Many of us remember the famous phrase of Jesus from the Gospels, that it is impossible to serve both, God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24). Two thousand years later, this phrase of Jesus has been proved as an absolute truth.

But what if a person becomes rich without violating the moral law, and without making wealth the single purpose of his life? The spiritual quest of such a person may become successful, and his activities in the world will not be an obstacle on his pathway to God.

Isaac Tigrett, an American millionaire and philanthropist is famous for creating the Hard Rock Cafe chain in the seventies. Thank to him, this chain of cafes soon became spread all over the world. Visitors could come into these cafes at any time of day, and listen to the records of the most popular stars of the time, in the meantime enjoying a decent and inexpensive meal. These cafes always attracted the public by their friendly and easy-going atmosphere. This business turned out to be a success and brought huge profit to Isaac.

Nevertheless, ever since starting his business, Isaac followed a certain set of moral principles. Remembering this period of his life, he claims that he conducted his activities by always listening to his inner voice. This was the voice of his conscience. It looks very simple on the surface: "Tell the truth, do the right things, don't hurt anybody, treat people with love." All of these principles were written out in the Vedas, the earliest books of humanity. Later, they were preached by the founders of all world religions. But how many people are actually following these rules in our day and age?

Isaac Tigrett was born in a small town of Jackson, Tennessee, in a well-to-do family. His family was part of a local Baptist congregation for five generations. Ever since childhood, he was interested in matters of religion and spiritual things. Years went by, but he still could not find the answers.

Finally, his spiritual quest brought him to India. In the 1970s many westerners followed the example of the Beatles. Actors and singers, intelligentsia and the wealthy youth, all those who could not find satisfaction in the material values of the society went to India. Isaac admits that he found his spiritual teacher and the meaning of life in India. His teacher was a famous spiritual leader of our time Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. In reality, nothing was quite so simple. Sathya Sai Baba did not pay any attention to him, and didn't even talk to him for fifteen years, though Isaac believed in him right away.

After all this time, the Teacher received Isaac for a personal conversation, and asked him, "Do you have any question?" He replied, "Yes, sir, I do. Why was I born into a family which did not have love, but where was death?" The Teacher's answer was, "Because your heart needed to be softened." And only then Isaac realized that though he had this baggage full of horrors on his back, this was not his curse. Many people had similar life experiences to his. The Teacher's answer helped him to realize that it was not a curse, but a blessing in disguise.

Everything Isaac went through made him the person he is today. It enabled him to love every person and see the Divine in them. He is much calmer now about the life's circumstances. Pain and joy, success and defeat helped him to attain inner knowledge. He knows that he has a duty, an obligation to all kinds of people and relationships in his life. This would probably never happen if he spent all these years in solitude, somewhere in a cave in India.

Isaac realized that the fifteen years during which the Guru ignored him were not wasted. His selfishness waned during these years, and it was a miraculous gift to him. During these years he read the Scriptures of different times and religions, the New Testament, the Quran, the Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, as well as the books written by the illumined authors, such as Ramakrishna, Yogananda, and other great teachers. Living in the world of vanity, and participating in its activities Isaac Tigrett went on his own "inner journey." Now he thinks those years were the most important for his edification. He continued to read and learn, and he discovered a formless nature of the Higher Consciousness, or God, who is EVERYTHING and is in EVERYTHING.

By this time Isaac could afford to leave his business and devote himself to the sacrificial service to others. Soon he found an opportunity to do so. A plan was revealed to build a state of the art hospital in the town of Puttaparthi in southern India, where the Teacher lived. Isaac took an active part in the construction of the hospital, and donated the funds necessary for the project. He invited one of the best architects in the world, Dr. Critchlow from the Prince of Wales London School of Architecture. He was a specialist in sacral geometry and architecture. A year later, the construction of this wonderful hospital was finished. All the people from the surrounding areas were able to receive free medical aid there. This hospital still functions there today, and people from everywhere can get free medical assistance there.

What used to be a little village in southern India is now a fair size modern town. It has all the potential to become the City of the Future. Apart from its free medical services, the town is famous for its schools where the education is also free, and is based on a unique system. The system involves not only taking the usual classes, but also going through moral and spiritual exercises.

