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How the Bolsheviks were looking for Shambhala, or What the Chekists were doing in the Himalayas in 1925
How the Bolsheviks were looking for Shambhala, or What the Chekists were doing in the Himalayas in 1925

Video: How the Bolsheviks were looking for Shambhala, or What the Chekists were doing in the Himalayas in 1925

Video: How the Bolsheviks were looking for Shambhala, or What the Chekists were doing in the Himalayas in 1925
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The mysterious country has always excited human minds, attracting with its mysteriousness both inquisitive individuals and large search groups. Governments of different countries have repeatedly tried to seize secret knowledge, sending expeditions to mountainous Asia in the hope of finding Shambhala. The Soviet Union was no exception, the leadership of which, despite the propaganda of atheism, believed in the existence of occult forces and their limitless possibilities.

What is this country of Shambhala and why the Bolsheviks were looking for it

Shambhala is a wonderful country somewhere in Tibet
Shambhala is a wonderful country somewhere in Tibet

In classical Buddhist teachings, Shambhala is a wonderful country ruled by a powerful magician. Hidden from human eyes, in order to avoid unwanted intrusion from the outside, it is inhabited by tall white people who own magical artifacts and knowledge unknown to mankind.

Where exactly such a country is located, opinions differed: some suggested that the mythical world was hidden in a parallel universe. To get into it, it is enough to have a pure heart, good intentions and know certain techniques of self-improvement. Others believed that the magical land was located in a specific place, for example, in Tibet and reliably hidden from prying eyes using the features of the natural relief.

The Bolsheviks also believed that Shambhala was located in Asia. In 1925, they set themselves an unusual task - to find a mysterious country in the mountains and learn ancient technologies from the race inhabiting it in order to accelerate progress and strengthen the power of the USSR.

How Yakov Blumkin developed occultism in the USSR

Super agent Blumkin in Tibet
Super agent Blumkin in Tibet

The general public is practically not aware that in the USSR, the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK) was engaged not only in the fight against sabotage and counter-revolutionary elements. In the 1920s, the organization had a department that, along with the development of equipment and fonts for intelligence activities, studied issues related to magic, the occult and other supernatural phenomena. The special department was supervised by the head of the Chekists Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, the former plenipotentiary of the Turkestan Cheka Gleb Ivanovich Bokiy was in charge, and the experienced intelligence officer Yakov Grigorievich Blyumkin became the inspiration for the idea.

In 1924, Blumkin handed over to Dzerzhinsky a report on the experiments of Alexander Barchenko, an employee of the Institute of Brain and Higher Nervous Activity. Interested in the report, the high chief instructed one of the employees of the secret department, Agranov, to consider the document. After examining the scientist's notes, a few days later he met with Barchenko: starting with an explanation of his paranormal experiments, the institute employee at the end of the conversation told the security officer about the unknown mystical Shambhala.

Later, at a meeting of the board of the OPGU, Barchenko's project to create a secret laboratory was considered and approved. Her tasks included the study of hypnosis and the capabilities of the human brain, as well as telepathic experiments, practical occultism and the development of equipment for radio spying.

Why the expedition to the Himalayas was organized

Expedition to the Himalayas
Expedition to the Himalayas

The official goal of the upcoming expedition was to help the Tibetan population in the fight against the British imperialists. Having graduated from the Academy of the General Staff, Blumkin spoke several languages. Relying on his fluency in Mongolian, Yakov was tasked, disguised as a lama, to win the trust of the Tibetan elders to find out the location of Shambhala.

However, there was no need to do this - in September 1925, the fake lama went in search of Shambhala as part of the expedition of Nicholas Roerich, joining the group already on the way. The artist himself did not even suspect that he was dealing with a Chekist. Leading a diary on the road, Roerich spoke very enthusiastically about his new companion: “Excellent lama! There is not an ounce of hypocrisy in him, experienced, restrained and very easy to move. With all this, he feels the strength to which he is ready to resort if it is necessary to protect the foundations of faith."

Meanwhile Blumkin, being in the form of a Mongolian lama looking for Shambhala, did not forget about the duties of a scout. He noted in the course of his movement the location of border outposts and checkpoints, recorded the length of certain sections of roads, made notes on the state of communications.

During his wanderings, Blumkin gradually opened up to Roerich, speaking his native language and making it clear that he was aware of the political situation in the USSR. From the diary of Nikolai Konstantinovich: “It turned out that our lama knows Russian and is well versed in the intricacies of the political processes taking place in Russia. It also turned out that we even have mutual friends. It is noteworthy that later Blumkin suggested to Roerich a way to safely return to Russia, thereby rendering great assistance to the artist, who had long dreamed of returning to his homeland.

What are the results of the expedition to the Himalayas

Blumkin and the Tibetans
Blumkin and the Tibetans

As part of the group, Yakov Grigorievich walked along the entire western China. The expedition visited over 100 monasteries and Tibetan sanctuaries; overcame 35 passes, including the hard-to-reach Dungla; wrote down many local legends and ancient legends; collected a valuable collection of medicinal herbs and rare minerals, for the study of which a research institute was organized two years later.

Most of the information about this expedition is still classified as secret, however, apparently, the main goal - Shambhala - was never achieved by its participants. Nevertheless, some historians believe that Blumkin did not return from the campaign empty-handed. In addition to legends and legends about Shambhala, he brought with him some ancient artifacts. So, according to the historian and writer Nikolai Subbotin, there is a report on the expedition, in which Yakov Grigorievich mentions arrows throwing fire and a mysterious device called "vajra" by him.

There are also those who consider the trip to the Tibetan mountains a necessary trick, which was used to divert the attention of opponents from a young country that had just retired from the war. Whatever it was, the truth will not become clear soon, but for now we only have to assume and believe the words, perhaps more knowledgeable writers and historians.

What about the further fate of Yakov Blumkin? It developed tragically - in 1929, Yakov Grigorievich was tried and shot after learning about his political ties with the disgraced Leon Trotsky.

The mysterious tribe of centenarians also greatly excited the minds of people. Is not it hunzakuts lived for more than a hundred years, not everyone knows even today.

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