In the Name of the Absolute Power, Allah
The twelfth session of the 86th series of Congress 60 educational workshops, dedicated to travelers and companions, with Mr. Hossein Dezhakam serving as the master of the ceremony and the guardian, and traveler Farshad as the secretary, with the agenda “Companion Week: The Role of Female and Male Companions in the Addiction Cure of Travelers” started at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
Hello friends, I’m Hossein, a Traveler. (Audience responds: Hello, Hossein!)
I hope you are all doing well. Thank God, I’m doing well too. Today is the 3rd of Dey, 1404 (December 24, 2025). It’s twelve minutes to eleven in the morning, and we are at the Academy building in Tehran. The session was supposed to start at 10 a.m., but because there were an unusually large number of Liberations today. Amin and I have been busy issuing Liberation commands nonstop since early morning. Anyway, we finally managed to get the session started.
The following points were discussed and decided upon at the Family Group Assistants’ Council held on Saturday, 22 Azar:
1. All the rules and regulations that are currently applied to DST (orange-shawl) Guides will be exactly and fully applied to Newcomers’ (pistachio-colored shawl) Guides as well. This includes attending the park, maintaining a sports discipline, and all other related requirements. In other words, whatever is obligatory for DST Guides is obligatory in exactly the same way for Newcomers’ Guides.
2. Anyone who has not completed their 40-CD Form will not be permitted to participate in the Guide Examination. This is a natural and essential requirement; anyone who wishes to take part in the Guide Examination must have all 40 CDs fully transcribed. The same condition applies to the Guide Examination scheduled for next Shahrivar—by that time, all candidates must have their 40 CDs fully completed and ready.
Well, how’s everyone doing? All good? Thank God. Please excuse the slight delay in starting today’s session. It was because of the high volume of Liberations—people were coming from other cities, and it simply wasn’t possible to postpone or skip them. We had no choice but to proceed. We have a good week ahead: Companion Week and the Companion Celebration. I hope we can enjoy a great Companion Week together. One thing Congress 60 has always focused on is handling matters with care, precision, patience, and attention. Many issues were considered and managed thoughtfully. The level of importance, structure, and organization given to these matters in Congress 60, in this form, is something I personally don’t believe exists in any NGO worldwide. This isn’t just my view—William White, who has worked with me for over 10 to 15 years and is well-known in the United States, has also said this. His letters are available on the Congress 60 website for reference, and he confirms that such a system doesn’t exist even in the U.S.
In Congress 60, a Companion receives the same education as a Traveler who is using substances. Family members are not viewed as individuals who come solely to help the Traveler. Over time, this becomes clear, as in some cases we observe that Companions are in worse condition than the Travelers themselvesupon entering Congress 60. At the beginning, Companions often believe they are here only to help the Traveler; however, later they realize that their own condition may be far more difficult than that of the Traveler. The reason for this is quite clear. It is like a drunk driver driving on the winding Hezar-Cham Road, while a sober person is seated beside them. In reality, the sober passenger suffers much more, experiencing far greater stress, pressure, and nervous tension.
That’s why we always say: when you come to Congress 60, at first you come thinking you are here to help the Traveler. But after some time, you realize that you yourself also need education. The main point is this: if a family member wants to help a person who uses substances, they must first receive proper education. Simply saying, “I’ve come to help,” without having the necessary education does not help at all—on the contrary, it causes damage. It’s like the joke I’ve told many times: a man catches fire and is taken to the hospital. The doctor says, “Only 5 percent of his body is burned, but 95 percent of it is bruised and broken. What happened?” They answer, “It was nothing—we put out the fire with a shovel.” Sometimes, what Companions do when trying to help their Travelers is like putting out a fire with a shovel. Instead of helping, it creates a crisis and makes the situation worse.
For this reason, it was emphasized that all the education a Traveler receives must also be received by the Companion. Today, a Companion Guide has the same level of knowledge as a Traveler Guide. In fact, if a Companion Guide wanted to design a DST cure plan for substances such as heroin or opium, they would be fully capable of doing so, because they have studied and taken exams on the exact same materialss as the Traveler. The same exam questions—whether related to Worldview Teachings or Technical Teachings (i.e., the practical aspects of the cure, including substance type, dosage, and tapering according to the DST method)—are given to both Travelers and Companions.
