The Eighth Valley
Part One
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
With the absolute power of God, we start the meeting.
Hello, friends, I am Hossein, a traveler.
Hello, Hossein.
Please, for our liberation from our most powerful enemy, which is our own ignorance and unawareness, let's observe a 14-second silence and seek refuge in the Almighty.
Thank you, friends.
I kindly request the honorable secretary, Ms. Neda to read the summary of the previous session and announce the agenda for today's session, which is the Eighth Valley.
Hello, friends. My name is Neda, and I am a traveler.
Hello, Neda.
In the name of the Absolute Power
Today marks the ninth session of the twentieth round, held on November 27, 2012, with the topic “the Eighth Valley”. The session is led by Mr. Dezhakam, as the guest speaker and guardian, with me, Neda, as the secretary. The meeting officially began at 9:00 AM.
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Hello, friends. My name is Hossein, and I am a traveler.
Hello, Hossein.
The Eighth Valley of the year 2012 is different from the previous valleys of 2011. When I write these valleys, I don’t spend years or months thinking and planning them out. I don’t sit down with a structured program. Instead, I just take my notebook, recall my thoughts, and jot things down as they come to me. I go back and forth, revising them a couple of times. For example, I’ll read a part of it for you now. I’ve written half of it, but I haven’t finalized the ending yet. Typically, it takes two sessions to complete.
I’ll start by reading the first page of the Valley for you.
The year 2012, the date November 26, 2012—I wrote it, and I penned these lines myself.
The path reveals itself through movement.
Waves descend upon the earth like a whirlwind, carrying away whatever is meant to be taken, entrusted to their course. And this happens only by decree.
So, to those of you who make a covenant, reflect upon this: rise from the earth and set forth toward the place destined by command.
This was a passage from a message.
From stillness, nothing is born, and nothing comes into existence. Everything takes shape through movement—structures emerge, beings are created, and the journey through the cycles of creation begins and continues.
This is another separate paragraph.
One day, in the heavens, before the newly created being—humankind—brought into existence by the Absolute Power, one of the high-ranking angels or commanders rebelled and defied the command. He believed that with the power granted to him by the Absolute Power, he too could establish his own rule and authority.
I have read to you the first page, which is, of course, my handwritten notes. The entire content is ambiguous. If someone claims to understand it, I know they haven’t—because everything within it remains unclear.
Waves descend upon the earth like a whirlwind, carrying away whatever is meant to be taken, entrusted to their course. And this happens only by decree.
Who gives the command? What is this command? How does the whirlwind work? How does it carry things away? These questions all have their place, but for now, let’s get to the heart of the matter.
One day in the heavens—but where exactly? Before the newly created being—humankind. So, humankind was created. And the Absolute Power—who is this Absolute Power? Where is He? What is He like? One of the angels defied the command, and so on.
Now, you might say, “Mr. Dezhakam, all of this is unknown. Why would you bother writing things that are so ambiguous? Or, as we say nowadays, are you just messing with us by writing these things?”
Yes, these are indeed a series of unknowns. In the Eighth Valley, I introduced this topic, and my intention is to awaken a point of contemplation within you—to make you aware that behind the veil, there are further layers. Life and existence are not merely what we see. Or at the very least, what we perceive is only a small part of the whole.
As we’ve mentioned before, scholars and sages can be divided into two groups. One group consists of theoretical scholars and sages. For centuries now, most of the scholars we have fall into this category. Theoretical scholars, or debating sages, are those who have acquired knowledge through study, schooling, and formal education. We refer to them as theoretical sages.
Theoretical sages are highly valuable and respectable—we acknowledge and appreciate their contributions. Many great figures belong to this category. However, these scholars operate strictly within the realm of material existence and rely solely on the five senses. They cannot transcend the material world or venture beyond sensory perception. As a result, they struggle to focus their thoughts beyond this realm, find it difficult to believe in deeper realities, and often fail to grasp the essence of profound concepts. This limitation frequently leads them into contradictions and numerous challenges.
