The sixth session of the 83rd round of Congress 60 workshops in the Academy branch of Congress 60 was administered on November 27th, 2024 at 10 a.m. by Mr. Hossein Dezhakam as the Guardian and Ms. Nahid as the secretary. The agenda was “The Role of Worldview in Sports”.
In the name of the Most Merciful, relying on the absolute power of Allah, we begin the meeting. Hello friends, I am Hossein, a traveler. I ask everyone to observe 14 seconds of silence to seek refuge in the Almighty and free ourselves from our strongest enemy—our own ignorance and unawareness.
Hello friends. I am Hossein, a traveler. I hope all of you are keeping well; by the grace of God, I am well too. Today is November 27th, 2024. It is 10:06 AM. We are in the Tehran Academy building. Thanks to God, the rainfall is becoming more consistent, which is a very good sign.
The recoveries in 2024 being announced by the secretary are 9,109, that is 90109 people have been cured. We still have a month and a half until the end of the year. Apart from today’s and this week’s recoveries, reaching this number is a significant achievement.
In the Isfahan region, we faced issues with OT (medication-assisted treatment) [Isfahan’s Authorities prevented OT distribution in Isfahan], which caused our number of liberation from addiction to drop. However, the situation in Isfahan has greatly improved once again. The officials are cooperating as needed, and we hope that Isfahan will fully recover and regain its strength in the coming period.
Reaching 9,000 liberations from addiction so far is excellent, and I hope we will reach 10,000. These are individuals who have achieved definitive recovery. As far as I know, not a single country can claim to have achieved even one of these recoveries. I receive news and updates from Prof. William White.
Since there is still no widespread belief in addiction treatment and it remains shrouded in ambiguity; many scientific centers continue to think that addiction is a personal and psychological illness, and that the individual must be determined to treat themselves. Individuals from other NGOs come here, and what’s interesting to me is that many of them have 11, 12, 14, or even 20 years of sobriety. When I talk to them and ask, “How long have you been sober?” they say, “12 years.” I ask, “So you’ve been craving for 12 years?” They respond, “Yes.” Someone else might have 20 years of sobriety, and I ask, “So you’ve been craving for 20 years?” Again, the answer is “Yes.” This means true recovery hasn’t happened [in other NGOs].
Another issue relates to research. The newly elected U.S. president, Donald Trump, who hasn’t even taken office yet, recently spoke—either yesterday or the day before—about the fentanyl crisis. Fortunately, this drug hasn’t become widespread in our country. In the U.S., fentanyl is a major problem, causing many deaths from overdoses. Fentanyl is extremely dangerous, with high mortality rates, and there’s no clear treatment for it.
In the past, they said crystal meth had no cure. I asked, “Do you believe opium has a cure? Does heroin have a cure? Yet you say crystal meth doesn’t?” to treat opium and heroin addiction, they prescribe methadone [they do not have any cure for them even].
Death rates from fentanyl overdoses have been high and remain so. As I saw on the news, the U.S. is considering imposing sanctions on China and Mexico to prevent the import of fentanyl’s raw materials, because their youth are dying from fentanyl use. The overdose rate is extremely high, and they have no cure for it, nor for amphetamines.
At the Pasteur Institute, we tested fentanyl on laboratory rats and were completely able to overcome the addiction in them. I focused more on fentanyl, but also tested amphetamines, alcohol, and heroin.
Two of these substances (alcohol and fentanyl) are not very prevalent in our country, but heroin and methamphetamine are. As for alcohol, while some might argue that people drink bootleg liquor and are habitual drinkers, there’s a distinction between habitual drinking and alcoholism. It’s important that all guides and branches understand this. If someone claims to be addicted to alcohol, you need to determine whether they’re a casual drinker or an alcoholic.
There’s a significant difference. Alcoholics, when deprived of alcohol, behave like a fish out of water, writhing and unable to stand on their feet. They experience severe tremors. In my 37–38 years of experience, I haven’t seen this severe form of alcoholism here, only milder cases. In the past, alcoholics would start their day with a glass of liquor and a pickle or olive to “warm up.” They’d repeat this around 10 AM.
Alcoholism is one of the global issues linked to high rates of infidelity and violent crimes like stabbings. In our past, stabbings were much more common, and even cinema reflected this with films like “Qeysar”, which revolved around drinking and violence. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, which is something to be thankful for.