Some Travelers in Congress 60 said, “Companions don’t use substances, so they don’t need the Technical Teachings. We need both Technical Teachings and Worldview Teachings, but for Companions, studying the Worldview should be enough.” I replied, “No. Companions must study the technical teachings as well, so they can fully understand the details of the cure program. Only then can they truly help. Only then can they become the wings for the Traveler’s flight. Without this education, not only will they fail to be wings, but they may even prevent the flight.” Because of this strict approach, the Family Group became strong. They were able to train highly capable Guides, nurture excellent pupils, and develop a shared language for effective interaction. Guides like these cannot be found anywhere else.
Now, when we look at the female Companions, we see that they are fully competent in every area and in no way less capable than the male Traveler group. They take the same exams, and in many cases the results are equal—for example, 300 Travelers may pass on the men’s side, and 300 Companions pass on the women’s side as well. In some branches, if 15 male Travelers become Guides, 14 or 15 female Companions also become Guides. This changed the situation dramatically. Today, both groups have Guides for newcomers. These Guides are trained and know exactly how to support and guide newcomers when they arrive. To preserve this structure and protect the family unit, a clear set of rules was established in Congress 60, specifically to protect the family structure. Male Traveler Guides must have no direct contact with Companions, and in general, male Travelers should have no interaction with Companions. They should not visit one another’s homes or engage in personal socializing. These boundaries exist to safeguard the dignity and sanctity of the family. Without such limits, personal relationships can form, leading to rumors, misunderstandings, and numerous problems.
We tried to strengthen the family, and in Congress 60, in order to keep relationships healthy and strong, we set clear boundaries. Within Congress 60—whether Travelers or Companions—there should be no family-style socializing with one another, no financial dealings, and no business partnerships. No economic activities should be done together, because they lead to problems. We said that Congress 60 is like an island for all of us—an island where we come only to get well, without any financial exchanges with anyone. Some people think that if we are friends, we should also have financial dealings or become business partners. No—this is like poison; it does more harm than good.
If we want relationships to remain healthy, friendships to endure, and mutual respect to be preserved, it is better not to have financial dealings with one another. As Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an (Surah Al-Ghashiyah, 88:10–11), and in another verse, (Surah Al-Waqi‘ah, 56:25–26), meaning that in the highest gardens of Paradise no idle or sinful speech is heard, only words of peace. We used this concept as a metaphor in Congress 60 and said that Congress should be a place free from idle talk, where interactions are based on peace, respect, and dignity. When financial relationships enter this space, attention shifts to money matters and many problems arise. But by observing these simple yet important principles we were able to preserve Congress 60 and protect the dignity of the Companions, creating a culture in which all male Travelers respect female Companions. The presence of female Companions has been extremely valuable, because when men are in an environment where women are present, they naturally learn greater courtesy and refinement. As a result the sessions and groups become calmer, more respectful, and far more constructive.
The members of the Congress 60 Family Group are in a completely safe and fully respected environment. They have the ability to bring families together and help prevent their breakdown. In this setting, they can truly become “wings for flight”—able to support and assist effectively. As Travelers, during our period of addiction, we were not able to serve our families as we should have. I’m not saying we were entirely destructive—but even if we were good fathers, brothers, or husbands, we lacked the necessary awareness. Our understanding and insight were limited because we were under the influence of substances.
I’ve told this story many times. At the time I was using substances, my son Amin was in seventh, eighth, or maybe ninth grade—I truly don’t remember. I asked him, “What grade are you in?” When he answered, I was honestly taken aback, feeling both surprised and impressed. I didn’t even know what grade my own son was in, despite the fact that I sometimes drove him to school. The harm caused by substance use isn’t limited to visible destruction like breaking doors or windows—that part is obvious. What’s more important is that even when everything seems “okay,” there are still hidden damages and fundamental shortcomings. And this is where we have to act: we need to be able to make up for it and help our families. So, what needs to be done? We need to compensate, to make up for what was missed, and to support the family. That is why we observe Companion Week—to appreciate Companions in their own sessions, and to give them gifts. Because true appreciation is expressed not only in the heart and in words, but also through action. Simply saying “thank you” is not enough—we must both say it and show it. Unlike Men’s Day, when women often give socks as gifts, within Congress 60, gifts are limited to gold, money, or currency (like dollars or euros). For example, gold can take the form of coins, earrings, or necklaces. You choose one of these three, and it’s not something you should decide at the last minute—you need to plan ahead. Companion Week happens once a year in Congress 60, so it’s important to be prepared.
