Illofillion slept sitting up, with his eyes open, but his sleep was as strong as the dream of the Florentine.

Of course, the dream with open eyes, which Lyovushka writes about, was not really a dream, but what in modern psychology is called an altered state of consciousness or astral projection. At that moment, when, as it seemed to Lyovushka, his older friends were sleeping, they were actually meditating, being transported in their astral bodies to far distances from those places where they themselves were. This ability of the Arhats in the teachings of Agni Yoga is traditionally called divisibility of the spirit, although in fact we are talking about the divisibility of not the spirit, but consciousness. The Living Ethics teaching says about such phenomena: “Also, remember that the fiery energy grows and works incessantly if the heart is kindled. This makes it easier to understand the already mentioned divisibility of the spirit. The flame is divisible without damage and does not require any distance or time. So, when they see you in different countries, one should not be surprised, this is just one of the qualities of the fiery tension,” says the book “The Fiery World” from the Agni Yoga series. (The Fiery World, part 1, 44). And one more thing: “The indicated facts of the simultaneous appearance of the subtle body should destroy the prejudice of the ignorant that the Higher Beings cannot appear in different parts of the world” (The Fiery World, part 1, 598).

And in one of the letters of H. I. Roerich, the specific results of this ability of arhats to mentally travel to other countries are described in order to help their students there: “Read in the Teaching about the divisibility of the spirit. The divisibility of the spirit, like everything else, of course, has various degrees, but sometimes, at the end, it is given on a cosmic scale, and then, indeed, the applications are diverse. And if it is often impossible to imprint, or, rather, allow imprinting of what has been recognized in all details on the physical brain, because the heart may not be able to withstand being in the contaminated earthly atmosphere, then nevertheless the essence of what is happening is sometimes felt very sharply. So N.K. and I almost always know the poignant moments experienced by our employees. Sometimes this is a clear knowledge, sometimes it is accompanied by painful manifestations, exactly coinciding in time with certain cases. Often for a long time we know the results. Just as often, we observe a kind of outflow of energy from us, sometimes it is so strong that we even feel dizzy and, as it were, a slight, fleeting absence, and then we know that our energy was needed somewhere. Manifestations of the divisibility of the spirit are manifold! Many secrets in the life of a student! True discipleship refines all the sensations of the disciple. He truly becomes a golden harp under the Hand of the Teacher. A lot of joy brings the unification of consciousnesses. So we have many cases, or rather, they are constant, of such a union of consciousness with our long-standing collaborators. We often hear their voices and know about what is happening with them. We also see the sculpture of their spirit. Our letters always bring them the answer to their question, although you know what a distance separates us. (Roerich E. I. From a letter of 01/27/1933).

It is thanks to this ability to be transported in spirit through countries and continents, mountains and oceans, that the heroes of the story, who find themselves on a ship during a terrible storm, receive the saving help of the Florentine, mentally called by both Illofillion and Lyovushka: “I gathered all my strength, in my imagination flashed the figure of the Florentine, about whom I had been thinking all this time.<...>Positively, if I were sleeping, I would be sure that I see him in a dream - the white figure of my dear patron was so clearly drawn to me.<...>

Now all the men had their hands on the steering wheel. I still thought I saw the tall white figure of the Florentine now standing beside Illofillion. He seemed to have his hands on his hands."

It would seem, how can the subtle body of an arhat, invisible to ordinary people, help in a real life situation - for example, those who are struggling with a hurricane at sea? But between the physical and the astral world there is a strong connecting link in the form psychic energy. The subtle bodies of arhats, capable of being transported to any part of the globe, are able to help their coworkers and students precisely by transferring powerful psychic energy to them. The invisible, but extremely effective impact of this energy on everything - both on people, and on physical space, and even on the circumstances themselves - this is what the help provided by the Teachers during these astral journeys consists of. It is no coincidence that Levushka reflects: “Why, then, at the height of the storm, when the Florentine seemed to me, I moved easily, but now I can’t take a step, and I sit with difficulty, holding tightly to the railing. Can it be that just the thought of a dear friend whom I called for help all night helped me focus my will?

The thought of a student about the Teacher in a moment of danger can bring effective help and salvation - this idea finds expression more than once on the pages of the novel by K. E. Antarova. And this idea is an immutable truth, long known in esoteric teachings.

