The Dimensions of Light and the Infinite Journey

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a land torn apart by decades of conflict, violence, and profound injustice, Espoir lay there, by then consumed by illness. Around him remained only a few of his loved ones, those whom war and adversity had spared. Their faces were marked by suffering, yet in their eyes there still remained something that no war had managed to destroy: Love.

Espoir breathed slowly. Each breath seemed more difficult than the one before. Multiple myeloma had consumed his body, progressively depriving him of his strength. And yet, within him, something seemed strangely peaceful.

He looked at his family.

“Do not cry.”

His mother squeezed his hand.

“How can we not cry?”

Espoir smiled weakly.

“Because we will see each other again.”

“When?”

The young man remained silent for a few moments, as if searching within his mind for an answer that could be understood by those who still lived within time.

“Soon. Much sooner than you can imagine. The time we have on Earth seems enormous while we are living it… but in Eternity, it is nothing more than the blink of an eye. It is like a grain of sand in the Sahara Desert. We struggle for that grain, often even wasting it… without realizing that the desert is infinite.”

A tear rolled down his mother’s face.

Espoir continued:

“Do not be afraid for me. I have suffered, yes. And I would have wished that no one ever had to suffer as I did. But perhaps this very suffering taught me something that otherwise I would never have understood.”

In recent years, the young man had watched the world deteriorate in many places: wars, persecutions, hunger, corruption, hatred, untreated diseases, children deprived of their childhood, and people forced to flee their own lands.

He had often even thought about how absurd it was that humanity possessed knowledge capable of saving lives and, at the same time, allowed millions of people to die because they lacked diagnostic resources, medicines, healthcare facilities, and adequate treatment.

It was not illness itself that was unjust, but inequality.

Where the means to heal the body were lacking, it became even more difficult to cultivate serenity of the soul; and where war, hatred, fear, and oppression prevailed, the Virtues seemed to find no ground in which to take root.

At a certain point, Espoir closed his eyes, and his final breath was almost imperceptible.

Suddenly, the young man had the sensation of becoming incredibly light. He no longer felt pain, nor did he feel the weight of those bones so eroded by illness; it was as though something had gently freed him from matter.

Then he opened his eyes, and before him he saw his entire earthly life unfold.

He saw his childhood, the faces of his parents, his homeland. He saw again the happy days and the painful ones, the people he had met, the words he had spoken, those he had left unspoken, the opportunities he had lost, the acts of kindness he had performed almost without realizing it.

Yet he also saw his own faults and understood them, experiencing an inner pain.

Every action appeared in its true nature, free from the justifications with which human beings often cover their choices.

He saw the pain he had caused and the pain he had alleviated. He saw the times when he had chosen Good despite it being more difficult, and he understood that nothing had truly disappeared: every action had left a trace.

The journey continued, and the Earth became smaller and smaller.

He saw continents, oceans, mountains, cities, forests; places he had never visited and others he knew only through stories and images.

Then he saw something he could never have imagined: above the material world there seemed to exist other regions of existence—not simply places farther away, but dimensions, levels, states of being.

Each time he crossed a new threshold, perception became subtler, brighter, vaster, and with it he too seemed to transform.

Suffering no longer existed, and a wondrous Light enveloped him.

It was not a light that came from a sun; it seemed to arise everywhere, even within him.

It filled him with a Peace so profound that, for the first time, Espoir understood how incomplete every earthly definition of happiness had been.

At a certain point, the journey came to a halt.

Before him appeared a world that was not Earth: immense green and flowering expanses stretched to the horizon; trees of unknown forms moved gently beneath a breeze that seemed to possess its own music; crystalline rivers crossed immense plains, and animals of species he had never seen lived alongside one another without fear.

There was no waste, no pollution, no destruction.

The flora and fauna did not struggle for survival as they did on Earth, but seemed to participate in the same harmony.

Espoir stood motionless.

“Where am I?”

A voice answered behind him.

“Home.”

Espoir turned around.

From a distance, a figure more than two meters tall was approaching.

His skin was blue, luminous, and uniform. His hair was white, with almost golden, yellowish reflections, and seemed to emit a faint light of its own. His face was serene, with a magnificent smile.

Espoir looked at him in astonishment.

The figure extended his hand toward him.

“Espoir. Welcome to your new dimension.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Orthon.”

“You are… an angel?”

Orthon smiled.

“That is how you on Earth would define what I am. I have been your Guide. I accompanied, inspired, and protected you within the limits permitted by your path.”

Espoir lowered his gaze.

“Then you were with me even when I could not see you?”

“Much more often than you can imagine.”

Espoir looked at that world once again.

“It is enchanting. I never thought something like this could exist.”

“There exists much more than your earthly mind could ever have conceived.”

