From 2700+ GM to a world of spiritual living - GM Viktor Laznicka

[@ianmccall1789]

“what does a day in your life look like now” “i don’t know, now it’s sunny, nice” this guy gets it

[@hoolerboris]

Also, he's in Prague, so that's actually not such a common occasion ;)

[@adamshehata6466]

Bro went from playing chess at 2700 to living life at 2800.

[@ritikd225]

Best comment.

[@maxkho00]

Nah. He just learnt to dissociate from his ego. That's helpful when your ego restricts your perception and makes you blind to greater sources of meaning in your life ─ like in Viktor's case ─ but is utterly useless* when there is no meaning in your life in the first place. I can dissociate from my ego at will just like Viktor, but I'm more depressed than I ever was. A true "2800 at life" knows how both to attenuate their ego to _broaden_ their perception and how to boost their ego to _deepen_ their perception; to leverage their ego-free state to appreciate _existing_ frameworks of meaning, and to exploit their ego's intensity to uncover _new_ structures of meaning; and, of course, to use all these skills appropriately. To live a truly fulfilling life, one needs ALL of these five skills. I have all of them except the last two, and as you can see, it counts for nothing. I don't know much about Victor, but given that he couldn't find much use out of Christianity, I doubt that his ability to uncover new structures of meaning is that great. My hypothesis is that he simply got lucky that his ego-boosting ability was the only overdeveloped one, so learning ego attenuation was enough to solve his problems. I wasn't so lucky, as all 3 of my skills are overdeveloped. *Actually worse than useless: looking broad often reveals the underlying structure behind all of the perceived breadth, which makes the perceived breadth seem superficial and therefore less meaningful; e.g. if you play enough TicTacToe games, you learn how the game works, and every TicTacToe game starts feeling the same. So if the rate at which you trace meaning to underlying structures exceeds the rate at which you experience new meaning, the amount of meaning in your life will steadily decrease.

[@spiritual_audiobooks]

Best interview ever by Chessbase India. Viktor Laznicka has gone a beautiful way and he radiates a wonderful presence 🙏♥

[@spiritual_audiobooks]

Now I have already read a few passages in Viktors Book "From hell of mind to paradise of heart" and I can highly recommend it.

[@advaitavedanta6617]

❤️I wanted to say the same🌅The best chess interview ever!🙏🙏🙏

[@peterrose8944]

Yes it is so wonderful to feel his transformation

[@shaner3723]

What a great guy, he is using peace. Journalist is top dog too, he asks intelligent questions and lets guest speak . Great to watch and listen. TOP !!!

[@Aimabeltje]

life tried to checkmate him, he sacked his chess career and won

[@i.g.l.z.9215]

Well put 🥰

[@frendupandey3759]

One of the best interviews ever …thank u chessbase and sagar

[@yotoober1]

As someone who is very spiritual myself, I greatly applaud what Viktor has d one and continues to do. ☯️ God bless

[@ralphderkapitaen9875]

chess is stressful...and competitive chess must drive a man's mind crazy, with a lot of pressure from every angle. good for Viktor that he recognized the root cause and fixed it soon enough!

[@jimmyballer7047]

When there's space between 'you' and thought, thought becomes an object... that can be handled (or discarded) like any other object. This interview is a rare gift from the internet, and worth watching multiple times.

[@waldemarheart2463]

What a wholesome conversation and what a great interviewer, really listening and asking really good questions to get a picture of where he is right now!

[@adamshehata6466]

I am having such a rough day - hearing this video somehow made everything feel much better!!

[@JosephMwenya-u4l]

me too😊

[@alberttomasi1724]

Thank you Sagar for this interview ! It’s absolutly great to see you ask questions about such diverse and interesting topics ! Really happy to see Viktor here, I’m happy for him that he found back happiness and joy ! 😁

[@dobrinin]

Life without suffering. My god. Where is goodness. The best interview I have seen here period.

[@Ram-zm6og]

From Grandmaster to Enlightenment

[@valuablememories5603]

A GM of Inner Peace. Congrats Viktor!