I’ve focused on alcoholism and fentanyl, they are not common in Iran but because our job in Congress 60 is globalized, and it is not limited to an area or locality, that is why I have selected them to study. O\as you know, our research and articles have been published internationally. For example, our study on amphetamines received over 600 views on ResearchGate in a short time. Unlike regular websites, ResearchGate requires specialized access, meaning that scholars from countries like the U.S., the Netherlands, and Norway have reviewed our work.
We documented the cure of nearly 4,000 amphetamine dependent individuals in Congress 60. However, we haven’t fully started working on alcoholism and fentanyl treatments, because it was a trouble to make the rats addicted to alcohol, as I didn’t agree with the previous approach to make them alcoholic. I proposed a new method of making rats alcoholic [since making rats alcoholic within a short time damages their liver and reduces their lifespan, Mr. Hossein Dezhakam proposed a new gradual process to make rats alcoholic, in this way, mortality rate among the rats will be near zero].
This is a very great finding and we have reached the cure [for alcohol, fentanyl and methamphetamine], however, developed countries are still struggling to find a way. [That is why they want] to impose sanctions on Mexico to stop the import of fentanyl raw materials. I hope we will be successful [in our experiments on rats]. The results have been very well, so far, we’ve had four articles accepted for publication.
Regarding statistics, it’s important for the agents to report only the number of recoveries—individuals who’ve completely quit substance use. For instance, if 7-8 people from Mashhad branches are coming to be liberated from addiction, the statistics should only reflect those quitting. Sometimes they mention 40 people, but only four might be quitting substances, with the rest being companions.
Since I canceled the morning pool program, I thought I’d come early to get their liberation. But there was a few libertaions. We had only 60-70 participants liberated from addiction, despite the fact that the agents had declared 160 people would come to be liberated, and only a third showed up.
The statistics must not include the number of guides or the companions coming. We only need the number of those who want to be liberated from addiction. From that, we estimate how many will come. Another guide talked to me, saying that when a guide hands over their legion, they form a new legion in the park, which is not allowed. Once a guide transfers their legion to another guide [after four years], their pupils become another guide’s students and it’s no longer the ex-guide’s concern. It has been mentioned that we nurture the pupils for Congress 60, not for ourselves. It's better to avoid gathering in the park like this [only a guide and his present pupils can gather in the park].
Finally, today's agenda is "the Role of Worldview in Sports." We once believed that substance use stemmed from a flawed worldview. If we could fix that worldview, things would improve significantly. We still hold to that belief, as worldview encompasses one’s perspective on the world and its contents.
From interacting with different people, including family members, to engaging with university professors, storekeepers, and even drivers, all these experiences fall under the umbrella of worldview. In fact, the primary mission of the prophets was to address worldview. Why did the Prophet Muhammad come? For worldview. What about Prophet Moses? Again, for worldview. The same goes for Prophet Jesus. If you look closely, all of them came to correct and enhance worldview.
If worldview is misused, that’s not the fault of the prophets. For instance, Christianity was misused, leading to the Crusades. Such wars were neither the will of the Prophet Muhammad nor of Jesus Christ. Yet, countless lives were lost in the name of defending the Christ or expanding religious territories, benefitting some people while being justified under someone else's name.
Fortunately, through sports, the members of Congress 60 have achieved the necessary worldview. Worldview also encompasses social etiquette—showing respect and courtesy toward others. Interestingly, some people achieve high levels of education but lack a proper worldview. They struggle even within their families, constantly clashing with their spouse, children, and colleagues. All of this points to a weak worldview.
In sports, this lack of worldview is evident too. Some athletes earn billions of Tomans annually but still claim they’re being treated unfairly. They insult referees, fight with teammates, and display unsportsmanlike conduct. Fans sometimes behave similarly, throwing objects onto the field. These behaviors reflect an undeveloped worldview. Just as we need a proper worldview to overcome addiction, we also need it to enter and leave sports venues peacefully.
In Congress 60, we’ve been organizing sports competitions for years, and our conflicts have been minimized. We emphasize that our sports aren’t gladiatorial. For us, victory begins the moment we gather in the park at 5 or 6 AM, regardless of weather conditions. The biggest win is simply showing up and participating.
When I see families playing sports together in colorful outfits, it’s incredibly rewarding. People come from places like Shahrekord or Mashhad, and just the act of traveling as a group, dressing up, and engaging in sports is a joy. Some participants are in their 50s, yet their physical condition has deteriorated—weak joints, lack of stamina—all because they’ve avoided physical activity.