“Am I dead?”

Orthon remained silent for a moment.

“Your body is dead. You are not.”

Espoir breathed deeply, even though he no longer needed to breathe.

“And why am I here?”

“Because your journey on Earth has ended.”

“And now?”

“Now another journey begins.”

Orthon began to walk.

Espoir followed him.

“You see this dimension?” the Guide said.

“Yes.”

“It is not the highest.”

Espoir stopped.

“It isn’t?”

Orthon smiled.

“No. It is simply the one that, at this moment, corresponds most closely to what you have become.”

“So there are other dimensions?”

“Infinite.”

Espoir looked at the sky.

“Truly infinite?”

“Perhaps ‘infinite’ is still too small a word.”

The Guide raised a hand. The sky changed, and Espoir saw other worlds appearing in the distance.

Some were similar to theirs, while others were completely different.

He saw dimensions where matter seemed almost nonexistent, regions made of light and forms he could not comprehend, worlds in which souls seemed to assume different configurations, not necessarily anthropomorphic, places where consciousness appeared to manifest itself through colors, sounds, geometries, and vibrations.

“The Creator did not construct only one way of existing,” Orthon explained. “He made the Universe more varied than anyone could imagine. Every world, every dimension, every region of existence may possess different laws, forms, and levels of awareness, many of which have understood and aligned themselves with the Order of the Supreme Good.”

“And why is Earth so different?”

Orthon looked at him.

“Because Earth is a school.”

“A school?”

“One of the hardest.”

Espoir lowered his eyes.

“Now I understand.”

“On Earth, the soul is placed before conditions that continually test what it is. Freedom, pain, loss, wealth, poverty, illness, power, love, hatred, fear… everything can become a test.”

“Even suffering?”

“Yes.”

“But then does that mean that every suffering is chosen?”

Orthon slowly shook his head.

“Do not simplify something that is far more complex. Not all suffering is directly chosen by the soul, because some of it is the consequence of one’s own actions, and no suffering should ever be used as a justification for the evil committed by human beings. Real injustices, real violence, and real responsibilities exist.”

Espoir looked at him attentively.

“Then what did you mean?”

“Before the earthly experience, some souls may accept certain difficult conditions because they believe they may contribute to their own growth. But once they are born on Earth, they do not necessarily remember that choice. And it is precisely this forgetfulness that makes the test of freedom authentic.”

Espoir remained silent for a long time.

“So even my illness…”

Orthon did not answer immediately.

“Your illness was not a punishment.”

Those words seemed to release something within Espoir.

“Then why? Perhaps it was meant to elevate me more and more.”

“In your case, yes. However, not every answer is given immediately. Some encompass the entire journey of a soul, while others are connected to experiences that only a higher consciousness can understand.”

“You know everything?”

Orthon smiled.

“No.”

Espoir seemed surprised.

“You are my Guide and you do not know everything?”

“To know much does not mean to know everything. We, too, belong to a journey. There are regions of existence that even I have not crossed. There are mysteries belonging to dimensions so elevated that any understanding I might have of them would still be incomplete.”

“So you are learning too.”

“Yes.”

“That comforts me.”

Orthon laughed softly.

“Why?”

“Because on Earth I thought that knowledge meant reaching the point of knowing everything once we arrived in another dimension.”

“And instead?”

“Now I understand that true knowledge might be knowing how much we still do not know. Always continually becoming, in fieri.”

Orthon nodded.

“This is one of the first things souls learn when they begin to ascend.”

They walked on.

“But if higher beings capable of reaching higher dimensions exist, why do they not always intervene on Earth?”

Orthon became more serious.

“Because helping does not necessarily mean preventing every negative event.”

“I do not understand.”

“Imagine a soul that must make a choice. If we intervened continuously in its place, we would take away precisely what it must learn: True Freedom.”

“And yet there are people who die without ever having had a chance.”

“It is true.”

“There are children who die in wars, people who suffer from treatable diseases but have no access to treatment, entire peoples who are destroyed.”

“I know.”

“And you watch?”

Orthon looked directly into his eyes.

“We do not watch with indifference. But spiritual intervention cannot completely erase the consequences of the choices made by creatures endowed with free will.”

Espoir lowered his head.

“And when a soul is completely surrounded by darkness?”

“The Light does not cease to exist.”

“But can it reject it?”

“It can reject it for a long time. It can close itself off. It can identify itself so completely with hatred, violence, and the thirst for power that it no longer recognizes the Light when it appears before it.”

“And then is it abandoned?”

“Never permanently. But there are paths in which the soul must experience profound consequences before it can once again desire the Light.”

“Can even those souls rise again?”

“The possibility of redemption is not erased lightly.”

Espoir remained thoughtful.

“Then evil is not eternal.”