The protagonist repeatedly mentions the beneficial effect that his patrons have on him, who are at those moments when it is difficult for him, far from him. And in fact, he understands how important the mental connection of a student with his spiritual Teacher is, how important it is for a person striving for self-improvement to constantly remember the Teacher and keep His image in the mind: “And if you can comprehend all the greatness of his thought and spirit, then his love will be able to answer your love, and the demands of your thought, and the creativity of your heart. And the more naturally you will aspire with your thoughts to merge with his high ability to live every day in simple kindness, the calmer you will be under all circumstances of life, including its dangers, the easier it will be for him to unite with you.

“It’s okay that you yourself are sometimes shaky and weak, and you lose connection with him in your thoughts. If only his image always shone in your heart.

From here comes the extraordinary bright, ennobling effect that the Teachers have on the main character, torn apart by heavy feelings, longing and anxiety for the life of his brother persecuted by enemies: “It became somehow clear and quiet in my heart. I no longer worried for a minute, and even the excitement for the fate of my brother ceased to bother me. Ali's presence, his power, gave me confidence and energy."

This confidence, strength and tranquility, always present in the minds of the Teachers, are transmitted to all the people around them, pouring out into the world in the form of light harmonizing energy. But, on the other hand, the same energy also acts as the main weapon of the Teachers in the fight against the dark forces, personified in the novel by the image of the sorcerer-hypnotist Brazzano. The influence of Illofillion causes Brazzano to drop the bracelet with the negative energy layered on it, which he was going to put on Anna's hand in order to psychologically enslave her. Ananda, on the other hand, “twists” the villain with the power of his thought, preventing him from preparing for the realization of his black plans. It also affects Brazzano and Illofillion when the defeated villain is taken away by ship from Constantinople.

Sometimes, however, the power of the aura of the Teachers has to be experienced by the ignorant inhabitants who are aggressive towards them. When Stroganova speaks with Illofillion in a defiant tone, as if provoking him into a quarrel, the Teacher remains calm and impassive, but Stroganova herself has a heart attack, from which he himself, an outstanding doctor, immediately saves her. Illofillion at this moment says to her: "And the arrow that hit you now was the arrow of your own evil, you yourself called it." In Agni Yoga this phenomenon is called a reverse blow. The book “Brotherhood” from the Agni Yoga series says: “An electrical apparatus gives discharges when energy accumulates in it. He does not want to hit some people, but reaches those who are close. Likewise, the return blow of psychic energy strikes those who touch it with an evil purpose. The bearer does not wish to strike anyone, yet the initial energy sends out bolts when opposed by a hostile force. Thus, a return blow is not sent, but is caused by a hostile force. Of course, where the primary energy is more powerful, there its blow will be more crushing. It would be an unforgivable mistake to accuse the bearer of powerful energy that he crushes someone. Not he, but the attacker crushes himself" (The Brotherhood, 317).

It should be emphasized that the return blow is not the result of the Teacher's desire to harm the offender. The aura, which has a high potential of psychic energy, automatically reflects the negative impact directed at it. The teacher can consciously use the power of psychic energy as a weapon only against real opponents, such as the black magician Brazzano, which is shown in the novel. But ordinary people, even those who oppose them, are never "punished" by the Master in this way; the effect of a reverse strike is completely analogous to a ricochet.

An interesting explanation of such phenomena is given in one of the letters of H. I. Roerich: “Therefore, one cannot attach special faith to the stories of idle people about sending punishment on apostates by one or another Teacher, for this would be the purest black magic. Of course, there are cases when a dark spirit directs black thoughts at a light spirit and receives a back blow, but in this case it punishes itself, for what is to be done if the light aura does not perceive the sent poisonous vibrations! We have witnessed such blowbacks more than once, and we can assure you that in each such case there was never the slightest desire to give a blow. Gentleness is the first quality of a true Teacher. He may be outraged, but he will never knowingly send a smashing arrow. Only the Great Teacher, the Lord of Karma, can consciously send a smashing beam. (Roerich E.I. From a letter dated 06/24/1935).

Another esoteric truth associated with the unusual potential of psychic energy possessed by the Teachers is present in that episode of the novel, when Sir Ut-Uomi asks Lyovushka and the captain to remove some "spell" things from Leonid, during the exposure of Brazzano in the Stroganovs' house: “Today, more than once a situation will arise when none of us will be able to touch what people are wearing without the risk of inflicting a strong energy blow on them due to the impact on them of our higher vibrations, which their physical bodies cannot bear. They can get sick and even die from our touch.”