Some of the readers may think that this looks like some kind of a fairy tale. Every year this wonderful town attracts many pilgrims from different countries, including Russia. Millions of spiritual seekers worldwide also consider Sathya Sai Baba as their spiritual mentor. A year ago the Teacher abandoned his physical body, but he left his teaching for us, which absorbed all the best from the spiritual heritage of the past. Sathya Sai Baba left another wonderful gift to humanity. Isaac and other like minded people started working on making the teacher's plans come true.

A City of the Future was started to be built in the high mountains of southern India. Its name is Mystic Inn of the Seventh Ray. According to the esoteric teachings, the seventh ray of violet color is a stream of Divine Energy. It embodies such qualities as mercy, freedom from attachment to the things of the world, forgiveness, and spiritual evolution. The future belongs to those who will be able to develop these qualities in themselves.

We all live in difficult times. The ancient prophesies and scientific researches testify that our civilization has come to a certain boundary. The Mayan calendar has come to an end, and people have different interpretations of what this means. The pessimists say that 2012 marks the end of the world. However, we can interpret it as a beginning of a new epoch, the Age of Aquarius, or the Golden Age. The scientists forecasted the shift in the earth's poles. This event must be accompanied with the shift in people's consciousness.

Isaac Tigrett is convinced that we live in the best of times. We will be witnesses and participants of the greatest transformation of consciousness the world could never imagine. The era of hatred, wrath, fear, envy, and hostility, which we see all around us today, will end. Our consciousness will change as much as we want it to be changed. The New Era is coming.

According to Isaac, the Golden Age will be a huge shift in people's consciousness, which will destroy the boundaries of your own "self", and will lead to a feeling of oneness with everything around. This will be the Age of Love and Peace, when people's consciousness will unite with the universal Consciousness of God.

As of now, the blueprint of the new city is already done. More than thirty ancient sciences and teachings left for us by the great teachers of the past will be taught there. The creator of this project is Dr. Critchlow, the same architect who designed the hospital in Puttaparthi. The construction site is ready. The city will be built when people will reach such a state where they can actually use it. They will need it to undertake the "inner journey", which is the Golden Age.

By Yelena Saina.

A film about this City of the Future was put online, on the website www.mysticinnofthe7thray.org. You can see the blueprints and drawings of the buildings made by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba himself.

You can see various buildings and infrastructure sites like the energy saving objects, research labs, administrative buildings, hospitality centers, a museum, a library, and a parking lot.

The local electrical station is a massive plant, which uses one of the five natural elements to create an autonomous source of energy. With the help of the new nanotechnology, the gravity force of the falling water will create a constant stream of energy to satisfy the needs of the entire center. The planned center for the environment will have eco labs staffed with eco architects and engineers. They will provide environmentally friendly type of construction work and consultations for eco projects all over the world, starting from houses all the way to the industrial plants and entire cities.

The 300 acre botanical garden with long and wide alleys is a key element of the center. The rare and exotic kinds of trees, plants and flowers will be present there. They will be brought here from different parts of the world, along with the native nature spirits present in those plants. The botanical garden will become an international heritage site, and a place where everyone can come and tour.

The organizers expect the city to have more than a million visitors annually, when it is built. This oasis of peace will have additional places of interest for visitors, such as museums, exhibition halls, and multicultural performance venues. These architectural masterpieces of the Mystic Inn of the Seventh Ray will help to change one's consciousness and attain peace of mind.

One of the elements of the mystical garden is a 108 feet tall Butterfly House. It will serve as a hot house for growing trees and plants of the Mystic Inn. The visitors will be able to tour this exotic greenhouse with a special tour guide. They will be able to see some of the most unique plants and flowers, and even buy some of them.

Since the Mystic Inn is going to be open every day till 10 pm, the entire garden will be lit with special devices, such as "The Dancing Waters and Light Show" in front of the Butterfly House.