“Evil may seem eternal to those who live through it. But the Light is Perfect and Eternal.”

Suddenly, the landscape changed.

Espoir saw Earth, but not as he had seen it during his life. He saw it from above.

He saw its magnificent forests, oceans, deserts, and mountains.

Then Orthon revealed what lay behind appearances.

Espoir saw wars being prepared in rooms of power, men discussing territories, resources, oil, gold, gas, and economic interests while entire populations were reduced to numbers.

He saw corruption, governments bowing before stronger powers, secret agreements, propaganda, populations deliberately driven against other populations.

He saw racism being fueled because hatred makes it easier to govern, children growing up learning to fear someone they had never even met.

He also saw forests destroyed, rivers contaminated, lands impoverished, seas suffocating.

He saw money becoming an idol.

And above all, he saw something that deeply affected him: he saw how little was necessary to make a human being happy—namely, a home, food, a family, a little security, someone to love, an opportunity to study, and access to healthcare.

And yet millions of people were deprived even of all of this.

“Why?” Espoir asked.

Orthon did not look away.

“Because many earthly souls have confused the value of existence with possession.”

“Money?”

“Money is a ruthless instrument, which humans have transformed into an idol, into a measure of human worth.”

Espoir saw immense wealth accumulated by a few.

“And these people do not understand?”

“Very few truly understand. Others do not want to understand.”

“Why?”

“Because power can become a prison stronger than poverty.”

Espoir continued to observe.

“And ordinary people?”

“Many live inside a reality constructed for them. They chase images, status, possessions, approval. They believe that freedom consists in always having something more.”

“And instead?”

“Freedom also consists in being able to live without being slaves to what one possesses.”

Espoir smiled bitterly.

“On Earth, I had sensed that.”

“And indeed, that is one of the reasons you are here.”

Orthon then caused a different image to appear.

Espoir saw people helping one another: a doctor treating a sick person without asking anything in return, a man sharing his bread, a woman protecting a child who was not her own, a young man risking his life to save a stranger, a teacher continuing to teach despite poverty, an elderly person forgiving, a mother praying, a child smiling despite having almost nothing.

“Look.”

Espoir watched.

“Good still exists.”

“Good has never ceased to exist.”

“But then why does it seem so fragile?”

“Because evil makes noise. Good very often works in silence, without needing to boast.”

Espoir was moved.

“And me?”

“You chose Good many times when no one forced you to do so.”

“I did not feel special.”

“You did not need to.”

“And this brought me here?”

“Your deeds, your knowledge of Good, the Virtues you sought to practice, the resilience with which you endured suffering… all of this contributed to your evolution.”

Orthon pointed toward the dimension in which they stood.

“Your consciousness could not have remained in a dimension dominated exclusively by lower impulses. You would have continued to suffer because you were no longer in harmony with it.”

Espoir looked at the landscape again.

“So Paradise is not a reward.”

Orthon smiled.

“It is a consequence.”

“Of what?”

“Of what you have become.”

“And now I will ascend further?”

“If you continue to grow.”

“And when will it end?”

Orthon looked at the sky.

“I do not know.”

“You do not know?”

“None of us knows the entire journey.”

“Not even those who are far more elevated than you?”

“Perhaps they know what remains hidden from us. But even they are part of something infinitely greater.”

“And the Creator?”

Orthon smiled.

“The Creator is not simply a peak to reach, as one reaches the summit of a mountain.”

“Then Who is He?”

“A Reality that the more you know, the more you understand that you cannot completely contain.”

Espoir remained silent.

“So does the soul ascend forever?”

“Perhaps it ascends, perhaps it transforms, perhaps it enters forms of existence for which you do not even possess the words to describe today. The journey of the soul and spirit is a progressive mystery.”

“And what must I do now?”

Orthon extended his hand toward him once again.

“Learn.”

“Again?”

“Always.”

Espoir smiled.

“Then death was not the end of a journey.”

“No.”

Espoir clasped Orthon’s hand, and Earth appeared very far away, beautiful yet wounded. A planet capable of producing some of the worst atrocities and, at the same time, some of the most sublime acts.

Espoir looked at it with a new awareness.

“Orthon.”

“Yes?”

“Will I be able to return one day?”

The Guide smiled.

“If your spirit reaches the necessary strength, you will be able to descend.”

“To help?”

“To help. Unless the planet soon evolves toward a higher dimension. Many have spoken, and continue to speak, of a New Golden Age.”

“Let us hope it happens as soon as possible. And can I return even to the lower dimensions?”

“It depends on whether your soul and spirit are capable of enduring them. It depends on the dimensions and their degree of evolution.”

“Without being afraid?”

“Fear will never be able to dwell within you again.”

Espoir turned toward him.

