No one can truly stop us—except ourselves: Ruben Vardanyan again appeals to Armenians
At Ruben Vardanyan’s request, his family has released the second part of his statement, in which he shares the axioms of his personal life – the beliefs that have become the basis for him to make decisions, serve, and understand what is happening.
“An Indian philosopher once said: ignorance may have no beginning, but it does have an end. Enlightenment, on the other hand, has a beginning — but it never ends. Seek not the word, but the meaning. Not the teacher, but the teaching.
On my life’s journey, I have discovered seven axioms — truths that, for me, need no proof. They form the foundation upon which I build myself — and my home. And thanks to these axioms, I build not on sand, but on rock. Just as Jesus urged us to do in the Sermon on the Mount.
For centuries, sages and prophets have sought to convey these truths to us — in many languages, through many words, with symbols, actions, signs, rituals, and laws. Now, as I near the age of 57, I have come to understand them. I reached this understanding through years of searching, reflection, and heartfelt conversations with my teachers and loved ones — both those living today and the authors of great books that have carried these truths through time.
Time and again, I’ve learned that real understanding cannot be found simply by reading wise books or memorizing them. Nor by surrendering one’s life to their words without question. Sometimes, it took me ten attempts to return to the same book, just to grasp a single idea — to understand the meaning hidden behind the words.
Only by passing these texts and ideas through one’s own experience, through one’s way of perceiving the world — by making them part of your very being, your natural state of daily life — can they become your foundation. Your compass in all of life’s decisions. And once you arrive at your axioms in this way, you cannot turn away from them.
Anyone can come to their own axioms. There are no permissions to seek, no barriers to break. Even someone who cannot read or write can arrive there — if the desire is real and the search is sincere. They will find their own way.
To create something meaningful, you don’t need wealth or power — everything is already within. What matters most is having something to say. And once you do, you’ll always find a way to express it. Garri Bardin, for example, made his brilliant animated film Adagio with a single sheet of paper. He had nothing but meaning to share. That film would later be recognized by the Vatican and receive an ecumenical prize. Because meaning comes first. Recognition follows. Today, it’s often the other way around. And therein lies the true crisis of our time.
No one can truly stop us — except ourselves. Remember that,” Vardanyan noted.