In the past, both men and women engaged in physically demanding tasks like farming, fetching water, and chopping wood. But today, many avoid even the simplest activities like walking. People now call to have a kilo of potatoes delivered rather than fetching it themselves. This sedentary lifestyle, lack of movement, and loss of confidence lead to physical and mental decline.
The men used to work on the farms. They would fetch water from the spring and chop wood. They farmed and harvested wheat. Now, people do not do these activities. They don't even take walks.
They pay200 tomans for potatoes, 300 tomans for its delivery! They want snacks but won't walk a few steps. They just call. I once said in a lecture that some villagers would go to the far end of their barn on their donkey. They said, “You’re criticizing villagers!” I replied, “I’m a villager myself. There’s nothing wrong with being a villager.” We have cities, towns, and villages. I’ve seen my fellow villagers ride their donkeys to the barn’s end before dismounting. Now we have cars, with automatic doors that open remotely. No effort is required. That’s why people get irritable, sick, develop high blood pressure, and breathing issues—all due to lack of exercise.
The moment we engage in physical activity, we’re already winning; we don’t need a trophy. Especially people like us. On Fridays, we used to sleep until 3 p.m., stay up all night, and sleep through the day. We’d miss the sunrise entirely. We never stepped outside to see the transition from night to day. Now, though, we do. The Congress 60’s park rangers arrive at 3:30 a.m. in the cold. They’re the real winners. We must train ourselves to follow their lead.
I’ve often said that even in professional sports, with top referees and live broadcasts watched by millions, mistakes still happen. How can we expect flawless refereeing on asphalt courts? If our team referees make mistakes, we don’t shout or protest, and we don’t insult them. Doing so would bring blame and reproach for us, our legion, and our branch. Without the worldview taught here, we wouldn’t have sports programs. Similarly, if our sports teams don’t lean and apply worldview or if they do not work on it, they should leave the team. Sports in Congress 60 exist to improve health, and all Congress 60 members must work on their worldview.
If teams do not learn and apply the worldview, they should disband. Some athletes wanted to join external clubs for sports like volleyball. I told them they were not allowed. All sports should stay within Congress 60. Sports are good as long as they don’t harm the family. In Tehran, you’re in Congress 60 on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays, plus Talaghani Park on Fridays—four days in total. If you also want to exercise on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, when will you spend time with your family? The family must come first.
We do all this to strengthen our families, whether it’s the son or the husband. The ultimate goal is a strong, unified family. That’s why even in sports, we focus on worldview education.
When choosing between Congress 60 and family, once treatment is complete, the choice should always be family. Between work and Congress 60? Choose work. If you have sufficient income, you can participate in Congress 60 in your free time. But when it comes to priorities, the family is paramount. Sports or family? Family. We learn all sciences to live well. The highest art is mastering the science of living, and our ultimate goal is the family. We must keep it strong, healthy, and resilient.
If someone excels in Congress 60, be it as a guide, agent, or observer, but is a failure in their family life, they’re not truly successful. True success is having the best family relationships and working to provide comfort for them. Of course, families should also be grateful, not demanding.
If someone goes out to buy two watermelons and one turns out bad, don’t criticize them by saying, “What kind of watermelon is this?” Next time, they won’t even buy potatoes. They’ll avoid taking any responsibility. Family relationships should be mutual, not one-sided. All family members must respect each other to achieve harmony and good outcomes.
In sports, too, we hope for a strong worldview. Teams like archery, rugby, and traditional sports must prioritize this perspective. Without it, we’ll be faced with hard obstacles and encounter challenges. Another important point is to avoid using a language of force with each other. Whether you’re a guide or an agent, don’t speak harshly or threaten others. It’s unacceptable for a guide to use threatening language with their students or for a marshal to act aggressively. Mutual respect is essential.
If someone makes a mistake, they should be disciplined, but respectfully. I’ve often said that even if someone is sentenced to death, and you’re the one carrying out the sentence, there’s no problem executing it. But you have no right to insult or curse them. Similarly, when disciplining someone who has erred, do so without disrespect. Avoid using the language of force. Speak kindly, lovingly, and respectfully.
Sometimes, we unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings with our words. Telling someone, “Get out of the hall!” might break their heart. So, support one another. Thank you very much.
Translated by Elahe