A theoretical sage may have memorized an entire holy book—perhaps the entire Qur'an with absolute precision. They may have studied and mastered every interpretation ever written about it. They may have memorized the Bible, the Torah, and other sacred texts. They might even speak ten different languages fluently. But still, they remain theoretical sages. They remain unaware of what lies beyond the veil.
It was partial intellect that tarnished the name of intellect itself. In my view, partial intellect is confined to the realm of the five senses. Within the limits of the five senses, one cannot conceive of angels—what are angels, after all? Within the five senses, one cannot truly comprehend the Absolute Power or believe in it. Within the five senses, the idea of Satan seems incomprehensible—what does it even mean? It appears meaningless. The Absolute Power cannot be grasped, nor can it be fully accepted, because it remains beyond the reach of limited perception.
Some theoretical sages still believe that Satan is merely an internal struggle or that angels are just symbolic figures—mere stories or legends. Of course, certain aspects are indeed symbolic, and some truths are conveyed through metaphors. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist in reality.
Yet, these scholars, despite all their knowledge, appear on foreign media platforms—I've mentioned this several times before—and attempt to critique the Qur'an.
Now, let me be clear—I haven’t come here in the Eighth Valley to teach you religion or give you a lesson in theology. No, I’m not qualified for that, and I have no intention of teaching you religion or how to practice it. That’s not my field. What I am doing is teaching you about the philosophy of existence, helping you become aware of it.
I’m not here to tell you to become highly religious or to follow a certain way of life. That’s not my purpose at all. My point is this: If you have no religion, at least be noble, be a free thinker. You don’t have to follow a specific faith, but be free in your thoughts and in your approach to life.
There’s an old story about a philosopher who wrote a book proving the existence of God. God supposedly said, “Good thing you wrote that book—otherwise, no one would have believed in Me.” Some people try to prove things this way, while others attempt to disprove them in the same manner.
But really, if you’re going to challenge something, bring evidence from the source itself. If you claim to disprove a book, can you at least bring forth a single meaningful passage from it? Go ahead—bring it! It’s not just empty words or a joke.
"When the sky is torn apart, and the stars are scattered..."
"When the sun is darkened..."
Do you know where these words come from? Do you know when and how they were written?
For three hundred years now, we’ve been saying that the Earth is round. But some people still haven’t reached that level of thought and understanding.
Take one of these contemporary philosophers, for example—his name probably starts with "S." Many people admire and respect him. He has memorized Rumi and Hafez, he knows poetry and literature inside out, and he can recite them fluently. But as long as he remains confined within the five senses, he will never truly understand.
When he says, “All these words and revelations came from Muhammad’s chest”—the Messenger of God—what does he mean? Muhammad’s chest, like yours and mine, is made of bones, flesh, tendons, fat, and blood vessels—nothing more. So what could possibly come from that? What emerges from mere flesh and blood?
These are not matters to be taken lightly. No matter how much he tries, he won’t understand. Anyone who claims to comprehend it—let them explain just one or two verses from Rumi’s poetry for me.
"Five senses serve from within as his conduit,
Five senses act from without as his agent.
There are ten senses, and yet seven more—
Let them interpret what Rumi is saying about these ten senses and seven other faculties. What exactly does he mean?
Rumi speaks in a way that is entirely inspired and revealed—in a different manner. You may not believe what I’m about to say, but this is my personal belief: if you truly want to understand Rumi himself, read Fihi Ma Fihi. That book contains his own words, his own expressions, his own language. Everything else? That was inspiration and revelation.
"And He inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness." (Qur’an 91:8)
Rumi was inspired. By whom? By Shams. That’s what I wrote about in my play Taarof-e Khorasani. What I’m trying to say here is that there is something beyond what we currently understand—something real, something we have not yet grasped. These things are not imaginary; they truly exist.
The words Rumi spoke did not come from within him, just as the words of the Prophet did not originate from his chest. They came from somewhere else, like a fax, a phone call, a telegram—a transmission from another source.
We need to realize that our existence is not limited to this physical life. Life is not just about being born, living, dying, and then… nothing. If that were the case, life would be unbearably difficult, filled with hardships and struggles. But when we understand that there is more to life—that existence continues, that the human soul endures—then the whole story changes.
