This is a very interesting concept that Russians are famous for. Sometimes it is also referred to as загадочная русская душа (the mystical Russian soul). Here are three insightful videos that I recommend to watch in order to grasp the idea behind its meaning. The concept of the Russian душа (duša) is inextricably connected with the term тоска (toska – roughly, melancholy-cum-yearning) and судьба (sud’ba – roughly, fate) (A. Wierzbicka). Duša, toska and sud’ba can be considered key cultural words in Rusian. Such words are particularly important and revealing in a given culture.
The first video is in Polish but comes with English subtitles. It gives a great overview of the above-mentioned words underlying the concept of the broad Russian soul.
The second video is the first part of a discussion between two Russian teachers in which they try to define what it means to be Russian and what the broad Russian soul means to the Russians. They speak Russian and the subtitles are only in Russian.
This is the second part of the same discussion, in which they discuss the difference between Russian and Soviet (often mistakenly taken for synonyms). They also recommend a bunch of traditional Russian authors, whose works convey the Russian spirit (русский дух) and the Russian soul (русская душа). Here as well the discussion is held in Russian accompanied by Russian subtitles. Therefore good knowledge of Russian is mandatory.
LANGOLUX 