[@prakasavigraha6104]

Kudos to Sagar sir for an excellent interview. Victor could say what he felt without pressure or interruptions. Also very broad minded to publish the thoughts of someone who kind of gave up chess. Much respect to Sagarji.

[@_sushantprabhu]

Amazing Viktor Laznicka !!! Thanks for sharing.

[@wateriscoming71]

He broke the board and the Matrix

[@BobbyJean-rk5sf]

That‘s a very interesting and touching interview.

[@joshuakelly9788]

I figured out that you don't have to let your mind control you. You can control your mind. We are conflicted with stress, depression, anxiety, confusion and we are alone battling the mind. When you realize you have power to contain or rid yourself of all this you then become free. I feel that I have overcome so much by just changing the way I think.

[@michaelblankenau6598]

Men have two heads . A little one and a big one . I let all my decisions be dicktated by the little one and I can tell you that I have found true bliss . It’s not an easy path and has required great sacrifice. But well worth it… in the end anyway .

[@aravindappat]

Thank you Viktor! This video really motivates me to live a peaceful life instead of jumping into the rat race.

[@AuRowe]

Interesting interview. Thank you!

[@Ojalalluevapronto]

My guy burnt out, it was the right call cause it was affecting his nervous system and he also have money to not starve, we have to admire people like Nepo continuing playing after the WCC is a good example.

[@abdou7168]

Wish you the best in your life Viktor Laznicka )

[@kwakakak]

a new minimalist, welcome aboard

[@CosmosWorld]

Finally a GM that has actually got an interesting part of him other than chess!

[@FabriceWantiez]

Racism against GM?

[@matukoyz]

Amazing interview ✨🙏

[@Deepzombie]

You are a great interviewer, was very interesting story!

[@edwardfrawley4345]

That was truly incredible thank you so much! Almost tear jerking to me but Viktor claims it’s spirituality. He might find out someday he’s an alien trapped inside a human being …

[@i.g.l.z.9215]

...as we all are :) I watch youtube-clips on NDE (near death experience) by many people, so uplifting and inspiring. We're just here on Earth temporarily on a rough, low-density journey of insight and lessons, otherwise we come from a home that we all feel a spiritual longing to.

[@totalmonkeyspeed260]

Great interview 🙏

[@i.g.l.z.9215]

A beautiful interview, thank you, stay blessed 🐬🌈🌱

[@peterrose8944]

Brilliant interview

[@dworkina.9015]

A very surprising and honest interview with a life perspective. I'm glad he found his way, even if I'm Czech, it's pointless to let someone suffer just because of some success in any sport. It's not worth any loss, it's nice to see the national flag, hear the national anthem, but I don't need it. You don't have to be proud of being from a country just because 10 people are running around the field and kicking a round soccer ball. Or any game that the media will stuff into you because your country is successful in that sport. Why? How are those 10 players on the field connected to me? Being a fan is simply a self-delusion that I am part of something else. And all sports in which big money is played will cease to be a game. It's not a friendly match anymore. The game for blood begins. Chess? Nice game, but knowing that professional players have to learn by heart to be successful, you start to feel sorry for them.

[@excalibur4394]

This guy is incredibly talented to be able to reach 2700 elo in chess and be #1 in his country. I'm just glad he has found a way to cope with the anxiety and suffering he's been through 👍

[@Raph_one]

Great interview!

[@chanls22]

To give up chess when he’s the Top in Czech requires a big sacrifice- he found real peace afterwards. 🙏🏻

[@JanHanel]

Thank you for this interesting interview.

[@καδωαας]

honest feelings shared is what really matters in communication.

[@TatTvamAsi243]

Laznicka's journey from attachment to the mind towards liberation from it is the essence of spirituality. His path of realizing one's real nature as pure consciousness and abiding in that blissful non-dual state by withdrawing awareness from external thoughts is the fundamental message of spirituality, particularly within the framework of non-duality.