This is one of the most crucial points we must grasp:
The universe is not just what we see. The sky is real, not virtual. If something descends from the heavens, it truly descends.
Angels are not imaginary beings—they truly exist. However, they are not what we commonly imagine: a beautiful woman with wings. That’s just a symbolic representation.
For example, people name their daughters "Fereshteh" (Angel), but they rarely name their sons that. But in reality, angels are not bound by gender—an angel can be male or female, masculine or feminine. They exist. Inspiration exists. Satan exists. These are not just concepts; they are real, external entities.
They may not be visible to us in the way we expect, but they are there. Demons exist. Jinn exist. This is not just a story or a myth—it is reality.
So, this discussion is just meant to introduce us to these ideas. And if you don’t fully understand them right now, that’s okay.
When commanded, waves descend like a whirlwind upon the earth, taking with them whatever is meant to be carried away—and this does not happen except by divine decree.
By that command, anything can be taken, even in its physical form. A person, in their bodily state, can be lifted and transported to another place entirely. This is entirely possible. In movies, we often see how someone transforms into pure energy and is then transported elsewhere.
So, those who make a covenant, be mindful that you are meant to rise from the earth and journey to the place where the command directs.
At the end of this path, there is a covenant—and those who take this oath should always remember the destination they are meant to return to—the place from which we were once separated.
Under certain conditions, it may even be possible to reach that place and return while still in this world—though this only happens to very rare individuals.
But for now, we don’t need to focus on that. Just knowing that such a possibility exists is enough.
Since the Eighth Valley states that "the path is revealed through movement," here, it also tells us that from stillness, nothing is born, and nothing comes into existence.
Nothing can be created from stillness. There is no birth, no production—nothing can emerge from absolute stillness.
In fact, there is no such thing as nonexistence. There is no such thing as nothingness. You cannot define what 'nothing' is—what does it mean for something not to exist?
Where is nothingness? Is it a place of darkness? Well, if darkness is there, then something exists.
Even I cannot truly imagine nonexistence in my mind—what would it mean? It is inconceivable. It does not exist.
This is why Shakespeare says: "To be or not to be, that is the question." But in reality, we do not have 'not being'.
Nonexistence is only in contrast to existence, yet in reality, there is no true nonexistence. For example, let’s say we die—do we enter some kind of nothingness? No. That is not the case. Take this moment: I am here now, but tonight, I will not be here. Does that mean I will cease to exist? No—I will simply be somewhere else. This morning, I was not here—where was I? At home. Now I am not at home, but I exist here. Later, I may leave this place—then I will no longer be here, but where will I be? Somewhere else—perhaps in the market. Existence simply moves. There is no "not being"—everything exists, but it may shift into different forms or locations. This shift can happen within this world or beyond it, in the physical realm or the spiritual one,
in this life or the afterlife. But there is no such thing as true nonexistence—only movement and transformation.
So, from stillness, there is no birth, and nothing comes into existence. Everything emerges through movement. That is why it is said: "With movement, the path is revealed." Because from stillness, nothing can be created. If something is to be born or brought into existence, if we want the challenges and problems in our lives to be resolved, this must happen through movement. Everything takes shape through motion. Structures emerge through movement.
As something begins to take form, gradually, its entire structure appears—whether it be the structure of thought, of ideas, or even a physical building. Everything has a structure, and it is through movement that all beings are created. Nothing is born from stillness. Even the creation of humans and animals happens through movement. Once they come into existence, their journey through the cycles of creation begins and continues. The journey through these cycles—through the worlds of creation—never stops. This includes this world, the next world, and beyond. It is the very world I spoke of earlier—the one where ten senses exist, along with seven additional faculties.
Yet, some philosophers claim that this is all just a story—that it is nothing more than words spoken from a human chest. And yet, they deeply revere Rumi!
If that is the case, let them take just these two verses of Rumi and explain them—
Let them translate them, let them tell us: What do they truly mean?
"You, O stubborn one, have witnessed hundreds of thousands of resurrections
At every moment since the dawn of existence."
So, what does this mean?
