of the third millennium. I wrote this book as a generalization of the history and moral experiences of Türkmen people as handed down over five thousand years. This is the viewpoint of our nation in the third millennium.

After completing the Ruhnama, I re-read it, looked at the content once again, and it confirmed the feeling in my heart: I realized that I had carried “Ruhnama” in my heart all my life. I realized that “Ruhnama” was the fruit of my aspirations and writing it was my task in life. That is why today I dedicate to my nation these aspirations and works in the form of this book.

Thus “Ruhnama” is not only a way of understanding my nation and people, but also my method of perception. It is my belief that the reasonable man’s perception of the world depends upon his ability to perceive himself.

When a person enters the ocean of the historical memory of the nation, he is at the same time diving into his own ocean. When it is impossible to take two directions at one time, you have to understand clearly that perceptions and philosophy are not good enough by themselves.

You cannot approach reality using only thought and intellect. Reality also requires the use of the whole heart. It demands that you include your whole self and see your fate and destiny as a whole.

It was my good fortune to involuntarily comprehend that what I write as my understanding, perceptions and feelings in the Ruhnama are in fact what I have been holding as feelings and aspirations in my heart for a long time. These feelings lived in me during my youth when I understood the spirit,