Parenting Education. Book 4 (Russian version)
A serene summer evening in the south of France. I check my watch. It's amazing—I've been behind the wheel for nearly twelve hours, yet I feel better and better. By my sensations, I could drive for another twelve. Despite the fact that it's starting to get dark, I can still see the road clearly.
By the way, why has my vision been weakening? On one hand, it's understandable: improper nutrition and lifestyle. On the other hand, serious work-related stress. But, I think there's also a primary factor—issues with the soul. For many years, I first thought poorly of a person and then justified them. I was always in favor of harsh measures. Now I understand why: for me, principles were more important than love and compassion, and the main point of reference was shifted into the spiritual realm. I lived in extremes, which is evidence of problems with the soul.
Now that I've realized that the foundation of humanity and all living things is the soul, everything has become clear, and everything has fallen into place. To shift the point of reference from the future, from the spirit, to the soul, one needs to create normal conditions for the soul's functioning. This includes one's worldview, lifestyle, and nutrition.
A person who perceives the world from the perspective of the spirit or the body sees everything as static, unchanging. Only those who live with their hearts and souls perceive the world as fluid, changing, and evolving. For someone whose consciousness is in the forefront, the world appears unchanging, and if something doesn't fit into their rigid, stable beliefs, they have a desire to destroy what threatens the integrity of their worldview. Therefore, a person with excessive pride is always internally aggressive. Their main happiness is not love, unity, and helping others, but rather superiority, the suppression of others, and self-aggrandizement. Such a person always needs to be at the center, with the entire universe revolving around them. As is known, for many centuries in the post-Christian world, the geocentric model of the universe (Earth as the center of the universe) was considered true, which was evidence of half-minded thinking.
A person living with love, soul, understands that the world can change. Therefore, the discussion is not about destroying the offender or suppressing them, but about changing and educating them. «Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God», said Christ. Peacemakers are those whose souls are alive, who have a lot of love and energy. Those who feel an inseparable unity with all.
In principle, the nine beatitudes given by Christ describe people with developed souls. Who are the blessed poor in spirit? What do those who do not worry about tomorrow look like? These are people for whom love and soul are more important than consciousness and the future. A person can be unwise, with no future ahead of them. But if they have love, a soul, and morality, then they will always strategically survive and triumph. Happy is the person for whom the soul is more important than the spirit, because love resides in the soul. And happiness is the discovery of love and the constant increase of it in the soul.
My thoughts somehow shift back to the topic of nutrition. «Interesting», I think, «I'm traveling the roads of France and mostly pondering food and drink». Perhaps, there's an aura here. As the saying goes, God created food, and the devil created cooks. Our half-minded thinking forces us to either worship food or view it as the source of evil and abstain from it.
The canons of Indian philosophy in this regard are dialectical and simple. Food should be fresh. Food should please the eye and create a good mood. Food should be consumed in a cheerful state. Eating should follow the emptying of the intestines. Food can be consumed only when there is a sense of hunger. I try to recall the main principles of Vedic nutrition, but at the moment, I can't. Daoists, whose philosophy aligns with Indian philosophy, say that one should eat sparingly. But periodically, one should allow themselves to eat and drink as much as they want to give the body a shock and allow the organs to work at full capacity. Again, there's dialectics in this.
By the way, regarding the diet of the Hunza tribe. In winter, they eat crushed grains, sheep cheese, and dried apricots. Perhaps, the main mechanism of their proper nutrition is the forced spring fasting when, for 3-4 months, they only drink a broth made from dried apricots and other fruits. In this mode, when external energy is minimal, the activation of internal high energy is necessary. It passes through the soul, and the soul must be in the appropriate state. A person should be cheerful, good-natured, and joyful. The Hunza people are incredibly hospitable and warm-hearted towards visitors from other countries. They surround their elders with great respect and reverence. And even though they live at an altitude of about two thousand meters above sea level, walking a hundred kilometers in the mountains is an easy stroll for them. Periodic fasting in the midst of joy and good-heartedness, coupled with the habit of expending energy through serious physical exertion, leads to the activation of vital higher energy. It is this subtle energy that ensures health and longevity.
On the contrary, Europeans tend to suppress their subtle energy with external means. High-calorie food with low living energy leads to the destruction of subtle spiritual energy. In principle, there is a pattern in this. If a person loses love and connection with God, degradation should begin; otherwise, a person won't even realize what they've lost.
When Divine energy passes through the soul, a feeling of joy and happiness arises, a sense of unity with the entire world. One wants to sacrifice, care, and make others happy. That's why the apostles said, «Rejoice always». A person who is ready to rejoice, who is oriented towards good-heartedness and a joyful state, establishes a regime of proper soul existence.