The difference in the potential of the psychic energy of the Teacher and an ordinary person is so great that even the touch of the Teacher to a person whose aura is not cleansed by spiritual and moral discipline is capable of inflicting an energy blow on him - this truth is confirmed in the teachings of Agni Yoga.

An absolutely real phenomenon in the life of the Teachers is the ability of the Adepts to talk to each other at great distances without resorting to telephones. "That's why I bothered you, Ananda, with my broadcast telegram..."- says Illofillion to Ananda, to whom he sent an urgent request in connection with the dangerous situation that arose during the opposition of Brazzano. The main patterns of one of the varieties of this ability are explained in the second volume of the book by H. P. Blavatsky "Isis Unveiled", which tells about the occult secrets of sound and its transmission in astral and physical space. In other works of E. Blavatsky, more than once, it is said about the methods of "spatial" communication between the Adepts and their students; Blavatsky and the Roerichs constantly communicated with their Master in a similar way.

Secrets of Precious Gifts

The plot thread of the novel reflects the tradition of the Teachers, which actually exists in the life and activities of the White Brotherhood - to give the students they have accepted (that is, students of the required degree of spiritual preparedness, in which they are sure) rings and rings. Hence the description in the novel of the rings given by the Teachers to their students, and the story of precious stones with strong occult properties stolen from representatives of the forces of light. Characteristic episode of the novel: “But I will not give you a ring, but your great friend Florentine. And the stone in it will be green, - he told me, hugging me affectionately.

Such a gift serves the student not only as an ornament and a memorabilia - it is always layered with the psychic energy of the Teacher, which turns the ring or ring into a kind of psychic magnet, facilitating the student's spiritual connection with the Teacher. The type of stone in the ring is also not an accident: in the East, it is believed that each gem has its own occult properties, which is why the stone for the ring is selected in such a way as to harmonize with the aura of the student, his future owner, and strengthen in him the properties of character that are especially necessary for him. . The color of the stone corresponds to the main energies, or Rays, penetrating the entire universe and forming the basis of its invisible energy structure. The elder Mahatmas, the leaders of the White Brotherhood, are closely connected in their activities with these energy factors of being, which is hinted at in the final part of the novel "Two Lives".

K. E. Antarova. Two lives. M.: EKSMO, 2017.

Medical Science of the Teachers of the East

Another significant theme raised in the novel concerns the medical knowledge of the members of the White Brotherhood. Ali's pills, which more than once rescued Lyovushka and other heroes of the novel in stressful situations, and the medicines of Illofillion and Ananda clearly do not belong to Western pharmaceuticals.

Giving Lyovushka on the ship a medicine that eliminates the symptoms of seasickness, Illofillion says: "If the pills are good for you while rocking, you should feel a little dizzy and nauseous by now." Homeopathic medicines have a similar effect on patients (unlike traditional medicines) - they cause the same symptoms in the human body as the disease for which it is being treated, and thereby cure the disease or simply prevent the appearance of painful symptoms, as happened with Lyovushka not long ago. before the start of the storm.

Regarding homeopathy, both in the West and in Russia, another discussion has recently unfolded: representatives of official medicine again, far from for the first time, accused the homeopathic method of treatment as unscientific, and homeopathic medicines as useless or having a therapeutic effect only due to the placebo effect, or the patient's belief in the effectiveness of the drug. This attitude of Western medical scientists to homeopathy is primarily due to their lack of understanding of the principles of action of homeopathic medicines. Among homeopaths, the so-called "energy-informational theory" is widespread, according to which homeopathic remedies affect the patient's body at the energy level. The most daring of homeopaths claim that their preparations affect primarily the state of the invisible energy (also called astral or subtle) body of a person, and the reaction of the astral body is transmitted to the physical organism, thus curing the disease. These theories, of course, do not correspond to the official paradigm of modern medical science, which is why homeopathy is rejected by it.

Meanwhile, in the teachings of Agni Yoga there is a hint of what the methods of homeopathy are based on and what will be the prospects for its development: “The time will come when medicine will be transformed, and vibrations and suggestions will be used along with physical medicines. In this way, the enormous doses of medicines manifested will be reduced, for only a small physical impulse is required, the rest of the recovery will depend on vibrations and suggestion. Homeopathy to a certain extent foresaw the course of future medicine. Of course, now only those homeopathic doctors who possess great psychic energy can be successful. Perhaps they do not know what is the success of their healing. But gradually they will hear about the harmony of the influences of internal and external, then a new method of treatment will begin ”(Elevated, 23).