"The intellects of the first ones are long forgotten,"
"All that remains is intellect that is ever-transforming."
What does that mean? Why is it that everyone accepts Hafez? Why is it that Hafez says:
"If the divine breath of the Holy Spirit aids once more,"
"Others too can do what Christ once did."
Let them explain—
What does this truly mean?
Who is the Holy Spirit, anyway? What is the divine grace of the Holy Spirit? Why did Christ live the life of an ascetic? So, if you accept Hafez, then you must acknowledge that Hafez believed in the existence of the Holy Spirit. He recognized a higher power, a supreme force whose grace must be bestowed.
If that higher force, that celestial power, wills it, Christ revives the dead. And if that same grace reaches us, we too could raise the dead.
So, an external aid is at play—And the journey through the cycles goes on.
Even if we wish to annihilate ourselves completely, we cannot. If we reach absolute despair and decide to end our lives—Even if we escape this world, we will surface elsewhere. We lack the power to erase our existence entirely.
At best, we move from one room to another, from one floor to the next, From the street to our home—But we can never cease to exist. And so, this journey through the cycles continues indefinitely.
Once, in the heavens, before the newly created being—humanity—who had been brought into existence by the Supreme Power, one of the high-ranking angels or commanders rebelled. He defied the command, believing that with the power granted to him by the Supreme Power, he, too, could rule.
I haven’t spoken much about this before, but it’s mentioned in our holy book and in others as well—That when humanity was created, one rebelled and stood in opposition.
The Supreme Power cast him out from His presence. Yet, he asked for respite, a chance to retain his power. And the Supreme Power granted him time—until the appointed day.
Banished from the divine presence, he gathered followers and declared:
"With all my might, I will lead mankind astray. With the help of my allies, I will ensure that humans deviate from the path of the Supreme Power."
For he knew that humans had been created with free will—They could choose the path of piety, virtue, love, kindness, and honesty— Or they could fall into corruption, hatred, murder, betrayal, envy, and destruction.
Thus, Adam and Eve were placed in Paradise. But it wasn’t long before Satan’s scheme took effect— They disobeyed the command, just as he had. The Supreme Power called them to account, They repented and sought forgiveness.
Their apology was accepted, But they were told: "You must prove your loyalty." "Descend to Earth—for with movement, the path will be revealed."
Yes, this is a story, a parable—but one that holds deep and undeniable truths.
This is the foundation of the Eighth Valley— That humans have been granted complete free will and stand at a crossroad. And those who strengthen humanity’s inclination toward corruption can exist in both the physical world and the metaphysical realm.
"And He inspired it (the soul) with both wickedness and righteousness."
Thus, inspiration can come from both vice and virtue. It can be instilled in humans by other humans, Or it can have an independent, external existence.
It’s not just one set of forces at play. Just as angels aid a person in battle, Negative forces come to support the opposing side. When we stray from the straight path,
We become subject to the inspiration of corruption. At times, this corruptive influence becomes so strong that we are no longer in control— We become mere tools in the hands of other forces. Many people today have fallen into this trap,
Becoming puppets of dark forces. Some believe they have subjugated demons or jinn, That these entities serve them— But in reality, the exact opposite is true:
They are the ones being controlled.
Since this follows a narrative form, I won’t elaborate further—We have explored this many times before. But the key point is this:
Human beings are granted free will and always stand at a crossroads. And as long as we move forward, There will always be a fork in the road. With movement, the path is revealed. And that path will always present two choices.
Then, they were told: “Go down to Earth.” I’ve explained this story to you many times— With movement, the path is revealed. He said, "But I apologized!"
And the response is: "Apology accepted, but now you must prove yourself."
Imagine you hit someone and injured them. You say, "I’m sorry!" They accept your apology— But what about the damage you caused?
Or say you crashed into someone’s car and wrecked it. You apologize, and they say, "Alright, I appreciate that." Maybe this even helps smooth things over.
But what about the actual damage? If you say, "But I apologized!"— Yes, you did. But you still have to pay for the repair.
Adam and Eve said, "We’re sorry!"