«Strange», I think, «why is there such a strong tendency towards sorrow in Orthodoxy? Why the need to focus on one's sinfulness and constant repentance? Why so little joy?». Perhaps because, as in Catholicism, there has been a shift towards the realm of the spirit. When a person constantly feels right, superior to others, they naturally try to overcome this state with the opposite, that is, self-abasement, a sense of their own imperfection. But if you believe that the spirit is the foundation of everything, then sin will constantly seep through, no matter how much you humble yourself. Perhaps this attempt to overcome pride through self-abasement has led many Christian saints to oncology? A prevalent tendency in Orthodoxy is to feel immensely sinful and constantly repent for one's sins.
I ponder: what is sin? It is the loss of love, unity with God. It is the loss of God in one's soul. What is repentance? It is an internal change to such an extent that one no longer behaves sinfully. It is the realization that it is unacceptable to behave as one did before. A person's behavior is linked to their inner state. If we want to change our behavior, we must change internally. If we concentrate on our sinfulness, it is a concentration on the loss of love, which can lead to even greater loss. If sin is the loss of love and unity with God, then overcoming sin is the restoration of love in the soul. Self-blame and self-abasement may be less effective here.
Why do we lose love for God? Because we start to be attracted more by the happiness of the soul, spirit, and body. In Hinduism, there is a concept of the three main sources of sin: desire, anger, and greed. Desire is the soul's greed for pleasure. Anger is the spirit's greed for knowledge, power, control. What greed for the body is, everyone understands – it is excess in food, sex, habits; it is consumerism, insatiability of desires.
To overcome sin, one must, firstly, abstain from pleasures that come through the body, spirit, and soul, and secondly, in such a state of detachment, strive for God and feel that unity with Him is the highest pleasure. Then love and joy arise in the soul.
In the time of Christ, the Pharisees fasted with sad faces, which means the restriction of the body and spirit occurred, but there was no love and joy in the soul. Therefore, fasting became meaningless.
I recall how thirty years ago I tried to fast because it was customary. That is, not eating meat and fish. Or just fasting. But then, for some reason, that desire disappeared. Later, when I began to explore this topic more seriously, the picture became clearer.
It turns out that in Orthodoxy, the traditional spring fast is often associated only with the body. Based on my observations, such fasting can even be dangerous if a person doesn't also fast spiritually. This means that one should not experience negative emotions, irritability, or resentment during the fast. It's important not to burden oneself with work, excessive reading, or overthinking. During the fast, not only the body should rest but also the mind.
A year ago, when I delved into the topic of the soul, I realized that even such fasting could be perilous. When you restrict your body from external energy, the higher energy flows into your consciousness; when you limit consciousness, it flows into the soul. Only when you limit the manifestations of the soul will your subconscious energy and aspirations turn towards God and enhance your unity with Him. This provides the opportunity to overcome what is called sin. So, the most dangerous aspect during fasting is the lack of restraint in the soul. The soul forgets about God, seeking satisfaction of its desires. Thus, the main focus during fasting should be to halt all forms of sensual happiness.
What gives us the maximum pleasure? Sexual attraction to a loved one, communication with them. Pleasure comes from sweets, varied and exquisite food. Alcohol, smoking, and cigarettes provide feelings of pleasure and happiness. This means that during the fast, one should primarily refrain from sexual contact, social interactions, consuming sweets, tea, coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes. To experience joy from communion with God, all other sources of joy must be suspended. At the moment when a person consciously abstains from all pleasures, they should tune themselves to the joy and happiness received from uniting with the Creator.
I ponder: why does the situation in my country affect me so deeply? Why do I take poor-quality food and the rudeness of officials to heart? It's all natural. Russia is a young country that emerged only 18 years ago. It still lacks ideology and morality. The Constitution, laws, and television programs are all gradually borrowed from other countries. And, as in any young and undeveloped country, there is chaos and disorganization. The foundations for strengthening statehood are just being laid. So why am I so concerned and quick to judge people and the country? Most likely because I assess the situation from the perspective of ideals, a static ideal model. In other words, I also tend to think in extremes. Either everything is good in the country, and I worship this situation, or it's bad, and I condemn and hate it for that.
By the way, I've noticed an interesting trend. If you get upset about how people behave, you start to physically suffer, feeling that it could lead to death. The subconscious immediately suggests a way out: seek revenge, deceive someone, do something mean to someone, and then you'll feel better. And indeed, how can I judge the dishonesty of others if I am the same? It's clear why we love movies about crooks and dishonest people. They don't judge anyone. They live, enjoy, and do what they want. True, later, their selfishness begins to intensify and cause problems. But that's for later. The greatest happiness is experienced when, transitioning from correctness and decency that constantly push us towards judgment, we move towards dishonesty.
