Ruben Vardanyan shares 7 life axioms from prison

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, currently imprisoned in Baku on politically motivated charges, conveyed seven core axioms through phone calls and letters to his family. He requested that these be made public so that others might reflect on them.

“A Hindu philosopher once said ignorance has no beginning but has an end; enlightenment has a beginning but never ends. So, we should pursue meaning, not mere words. Seek teachings, not just teachers,” wrote Vardanyan.

He said that during his 57 years, he came to understand certain immutable truths through deep contemplation, discussions, and lived experience—not by memorizing books, but by internalizing ideas and transforming them into a way of being.

Each person, he noted, can discover their own axioms without needing permission or approval, regardless of education or background.

Axiom 1

Human differences are not rooted in race, gender, nationality, or faith, nor in good vs. evil. Every person contains both light and darkness. The real division, Vardanyan believes, lies in faith—between those who trust in God and those who don’t. The latter have lost their inner divine spark and become indifferent.

Axiom 2

The closest thing to eternity is the present moment. Be grateful to God for today, live in the now, and be ready to die at any moment. Respect the past, look forward with hope, but live in the present.

Axiom 3

Energy is received from the universe—through oxygen, water, food, sleep, and interaction. We use it to stay healthy and to keep our divine spark alive, but often waste it on empty routines or desires.

Axiom 4

Light is life. As God said, “Let there be light.” In illuminating others’ paths, we become like delicate wires that can easily burn out. Balance is key—shine for others, not just ourselves. Don’t cling to material or spiritual extremes; instead, walk a middle path to brighten the world without disrupting its balance.

Axiom 5

Goodness, like air or water, often goes unnoticed but has immense power. It grows when done selflessly and anonymously. Don’t repay kindness out of obligation—pass it forward like a baton. Help and share with others without expecting anything in return. It will come back to you and to those who helped you.

Axiom 6

Heaven means giving up desires, fears, and emotions to serve others and do good. It's like an invisible radiation that sustains the world. If we lose this balance, the world ends—not from climate issues but from a lack of goodness and light. Paradise is not about oneself but about total devotion to others, and then returning peacefully to eternity. That is true happiness.

Axiom 7

Happiness begins and ends within. External conditions don’t matter. Vardanyan says he was just as happy on a luxurious island in the Indian Ocean as in his current cell, where he has nothing but three cups of water a day. Happiness is internal. Only.

“Happiness, eternity, energy, light, and goodness are my pillars,” he concludes. “I shared these to make you think, to challenge both me and yourself. Most of all, I urge you to dedicate time not to money or pleasure, but to your soul. Keep feeling, keep smiling, and live fully.”

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said he told Azerbaijani counterpart Hikmet Hajiyev that prisoners must be freed and a peace deal with Armenia finalized. Vardanyan’s lawyer Jared Genser urged Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to review statements by Donald Trump and Waltz carefully.