[@TatTvamAsi243]

I was fortunate enough to discover this knowledge, at least at an intellectual level, through the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hinduism rooted in its core teachings, that says that there is only consciousness/awareness that exists, rest all that appears in this universe is just an appearance in consciousness and not something apart from it. The primary obstacle in our life is the false identification of our identity - the part of the mind (the "ego") which fabricates the illusion of a separate individual limited by the body and mind. It is to be realised that our real nature, our true Self, is pure non-dual consciousness, which is completely untainted by anything. It forms the basis or substratum as the real essence/existence of the whole universe. This realization, the discovery of our authentic Self, constitutes the ultimate purpose of existence, as it is the sole eternal and genuine reality. This transformation takes place only by dedicated and conscious efforts by withdrawing awareness of the mind from external distractions, such as thoughts, and turning inward towards the blissful non-dual state of pure consciousness, free from the confines of all thought, and remaining still and absorbed in it. I highly recommend exploring the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, a preeminent non-dualist of modern times. His simple yet profound work, "Who Am I?" (Nan Yar?), serves as an invaluable guide for clarifying doubts and deepening understanding in this pursuit.

[@TatTvamAsi243]

I highly recommend exploring the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, a preeminent non-dualist of modern times. His succinct yet profound work, "Who Am I?" (Nan Yar?), serves as an invaluable guide for clarifying doubts and deepening understanding in this pursuit.

[@TatTvamAsi243]

I was fortunate enough to discover this knowledge, at least at an intellectual level, through the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hinduism rooted in the core teachings, that says that there is only consciousness/awareness that exists, rest all that appears in this universe is just an appearance in consciousness and not something apart from it. The primary obstacle in life is the mistaken identification of our identity with the ego - the part of the mind which fabricates the illusion of a separate individual limited by the body and mind. It is to be realised that our real nature, our true Self, is pure non-dual consciousness, which is completely untainted by anything. It forms the basis or substratum as the real essence/existence of the whole universe. This realization, the discovery of our true Self, constitutes the ultimate purpose of existence, as it is the sole eternal and genuine reality. This transformation takes place only by dedicated and conscious efforts by withdrawing awareness by withdrawing awareness from external distractions, such as thoughts, and turning inward towards the blissful non-dual state of pure consciousness, which is free from the confines of all thought, and remain still and absorbed in it.

[@TatTvamAsi243]

According to Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hinduism rooted in the core teachings, there is only consciousness/awareness that exists, rest all that appears in this universe is just an appearance in consciousness and not something apart from it. The primary obstacle in life is the mistaken identification of our identity with the ego - the part of the mind which fabricates the illusion of a separate individual limited by the body and mind. It forms the basis or substratum as the real essence/existence of the whole universe. This realization, the discovery of our true Self, constitutes the ultimate purpose of existence, as it is the sole eternal and genuine reality. This transformation takes place only by dedicated and conscious efforts by withdrawing awareness from external distractions, such as thoughts, and turning inward towards and abiding still in the blissful non-dual state of pure consciousness, free from the confines of all thought.

[@spiritual_audiobooks]

@@TatTvamAsi243 You put it very nicely and your perspectiveis an enrichment to this comment page. I hope your comments get the attention they deserve. I have the same point of view as you. Ramana Maharshi, Jean Klein and John Wheeler are, in my view, teachers that are highly recommended reading. Eckhart Tolle can be very good for beginners.

[@whyitmatters3076]

I don't think an average chess fan or a player obsessed with achievements ever sees this. Sagar Shah is influenced by Jiddu Krishnamurti and it is clearly reflected in his work, what a Chad. Viktor is just amazing.

[@sriharimulukunte7881]

From Chess ratrace to Nirvana. That seems to be the theme of this interesting Talk. When Pragg suffered two losses in a row in the ongoing Prague Tournament I too suffered. The key thing is not to get attached to results and players.

[@subramanianrs318]

🙋👏👌

[@LucBogaert]

interesting and surprising interview !