A saying from «Russian Radio» comes to mind: «Live in a way that depression belongs to others». And indeed, why do decent people often experience emotions of judgment and depression? A decent person is related to the word «order». When we worship the spirit, the future, any deviation from a rigid pattern leads to anger, judgment, and irritation. And when we realize that we cannot change the situation, all of this turns into depression. In that moment, to survive, one must transition to the category of scoundrels. Then you no longer plan to make the world beautiful and pure; you live for your own interests and happiness. This is why there are more dishonest people than decent ones. It's healthier.
The first step towards this dishonesty is the loss of the fullness of the soul's existence. The future becomes more important than the present, but the future cannot be more important than love. Rules, laws, and principles cannot be more important than love. If a person commits a crime against their own soul, they transfer their subconscious aspirations and goals to the future, to spirituality. This leads to suffering because the desired does not align with reality. From this state of humiliation and spiritual pain, there are two paths: one is to return to the soul, the other is to slide further, closer to the body.
How did the Russian people overcome their dependence on the spirit? Through self-abasement, through a critical attitude towards work itself, and eventually through drunkenness. So, those who turned away from work, social connections, were not subject to condemnation; they were called «fools for Christ's sake». By dulling their consciousness, the Russian people tried to return to the soul. And Orthodoxy, despite all its problems, upheld the fundamental Christian commandments, helping to preserve the soul. A century and a half ago, people began to turn away from religion, and the October Revolution, which followed a few decades later, destroyed Orthodoxy as an economic and political organization.
In Europe, when Catholicism began to turn into a commercial project, similar trends emerged. To be precise, this process started earlier in Europe. The loss of faith, the proclamation of the kingdom of reason, and the triumph of human logic all led to society turning away from Catholicism. An alternative was created, both in Russia and in Europe. In Russia, it was socialism, and in Europe, it was Protestantism. Both were attempts to build paradise and the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Catholicism, promising paradise in heaven, failed in its mission and began to transform into a commercial organization. If paradise cannot be reached in heaven, it must be built on Earth. The key condition for building paradise on Earth is honest and diligent work. It is the assurance that the fruits of your labor will not be taken by others. To be spiritual and highly developed, teachers, schools, education, and therefore money are needed. God loves those who work well. God allows a person to be wealthy. These key ideas in Protestantism led to the creation of a cult of the hardworking and eventually the successful individual. If you have money and success in all your endeavors, it means that God loves you.
In America, where the majority of believers are Protestant, a cult of the successful individual has developed. Therefore, the worst insult there is, "You're a failure." The cult of work and the cult of the successful individual inevitably had to evolve into a cult of money, selfishness, and individualism.
In Russia, on the contrary, there was a cult of the failure. In all Russian fairy tales, the lazy and foolish characters end up in a better position compared to the smart and hardworking ones. «Work is not a wolf; it won't run away into the woods» is a typical Russian proverb. This slowed down development but preserved the energy of the soul and faith. Socialism in Russia also emerged as opposition to religion and the desire to create a just and happy society, in other words, paradise on Earth. The main idea was also the worship of work and prosperity, but not personal but collective.
Both Protestantism and socialism can be viewed as a natural degradation of post-Christian religions, a shift of primary goals from faith, love, and the soul to the future, stability, and prosperity.
Ultimately, the focus on the future and materialism should have descended to the body and the animal desires of a person. This is precisely the picture we observe in the modern world.
I again think about my anger and indignation. Why do I take all this so close to heart? Because I live not by the soul but by the spirit.
What is black-and-white thinking? It is a state in which I can only experience one emotion - either attachment or hatred. Either worship or superiority. But if opposites are combined in the soul, a person living by the soul must simultaneously experience two opposite emotions.
Interestingly, what should I feel when opening a can of rotten food? Annoyance, irritation, offense - that's understandable.
But how can I feel joy at the same time? And suddenly it dawns on me. Science claims that a person can only experience one emotion, starting from such concepts as body and consciousness. The body and the spirit are opposites; they can only be associated with one emotion. But in the soul, the body and the spirit unite in dialectical unity. If the body is hungry, it may be beneficial for the spirit. The body suffers, and the spirit rejoices. And in the soul, these two emotions merge into one.
Why can the soul hold two opposites at the same time? Because, unlike the body and the spirit, the soul consists of two halves, two opposites. In the soul, there is an eternal, divine part that is turned toward God and always must feel love and joy. The feeling of joy is an excess of energy. If we rejoice, turning to God, it means we are ready to give Him a lot of energy. But the part of the soul turned towards this world can experience variable feelings. This means that the apostles were right when they said, "Rejoice always." You should always rejoice in the fact that God loves us. In the fact that we can give Him our love and gratitude. In the fact that the world is highly rational. In the fact that the entire Universe, by developing, increases love. In the fact that we will all return to God and unite with Him, becoming Him.
This continuous feeling of love and joy, which must always be accompanied by feelings and emotions related to any situation, will not allow us to depend on the surrounding world and grow together with it.
I will have to return to this topic again. But it seems that the hunches are correct. Time will clarify everything. The main thing is always to rejoice.