And they were told: "Fine, but now go down and prove that you've learned your lesson." And with that, they received a clear warning:
"Satan is your open enemy—be aware."
Now, go. Let your actions and your movement reveal the truth:
• Who will remain steadfast in their loyalty?
• Who will be deceived by Satan’s alluring but terrifying path?
Go forth, for with movement, the path is revealed.
Up to this point, the lesson remains consistent with the previous ones, But I have greatly condensed it, leaving out many details for brevity.
In this Valley, there is a Law— This Valley itself is a Law, Just like the laws of mathematics. It is the very law that governs the Straight Path. A great thinker once said: "If you are a traveler of the Path, you must walk through blood."
But be careful— This does not mean the path of violence, crime, or gangsterism.
It does not mean the way of Al Capone and the mafia. It is about the struggles and sacrifices along the true path:
"If you are a traveler of the Path, you must walk through blood,
If you fall, you must rise and continue on."
And then:
"Just step onto the path—say nothing— For the path itself will show you how to walk it." Indeed—Once you start moving, the Path speaks to you.
It reveals itself: "Now comes a tunnel." "Now comes a steep turn." "Here the road is straight."It tells you when to speed up and when to slow down.
If you are on a mountain road, You cannot race ahead at 100 km/h— There, the speed limit is 20. But if you’re on a highway, You can go 120. The Path itself dictates the speed— It is not up to you.
Of course, it should be noted that we cannot move forward without preparation, study, and thought, simply saying, "With movement, the path will be revealed." While it is true that the path becomes clear through movement, we cannot proceed without thinking and reasoning. How can we traverse a mountainous, icy region without a map and proper equipment and expect to reach our destination safely? If we intend to travel through a cold, mountainous region for five or ten days, we cannot go without supplies, tents, or maps, merely relying on the idea that "the path will be revealed through movement." That would be like saying, "I trust in God" without taking any practical measures. No, the concept of the path revealing itself through movement follows a logical and calculated approach. We are now in the eighth valley, and fortunately, we have already passed through seven valleys, carrying their lessons with us—such as "With thought, structures begin to form," or "In vital matters, assigning responsibility to God means avoiding responsibility oneself," or "The command of reason" and "The mystery of discovering the truth." These principles are already with us.
This valley states that when we decide to move forward, we must gather sufficient information and understand the general path we are taking. It emphasizes that before setting out, we should have enough knowledge about our journey, but it is not necessary to account for every minor detail. For instance, we do not need to know exactly how many right or left turns a road has because signposts along the way will indicate them when the time comes. When choosing our route, we must collect essential information, but we do not need to worry about trivial details. Suppose we are traveling to Chalous—do we need to count every single turn along the way? That would be overanalyzing. Instead, we focus on the broader picture, make our decision, and move forward.
Exactly! The Eighth Valley tells us not to be afraid when we decide to move forward. It encourages us to be brave and take action because, without a doubt, the path will become clear as we move.
For example, if we face an external problem—unlike an internal one that can be solved through thinking alone—it won’t be resolved just by sitting at home and thinking about it. External problems, like patience issue, housing issues, or other life challenges, require action. If we simply sit and think, nothing will change. But if we think things through and then take practical steps, the path ahead will gradually reveal itself. Along the way, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers may offer guidance and help.
If we just stay at home lost in thought, our problem won’t be solved. The Valley tells us that beyond thinking, we must act. We must go out and seek solutions because, in doing so, we may come across new opportunities or resources.
Now, let’s examine a few key points from the Eighth Valley together. First, when taking action, our desire or goal must be clearly defined. Sometimes, we start moving without really knowing what we want.
For example, do we truly want to continue our education or not? Do we genuinely love someone, or are we unsure? Do we want to get married, or do we want to get a divorce? Do we want to save money? Do we want to buy a house? And so on—there are countless desires we might have. Sometimes, if we take the time to think carefully, we realize that even we ourselves are unclear about what we truly want.
So, the first step before taking action is to determine whether we really want something or not. We must be honest with ourselves and ask: Do I actually want this, or am I uncertain? Because there are many things in life that we both want and don’t want at the same time, meaning we are indecisive. And if the speaker doesn't know what they want, how can the listener understand them?