But let's get back to the healing methods of the employees of the White Brotherhood, generally, but still recognizably described in Antarova's novel. Not only do the methods of treatment used by the Masters differ significantly from those accepted in Western medicine, their approach to treatment is fundamentally different.

The method by which Ananda treats Lyovushka's dangerous recurrence of the disease at first arouses the indignation of a certified young doctor - Henry, who believes that such methods are unacceptable, but the result of this treatment is so brilliant that Henry admits his incompetence. Noteworthy are the words of Ananda, said by Henry about the methods of treatment used by Oriental medicine: “If you don’t read his life in a patient, but look in books for how the treatment of the disease is described there, you will never be a doctor-creator, a talent, but you will only be an artisan. The disease cannot be cured. It is possible to treat the patient by applying to the entire conglomeration of his qualities, taking into account his spiritual development. Without balancing all the forces in a person, you will not be able to cure him.

This approach to the art of healing is characteristic of Oriental medicine in general; it is also mentioned in the teachings of Agni Yoga.

A very important and most relevant topic for the modern world in the teachings of Theosophy and Agni Yoga is the psycho-spiritual factors of health. In Antarova's novel, this topic is touched upon more than once. Teacher-doctors in the book say to their patients: "Pull yourself together; all three of you are now healthy physically. Your spirit is sick. With sadness, despondency and fear, you prevent each other from recovering.

“If angry or irritated thoughts and feelings come from you, I will be powerless to help you.”

About the harm of fear, despondency, as well as anger and irritation, about their detrimental effect on both the spiritual and physical condition of a person, the books of Agni Yoga speak more than once. Fear and despondency paralyze the psychic energy of a person - his main internal healer, able to fight diseases - and thereby literally devour his vitality. The aura, or the biofield of a person experiencing fear, cannot perform its protective function. “You have to see the aura of fear to understand how ridiculous this feeling is. The aura not only oscillates, but it curls up, freezes as it were, and, devoid of vibrations, hangs like the yoke of a criminal,” says the book “The Fiery World” ( The Fiery World, part I, 152).

Anger and irritation also destroy the reserves of life-giving psychic energy in the body and, moreover, poison it with an invisible poisonous substance that accumulates on the walls of the nerve channels - imperil. This substance has a destructive effect on the state of the aura and undermines the vitality of a person. The books of Agni Yoga say: “How many physical illnesses flare up from the penetration of imperil, as if an arsonist has penetrated!” (Aum, 294).

“Of course, imperil is the main destroyer of psychic energy. But the three offenders must also not be forgotten: fear, doubt, and self-pity. When the measurement of psychic energy is mechanically established, then it will be instructive to see how the defilers interrupt the flow of energy. (Signs of Agni Yoga, 389).

In general, the creators of the Teaching of Life (as the Living Ethics is also called) in all the books of their teaching carry out the idea that: “Spiritual health is the main basis for the health of the body.<...>Every body is predisposed to many diseases, but spiritual strength does not allow such uprisings to develop. When the spirit can properly feed on higher energies, it will also protect the body from dangers. (Aum, 57).

The same idea is expressed more than once, in one form or another, on the pages of Antarova's multi-volume novel.

Self-improvement and the acquisition of paranormal abilities

An important problem that never loses its relevance for people striving for spiritual self-improvement is the disclosure of higher mental abilities, such as clairvoyance and clairaudience. To date, there are many examples of the wrong methods that the followers of yoga have tried to use to acquire these abilities; the results of errors in this area of phenomena are extremely deplorable. According to the author's intention, life puts the protagonist of the story in such conditions when the abilities of clairvoyance and clairaudience begin to open in him against the background of a severe brain injury. As a result, the spontaneous inclusion in his usual perception of phenomena of a different plane of being is perceived by Lyovushka as something inadequate, and is also accompanied by a deterioration in well-being. Ilofillion, who takes care of Lyovushka, encourages and reassures him more than once and explains that the manifestation of these abilities is not a mental illness, but a regularity of a person’s spiritual development: “There are people, Lyovushka, who hear and see what hundreds of people can neither hear nor see and thousands of people. They are endowed with a special power of inner vision and hearing, which occur at a different frequency of vibrations and vibrations than those by which impressions and sensations are perceived by most people.