The walkways are spread all over the botanical garden, and they all lead to the local teaching and healing centers. There is the Temple of Understanding, conference hall, and a community hall. The school of sacred geometry is also located there. Dr. Keith Critchlow, a famous professor of sacred geometry, is going to create a library for this center. The core of the eighteen or so educational venues of the Mystic Inn will be the School of Ayurvedic Studies, the School of Chinese Medicine, research and tech labs, the teaching centers for Taichi, Feng Shui, and Reiki.

The Mystic Inn is a virtual vault of knowledge. It has a multi-media center and an online library, accessible by everyone in the world who can get on the internet. The library is supposed to help everyone to strengthen their physical and mental health, and attain inner peace.

The amphitheater of the Mystic Inn is an exact duplication of the amphitheater in Epicurus, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was built in 500 BC, and is still considered the most acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world.

Cultural events will take place every morning and every evening, including music and dancing of some of the leading performers of the world. Just like the mystic towers, the waterfalls on each side of the amphitheater will provide electricity for the amphitheater with the help of nanotechnology. Along with the Butterfly House, the amphitheater will present an awesome view at night.

All of the events of the Mystic Inn will be broadcasted throughout the world out of the multi-media center. All the cultural programs will be recorded and stored in the virtual library.

Next is the Temple of Sacred Water. This metaphysical construction made of marble was designed under the direct instructions of the Teacher. Clean water will be pumped all the way to the crescent of the temple's dome. From there it will fall on a massive crystal, flowing farther down into the star pool. The visitors to the Mystic Inn will be able to drink water out of 108 lotus shaped drinking fountains, located along the edges of the pool. The water will not only be available to the visitors. It will also be delivered to the entire world. The Teacher said, "Consider water to be blessed."

Hope is like an eternal spring. Everyone who will believe that such a city can be created will see it come true, and may even live in this city.

This unique project is a wonderful gift to all humanity. It already caught the attention of people from different countries, and they are ready to take their part in fulfilling this dream.

Everyone of us can take part in the creation of this gift of Peace and Hope for the future generations and the coming new age.

Interview with Ms. Hurriyet Ersoy, an advisor to the Turkish government, taken by the magazine's editor-in-chief in February of 2012 in Istanbul, in Turkish and Karachay-Balkar languages.

Miss Hurriyet, it's hard for me to interview you in order to introduce you to the international audience. You are active in different things, and I didn't have a chance to talk to you lately. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I graduated from the Department of Economics at the Hacettepe University. Later, I received another degree from the University of Istanbul. I worked at the University of Marseille, in the areas of modernization of transportation, and the economy. After that, I worked in the ministry of transportation of Turkey.

After traveling around the Caucasus, I published a series of articles, under the title, 'A Girl Named Hurriyet Dreams about the Caucasus'. Turkiye newspaper published these articles, ten issues in a row, as part of their publications on the republics of the North Caucasus. After these materials were published, the government contacted me and told me they need to hire a specialist who knows the Caucasus region, and can speak the local languages. They asked me if I wanted to work for them. My response was that I was willing to work for them, even for free. I spent the next year traveling between Istanbul and Ankara. After that, the government required me to devote my full time to that job. At that time, the Prime Minister of Turkey was Suleyman Demirel. In 1991, he appointed me as his personal advisor. A year later, Suleyman Demirel became president of Turkey. He only took two persons with him to his new office, the former Minister of Culture Namik Kemal Zeybek, and me. Both of us were working on the issues related to the Turkic world. I was working on a diplomatic level, arranging the inter-governmental meetings with the autonomous republics of the Russian Federation. I also worked on bringing the students from those republics to study in the Turkish universities, and on building trade relations. My work expanded beyond the Caucasus, to Central Asia. All of this was happening at the time when the former Soviet Union republics declared their independence.