We must always think this way: Imagine that right now, in this very moment, the Genie from the magic lamp appears before us and says, “You have one wish—what is it?” Could you immediately state your wish? Who among us can answer without hesitation?
For me, if the Genie suddenly appeared and asked what I want, I would say, “I want Congress 60 to become a global organization.” That’s it—nothing more. I wouldn’t hesitate because this desire has been clear to me for a long time.
There are even a few jokes about this. I don’t remember them exactly, but it goes something like this: The Genie from the magic lamp appears and asks, “What do you wish for?” The person replies, “I want so much gold in my backpack that I can’t even walk.” The Genie grants the wish, filling the backpack with gold. Then, after struggling for a while, unable to move, the person realizes their mistake. The Genie asks, “What’s your next wish?” And they say, “Please take some of this gold out so I can walk!” (Laughter)
This just shows how sometimes we don’t really know what we want, and that can make things difficult. That’s why With Movement, the Path is Revealed—but for that to happen, our desire must be clear.
Do I truly want to continue my education or not? Do I want to study, or do I not? One moment I want to, the next moment I don’t. Back and forth. But I believe that if a person has a clear goal, they will achieve it.
God has created human beings in a way that allows them to attain their desires—logically and realistically—as long as those desires are truly theirs. I’m speaking about myself here, not about anyone else. Everything I have truly wanted, I have achieved—almost everything.
For example, from the eighth grade, I wanted to become an engineer. I would spend hours focusing on this thought, imagining myself as an electrical engineer in the future. My mind was completely set on it. Back then, there was no engineering university in Kerman—we had to go to Tehran. So, despite all the challenges, I studied, pursued my education, and eventually became an engineer. Now, I’m not saying being an engineer is good or bad; that’s not the point. The point is that desires must be clearly defined. If you are completely certain about what you want, you will achieve it.
You don’t even know if you want to get a master’s degree or not. Do you want to get a Ph.D. or not? Your desire has to be clear and locked in—like a key turning in a lock. Once you fully commit to a desire, you will definitely achieve it. That’s why it’s said that sometimes, even while moving forward, we are uncertain about what we truly want.
For example, do we really want to continue our education or not? Do we truly love someone, or do we not? These things need to be clarified for ourselves. Some people live with someone for 30 or even 40 years, yet they’re still unsure if they love that person or not.
Do I want to get married or not? A young person must decide this for themselves—clearly and definitively. If they make up their mind and are certain about their desire, then they will get married. Now, whether they end up with the right person or not, well… that’s another story! (Laughter) That part is not my concern. Whether it turns out well or not is a different matter, but if someone’s goal is truly clear, they will achieve it. It is absolutely possible.
The key is that their desire must be fully formed in their mind. The same applies to separation—do you want to leave, or do you not? One day you want to, the next week you don’t. Then you want to again, then you don’t. Back and forth. You need to make a firm decision.
Take buying a house, for example. Do you want to buy a house or not? In my opinion, anyone who truly wants to buy a house can do so—even if their monthly income is just a thousand tomans. If they make a firm decision, they can buy a house. Of course, deciding today doesn’t mean they’ll buy one tomorrow. It might take fifteen years, or it might happen sooner, but the process begins with making the decision.
Every wealthy person first decided to become wealthy. Some people just wanted to be rich for themselves, while others wanted to be rich so they could also help others. Those who only wanted wealth for themselves became stingy and miserly—even with their own families. They got rich, but they never shared. On the other hand, those who wanted to help others became wealthy and used their money for good.
So, the first key factor in all of this is desire. When we think deeply, we realize that sometimes our desires are unclear—even to ourselves. We lack persistence. But if we are determined, we can achieve anything.
If you want to quit smoking, for example, the people who firmly decided to quit and started chewing gum instead—they succeeded. But those who are still hesitant, saying, Oh, maybe just one more cigarette, just one more puff—they still have a problem. The decision must be absolute.
If you want to smoke, then smoke. If you don’t, then don’t. But the choice must be firm and final.