Orthon smiled.

“Espoir, on Earth, courage means above all choosing the Light even when the darkness seems greater.”

The young man remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he smiled.

“Anyway, I want to learn.”

Orthon began to walk.

“You will.”

The two slowly disappeared along the luminous path, while behind them the paradisiacal world continued to live in perfect harmony.

Much farther away, beyond that dimension, beyond those Espoir would come to know, and beyond those that Orthon himself had not yet crossed, the Universe continued to unfold.

Dimension after dimension, mystery after mystery, Light upon Light.

Meanwhile, somewhere, beyond all understanding, the Creator continued to contemplate the journey of His creatures, allowing every soul, every spirit, to follow its own path toward that perfection which no one, not even the most elevated beings, could yet completely comprehend.

Because perhaps Eternity does not consist in arriving, but in continuing to become.

Hell is here on Earth and has the innocent face of those who did not choose to be born there

What wrong has a boy or a girl done to come into the world and find themselves immersed in a reality that resembles a nightmare more than a promise? This question is not rhetorical—it is an open wound. When people think of hell, they often imagine it as a distant, otherworldly place, almost surreal. But it is enough to look honestly at what happens every day on this Earth to realise that there is also an inner, earthly hell—real, tangible—that does not need eternal fire to burn: indifference, cruelty, hatred, and human selfishness are enough.

Hell is in the children bought and sold like objects in human trafficking networks in Southeast Asia—Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand—their dim eyes having stopped dreaming far too soon. It is in the girls forced into prostitution, deceived, broken, stripped not only of their freedom but also of their identity. It is in the tiny hands of children sewing clothes in suffocating factories in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, while the world wears those garments without asking where they come from. It is in the lungs of these children who inhale toxic glue to dull hunger, because sometimes the only way to survive is to stop feeling.

Yet hell also descends into the depths of the earth, into cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or diamond mines in Sierra Leone, where young lives are consumed by dust and danger to extract materials that fuel the technological progress and materialism of others. It is in the streets of large cities, where children and teenagers grow up without a home, without school, without anyone to say their name with love, to guide them and care for them. It is in the desperate journeys of migrants, in deserts that swallow hope and in seas that become silent graves.

And again, it is in skies torn apart by bombings, in cities reduced to rubble in places like Palestine or Ukraine, where war is not a headline but a daily reality made of fear and loss—something we should never accept as normal. It is in violated bodies in forgotten wars, where rape becomes a weapon and humanity dissolves, as happens in Sudan and elsewhere. It is in the prisons of authoritarian regimes, where dissent is punished with torture and enforced silence.

However, hell is also quieter, but no less devastating. It is in drug addiction that traps young lives with no escape, in communities destroyed by the trafficking of weapons and substances that fuel seemingly endless cycles of violence. It is in overcrowded refugee camps, where entire generations grow up suspended, without a future. It is in famines, where hunger is not a feeling but a sentence. It is in homes submerged by water, in destroyed crops, in families forced to leave everything behind because environmental and/or political climates change faster than our ability to respond.

It is in the persecution of minorities, in planned genocides, in lives erased for being “different.” It is in the normalization of all this, in our ability to read, scroll, and forget. I also ask forgiveness if I have not been able to clearly mention other horrific examples (though it would likely take days to read a complete list).

So the question returns, stronger than before: how can we go on like this? How can a planet so extraordinary—rich in beauty, biodiversity, and possibility—also be the stage for so much suffering inflicted by humans upon other humans? The contradiction is tearing. The same human beings capable of creating art, science, and love are also capable of destroying, exploiting, and annihilating.

And yet, stopping at horror alone would be another form of surrender. Recognizing hell must not mean accepting it as inevitable, but becoming aware of it in order to choose not to be complicit. Every time we ignore, justify, or feel too small to make a difference, we contribute—even unintentionally—to keeping it alive.

The hardest but most necessary lesson is this: evil thrives in the absence of responsibility. We do not need to be heroes to change the world, but we must stop being passive spectators. Becoming informed, speaking out, making conscious choices, showing respect, educating, helping when possible—these may seem like small acts, but they are cracks in the system of indifference.

Children should play, study, be carefree, and grow in Virtue and Wisdom. And if this does not happen, it is not because the world is inevitably cruel, but because we have not yet done enough to make it different.

Therefore, I believe that hell on Earth exists, but it is not a final condemnation. It is a constructed and orchestrated reality, and, precisely for that reason, it can be dismantled, piece by piece. The question then changes: no longer “what wrong has that child done?” but “what are we willing to do, today, so that they no longer have to suffer like this?”