One of the most notable projects I was part of at the time, was the creation of a joint Turkish-Kazakh university, named after Hodja Ahmet Yessevi. The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, an ethnic Russian, was the initiator of this project. I was the president of the board of trustees of that university. My job was also to propagate the university on the international level. Ten years later, we created a foundation using our own money. The foundation owned two companies involved in construction and tourism business. I was the president of the tourist company, and had a casting vote in the construction company. We worked on the construction of the president's office, a hospital, and a campus for thirty thousand students. I was the overseer of all of these works. The new university accepted students from the entire Turkic-speaking world. We had students from Moldova, the Caucasus, Kosovo (former Yugoslavia), from many different countries. We continued to advertise the university widely, we taught students, and we even gave them stipends and scholarships. The university continues its work today.

After that, we created the Manas University in Kyrgyzstan. This university became a model for the entire region. I worked as a coordinator for this international university.

At the same time, I also continued to work for the Turkish government, in the president's office. I dealt with the economical and cultural issues related to the Turkic-speaking world.

Parallel to these tasks, I was in charge of Ahmet Yessevi Foundation in Ankara. In 2003 I also organized Karachay-Balkar Cultural Society in Ankara, of which I am still the chairwoman today.

In 1992 we organized Kazakhstan-Turkey Friendship Association. I continue to be in charge of this association as well. You must understand that all of these projects are social in nature.

Periodically, we also organize business meetings. Recently, I visited Astana, where I was invited to open a Turkish Museum in the famous pyramid- looking building in Kazakhstan's capital city.

From there, I went to the Hodja Ahmet Yessevi University, where I was awarded a golden bowl in recognition of my work.
The construction company that belongs to our foundation is called AYTAC. Our company constructed an entire campus in the city of Turkestan, Kazakhstan. We were also involved in a very important social work there. We paid for the complex medical operations for the young people who could not afford them. We also built kindergartens. We used the money our company earned, to pay stipends and scholarships for many students. We did all of this social work of our own free will. I can't even remember everything we did. We helped to restore ancient buildings, mausoleums, minarets, etc. We helped the newlyweds financially, to start their new life.

Now I am back to being an advisor to the government, and I work on the same issues. I have become very interested in political work, lately. This is why I participated in the parliamentary elections with the Justice and Development Party of Turkey. I was not elected, not this time. Now I work as a government advisor, and oversee the projects I mentioned above.

You are also connected with the subject of Mevlana (Jalaluddin Rumi), am I right?

Yes, I also support the international Mevlana Foundation.

Is this part of your official duties?

No, this is my personal desire to serve the memory of Mevlana, who was a true saint.

This is so beautiful! Are you attracted to humanism?

Humanist ideas are very dear to me. I am very interested in Mevlana's heritage, because I feel a personal closeness to him and his works.

Miss Hurriyet, what can you tell us about your family's background?

My mother is an ethnic Karachay. Her father is from the Kochkharov clan, and her mother is from the Tekeyev clan. My father's clan is Marshanov, on his mother's side he is related to the Batchayevs and the Semenovs. My paternal grandfather, Khadzhi-Ismail, came to Turkey with an assumed name of Marshanuk. In the Caucasus, you have the Marshankulov clan, both in Karachay and in Nalchik. We stay in touch with them.

Did you parents manage to see the Caucasus yet?

No, they didn't. My grandparents emigrated from the Caucasus to Turkey. We are the third generation here, already.
However, my brothers visited the Caucasus after I went there.

Miss Hurriyet, what does the expression "purity of the heart" mean to you?

To me it means a positive, kind, and sensitive person, with clean thoughts and intentions.

What is the most exciting memory of your childhood?

It was the time when I lived with my parents, brothers and sisters, when my father was still alive. It was a very different life back then.

Do you want to write a book?

Yes, I do. I just don't have enough self-discipline to write a whole book. But I do make notes.

What would you write about if you chose to write a book?

I would write about finding my own personhood, after I visited the Caucasus for the first time in 1989.

That was when you and I first met, wasn't it?

Yes, it was. Before that trip, I was trying to find something that would fill my inner void. Only when I came back to Turkey from the Caucasus, did I realize that my void was filled. God gives a certain task to every person. I understood that God wanted me to get involved. I asked God to show me how I can help. It happened so fast, as if He really heard my prayers and responded. I got a job directly related to the task. No matter what part of the world I end up in, I try to help my Karachay-Balkar nation, all the peoples of the Caucasus, and the Turkic-speaking world. With the help of my Karachay-Balkar language skills, I can communicate with the 250 million Turkic-speaking peoples, around the world. I draw my strength from these communications.