[@vixr9557]

we rest my friend when we leave this world for now just hassle and don't give up on yourself

[@garamburito]

A truly chess master

[@foofungloong223]

With a grandmaster mind he can analyze vipassana meditation very very well

[@garamburito]

@@foofungloong223 I mean, he show us the real room that chess should has in our life

[@ArkesBloom]

@@foofungloong223 in fact its the oposite, and he did a great job to overcome this hindrance - chess analytical thinking

[@Templercz]

Sagar you are doing very good job ! I know why this is the only chess channel I subscribe. I should visit this tournament on the way from my work ! Greetings from Prague to Prague !

[@sharma4826]

Incredible mindset Viktor.. I’m glad your suffering has lessened significantly.

[@timetraveler_0]

Alright folks I'm skipping chess, heading for the Himalayas.

[@ravivaradhan4956]

Do you think you will find "it" in the Himalayas?

[@bernardolopes1291]

What you're looking for is available here and now, not in the Himalayas...

[@mathildewesendonck7225]

Don‘t forget: you are taking yourself with you

[@koemdjiev]

Love this guy!

[@okeziikokeno6536]

This is probably what happened to Josh waitzkin. Amazing deep stuff.

[@Yash42189]

what a beautiful guy

[@Socko-ob2dp]

Within 5 years this guy got divorced, lost 100 elo points and missed out on a lot of prize money, yet one look at his face and you know he did everything right.

[@gustavocamachopr]

Nothing in this world is better thant enlightenment.

Very sensitive interview. Interesting man.

[@theprocessesofourlifes2949]

Yess every one should do vipassana

[@gingmedhi]

Thank you so much Sagar and Chess Base for such videos. Hope "rational" people see the irrationality of their rationale :') I'm extremely happy that the human race is not doomed and for the existence of beings like GM Viktor, our collective conscience still thrives and makes us "humane" in an ever-developing inhumane world

[@fernandoe.chavezfinol2490]

Gracias

[@onghock377]

A good interview. And the discovery is Buddhism

[@spiritual_audiobooks]

You're wrong, you'd better read his book first. By the way, there are more direct paths than Buddhism.

[@onghock377]

So what path is he on? I haven't read his book

[@jzballsbridge]

​@@onghock377do you know Osho? Horrible sekt, but in his case it is chaotic mix of lots of things

[@AlenaElHahi]

@@onghock377advaita

[@ojibwa1994]

Bobby Fisher unfortunately never discovered this beauty of life...big respect to everyone that goes this path

[@bevs9995]

Bobby discovered harsher truths; harder realities. The scary/disturbing ones.

[@Hypothetical-Being]

​@@bevs9995nah

[@Noah1377]

Nice!

[@SebroDives]

This is exactly what Christ offers! Awesome stuff. Phil 4:13

[@srikanthgovindaseshan7996]

Your wings reach seem to have no limits Sagar!!

[@larrycarter3765]

Sagar!!?

[@jackslater8688]

Yes the spirituality phase. Very common at his age.

[@humanbeing33]

Is there a way to contact him?

[@FynnKrenzel]

Yeah!

[@onghock377]

A good interview. And it is Buddhism

[@spiritual_audiobooks]

Good interview yes, Buddhism no.

[@BuggatiWeryon]

Jesus the true person and God that will set you free in life. No religion, personal relationship with Him and serving others

[@jopeDE]

Smart man

[@richardfredlund8846]

i hope he finds the beauty in chess

[@Watercolordragon]

Cool! ❤ I had hell aswell after ayahuasca 😊. All good now

[@henrycassidy1588]

My lifestyle-determines my deathstyle! Remember!😅

[@nielsSavantKing]

But the moral of this story is that if you want to open your mind, you have to quit chess. Because chess will block your mind to get creative ideas. In the mainstream media you read that chess is good for your mind. And that chess is for smart people. But just the opposite is true. You have never thought why the past biggest scientist didn't play chess? Chess is 100% a sport. And doesn't create creative thinking. Chess is for example equal to playing monopoly, but with only more possibilities.