Java and Sicily: two islands, one soul

 

Andrea and Irwan are two friends who met in Indonesia, specifically in the western part of Java, and both of their names reflect their nobility of spirit and their courage. However, Andrea is a young Italian recent graduate originally from Sicily, an island in the Mediterranean, who decides to venture into other countries far from his homeland, now weary of the excessive worldliness and the moral decadence typical of many “Western countries,” which for decades have begun to distort even Sicilian youth.

Yet Sicily in the past has always been a crossroads of cultures that produced a grand fusion of architectural, linguistic, genetic, and culinary elements.

On the splendid island of Java, he began his work and volunteer activities, rediscovering himself in serving others and in creating deep connections with the local people, especially with the Sundanese ethnic group, to which Irwan belongs. Andrea meets him during an excursion to Cukang Taneuh, a marvellous canyon, characterised by emerald-coloured waters and dense tropical vegetation.

Over time the two come to know each other better, and Irwan, who is in love with Italy, learns through Andrea several things about the beautiful island, which he then decides to visit together with his Sicilian friend.

One late-summer afternoon the two friends find themselves on one of the beaches of southern Sicily and, while waiting for the sunset and the contemplation of the stars, they begin to retrace their adventures on these two splendid islands.

“Andrea, I never imagined that the Mediterranean held such a wonderful jewel! You know, I have always loved traveling, but it is not easy for us… Obtaining a visa is something difficult and very restrictive.”

“Irwan, you are right, and I would add that there should not be differences between nations. There are no first-class or second-class countries, none better than others, because our diversity is what makes us special. Yet it is within this diversity that we must find Unity, the feeling of being like a Great Universal Family, with equal opportunities, dignity, and an inner, spiritual aspect, if we wish to understand it that way. I am sure that a day will come when we will be able to travel without restrictions, not only here on Earth but even toward other worlds… I almost have the impression that we are confined to this planet as some of the worst beings in the Universe… Who would wage war against his own brother or sister for a piece of land, for natural resources, for money or, worse, out of hatred? But that Golden Age will come, and then we will be happy again, living in Love, Peace, and Justice.”

“I would not want to delude myself too much, because this Earth actually has so many wonders that we often fail to realise it. In fact, we are destroying all the beauties of creation and the works of past civilisations. I would never have imagined visiting Sicily, and with you I have been able to discover wonderful places.”

“You are right, we must give value to the precious things we have before it is too late, before we lose them forever because of our destructive madness. Anyway, tell me what you liked the most! I am truly curious!”

“The Greco-Roman culture that has left an indelible mark on this island. The Ancient-Greek temples of Agrigento, the Ancient-Greek theatres of Taormina, Catania, and Syracuse, the Roman Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, the Roman baths of Catania…”

“Truly wonderful, and you know how much I love classical Greco-Roman culture! You just reminded me of the splendid temples of Borobudur and Prambanan in magnificent Java! You see, both of our islands are characterised by a blending of elements from various cultures, religions, and civilisations…”

“And not to mention Mount Etna, immense and majestic, rising almost like the king of this island. I cannot imagine how beautiful it must be to see it in winter covered in snow. Then Stromboli, Vulcano and the other Aeolian islets, then the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria… what a marvel!”

“In fact, Java also boasts several volcanoes that I have had the chance to see and from which I could observe breathtaking landscapes: Bromo and Semeru, for example! Even this volcanic aspect, let’s call it that, brings us together hahaha.”

“Hahaha, that’s true! I had not thought of that! In our diversity and in our spatial and temporal distance we can still find elements in common! And then there are our beautiful beaches, like the one we are on now. Rediscovering nature is something many people have lost, immersed in the worries and anxieties of everyday life, emptied of their deepest feelings, often devoted to exhausting work and very little to personal affections and to their own souls…”

“You are right, Irwan, and that is why I wanted to escape from that chaotic environment, even though I missed my beloved homeland. Now I am here, but soon we will leave again and I already know that I will miss it. Every place that I associate with my youth takes me back and makes me relive intense emotions. Not that I do not feel them in wonderful Java, but it is somewhat the destiny of the human being: a wandering traveler who seeks to rediscover himself first of all, almost driven by a sense of dissatisfaction. Even more so in these recent times, so tumultuous and decadent, in which most people here tend to be superficial and lacking in empathy.”

“Andrea, it is true, and even true and virtuous friendships are difficult to find nowadays… I feel so fortunate to have met you, to have a few best friends but loyal ones.”

“Virtuous—you said it well! You reminded me of Cicero and his work dedicated to the theme of friendship. His words echo in my heart, especially when I find sincere and deep friendships. For this great philosopher, true friendship is born from Virtue; it is a natural good, it never asks for unjust actions, and it is based on loyalty and mutual esteem. May ours last forever, even beyond this earthly dimension. As the saying goes, he who finds a friend finds a treasure.”

