Archive: Weekly Quote for 20-NOV-2009

Please use the link "Wisdom of Ruhnama" in the right column to access the current quote for this week. The previous quote appears below.

Weekly Quote
Friday, November 20, 2009
Great Turkmenbashy shares a story:

An Atabeg educated the son of a Soltan for 18 years. Upon completion of the education the Atabeg awarded him a certificate showing that he had received proper training. The Soltan's son was raised as a brave man, a perfect horseman, and as sharp as an eagle. He had the mental abilities that would allow him to participate in discussions with scholars. The Atabeg showed the skills he taught the Soltan's son.

The Soltan was pleased and said, "Go swim through the sea, my son Oguz."

The Soltan's son replied, "Master Atabeg did not teach me how to do that."

The Soltan turned to Atabeg and said:

"My son's friends could have taught him what you taught. If he ever needs to swim, neither his friends nor I, nor you, could help."

__________

Great Turkmenbashy writes:

There are certain things in life with respect to which parents, friends, brothers and relatives cannot give any help. Man faces the realities of life many times. At those times, one should be able to overcome difficulties without needing assistance from others. If one cannot do so, then one is not properly and sufficiently raised.

I lived under very difficult conditions. It is a mistake to prevent a child from encountering difficulties. Indeed this is a form of enmity toward one's own son.

The child has to prove to himself certain things by undertaking tasks proper to his age. The efforts spent earlier by the child will yield positive results for him in the future.

Ruhnama, Book I, pp. 339, 340.
(English hardcover edition)

Archive: Weekly Quote for 13-NOV-2009

Please use the link "Wisdom of Ruhnama" in the right column to access the current quote for this week. The previous quote appears below.

Weekly Quote
Friday, November 13, 2009
Great Turkmenbashy writes:

Science is a treasure created by mankind. Education is the key to that treasure. It is the door that provides access to the world of science through literacy.

Science teaches man about the treasures and perceptions of those that came before him. Man selects from among these and leaves aside the ones that are of no use to him. He takes those pieces he needs and internalizes them.

Dear fellow citizens!

I started implementing a "New Science Policy" after major reforms in the fields of science and knowledge in the Independent and Eternally Impartial Turkmenistan. The schooling of the Soviet era does not meet our contemporary needs. The main objective of the science policy is to protect children from the evil guidance of the streets, and to provide assistance to parents in guiding their children.

If the teacher teaches his classes at school and does nothing after that to guide his students, then the students will be open to the evils of the streets. There he will adopt useless habits.

If we wish to protect our children from the evils of the streets, then we should provide them with proper guidelines in the family and at school. Our tomorrow lies in the hands of our children. If we wish to see in the future an affluent Independent and Impartial Turkmenistan respecting science then we should do all that we can to provide proper guidance for our children.

I think it would be proper to quote a letter I received:

: Dear Saparmyrat Atayevich!

: This letter I am writing to you is not an ordinary one. This is a part of my sincerest feelings, and an indication of my regret.

: I worked under your supervision. You appointed me to a post that required responsibility, and you had confidence in me. You appointed me to the chairmanship of an enterprise, though not a major one.

: But Allah decreed an undesirable fate for me. I was brought up in very harsh and difficult conditions, and in severe need. I just wanted my two sons not to suffer from the kind of hardships that affected my life. To that end, I stole money, accepted bribes, and accumulated so much wealth that it was enough to use till my death. I bought apartments, cars... such beautiful cars. But...

: My younger son had an accident while he was drunk and driving. He almost died. It would have been better if he had died. His backbone is severly damaged; he will stay in bed for the rest of his life. My older son acted irresponsibly and wasted time during the privileged days of his father, and became a drug-addict. One day we're fine, the next two we fight. He squandered all that wealth in five or six years. He made my younger son a drug-addict as well. His mother could not bear the sufferings of this world and died of heart disease. I suffered a lot when I was a child. I encountered many difficulties. I was raised as an upright man, but the wealth I obtained was of no use to me.