So, this week we celebrate Companion Week. However, according to the plan, there will be no live music. We have to take the current conditions into account—the situation is not such that allows us to do certain things, and we must be considerate and observe many factors.
We won’t have extensive decorations. A small, simple decoration is fine, but anything extravagant or expensive is not allowed. A modest amount is perfectly acceptable. As for expenses, I don’t remember the exact number—maybe 30,000 or 35,000 toman per person—but you can check with accounting for the precise figure. Congress 60 sets a per-person allowance, currently around 35,000 toman. This could be used for something like fruit—maybe a quarter of an orange or a piece of watermelon per person (audience laughs). Let’s try to stay organized and clean. When you come to the sessions, wear clean clothes and help make this week a really good one. Everyone in the group should do their best. And for the female Companions, remember this: yes, you should receive education and work on your own growth, but always keep it in balance. Don’t focus so much on increasing your knowledge that your family is left behind—that’s risky and a warning sign. Take care of your family first, protect your children, manage your own responsibilities, and then turn to other matters.
I feel such joy when I come to Taleghani Park and watch the female Companions enjoying sports in different groups—volleyball, badminton, darts—dressed in bright, coordinated clothes.They get up early in the morning, sometimes coming from other cities, to participate in these activities. In the past, they might have slept until noon, argued, quarreled, or been busy with chores like cooking and cleaning. Now, they are able to manage their family responsibilities, engage in sports, and take part in social and collaborative activities. This shows how much the families have progressed and reached the necessary levels. Many have started their studies, continue learning, and are achieving academic milestones one by one. This is truly wonderful.
In any case, I hope we have a very good and productive week. God guided us toward creating a strong women’s Companion Group. On the first day, we didn’t have any preplanned program. I remember the early days on Mahdizadeh Street, near Enqelab Square—house number 21 or 25, I’m not exactly sure. We were given a room once or twice a week, and that’s where we held our sessions. When Travelers came, sometimes their family members came along too. At first, we didn’t allow them inside, so they stayed outside the door. Sometimes 20 or 30 women and children would wait outside while we ran the session, much like parents waiting outside a kindergarten classroom. Eventually, it got crowded, the street was blocked, and problems started to arise. So, we decided to let them in. We gave them a room where they could sit, but then they became idle, talked among themselves, and caused new issues inside the room.
We asked ourselves, “What should we do?”. We decided to assign a monitor to oversee them. In the end, we concluded that we should hold sessions for them, just as we do for the men’s group. At first, the idea was simply to keep them occupied and out of trouble (audience laughs), but, thankfully, God willed it to work beautifully, and it gradually grew and spread. We realized that the only thing we could do was run proper sessions for them—so who should lead them? We decided to follow the same structure used in the Travelers’ sessions, with a guardian, a secretary, and an instructor, along with the same lessons and discussions. God gradually showed us the way, step by step. On this day, I sincerely thank my Companions—they supported me tremendously. Each of them contributed significantly to the establishment and running of Congress 60, and they continue to provide invaluable support even today.
On the first day, Mrs. Annie, the first Companion to join Congress 60, of course, holds a very special place. Even as the only Companion at the time, she handled everything very well. She was never sharp or harsh. Her calm and gentle nature kept the group calm and balanced, even when some family members arrived upset or agitated. She established a very effective structure and over time, others gradually took on their own responsibilities in different areas.