“True, what a beautiful expression! I hope so too. Thank you for not having prejudices about me.”

“Irwan, I love to look into hearts, into the soul, through actions, the way one behaves, words, and much more! You and your wonderful Indonesian people have an extraordinary depth of spirit: you are respectful, loving, wise, and welcoming. I truly feel at home with you, at ease. I already know that I will miss this experience when I will probably have to go elsewhere in the world.”

“You Sicilians are also very empathetic and friendly! And imagine if we could move around more easily and quickly… it would be wonderful, Andrea!”

“It will happen, I feel it…”

“I hope… Anyway, what a wonderful sunset! I will carry beautiful memories of this journey, besides the kilos I gained here thanks to your delicious Sicilian and Italian cuisine hahaha.”

“Hahaha, you are right. Other friends who visited Sicily told me the same thing. But do not worry, we will try to recreate something once we are back in Java. Besides, your cuisine is also truly delicious. Rice is present in both: between nasi goreng and arancini, hahaha.”

“Hahaha, true, you are right. They are delicious! Actually, speaking of that, we should start thinking about what to prepare for dinner tonight—but in the meantime let us begin to admire the first stars that are appearing.”

The two friends continued spending time on that beach, contemplating the sky and the stars and enjoying their outer and inner peace.

Both journeys and the discoveries of their respective islands were a source of cultural and spiritual enrichment, because what truly characterises all those souls that vibrate on the same wavelength is the creation of connections, of deep unions that transcend space and time, that bring forth Peace, Equality, Love, Justice, and Righteousness. It does not matter how few such cases may seem, because the Universal Order will sooner or later manifest itself on this Earth as well, and then there will be no more inequalities, chaos, hatred, wars, destruction, or vice.

The Light of the Fergana Valley

The Fergana Valley is a paradisiacal and flourishing region where flora, fauna, and human beings have always established a deep connection. It was a Golden Age that, unfortunately, slowly began to fade over time, until the difficult days when the tyrant Qorong'i attempted to besiege this splendid land, trying to transform it into a realm of terror, destruction, exploitation, and servitude.

The people of Fergana, a people ancestrally free, are now held under siege and constant threat. Unfortunately, the evil nature of this character was not evident at first. He presented himself as a savior, cloaking his true diabolical purpose under deceptive promises. In his expansionist ambitions, he always justified his conquests as necessary acts meant to bring progress, development, order, peace, and justice.

However, a group of young friends occasionally tries to escape the oppression of the wicked Qorong'i, retreating to a cabin in the forest to spend time together, devoting themselves above all to what the despot had forbidden: reading books, meditating, praying, and practicing other arts such as painting, writing, and music.

“Sardor, my friend, here you are! We were waiting for you!” says Jasur.

“Nurlan, Jasur, Zarina, and Meerim, please forgive me. Unfortunately, I had a setback… Qorong'i’s guards stopped me and asked several questions about where I was going and what I was doing.”

“This situation is truly unbearable. How long will we go on like this? We were born as a free, virtuous, respectful, and creative people, but at this rate we are emptying ourselves of what is truly precious: our soul, our spirit, our values, our virtues.”

“Zarina, you are absolutely right. Yet many seem intimidated, while others remain lukewarm because this destructive progress suits them: a world where everything is contaminated and polluted, where a false peace is guided by warnings of war, genocides, and devastating weapons. Behind the real interests of Qorong'i and others like him there is no desire for Peace, Freedom, Justice, Love, and Virtue, but only cravings for power, territorial expansion, and the conquest of resources that, moreover, poison the very earth itself. And the most serious thing is that, in order to strengthen surveillance over each of us, he would like to deprive us of the deepest freedom he still does not possess: that of our soul and our mind, the freedom to make choices. He wants to control every individual through microchips. And that would mean that even these meetings would no longer be possible… and that it would truly be like living in hell on this Earth.”

“No, please, Nurlan, that would be terrible! At the mere thought of it I could not even bear to continue living here!” adds Meerim.

“We must then awaken consciences, because our compatriots do not truly know the real consequences of this tyranny! He has attacked other peoples by presenting himself as a savior sent from heaven, but he has done nothing but follow a program based on a false order, a false well-being, and a false peace. If a territory is rich in gems and gold, he might claim that certain ethnic groups must be freed from the chains of ignorance; if another is rich in oil and natural gas, then their leaders suddenly become agents of evil and must be eradicated. It is always the same red thread that connects his misdeeds. But the most serious thing is that the rest of the peoples allow it! They seem asleep, blinded, deaf and blind, or lukewarm, or even worse, satisfied with this diabolical progress that aims at destruction rather than respect for life and virtues.”

