Chechen Myth about Prometheus

Probably, most people believe that the Greeks were the authors of the myth of Prometheus. However, many Caucasus nations have similar myths. According to the North Caucasus myths, Prometheus was chained either to Elbrus or to Kazbek - two of the highest mountains in Caucasus. According to the Greek myth, Prometheus was chained to a mountain in the Caucasus. This is quite remarkable. Greeks had their colonies around the Black Sea including the area of the Caucasus Black Sea coast. By now, scientists came to conclusion that Greeks borrowed this myth from Caucasus nations.

Many Caucasus nations have myths similar to the myth of Prometheus. Abhazs have a myth of Sasrykva. According to this myth, when Sasrykva's brothers were frozen, he shot into a star and it fell down. Then, he found a camp-fire and brought smoldering log to his brothers. However, before he did that, he had to kill a giant. Adygs have a myth about Sasruko. This myth is very similar to Abhazs' myth about Sasrykva. Karachais and Balkarians have a myth about Sosuruk which is also very similar to the myths about Sasrykva and Sasruko. However, neither of these myths says about sufferings for bringing fire to people.

Abhazs have a myth of Abrskil who rebelled against god and was chained, but he did not bring fire to people. Adygs have myths about Nasren-zhache and Bataraz. They both rebelled against god who stole fire from people. Nasren-zhache tried to bring it back, but was chained. Bataraz released him and brought fire back to people.

Georgian myth about Amirani is quite similar to Abhaz myth of Abrskil. In some versions of this myth, Amirani brought fire to people. However, unlike, the Greek myth, he was chained in a cave, not on the mountain.

Among the Caucasus versions of this myth, the version which is the most similar to the Greek version is the Chechen version. Even Chechen name for Prometheus is similar to the Greek one. In Greek, "Prometheus" means "prophet." The Chechen name for Prometheus is Pqharmat. This word is from Chechen "pqhar" which means "blacksmith" or "master". According to both Chechen and Greek versions, Prometheus was a blacksmith. There is a version that Pqharmat means "master of the land" or "master of the language." "Qh" is a sound missing in Greek and other European languages. Greeks usually dropped the sounds that they could not pronounce. "-eus" is a Greek ending. Greek "th" and Chechen "t" are pronounced in the same way. This means that the consonants in Chechen and Greek words for Prometheus are the same. In most languages, consonants are more stable than vowels. For example, English vowels were changed much more than consonants.

In the Greek version Prometheus eventually was released after he revealed the secret to Zeus as he demanded. In the Chechen version he has never agreed on Sela's conditions, was never released and is still suffering. In the Greek version, Prometheus complained and cursed Zeus. In the Chechen version, he kept silent and never complained. In addition, in the Chechen version, Pqharmat willingly came to Sela (Chechen god of fire, thunder, and lightning - equivalent of Zeus) in order to suffer. Chechens consider him as one of their ancestors.

What is the main idea of this myth? Some consider Prometheus as a symbol of scientific search. I do not think this is the main idea. When I was a child, I watched a performance on the Greek version of this myth. Zeus asked Prometheus, "Why did you do that?" His reply was, "I wanted to help people." The stress was made on this point. I believe this is correct. I think the main idea of this myth is altruism and self-sacrifice for other people.

When I was reading the Greek version, I was puzzled why Prometheus eventually revealed the secret to Zeus as Zeus demanded. I was not satisfied that he fulfilled the will of Zeus. In the Chechen version, Pqharmat did not fulfill Sela's will. He did not complain and did not curse anybody. He was willing to suffer. I definitely prefer the Chechen version of this myth and believe that this is the original version.

Pqharmat portrays some character traits which are highly appreciated in Chechen culture - altruism, independence, dignity, courage, and patience.

Was Stalin an Atheist?

Probably, most people are sure that Stalin was an atheist. However, this matter is not so clear.

Stalin was Georgian and his real last name was Jugashvili. The traditional religion of Georgians is Georgian Orthodox church. Actually, Orthodox churches (Greek, Russian, Georgian, and others) have the same doctrines and rituals, but independent administration. Stalin studied 4 years in the Church School in Gori (a Georgian city near South Ossetia where he was born). There he had the excellent marks in the Old Testament history, New Testament history, catechism, church service, and church singing. After the graduation, he entered the Georgian Orthodox seminary in Tbilisi where he studied 5 years. He had good marks there, but did not finish the full course of the seminary because of his interest in communist ideas.