[@AlenaElHahi]

No it´s not like that. I am Czech and I know quite a lot about Victor ´s spiritual story. It is not so much about chess but his mental attitude to chess.

[@midnighttrain-jz2my]

Professional Chess is an absolute waste. Imagine what all those smart pro-players would achieve investing so much energy and time on something useful, like science. At the end their only goal is to become famous and rich, as there is no other point at giving so much for a game.

[@midnighttrain-jz2my]

@gunzor8717 I dont agree. I am talking about the WASTE. Sure many like things, but is it worth to do it, as a life-goal. I am saying these are very smart people, they could do much more useful things than bothering about a game, that will change nothing for human-sake. Ok, they entertain their fellow humans, but couldnt they achieve much more? We got people at sports, and we got artists, who can entertain us, is it really necessary to waste our specially smart people on that? Imagine Einstein, Newton, and many others would go for chess, to become the best chess player instead of doing some real stuff!. Where would we be now...

[@davidl8094]

Grow up

[@AuRowe]

For real. The time to write the comment, and admittedly our replies, are the only waste of time. Pro players don't always have no life outside chess, but it helps, like dedicated professionals in basically anything@@davidl8094

[@mr.nobody2515]

@@midnighttrain-jz2my What are you talking about? People play chess because other people are interested in chess, same with football, basketball and other competitions/sports. It’s a business and profession to entertain and compete cause people love this game, and maybe it’s not that well payed amongst majority of grandmasters but still it’s a profession. Then there is the goal to compete and be the best, to show who is better and who is genius at this game, while there is barely a competition amongst real professions in science(only some prizes) People love to compete and reach the top, while others to get inspired, interested or to enjoy to watch others play, that’s why there is so many sports… Then there is the things called fame and money, best chess players are richer and more famous than ordinary scientists, and maybe they could do good in mathematics or physics and other stuff, they wouldn’t be as famous as with chess. Do you think that actors professions are also waste of time? Then everyone should only study science and only work 24/7 towards improvement of mankind with no games, competitions, entertainments right? Then people would gain much stress from life with no relaxation and entertainment cause there would be nothing and no one to look for. In a good society there are many different roles and opportunities so it’s good that there is many smart people at what they do in different areas

[@midnighttrain-jz2my]

@@mr.nobody2515 I said already, that pro-chess players play for fame and money. For sure, it is a profession. My point is, very smart people could do some useful stuff, instead of doing chess, but they prefer the money. About actors or people at sports and other entertainers: they are not important! They can do whatever they like, as i dont think that a good artist or football-player would be an ace at maths or physics or ..science. They are average. But i am talking about high-IQ people, who waste their potential on moving figures. That whole time and energy, paired with very high IQ would be much more useful somewhere else. But as you said, they prefer money.

[@bojanbabic4982]

I didnt think you can reach this state until like 3400 elo

[@edwardsmith9644]

Lol! I hope not!

[@JorgeMendez-kn5ql]

He discovered-checked himself.

[@originalnormie]

Wow

[@curtissleypen9395]

Jesus is the true lord and saviour

[@abhijitsarkar7257]

aronian once said chess is similar to meditation

[@noahisawesome628]

based

[@Dieterklieber]

This is how you escape the matrix - not andrew tate get rich shit

[@Señores123]

Its like Bobby fischer

[@BobbyRunout_EverydayWorld]

But 2700+ is already a world of spiritual living? You spend most of your time performing arcane rituals on a magic square, and you're as broke as any saint

[@Oscar-i7z]

His name in gematria equals ,64, like the chess board squares, fisher died at ,64

[@simplicitas5113]

Read Eckhart Tolle, Power of Now

[@TheFutureIsThePast77]

Chess is just a game. In the beginning.

[@Oscar-i7z]

Jus like fisher, end up hating chess

[@Oscar-i7z]

Morphy, said , a man that plays well, is a wasted life

[@seamusweber8298]

Paul Morphy was Catholic!

[@Oscar-i7z]

@@seamusweber8298 all the pieces are Catholic,

[@Rock_47_]

He should go to Sadhguru aashram.. He will be more happy ..