So, one of the key points is that when we set out on a path, our goal or desire must be completely clear. Sometimes, even while moving forward, we don’t fully know what we want.
For example, do we truly want to continue our education or not? Do we genuinely love someone or not? Do we want to get married or not? Do we want to get a divorce or not? Do we want to immigrate or not? Do we want to save money or not? Do we want to buy a house or not? And the list goes on. Sometimes, if we think deeply, we realize that even we are uncertain about our own desires.
2. Once our goal or desire is clear, we must fully commit to achieving it.
Just like a thirsty person desperately searching for water, we must continuously focus on our goal and stay completely dedicated to it. Once our desire is clear and undeniable, we can’t just say, That’s it! Now, with movement, the path will reveal itself! No, it doesn’t work that way. Our desire must be absolutely specific.
If I want to travel to Tabriz, Qom, or Isfahan, I have to be certain about my destination. Imagine sitting in a car, having packed all your luggage, with everything and everyone ready for the journey. But then, when someone asks, Where are we going?, you don’t know. What’s the plan? No one knows. Which direction should we go? We have no idea.
So, first, the goal must be clear. And once it is, we must actively work toward it.
I said that if your goal is to buy a house, you will buy a house—but only if you put in the effort, save money, and plan for it. So, once your goal is clear, you must want it with all your being to achieve it.
If you want to go to university, get a PhD, or earn a master’s degree, you have to study day and night. Studying three or four hours a day isn’t enough. Your entire focus—twenty-four hours a day—must be on studying, on learning, on absorbing knowledge. You have to immerse yourself in it completely.
Like a thirsty person searching for water, your desire must be that strong. As Rumi says: “Do not seek water, but create thirst.” That means—don’t just look for water, but become so thirsty that you’ll chase after it with everything you have. When your goal is clear, that’s not the end—it’s just the beginning.
It doesn’t matter whether your goal is immigration, education, marriage, buying a house—whatever it is, your desire must be unwavering.
God is the Most Merciful and Compassionate—not just in forgiving sins, but in granting life itself. Whatever we truly desire, that’s what we will get. That is “Be, and it is." With that in mind, we must relentlessly pursue our goals with full force and determination.
Of course, some goals take time to achieve. Just like planting a seed—we have to wait, nurture it, water it, and protect it until it grows and bears fruit.
When we have too many wants—I want this, I want that, I want everything—it doesn’t work like that. It’s like wanting the best of both worlds—and on top of that, asking for a share of the sweet too! You have to choose: Which one do you want?
Sometimes, achieving a goal takes time. Those who succeed quickly are the ones who clearly define their goal and then work tirelessly toward it.
Think of it like a tree. If your goal is to have walnuts, you plant a walnut seed. But it takes ten to fifteen years for that tree to grow and produce fruit. You can’t just plant the seed and walk away, thinking, I’ll come back in fifteen years and harvest walnuts. If you do that, you won’t even find a beetroot there, let alone walnuts!
When you plant that seed, you have to stay by its side every day. You must protect the tiny sapling so that goats, sheep, or cows don’t trample it. You must water it so it doesn’t dry out, shield it from the cold, and make sure it grows bit by bit—until it becomes a strong tree, producing thousands of walnuts every year.
Goals work the same way.
If you want to buy a house, decide now! Then save—little by little—for the next five, ten, or fifteen years.
Just like a grain silo is filled one grain at a time, and the Atlantic Ocean is made up of countless tiny drops of water, you, too, can save money bit by bit. A thousand tomans here, a hundred there, two hundred, five hundred—these small amounts add up.
Why do you think children in the past used piggy banks? They would drop in just one rial at a time, but over time, it added up to a significant amount.
So, the second key lesson is this: Don’t just look for water—become thirsty!
You must be determined in pursuing your goal. You must work on it every single day—think about it every single day—and focus on it completely.
It doesn’t work like this: Today, I want to learn guitar! You go, buy a guitar, play for ten days, and then say, Nah, I don’t like it.
Then you decide, Let me try the clarinet! You buy one, try it for a while, then say, No, this isn’t for me either.
