Ruben Vardanyan shares his 'formula for life' from Baku prison

Armenian businessman and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, who has been unlawfully convicted in Azerbaijan, shared an important message during a phone call with his family on Saturday.

He thanked everyone who is concerned about him and who supports his family. In his address, Vardanyan recited philosophical lines by the 14th–15th century poet Imadeddin Nasimi in his own interpretation.

He then shared his formula for life – the principles that help him preserve inner freedom even after more than 21,000 hours of imprisonment. He speaks of generous love and attentive care, of a sincere word, of faith without doubt, of constant inner growth, of the ability to forgive, not to judge and not to fear death, of following one’s own path while leaving the rest to God.

In conclusion, he once again thanked everyone who writes him letters, especially handwritten ones, and said that he is happy to feel this connection.

"I would like to thank everyone who has shown concern for me. I know that many of you have reached out, spoken with Veronika, and connected with my relatives and those closest to me. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your support – for your kindness, your thoughts, your emotions, and your care. I feel it all, I sense it deeply, and I am profoundly grateful for the support you have given, both to me and to my family.

I would like to read something to you… It is not exactly a poem, but rather the philosophy of a poet – a thinker who lived in the late 14th and early 15th century, Imadeddin Nasimi, a brilliant philosopher-poet. What I will read is an excerpt from his work, translated (into Russian) by Konstantin Simonov. At the end I made a small change of my own, because this philosophy resonated very deeply with me.

And I hope all admirers of Nasimi’s poetry will forgive me, because these words are not only poetry – they are philosophy.

Two worlds within me fit, existing side by side,

Yet narrow is for me this world where I abide.

From nature I derive, of her I am a part…

Follow me…

Forgive me for stumbling…

Two worlds within me fit, existing side by side,

Yet narrow is for me this world where I abide.

The heavens and the earth within me are confined –

But what I am no explanation can define.

From nature I derive, of her I am a part;

Recognise me by these signs – yet beyond all signs I stand.

Conjectures lead astray, to guess is but to err;

Who knows the truth knows I cannot be held by doubt or fear.

Part form and content not if you would have me whole:

I am the body – and I am the soul.

No treasure-house contains the riches that are mine;

The hidden pearl am I, the bridge to hell and to the divine.

The secret of all treasures and the source from which they start –

No seas or depths can hold what I am in my heart.

Man is my lofty name – I am the universe entire;

Yet in embodiment I cannot be confined.

Both time and age am I – the soul, the world, the all;

Is it not strange that I in them cannot be contained at all?

Both youth and age am I, in all their riches decked;

Power and timeless wealth – yet by the ages unchecked.

Though today I am Vardanyan – a humanist, an Armenian –

I am smaller than my fame, yet no fame can contain me.*

I want to say that it is truly remarkable how all these ideas – encountered in completely different sources – all point to a single origin: wisdom, while their forms may differ.

And I would like to share this with you, dedicating it to my beloved wife, whose birthday was recently – a formula for life, in both a short version and a longer one. Some of you may prefer the short version; others may find meaning in the longer one.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care sincerely.

Speak from the heart.

Learn continuously by knowing yourself.

Believe without doubt.

Do not fear death.

Forgive, and do not judge.

Walk your path without fear.

This is the short version.

And the long version:

Live simply, joyfully, and fully in the present moment – one hundred percent.

Love generously, give everything without expecting anything in return.

Care sincerely, but carefully so as not to cause harm – for good done through force is no longer good.

Speak from the heart, with sincerity and brevity.

Believe without doubt or hesitation, yet without fanaticism.

Learn constantly, diligently, and with love, by coming to know both yourself and the world.

Forgive, do not judge.

Do not fear death – be ready for death, but do not hasten it in any way.

And walk your path without fear, and leave everything else to God. Leave everything else to God.

So in both the short and the long version – if we can keep these simple things within us, and leave the rest to God – everything will be well.

I want to thank you very much. Forgive me for stumbling – it’s not easy.

I recently marked a kind of anniversary here: 21,000 hours that I have already spent here… A strange feeling. Seventy-five million moments. And you suddenly realize, when you live at this scale, how differently every single moment is perceived.

I want to tell you that I love you all, I am deeply grateful to everyone, and happy that I have such a family, such close and dear people.

Thanks to all of you – and even to strangers who write to me. I receive many letters from people I do not know…

Thank you very much for your attitude, for your words, for your energy. Especially when you write by hand – it is truly felt.

Write by hand more often! Write letters to each other! Write to your loved ones and relatives!

That’s all – I hug you all, love you very much, and I am happy that I can share my thoughts and my emotions with you."