“It is true, Zarina, I agree with you. But, my dear friends, we must ensure that we fight with our victorious weapons—weapons that shed no blood but spread Truth, Justice, Peace, Love, and other Virtues: the use of wisdom, writing, and the arts. We must denounce, at first subtly and in a silent and disguised way. The more souls become conscious, the more we will be able to create unions of hearts, deep connections, as if we were one single being, to drive tyranny and darkness away from our wonderful Valley,” says Jasur.

“How much pain I feel, my friends, when I see our Valley increasingly contaminated by waste, dangerous substances, and radioactive materials used above all for his diabolical weapons. All the fruits that the land and water once offered are now polluted, or even diminished, if not completely absent. Because of the destructive form of modernism promoted by Qorong'i and his companions continuing to advance, we will have fewer and fewer resources to live on, and we will soon be destined for self-annihilation.”

“Meerim, and you my other dear friends, we cannot allow this, because this Earth is a gentle concession from our Creator. We cannot remain indifferent. Actions are important, especially when they put our ideals into practice. For this reason, I would begin to seek peaceful solutions that can shake consciences and souls. In a world filled with dense darkness, we can be those small flames that, by joining and spreading, can create an immensely powerful Light!” adds Nurlan.

“Antigone, heroine of Sophocles’ famous tragedy, said that ‘we are born to share love, not hatred.’ And that is why our actions will be guided by noble values, to restore our Valley of Fergana to the splendor it once had, when the meadows were in bloom, the earth spontaneously produced everything we needed, and the waters of the streams were crystal clear and wholesome.”

“Dear Meerim,” Zarina intervenes, “I would also add what Sappho wrote in one of her poems: ‘Some say that the most beautiful thing on the dark earth is an army of horsemen, others of infantry, others of ships; I say: it is whatever one loves.’ And what we love is the desire for Peace, Truth, Freedom, Love, and Justice.”

“Well said, Zarina. Then let us try to denounce, spread the hidden truths, and awaken our other compatriots, our brothers and sisters. ‘It is not that we have little time, but that we waste much of it,’ as Seneca would say. Time is precious, and every single moment can be crucial, not only through our prayers or inner virtues, but also through good actions. Imagine how much remorse we would feel one day when we leave this earthly dimension if we had wasted much of our time on futile or even destructive things. Virtue calls us, because without it nature, flora, fauna, and all human beings would suffer… ‘Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Necessity hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be virtuous,’ Marcus Aurelius would say,” says Sardor.

Small actions, driven by noble intentions, gradually began to awaken consciences and create new connections, new unions of hearts. And it is known: where Love, Peace, and Justice reign, there is no place for hatred, chaos, or agents of evil like Qorong'i.

The Fergana Valley and its inhabitants will soon find themselves reliving the wonderful Golden Age, for the defeat of evil is imminent.

The False Lights and the True Flame

We often chase the false lights of this world, mistaking them for lasting joys. We convince ourselves that pleasure lies in temporary thrills, in fleeting distractions, in substances and addictions that promise freedom but leave us enslaved. The parties, the excess, the various bad habits and sins—all of it seems to fill us for a moment, but soon we are left with a strange emptiness, an inner silence so vast it feels cosmic. This emptiness whispers the Truth: we are not made for temporary lights, but for an eternal Flame.

That Flame is True, Unconditional Love. Not the distorted love that flatters our ego or demands something in return, but the Love that flows from our Uncreated Creator, who planted within us the seed of Virtue, Dignity, and eternal Purpose. When we align our actions with this Love, when we live as vessels of it, we discover a Joy deeper than any fleeting pleasure. It is a joy that does not vanish when the night ends or the music stops. It is a joy that tastes of eternity.

We experience it when we lift a hand to help someone in need, when we speak truth against injustice despite the cost, when we use our talents not to glorify ourselves but to build and heal. We feel it when we forgive those who wounded us, when we choose patience instead of anger, when we stand firm for what is right even if it means standing alone. We feel it in acts of mercy, in moments of humility, in sacrifices made silently but shining brightly in the unseen order of the universe. Each of these actions carries within it the resonance of Paradise, as if for a brief instant Heaven touches Earth.

Furthermore, the human heart has always sought the Truth. Yet we often stumble because our eyes are distracted by illusions—illusions that promise joy but conceal decay. The Uncreated Creator, who is Harmony, Peace, and Life itself, calls us not with false seduction but with Clarity. The adversary of good, however, cloaks destruction in sweetness, offering gifts that seem harmless or even desirable but that, in time, reveal themselves enslaving and destructive. The good bears fruits of goodness, returning love for Love. The false light bears only darkness, no matter how dazzling it first appears.

