The Space of Odos

By editor in Within Our Space March 5, 2025

When we talk about “our space”, we mean a certain domain where life is built on the principles of the Teaching. However, this space is not always the same. It has common principles but varies in scale and also in its temporal dimension. Therefore, it is important to understand what exactly is being discussed in each specific case.

It is also necessary to understand what Odos is. I said, “built on the principles of the Teaching”. This is the simplest possible formulation. So simple that, in fact, it says very little. It’s like stating that a certain person has established their own order somewhere. Yes, an order — but what kind? Or at least, what is it based on? If we clarify that they, for example, hold democratic views, support a dictatorial approach, or are staunch followers of a particular religion, it immediately sheds light on the situation. Not in detail, but in general, it becomes clear what to expect from them. The same applies here. The principles of the Teaching stem from Odos. Our space is the space of Odos. But what is Odos? Without understanding this, at least in general terms, the discussion will not be entirely meaningless — but almost.

I have already explained what Odos is in other materials, so I will now just briefly remind you. Odos is a set of principles governing human and societal life, derived from the structure of the world and the purpose of human existence. In other words, it follows from the laws of Nature and the function of humans as a part of it, as an element of the system of natural interconnections. This system operates according to specific, well-defined laws, and its existence has a clear purpose. Science studies this system. Despite its considerable achievements, science still cannot — and it is unknown when it will be able to — answer the most fundamental questions: Why does the Universe exist? What is humanity’s purpose within it, its function? What is the role of reason as such? The Teaching provides answers to these questions. It does not contradict science but complements it, adding greater depth and a moral-ethical dimension to the system of the world that science studies.

Thus, Odos is understood as life in accordance with the laws of Nature and the purpose of human existence, both as a species and as individuals. However, this is not a simplistic approach like “Let’s all retreat into the wilderness and merge with Nature”. No. It is something far greater: the ability to live and act in such a way as to be a factor that contributes to the evolution of the Universe.

In essence, the Teaching exists to teach this. However, that is not our main topic right now.

What is the space of Odos? It is not difficult to understand: it is where people live in accordance with Odos. But where is that “where”? Now we come to the core of our topic.

The space of Odos is one, but it can take different forms. If we set aside nuances and use a simple scale, we can count at least five such forms.

The first form is the individual, a single person. If they live by Odos, then the space of Odos is within them — it is them. Naturally, a question arises: Is it possible to live entirely by Odos? Can one fully embody its space? This is an important question, relevant not only to an individual but to all levels. In reality, to completely — or even almost completely — conform to Odos means reaching the highest possible point of personal development. And this would mean the end of reincarnation — there is no longer any need to return to the material world. Therefore, a person cannot be an ideal space of Odos. Upon nearing this state, they cease to reincarnate and soon transition into the world of the Spirit. Thus, when we speak of an individual as the space of Odos, we mean, first, the aspiration to live by Odos, second, the efforts made in this direction, and third, the results achieved — if they are significant and visible in the person’s life. In other words, the space is not that in which Odos has ultimately become the norm of life, but the one in which it is increasingly becoming so. Not the perfect achievement of Odos, but a successful movement toward it. This applies not only to the first form but to all the others as well.

The second form is a community of people living by Odos. Again, we are talking about movement toward this state, not an ideal condition (see explanation above). A community that, if you like, could be called a commune — in a non-religious sense. People communicate, interact, participate in each other’s lives, and do things together, striving in everything to follow Odos. They help each other change and, to some extent, change the world around them. The space of Odos exists within them and in the relationships between them. This can be two people or millions. And the internal organisation of this space can be more or less structured.

The third form is the level of organisation corresponding to the usual concept of a state — a certain territory where laws based on the worldview of the Teaching are in effect, along with various institutions, governing structures, and so on. In other words, what can be called the state of the Teaching — a state whose structure, way of life, and policies towards other states are built on Odos.

The fourth form is the global level, when the Teaching becomes the worldview of all or at least the vast majority of people. Technically, this is the same as the third form but on a much larger scale, with corresponding adjustments. Humanity, united by a single worldview that merges science and the Teaching, ceases internal conflicts, merges into one people, and becomes organised as a single world state.

The fifth form is the same united humanity, but now expanded into space, interacting with other civilisations and integrating with those that have also made Odos the foundation of their lives. I understand that this sounds like science fiction — making it seem almost unworthy of serious discussion. However, this is the vision of the Teaching; this is its concept of the future. Even if this picture is theoretical for now, it can — and must — be discussed. Because we must be ready for the future. Moreover, the future is created in the present, even today. And now we are talking about a future where a unified worldview, based on an objective understanding of reality (which is the same for everyone), and the Odos derived from it unite not only humanity. This becomes the foundation of unity, not just on a supranational level but on a supraspecies level. First, all people become a single people; then, people and other sentient beings. This commonality has a special name in the Teaching: the Eternal People. We will not delve now into why it is called that. The essence is that the space of the Eternal People is the space of Odos.

These are the main forms of the space of Odos, defined by scale and stages of development, which can be roughly arranged on a timeline. And when we speak of “our space”, how it will be organised, how life within it will be arranged — in other words, what it will be like — the image that emerges depends on which of these forms is meant. If it refers to a small community, the picture will be one way; if a state, another; if a vast cosmic community, yet another. Although Odos is one, in different conditions it “unfolds” to a greater or lesser extent, structuring its space with varying degrees of completeness, diversity, and order.

If it is not explicitly stated that the discussion concerns the inner life of an individual or the distant future of the era of interstellar contacts, then most likely, “our space” refers to the future state of the Teaching or the society of the era of a united humanity. In other words, essentially the same state of the Teaching, but on a global scale.

This is understandable. Because when our space is mentioned, the reader — whether they are a follower of the Teaching or not — immediately wonders: “If or when such times come, how will people live in this space?” That is, what will society be like, what will its laws be, what will its culture be, and so on? All of this, taken together, is easiest to imagine within the framework of a state structure. Therefore, indeed, when we speak of our space, which is also the space of Odos, we are usually referring to the future organisation of society within the state of the Teaching, whether on a global scale or not. This makes it easier to conceptualise the Teaching in its social aspect. However, even these two forms, separated by “or”, differ in some respects.

Everything said above is essentially an expanded remark emphasising that the concept of “our space” is actually more multifaceted than it might seem. Its range extends from the inner life of a single individual to the interaction of intelligent races. This should always be kept in mind. Each level within this range is significant and important; each must be examined and discussed.

Here, we are dealing with the comprehension of the present and the modelling of the future. What is our space now, and what should it become in the future, at different stages of its existence and development? This is what we are discussing here.