In 1920s - 1930s, many churches were closed and many priests were sent in prisons. However, in 1940s, during the World War II, Stalin's attitude to the church was changed. He met the leaders of Russian Orthodox church. Many churches were reopened and persecutions stopped.

Stalin did not write any atheist or anti-church article. His adopted son Artyom Sergeyev who was brought up in Stalin's family, said that Stalin had never said anything negative about the church or religion. According to Sergeyev's words, Stalin was knowledgeable in the religious matters, had many religious books, and even wrote articles against destruction of churches and imprisonment of priests. His bodyguard Yuri Solovyov said that he saw Stalin praying in a church in Kremlin.

A number of priests including two patriarchs (the highest leaders of Russian Orthodox church) Sergy and Alexy I considered him to be a secret believer. After his death, Russian Orthodox church held a funeral service. This was the only time when Russian Orthodox church held a funeral service for a leader of the Soviet Union. In Russian Orthodox church, funeral services are held only for Orthodox Christians.

There are some poems that supposedly were written by Stalin. One of them was written in 1949 and is called "Novices" (as religious term):

Let us talk about eternity.
I am surely guilty in many things.
However, somebody ruled my life.
I felt that omnipresent look.

He did not let me sleep or rest.
He lived in me and was above me ruling over me.
And I, as a slave of the universal sovereignty,
Ruled the country with the strong will.

Who was my secret highest master?
What did he want ruling over me?
I, as a slave, judge, and executive,
Was everything in this poor country.

And everything was incomprehensible then:
Where did the power, will, and authority came from?
My soul, as a wheel of a machine,
Ground desires of millions.

And only then, in the spring of 1945,
He quietly whispered me,
"You have been my novice, my soldier,
And you will rest soon!"

Note: This poem was written 4 years before Stalin's death.

Acupuncture and Acupressure

Both acupuncture and acupressure are based on the concept that in human body there are some biologically active points (this is a standard term in Russian literature). Acupuncture is the method of using needle to effect these biologically active points (BAP). Acupressure is the method of using fingers to press them.

The concept of BAPs came from the oriental medicine, mainly, from Chinese traditional medicine. In Chinese medicine, the BAPs are joined into energetic meridians. There are 12 pairs of main meridians, 8 additional meridians, and 12 pairs of special meridians. However, mostly 12 pairs of main meridians and 2 additional meridians are used.

This system of meridians is used not only in acupuncture, but also in chigun and kungfu. The Chinese theory of meridians is quite complicated and involves such things as Yin and Yang, the five elements, the eight trigrams, and other concepts.

Besides Chinese tradition system, there are other systems of meridians.

In principle, there is nothing wrong with the concept of BAP. They are different from the surrounding parts of the body both tactually (they are more soft) and electrically (they have a lower electric resistance).

There are many important things that should be noted in dealing with acupuncture and acupressure. The effectiveness very much depends on the exact finding the BAPs and the area of activation. Thus, acupuncture is more effective then acupressure because acupuncture effects the smaller area. There are two opposite ways on effecting the BAPs - stimulative and sedative. They are used in different cases. It is important to know what way is needed in what case.

Both acupuncture and acupressure are used not only in China, but in many other countries. In Russia, they are accepted medical methods. They are used even by astronauts and in army. The literature on acupuncture and acupressure contains not only their use for physical sicknesses, but also for some psychological conditions and problems.

As far as I understand, TFT tapping is a method to use acupressure for cure psychological problems. This idea is not new. Chinese traditional medicine used it this way. Actually, I have no idea what TFT leaders know about Chinese traditional medicine and whether they used its principles in TFT. I do not think they invented something new. In many cases, when western people try to adapt or modernize some oriental things, the result is not so positive.

To me, the idea to use acupressure in curing psychological problems has some sense. However, I am absolutely not for TFT.

The point is that the modern science does not have answers to all the questions. If Chinese traditional medicine found something by empiric way, this does not mean that it should be rejected only because it does not fit the modern medical science.