Next, you pick up the flute. You buy one, play it a bit, and then leave it sitting in a corner.
Then you think, Maybe I should try karate! You go to a class, get hit a few times, and say, Nope, this isn’t for me either.
Then you say, How about water polo? But after a few training sessions, you realize it takes a lot of effort and breath control. No, not this either!
See the pattern? Jumping from one thing to another doesn’t lead anywhere.
When you choose a goal, you must commit to it fully. Some goals take time to achieve. You can’t expect immediate results.
Be patient. Stay focused. Let time do its part.
The Third Issue:
On our journey, we often come across multiple paths. These paths can generally be categorized into two main types: the righteous (value-based) path and the unrighteous (anti-value) path, or the divine path and the satanic path.
Each person, depending on their level of wisdom or lack thereof, chooses a route and continues forward.
However, some—like a gazelle that spots a lush patch of grass just off the main road—get distracted. Without much thought, they veer off course, lured by short-term temptations. As they continue down this deviation, they drift further and further from the straight path.
Eventually, they find themselves at a destination they neither intended nor desired—somewhere completely outside the scope of their original goals and aspirations.
The third key point in this valley is that when we set out on a journey, we inevitably encounter crossroads—places where multiple paths lie ahead.
As the saying goes, with movement, the path reveals itself. But this does not mean that life’s journey is a single, straight road from start to finish, bordered by fences to keep us from straying. On the contrary, there are countless detours, side roads, and intersections.
All these routes can ultimately be categorized into two main types:
1. The Path of Values – the righteous, constructive, and meaningful way.
2. The Path of Anti-Values – the deceptive, destructive, and misguided way.
A wise person, one with discernment, stays the course, remaining focused on their primary goal. They do not allow distractions to divert them from their purpose.
However, others may be like a deer that, while traveling the main road, notices a patch of fresh grass just off the path. Without much thought, it veers off to nibble on the greenery. A few steps further, it spots another enticing patch—and then another. Before long, it has strayed so far from the main road that it no longer knows how to return.
Many individuals follow this exact pattern in life. They set out with a clear objective, but along the way, they get drawn into distractions, temptations, or seemingly harmless diversions. Eventually, they find themselves in a place they never imagined—somewhere they never intended to be.
For example, a student pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree may initially be focused on academic success. But within their environment—whether a dormitory, a circle of friends, or other social settings—they might encounter people using drugs. At first, it seems harmless: "Just one time. Just a puff."
One indulgence leads to another, and before they realize it, their aspirations of earning a degree, securing a job, or achieving their ambitions have vanished. Instead, they find themselves in a rehabilitation center, a psychiatric hospital, a jail cell, or even involved in a crime they never imagined committing.
Like the deer chasing patches of grass, they wake up one day in a place they never expected—completely lost, far from the path they originally set out on.
This is just one example. There are countless other ways people can drift off course in life.
The third key point in this valley is that once you are on your path, you must keep your eyes on your destination.
Yes, you may pause at designated rest stops to recharge—perhaps to have a cup of tea and gather your strength—but you must not wander off the road to explore every inviting meadow or lush patch of grass. If you do, you may find yourself lingering too long, encountering unforeseen difficulties, and ultimately straying from your intended path.
During any journey, we inevitably face crossroads. These can be categorized into two main types:
1. The Path of Values – the righteous and constructive way.
2. The Path of Anti-Values – the deceptive and destructive way.
Each individual, based on their wisdom or lack thereof, chooses one of these routes and continues on their way.
However, some—like a deer lured by patches of fresh grass—may impulsively deviate from the main road without considering the consequences. Little by little, they drift further and further away from the straight path, eventually finding themselves in a place they never intended to be. A place that was never part of their goals or dreams.
If we reflect deeply, we can identify many more principles governing movement in life. However, if our ultimate goal is health, peace, comfort, love, kindness, or the promised paradise, we must remain vigilant. We must steer clear of anti-values and work to settle our negative accounts—whether with ourselves, our families, or society
Thank you very much.
Part Two
To be continued...
Translated by: Companion Marjan
3/2/2025
.jpg)