: I stole and fed my children on what is forbidden and unlawful. The improper deeds we engaged in have their effects now.

: My two sons were my sharp eyes; they were my hands and feet. I would not complain if I was blinded at my discretion by a physician. It would be my fair share to live as a creature with hands and feet cut off. If only death could find me and take my soul away. Unfortunately this is not so; I can neither live nor die in this world. This is how I ruined my future and did the same to both of my sons too. I am the only one to be blamed. I fed my children on what is impermissible and unlawful. Makhtumkuli was right to say, "You will give your account of your proper deeds, but you will definitely be punished for the improper, impermissible and unlawful."

: Now I have received the punishment for such.

[End of letter.]

Great Turkmenbashy writes:

Either a devout saint or a criminal can be made out of a child.

Happy is the man who raises the child as affectionate toward mankind, as a knowledgeable person that has the ability to foresee trouble.

Ruhnama, Book I, pp. 337-339.
(English hardcover edition)

Archive: Weekly Quote for 06-NOV-2009

Please use the link "Wisdom of Ruhnama" in the right column to access the current quote for this week. The previous quote appears below.

Weekly Quote
Friday, November 6, 2009
Great Turkmenbashy writes:

The mind and proper knowledge bring man closer to Allah.

Possession of proper knowledge allows man to look into the far distance.

Proper knowledge is a means to save oneself from the flood of life that would otherwise have a devastating impact.

Only proper knowledge can provide an answer to the question of how to live and what to do to live. The kind of knowledge that fails to provide answers to this question is in fact an illusory attempt, totally in vain.

Man should know himself; this is what renders him superior.

Man is indebted in that he should know.

Knowing means thinking about the world, finding a proper place for oneself in the world and proving oneself.

The time of the sword is over. But even the sword itself is a product of the mind and proper knowledge.

When I say the time of the sword is over, I mean that the mind and proper knowledge that was once utilized to produce the sword should now be directed to producing and inventing useful things.

Ruhnama, Book I, p. 336.
(English hardcover edition)

Archive: Weekly Quote for 30-OCT-2009

Please use the link "Wisdom of Ruhnama" in the right column to access the current quote for this week. The previous quote appears below.

Weekly Quote
Friday, October 30, 2009
Great Turkmenbashy writes:

Knowledge is the Light of Happiness

The most beneficial knowledge is the one that works to the benefit of society.

One should doubt the authenticity of the kind of knowledge that has no social use. Every single deed of man should yield a result. For this is what makes social life possible.

The scientist should work to help improve society in material and spiritual respects. If the scientist forgets this task, then the knowledge he possesses is meaningless, useless and of no value.

Knowledge is not the sum of pieces of information which serve no purpose for anyone. False knowledge is the collection of such pieces of information that have no use for anyone, just like the wealth accumulated by a mean man.

The real scientist holds real knowledge. That knowledge should first of all be of use to society. This also amounts to saying that it should serve the holder of it too.

The kind of knowledge disliked by society is vain.

The scientist elevates knowledge, and society elevates the scientist.

A society cannot live without proper knowledge, just as a man cannot survive without his mind. The most vital means of survival granted by Allah to man is the mind. Therefore, mind precedes all other material aspects of the man, such as the hands, legs, working tools and hand-power. Centuries-long accumulation leads to proper knowledge. That knowledge is a privilege for man.

It is of that proper knowledge that a man is made.

The mind is the source of proper knowledge, and wisdom is its seed.

The soul compensates for the bodily losses of man. It elevates him and proper knowledge is a sign of spiritual completeness and activity.

Allah Almighty bestowed upon man the mind, which He did not in the case of other beings. The human mind becomes more mature with the aid of proper knowledge and gains access to more than it initially finds. Man has no wings, but he can fly above the birds, thanks to his possession of proper knowledge. He can't move so fast, but proper knowledge allows him to reach the greatest of speeds. Man does not have a predator's claws, but he can accede to the greatest strength, thanks to proper knowledge.