Amin provided significant support to me, especially in teaching worldview. He began teaching, then planned and organized the camps—including activities like tree planting—and worked extensively with the worldview booklets, Parts One and Two. He contributed in many other areas as well. My daughters, Annie and Shani, also played major roles. Annie took responsibility for the female Companion group, while Shani worked in multiple areas. She even created the first Congress 60 theatrical production, a highly impactful performance. Today, she manages all the Instagram news and updates, overseeing reports on events and activities. Additionally, she has translated all 14 Valleys—the steps of the Congress 60 educational program—from Persian into English using artificial intelligence. All 14 Valleys are now fully translated and will soon be shared worldwide.
In any case, I also had other Companions, Tooti and Parsana, who, along with Reza, made important contributions in their roles. I sincerely thank them and hope they will continue supporting me as we carry out this work together as a family and guide Congress 60. Fortunately, they are now active in various areas, they love Congress 60, and it feels as though we are all moving in the same direction. God willing, may He help us advance this work as far as we can.
Fortunately, Congress 60 is in a very good and stable condition. There have been some issues regarding Opium Tincture (OT), but these problems exist at a national level, not just within Congress 60. However, this does not cause any worry or difficulty for us. While obtaining OT might be challenging for others, it is not a problem for us. Back when we were using substances, over the past 10, 15, or 20 years, we were able to find heroin, opium, hashish, and methamphetamine—even when they were trafficked or hard to get. Now, we can obtain OT without any concern. Even if it were hidden under a rock, we would be able to find it. OT is not something that can block our progress or stop our work, and it will not prevent the Travelers from completing their journeys. God willing, everything will continue smoothly and successfully.
Thank you all for paying attention to my words. I am truly grateful—thank you very much. (audience applause)
Mr. Hossein Dezhakam: Okay, my dear Companions are right here with us. Please come up one by one—or would you prefer to speak from where you’re sitting, Mrs. Annie? Pass the microphone to Mrs. Annie, please. No need to come up if it’s difficult to move. Where’s the microphone? Please hand it over. Let each of you speak for a few minutes. Go ahead, Mrs. Annie… keep it really short, dear Annie.
Hello friends, I’m Annie, a Companion.
At the beginning, we didn’t know what our role was. We came in and observed, and move in the same direction that Mr. Dezhakam was guiding Congress 60. When we began helping, it showed others that it wasn’t pointless—that everyone here has a responsibility and a role to fulfill. So, we started doing useful and constructive work. Since everyone wanted to help their own Traveler, we began by supporting ours, and gradually others joined in as well. They saw that our support was not in vain, and that it encouraged more Companions to step forward and help their Travelers. Little by little, more people became involved. I’m happy that we took the initiative ourselves and were able to encourage other friends to do the same.
Thank you for listening. Thanks so much
Mr. Hossein Dezhakam: Thank you so much. Amin, please come up—just for a minute, share a few words.
Hello friends, I’m Amin, a Companion.
Today, it feels appropriate for me to say I am a Companion. Depending on the situation, I change my title—sometimes I’m a Traveler, sometimes a Companion (audience laughs). Because when you’re the Companion, you receive a gift—but when you’re the Traveler, you’re the one who has to give the gift. It’s just like Daughter’s Day: on Son’s Day, they don’t give gifts, but on Daughter’s Day, they do (audience laughs).
Anyway, I’m really happy that we’re having this celebration, and I’m especially happy that Mrs. Annie, my mother, is here. I also want to thank Shani, as well as Tooti and Parsana. I congratulate all the Companions, my father, and everyone here—and I thank God for allowing us to come to Congress 60, to serve, to be present, and to truly connect with our Travelers. It was really a huge event in our lives.
If I want to put it very briefly, my motivation to help in Congress 60 really began after Mr. Dezhakam was released and spent some time at home before founding Congress 60. Once Congress was established, we hardly saw him at all anymore. His phone was always ringing, and he was constantly busy. When I started coming to Congress myself, I struggled emotionally at first. I couldn’t really connect with the members, because everyone paid attention to Mr. Dezhakam, and I felt like I wasn’t noticed at all. Honestly, that was very hard for me. I tried many times to pull him back toward our side, but I realized it just wasn’t possible. So, I said to myself, “Alright, then I’ll go to their side.” Little by little, I joined in, blended in with the members of Congress, and became part of the group.