It is known from theosophy, Agni Yoga and B. Abramov's notes that the manifestation of clairvoyance and other higher abilities is due to the opening of higher energy centers (chakras) located in the invisible subtle bodies of a person and projected onto the largest nerve plexuses and centers of the physical body. “The evolution of humanity in general, and the physical body in particular, leads to the possibility of opening the centers, which gives clairvoyance, clairaudience and all other clairsentience,” says B. Abramov in his notes. (The Facets of Agni Yoga, vol. 10, 432).

A very important idea expressed on the pages of the novel is that one must be able to control the energy of the awakening forces of the superconscious; the development of higher psychic faculties must proceed in the right way. If a person does not have the proper level of culture and knowledge of how to develop and apply the forces that open in him, he may turn out not to be a clairvoyant yogi, but a medium or, as it is called in Agni Yoga, a psychic. A person who is completely unprepared, deprived of a culture of thought and the necessary spiritual and mental qualities, the forces of superconsciousness that open in him can even turn into a mentally ill person, or, as Illofillion put it, into a holy fool: “I have already explained to you that in every person there are creative powers of the superconscious. In some people they doze, in others they come to life. And they come to life in each in different ways, depending on his general level of purity and culture - from the holy fool to the sage.

The lips of the same Teacher speak about what is the most important condition for the correct disclosure in a person of these mysterious and powerful forces of superconsciousness: “And I already told you that your life will bring you not the pain of madness, but the great happiness of knowledge, if you want to work and cultivate complete self-control in yourself.”

Why is self-control so important when awakening higher psychic abilities in a person? We find the answer to this question in the books of Agni Yoga and in the notes of Boris Abramov. The teachings of Agni Yoga say: “Self-control is a very complex quality. It consists of courage, patience and compassion. But courage should not turn into anger, compassion should not border on hysteria, and patience should not be hypocrisy. So difficult is self-control, but it is inevitably needed when entering the Higher Worlds. This synthetic quality should be developed very carefully. (The Fiery World, part 1, 634). And one more thing: “Urusvati knows the essence of self-control. Think about this concept. It signifies the harmonious cooperation of the psychic centers. You know how harmful disorder is, the more destructive it is when it occurs in the psychic realm. It is time for a person to firmly realize the existence of the power of psychic energy inherent in him, ”says one of the books of Agni Yoga (Elevated, 880).

The impact of art on the spiritual life of a person

Another interesting topic raised in Antarova's novel is the importance of art for the spiritual development of people. Without a doubt, this topic was especially close to Konkordia Evgenievna, an outstanding opera singer. In "Two Lives" the reader will often come across an inspirational and emotional description of the impact that music has on the spiritual and moral state of a person. Music and art in general is not just entertainment, it is the shortest path of spiritual evolution accessible to everyone without exception. This truth, known from the teachings of Agni Yoga, is reflected in many episodes of the novel (including its subsequent volumes). Moreover, the author of Two Lives, whoever he may be, if we assume that the text of the novel was indeed dictated by K. Antarova from above, touches upon such an interesting problem as the connection of music with altered states of consciousness, or the so-called ecstatic states . “Today I not only understood what women and art are, for the first time I understood what life is. It seemed to me that your music made my spirit separate from the body ... "- the captain confesses to his friends after a delightful musical evening.

The ability of music, as well as other forms of art, to “raise” the spirit of a person above earthly vanity and open the spiritual horizons of the universe to him has long been appreciated by the spiritual Teachers of the East. One of the books of Agni Yoga says: “... the vitality of art, which is kept by the divine fire, gives humanity saturation with that fire that ignites the spirit and saturates all worlds. That is why the miraculous torches of the beauty of creativeness are so valuable to mankind. We have seen how works of art have transformed man, and no bookishness in the world can do such a thing.” (Hierarchy, 366).

Let's note one more interesting episode of the novel, also connected with music. After the concert of Anna and Ananda in his house, the prince confesses to Teacher Hilarion: “But I can swear that in the evening during the music I saw you glowing like a giant pillar of fire. And the spark of your fire touched me, Dr. Illofillion. It was she who shocked me so that I seemed to have escaped from the grip of anguish and fear, freed myself from heaviness.