Moreover, the entire cosmos moves under the law of cause and effect. Every action, whether born of love or malice/hatred, ripples into the fabric of existence, creating harmony or chaos. To sow good is to invite Balance, to nurture Order, to become an instrument of Peace. To sow evil is to unleash disorder, to fracture what was meant for unity, to perpetuate suffering. Yet there is a remedy: Love. Love alone has the power to sever the chain of consequences that binds humanity to despair. Love alone restores what hatred has broken. Love alone lifts us beyond ourselves, reconnecting us to our true origin and destiny.

Therefore, the false lights will continue to beckon, dazzling and deceptive, although these will soon fade. However, those who choose to follow the True Flame, who seek the Joy born of Virtue, Compassion, and the Fulfillment of their unique mission, will know what it means to live fully. For in every act of genuine Love, no matter how small, we taste Eternity—and we remember that we were never made for emptiness, but for the boundless radiance of the Unconditional.

Order as the Core of Creation

Imagine, for a moment, a world steeped in total chaos, a reality where disorder reigns unchallenged. If such a world existed from the beginning, the fundamental balance of the Universe would be disrupted beyond repair. Over time, this state of disarray would inevitably lead to the collapse of all that exists, resulting in the destruction and ultimate annihilation of everything that constitutes the world around us. Such a scenario, however, raises a profound question: what could hold the fabric of existence together, ensuring it does not fall apart? The answer, as we will explore, is the principle of Order, a crucial force that underpins all creation.

At the heart of this idea is the notion that Order, rather than chaos, is the true essence of existence. If we consider God as the ultimate source of creation, the question arises: what does God embody? God, understood as the embodiment of perfect Order and Harmony, must be the origin of all that is. If we trace the origins of existence to their most fundamental source, we cannot avoid the conclusion that, at the very beginning of everything, there was Order. It was not chaos that gave rise to creation, but a coherent, harmonious force that brought structure and meaning to the Universe.

The concept of chaos as a foundation for creation is not only illogical but also inherently self-destructive. If chaos had been the driving force behind creation, there would have been no creation to speak of, no world to perceive, no structures to interpret. Creation itself would be impossible in a state of absolute disorder, because disorder does not produce life or form. Instead, it leads to disintegration and oblivion. Thus, the existence of creation itself points to the presence of Order at its core. Without it, everything would fall apart—literally and metaphysically—because there would be no cohesive force to maintain the unity of existence.

To further understand this, let us consider the nature of God as an entity of pure Love. Love, by its very nature, is an act of creation, an act of bringing something into being, of shaping life and existence from a place of profound care and intention. Chaos, on the other hand, is the antithesis of Love; it is destructive and destabilizing, not life-affirming. If God were associated with chaos and destruction, it would be impossible for God to bring forth creation in any meaningful sense. For creation requires the preservation of life and form, not the annihilation of it. In this way, the idea of a chaotic, destructive God is incompatible with the concept of creation. A deity that embodies chaos would not only fail to create, but would actively unmake all that exists, reducing everything to nothingness.

This leads us to the ontological necessity of Order. The existence of creation itself, the fact that we are able to perceive the world and interact with it in any meaningful way, suggests that at the foundation of reality, there is a principle of Order. Without this Order, there would be no Universe, no life, no perception—only void and confusion. It is the presence of this Order, this Harmony, that makes creation possible. Order is the governing principle that allows all things to come into being, to evolve, and to maintain their integrity over time.

Furthermore, this notion of Order as the foundation of existence resonates deeply with the concept of Good and evil, or more precisely, the principle that opposites cannot coexist in their purest forms. The sentence “Aut Bonum aut malum”—either Good or evil—captures this dichotomy. Good, in its truest sense, is the embodiment of Order, Harmony, and creation. Evil, on the other hand, represents the forces of chaos, destruction, and dissolution. These two principles cannot coexist in their purest states because they are fundamentally opposed to one another. A Universe governed by chaos and destruction cannot sustain life, just as a Universe founded on Order and creation cannot accommodate the forces of destruction without self-imploding.

Therefore, when we consider the nature of creation, we must recognize that the possibility of existence—of life, of perception, of structure—depends on an underlying Order. This Order, which we associate with the Divine, is not a mere abstract concept but the essential force that enables the Universe to exist in a coherent and sustainable way. It is this Order that allows creation to unfold in a meaningful manner, giving rise to the laws of nature, the principles of life, and the very structure of reality itself.

In conclusion, without Order at its foundation, creation would be unthinkable. Order is not just a secondary feature of existence; it is the fundamental principle that makes existence possible in the first place. A Universe without Order is a Universe without meaning, a Universe doomed to collapse in chaos. Therefore, it is only through the recognition and embrace of Order that we can truly understand the nature of creation and the Divine forces that govern it. The essence of creation—its structure, its beauty, and its continued existence—depends on the presence of this harmonious force. Without it, nothing could exist, and everything would return to nothingness.