[@banzaiburger9589]

He basically found Buddhism

[@jigsaw2253]

No

[@bioskuff]

Great Interview but next time please walk in the park and not in loud noisy streets :)

[@achyuthcn2555]

From being a genius to becoming a religious person, what a fall!!!!

[@IKAS-SSA]

16:13

[@HariSarvotama]

Sanatan hii Satya hai

[@tunneltu]

Can`t you play chess in the present moment? :D

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Chess is a type of spirituality itself

[@me-me-me-me-me]

Quite the opposite

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@me-me-me-me-me you seem to be new to chess. Chess is one of highest forms of spirituality.

[@vivacubalibre11]

@@kevinwellwrought2024 hello kevin im genuinely interested in why chess is one of hte highest forms of spirituality, can you explain why please?

[@me-me-me-me-me]

@@kevinwellwrought2024 chess is pure ego, conflict, dominance, obsession, power. . . In your case I'd add narcissism considering you're judging my chess background on the basis of my comment about spiritually. Also it's ridiculous you're making your point like you'd find it on chess manuals lol. I add mythomania as well.

[@quarlmephystodot2201]

this is what failure leads you to... sad

[@Socko-ob2dp]

wtf are you talking about? Guy was the best chess player in his country, went for a spiritual journey and is now happier and more fullfilled than most people ever will be. There's no failure and no sadness in this story.

[@fivenightsatfreddys9369]

is Jesus god?

[@TheChessChamber]

You'd think he was homeless. Never judge a book by its cover ❤

[@mirrorforce]

Lolol

[@jigsaw2253]

Hello incel

[@trinitymatrix9719]

hello cute

[@valuablememories5603]

The external (looks, status, money) doesn´t matter when you have inner peace and inner happiness. Being concerned about looks are for shallow people, who are constantly worried about what other people think about them.

[@StickMan...77]

Now you are a real champion,the most important thing in life is God,to be very good in chess you lose to much of life.Remember what Morphy said:The ability to play chess is a sign of a gentleman.The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life.May Christ and holy virgin Mary help you .🙏

[@michaelblankenau6598]

All nonsense . Hinduism , Christianity , Islam , Buddhism , etc are all just attempts by humans to give their lives some meaning . There is nothing wrong with that . All people should be allowed to believe whatever they choose to believe. And that freedom should never be curtailed by those who pretend to know what they claim to be a truth .

[@michaelblankenau6598]

Which God ? Probably the one you picked , I assume .

[@Hypothetical-Being]

​@@michaelblankenau6598the Monad

[@Hypothetical-Being]

@@michaelblankenau6598The One

[@Hypothetical-Being]

@@michaelblankenau6598The Monad, the first principle, an indivisible unity from which everything emanates

[@omarebnabdulaziz5087]

Listening to Quran will help your spirit as nothing else

[@hardikkamboj3528]

it's not that deep. It's very superficial. I would suggest going for Advaita Vedanta.

[@vixr9557]

lol what a bunch of nonsense. Let me not have a wife just be selfish and care about nothing. You have theory about existence?should have just stayed with Christian God and chess

[@albertoberto4714]

You are the only comment who thinks it's nonsense and this is not a spiritual community, it is a chess community. Food for thought.

[@jzballsbridge]

​@@albertoberto4714he is not only one who thinks it's nonsense, if we mention Osho and Rajneesh how many comments here are wrong suddenly? And how many people will back off...and how many people knows the real details of what is presented here?

[@michaelblankenau6598]

This may come as a shock to you . But Christianity is every bit as nonsensical as all these other beliefs.

[@spiritual_audiobooks]

You simply have no clue what you're talking about. But that's okay. Most people still seem to live out of their minds. This also applies to Christians, as is not only shown by you. But in this comment section it shows that most of the people who have commented can also see with their hearts. These chess players impress me a lot.

[@vixr9557]

@michaelblankenau6598 I guess when we die, we will find out who really nonsensical is.