Magic, Prophecy, and Geopolitics in the Heart of AsiaA N D R E I Z N A M E N S KI

RED

SHAMBHALA

RED

SHAMBHALA

Magic, Prophecy, and Geopolitics in the Heart of AsiaANDREI ZNAMENSKI

h eosophical Publishing House

Wheaton, Illinois * Chennai, India

Copyright © 2011 by Andrei Zmanenski First Quest Edition 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission except for quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For additional information write to

Quest

Books

h eosophical Publishing House

P. O. Box 270

Wheaton, IL 60187-0270

www.questbooks.net

Cover image: Sophia, the Wisdom of the Almighty, 1932, by Nicholas Roerich, reproduced by permission of the Nicholas Roerich Museum.

Cover design by Drew Stevens.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Znamenski, Andrei, A.

Red Shambhala: magic, prophecy, and geopolitics in the heart of Asia / Andrei Znamenski.—1st Quest ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8356-0891-6

1. Soviet Union—Politics and government—1917–1936. 2. Geopolitics—Soviet Union—History. 3. Shambhala—Political aspects—Soviet Union—History.

4. Prophecies—China—Tibet—History—20th century. 5. Prophecies—Political aspects—Soviet Union—History. 6. Extremists—Soviet Union—Biography.

7. Communisim—Soviet Union—History. 8. Soviet Union—Foreign relations—1917–

1945. 9. Soviet Union—Foreign relations—Asia, Central. 10. Asia, Central—Foreign relations—Soviet Union. I. Title.

DK266.5.Z58 2011

947.084'2—dc22 2010047136

5 4 3 2 1 * 11 12 13 14 15

Printed in the United States of America

Bodhisattvas have no attainment. h ey depend on and

abide by the perfection of wisdom. Because their minds are unobstructed, they are without fear. Having completely passed beyond all error, they go to the fuli llment of nirvana.

—h e Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra

v

Contents

List of Illustrations

viii

Preface

xi

List of Major Characters

xxi

1: Shambhala, Kalachakra Tantra, and Avenging Gods of Tibetan Buddhism

1

2: Power for the Powerless: h e Mongol-Tibetan World and Its Prophecies

19

3: Alexander Barchenko: Budding Red Merlin and His Ancient Science