The mind and proper knowledge bring man closer to Allah.

Ruhnama, Book I, pp. 334-336.
(English hardcover edition)

Archive: Weekly Quote for 23-OCT-2009

Please use the link "Wisdom of Ruhnama" in the right column to access the current quote for this week. The previous quote appears below.

Weekly Quote
Friday, October 23, 2009
Great Turkmenbashy writes:

I sometimes get so tired. I take the first opportunity to visit the stables at that time. My white horse starts neighing and moving around when he hears my footsteps. I caress his head. I comb his mane. I look into his eyes that are like apples. Gorogly's saying comes into my mind: "White horse, if you can speak, then do so."

Although he can't speak, he expresses his pleasure with his eyes. I feel like I should give him a hug. Then I remember Gorogly again. I understand better why he says, "I didn't wish I had a son, but I wished I had my horse."

Gorkut ata says: "When words fall short to convey feelings, then the saz (musical instrument) will be in charge." And I've seen that when the saz does not have anything to convey, the smile is in charge. The sacred and enchanting smile...

The smile is home to a sacred blessing and power.

The lover is ready to sacrifice his life for one single smile of his beloved.

The poets for centuries have not been able to do more than define the qualities of the smiles of those whom they love.

A single smile can touch you with sacred power.

I remember that I would spare no effort to obtain a single word of gratitude or a smile from my mother. I would try to do more than she would ask me and to please her.

Today, you are my relatives, friends, protectors my fellow Turkmens! I am sparing no effort to win your smiles and gratitude.

So happy would I be to see that I have a share in your pleasure and happiness! I would not regret anything if I could see that. I am ready to sacrifice my sweet life for my nation. For no honour in the world would place me higher than the honour of winning your smiles and seeing your happiness, my dear Turkmens!

I can understand at a single glance whether you're truly smiling, and if I see this I will understand that my sincerity was not useless.

Ruhnama, Book I, pp. 333, 334.
(English hardcover edition)

Archive: Weekly Quote for 16-OCT-2009

Please use the link "Wisdom of Ruhnama" in the right column to access the current quote for this week. The previous quote appears below.

Weekly Quote
Friday, October 16, 2009
Great Turkmenbashy writes:

Love all beings. Through love you can understand the meaning and the expressive language of plants and animals and have some kind of wisdom and saintly perceptions.

Love your vast lands and plains where Hydyr stolls.

Love your mountains and seas where Kowus and Kyyas travel.

Go see for yourself where Gorogly and Togrul Beg fought, and love the moutains Makhtumkuli loved.

Love the human, the most miraculous being in the world! Love the nature that is endlessly at your service. Love the trees that call out to you with their flowers, leaves, branches and fruits.

A man can be a saint through climbing the ladder of love.

A man can incorporate himself into nature and become as pure and fine as nature. From such a stance and understanding, Allah the Most Exalted is not far away.

If the oceans and seas did not rise and fall in the wind, then their waters would lose their beauty and have a dull smell.

If soft winds did not blow over the seas, then what would touch man's face gently? Who or what would clean up the air man breathes!

The waves of the lively seas, and the soft winds of the earth are indeed their smiles.

Smile, for the smile is the door to man's world.

May smiles start from your very eyes. For that smile is the door that opens to the world of the soul.

They asked Joseph the Prophet: "What makes you so incomparably beautiful?"

He replied, "Throughout my whole life I have engaged in deeds that would please and give benefits to others. I smiled at them, and this made me beautiful in the eyes of those who believe in me."

Ruhnama, Book I, pp. 332, 333.
(English hardcover edition)

News: Turkmenistan's planned Avaza tourist resort

An interesting article in today's Times of London.

Turkmenistan bids to turn itself into Costa del Sol on the Caspian
The Times, London
By Tony Halpin
October 22, 2009