This is so great! As I understand, Turkey's desire is to develop itself, help others, and to live peacefully with its neighbors. Am I right? Do the other nations understand Turkey's intentions?

As the founder of modern Turkey, Ataturk's main desire was to have peace in our land and peace in the entire world. Turkey wants to conduct this policy. I don't know whether the other nations understand Turkey's intentions correctly. Turkey's position is this: it does not want to have conflicts with any country. Turkey wants peace and quiet in the whole world.

Economic relations between Turkey and Russia continue to develop. But we want these relations to develop in the other spheres, not just in trade. How do you view these relations in the future perspective? What will this mean for both of our countries and for the world?

Turkey and Russia maintain warm and friendly relations. Both countries must strive to keep things that way. By doing so, both of our countries will have a huge influence on the affairs in the region, in all of Eurasia, and in the entire world. Our countries must be friends with each other, just like they are now. I like Putin's current policy toward Turkey. Strong economic ties bring about mutual friendship and other positive things. I want these ties to get stronger in the future. Now our countries cancelled visa requirements for short term visits. We have a free flow of people between our countries. If we will continue to develop our relations in a positive way, it will ensure our future peaceful cooperation and friendship. When the economy is doing well, long term peace follows. Good economy means good stewardship of your own land. If both of our countries will be strong and will like each other, the other countries will start to treat us in the same way.

Miss Hurriyet, do you believe that humanity has a future?

Of course, I do. God has enough goodness for everyone. There are a lot of good people out there. If the positive and intelligent people will show the world their good example of how to live, then goodness and sensibility will prevail. If the good people will be at least as organized and as bold as the bad people, then our planet will have a bright future ahead. I believe that ultimately, good people will prevail.

What was the philosophy of Khodja Ahmet Yessevi? You named the International Turkic University after him, as well as several cultural and charitable organizations. We know that he wrote his spiritual poems in Turkic. Today, many people revere him, considering him a symbol of cultural tolerance.

His philosophy was to love man. He was against any kind of mistreatment of fellow human beings. He said that God loves him who speaks softly and gently. Ahmet Yessevi preached against the abuse of any human being, whether Christian, Muslim, or whoever. In his writings he said, "Do not make other people suffer. Love the fellow man. Remember that every person is created by God. Love all of God's creation." This was his message to people.

Humanity is undergoing a very deep and serious political, economical, and social crisis. I consider this as a reflection of the global spiritual crisis. We cannot overcome these crises without first dealing with the root problem. What would you say to the modern human being in regards to the current situation in the world?

People must learn how to love each other and think of each other in a positive way. People must learn a more humane way of doing things. Knowledge is precious. We all have to share knowledge with each other. Not to share this knowledge is a sin. If people will uphold good and noble principles, if they will be kind to each other, then such principles will rule our lives. Selfish and egotistic humanity will vanish. The society will be freed of such a burden. Everything will work out if there will be cooperation and mutual respect and love. Love is the foundation of all things. I am talking about the divine love which penetrates the human heart. If people will look at each other from this angle, then there will be peace on earth, friendship, and good relations between countries.

Would you like to say a few words about our magazine, since you are already familiar with its objective?

You have started a journey with good and pure intentions. May God help you to reach your goals. The intent to start something new means that you are already half way there.

There is a similar Sumerian proverb to that effect.

If you thought of doing something today, you will start doing it tomorrow. If you started a journey with pure motives, your enterprise will be successful. You have pure motives. You have a wholehearted desire to serve the humanity. This makes me very happy. Congratulations on the new beginning! We will help you in any way we can. I hope, others will help you as well. This will be like a snowball effect. When you start rolling the snowball down the hill, it keeps growing until it turns into a huge ball. In the same way, your project will attract the surrounding world. It will keep growing and improving. I look at this new magazine with a positive attitude. I like it. May God help you to realize all of your goals!

Thank you very much! We are very grateful to you.