Two absolutely real phenomena of the spiritual-psychic sphere are touched upon here. First, during inspiration (or even an ecstatic state) born of the sounds of music, the spirit brings down a powerful stream of psychic energy into the subtle body of a spiritually developed person; thanks to this, his subtle body at a given moment can appear to the gaze of another person who has at least the rudiments of clairvoyance, in the form of a fiery pillar. And the second is that the psychic energy concentrated in the aura of one enlightened person is capable of causing resonant phenomena in the people around him, thereby greatly accelerating their spiritual evolution. Sparks of spiritual flame, present in the aura of one person, kindle a similar flame in the aura of all those who are spiritually and morally pure enough to be able to perceive this creative fire and keep it in their consciousness. This law is expressed in the famous gospel saying: "Save yourself - and around you thousands will be saved."

Magic and sorcery

There is also a theme of magic and witchcraft that is of interest to fans of mysticism in the novel "Two Lives". The employees of the White Brotherhood are opposed by the representative of the dark forces, the sorcerer Brazzano, who believes in the invincibility of black magic and considers himself an outstanding magician. The theme of magic is special not only in mystical literature, but also in society as a whole. Even in the modern world, millions of people believe in the reality and effectiveness of magic, both white and black. Many are afraid of the evil eye and damage; books with magical conspiracies are sold in millions of copies around the world, including in our country. It is impossible to dissuade people that magic exists, and not because many people are superstitious, but because the science of our days can not explain all the mysterious phenomena associated with the human psyche, non-traditional healing and various spiritual practices. In the novel by K. Antarova, a completely rational explanation is given for those mental phenomena that have long been related to the field of magic.

Brazzano, a student of some sorcerer who believed in his magical abilities, actually has the ability to subjugate ordinary people to his will, turning them almost into zombies. However, the employees of the White Brotherhood tell Lyovushka that there is nothing unusual in this, that this is the same hypnosis, but used for criminal purposes.

“Humanity is horrified by everything so-called supernatural, forgetting that nothing above the existing can be supernatural” (Heart, 113).

“The stories about sorcerers sending deadly diseases are not fiction, but only there is no witchcraft here, but only an exercise of the will. The weakest hypnotist can make you experience the effect of drowning. He can also order to die at a certain time.

Such cases have been established (Community, 168).

In addition to the power of suggestion, Brazzano also uses another technique of black magic - the layering of negative psychic energy on objects, through which he wants to deal with his enemies. These items, from paper and clothing to knives and jewelry, are planted by him or through his allies on people he wants to harm or enslave psychologically.

Charmed objects are a classic manifestation of magic and witchcraft. Is it just a fantasy, an invariable attribute of fairy tales? The patrons of Lyovushka express a different opinion on this matter. “...sometimes any thing donated and worn by someone else is harmful,” Ananda told me very seriously. “Worn on a person by an evil hand, a thing can deprive not only the mind, but also life.”

And if the Teachers are not afraid of such things, due to the enormous potential of psychic energy and knowledge inherent in them, then for ordinary people these things can be very dangerous.

But even in such phenomena, the patrons of Lyovushka do not see anything supernatural and, moreover, they easily cope with these witchcraft intrigues, removing layers of negative energy from jewelry with the help of a special drug, or simply burning the charmed or terafed objects.

In Agni Yoga, such phenomena find a completely rational explanation: radiating from a person's consciousness, psychic energy - the energy of his thoughts and feelings - has the ability to accumulate on surrounding objects. This energy can be positive, but it can also be negative, destructive - it all depends on the consciousness of the person who radiates it. Both sorcerers and white magicians from ancient times knew how to use these qualities of psychic energy in their activities: some used it for evil, others for good. Accordingly, black magicians could create harmful "spell" objects, white magicians - the same objects, but with protective properties.

So what is magic, according to the keepers of esoteric knowledge? The answer to this question is clear: this is not just superstition, but real, very ancient knowledge about the practical use of the power of thought, or psychic energy, capable of exerting a powerful effect, both negative (in black magic) and positive (in white magic and other spiritual practices) on people and nature.

In conclusion, we note that in the novel by K. Antarova the reader will meet many other interesting and important points that reflect the hidden, but powerful laws of life, explained in esoteric teachings. "Two Lives" is a real fount of genuine wisdom of the East, presented in a fascinating, simple and accessible form. And as such, this novel has been, is, and will forever be a source of inexhaustible inspiration for many, many generations of readers.