Once that connection was formed, I found my own role, and this continued until I realized how much being in Congress 60 as a Companion helped both me and my family, and how many of my own knots it untied.
A Companion, if they truly have a spirit of sacrifice and selflessness, can make a great contribution to their family and, at the same time, grow personally. But if they focus only on themselves and their own growth, it won’t work.
Thank you.
Mr. Hossein Dezhakam: Come on, Shani—keep it short. Thank you.
Hello friends, I’m Shani, a Companion.
I just arrived back from a trip and came straight here in my travel clothes—I didn’t have time to change. Coincidentally, my outfit even matched Ms. Annie’s colors. I’d like to congratulate all our dear and hardworking Companions on this special week. First of all, congratulations to my mom, then to dear Amin, my older brother, and my sister Annie.
I think what I really want to say here is this: when we talk about growth—especially the growth of female Companions—our growth becomes real and genuine only when we truly understand and live our role: first as a woman, then as a daughter, then as a mother, and then as a wife. If we don’t truly experience and embrace this essence, nothing really happens.
During these years that I’ve been in this family and on this path, I was very impulsive at times—very emotional, very intense in how I spoke, often giving instructions and acting forcefully. But as time passed, I realized that the more easily I forgive and the more I let things go, the more I was able to truly feel that love my father spoke about, and the respect I personally witnessed between my parents, even amid all the challenges.
I hope God blesses the love in our hearts, so that all of us can truly experience this knowledge of loving that exists in Congress 60.
Thank you.
Mr. Hossein Dezhakam: Well, Tooti, you come too—are you staying there, or will you come here? Of course, she’s a candidate for the Jones’s Legion (Healthy Nutrition Legion), but she hasn’t officially joined yet.
Hello friends, I’m Tooti, a Companion.
Well, Mr. Dezhakam already let the secret out. I’m very happy to be here with all of you. Congress 60 has been established for many years, and seeing it grow richer, more vibrant, and more energetic every day—both up close and from afar—truly brings me great joy. I congratulate all of you, especially my own loved ones, who from the very beginning, with their patience, kindness, and generosity, helped establish Congress 60 and create the family group. This has strengthened the foundation of the family every day. I’m very happy to be here. Congratulations to all of you, and I wish you continued stability and success.
Mr. Hossein Dezhakam: Tooti is Mrs. Annie’s younger sister and has been with us since childhood. Now Parsana (Tooti’s daughter) is also joining in. They are all quite “heavyweights”, but they are gradually getting involved. Reza has joined Jones’s Legion, thank God, and has lost around 14–15 kilos—he had about 70–80 kilos of extra weight. The others are slowly getting involved as well. As the saying goes, “The potter drinks from the broken jug”—and this is a perfect example. Come on, Parsana.
Hello friends, I’m Parsana, a Companion. I warmly congratulate everyone on Companion Week, and I hope you all receive some wonderful gifts.
Closing Remarks by Mr. Hossein Dezhakam:
Of course, when we talk about Companions, there are two groups: female Companions and male Companions. We also have male Companions, and Amin reminded me that I forgot to mention this—they are becoming more active as well. Recently, Amin has been trying hard to help expand their activities. For example, they used to have only one room in Simorgh, but now we have a small office of about 70–80 square meters in Malayeri-Pour Street, which we have temporarily dedicated to the male Companion group. My point is that we should show appreciation to the male Companions who are active in Congress 60, just as we do for the female Companions. Female Companions have become very strong and capable, and we hope that in the future we will also have strong and capable male Companions. Recently, they have started activities in all branches, and in some branches, they even have their own groups and special classes.
If there’s anything else about this matter, Amin, you can speak up and share it. Is that enough? Very well.
Who among the male Companions is here today? Very good. I hope you will also be recognized and receive gifts—don’t just be overlooked and leave.
Travelers, whether your Companion is female or male, you should support both groups fully.
Transcribed by: Companion Taraneh, Eram branch of Congress 60, Karaj, Iran
Translated by: Companion Samira, Legion 18, Sheikhbahaei branch of Congress 60, Isfahan, Iran
2026/01/06
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Revised by: Companion Marjan
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