acropolis quarterly april -june 2013

7/28/2019 Acropolis Quarterly April -June 2013

1/17

1

ACROPOLISquarterly

VOL 2: APRIL JUNE 2013www.acropolis.org.in

Schedule o Public Events Inside


2/17

2 3

message from Director

Dear Reader,

With the second volume o The Acropolis Quarterly, we mark the

transition rom spring to summer, and the strength o the heat be-ore the redeeming rains o the monsoon. Heat and expansion arecharacteristics o this period o spring-summer that lead us to dealmore with the invisible world; the hidden one inside o us.

Both movements, inwards and outwards, are essential acts onature and o human beings, who are ater all an integral part onature. One complements the other, like in breathing, or like theday that comes ater the night, and like the summer ater winter. Itis important to balance one with the other and so it is important tond an inner heat and light in the mid o winter. This is explainedby most ancient traditions through the celebration o light over-coming darkness around the shortest days o the year; while guard-ing our concentration, our centre, in the heat o summer.

There is a big dierence between the ability o multi-tasking, apopular term today, and being all over the place, doing everythingat a supercial level, maybe accomplishing nothing. Multi task-ing requires a strong centre, and concentration on priorities, thatallows us to tie a knot between various actions, with a thread oharmony, like with music. Every new challenge invites us to deepenour concentration, preventing the driting away rom what weunderstand as essential.

On the other hand, to jump rom one thing to the other, mightleave us drained, with nothing. One way may help us to develop asharper observation in everything we do; the other will lead us to

emptiness, even i our hands are ull with activity.

To learn the art o concentration, and prioritizing, is essential. Wethereore invite you to learn philosophy with us, as it is truly an arto living. Through various activities that we introduce this sum-mer at New Acropolis Mumbai, you may easily nd one commonthread: the love o wisdom.

Sincerely,Yaron Barzilay.National Director, New Acropolis India (North).


3/17

5

Table of Content

5 article: Philosophy, Manand Naturepublic events

12 Apr 14: Workshop:First Aid Essentials

13 Apr 20: Lecture:Greek Heroes

14 Apr 27: Lecture:Vedic Mathematics

15 May 11: Lecture:Colour Psychology

16 May 18: Lecture:Unearthing Ancient Temples

17 Jun 1 & 2: 2 Day Seminar:Intro to Tai Chi

18 Jun 1: Lecture:Mystical Jewellery

19 Jun 8: Seminar:Simply Philosophy

20 Jun 13: Open House21 Jun 20: New Course:

World of Wisdom22 Jun 29: Lecture:

Creating Music Using Notesof Life

23 testimonials

24 book review

27suf story

28 ood or thought

30 sel deence training

Publisher :New Acropolis Cultural Organization

National Director:Yaron Barzilay

Public Relations Manager:Harianto H Mehta

Design:Art Department, NA

Printed By:Zenith PrintersFor Advertising Opportunity Contact +9122 3192 0515

New Acropolis Cultural Organization isan Indian Non-Prot Sec. 25Company (Registration No: U92412MH-2010NPL200490) led with theRegistrar o Companies. No part o thispublication or any part o the contentsthereo may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system, ortransmitted in any orm without theexplicit prior permission o thepublishers in writing.

For eedback and suggestions, pleasewrite to us at [email protected]

Philosophy, Man and NatureDelia Steinberg Guzman

What is the connection between

philosophy and nature?

I we understand philosophyin its widest possible sense asthe love o wisdom, we mustinclude in that wisdom all thelaws o nature. So we cannotdisregard those laws; what weshould do is get to know them,try to understand them deeply.This desire to understand thingsdeeply implies love - not love asan emotional reaction, but love

as understanding, as acceptanceo those laws and, above all, as away o working with those laws.

Do you mean that philosophyis not only concerned withabstractions?Absolutely. That is why we havetaken up the concept o loveo wisdom that existed in the

classical world. In that concept,

love o wisdom is not just aboutstudying, but studying andparticipating in all the thingsthat we study. Abstract conceptsdistance us rom the world,rom our environment, theydistance us rom people, evenrom ourselves; so philosophyshould be active as well.

What is philosophy concernedwith?Everything: as soon as it ocuses

on man, his reality and hispossibilities, how can the eldo philosophy be restricted? Itmust, thereore, be the broadesto all sciences and the broadesto all arts.

What is mans place within thisliving world, within Nature?I it were up to us, we would try

ARTICLE


4/17

6 7

to nd a privileged place - thebest and most outstandingposition - because we havebecome accustomed to thinkingthat man is at the peak o allpossible evolution.

I dont deny that i we compareourselves with the animal,vegetable or mineral worlds,man displays more developed

characteristics. But we shouldnot take that place in Nature outo vanity - because we eel weare the best, the only ones at thehighest point o evolution - butprecisely because, i we see thatwe are dierent to the minerals,the plants and the animals, thatgive us a greater responsibility.

What is our place in Nature?That o the highest responsibil-ity: what a mineral cannot do,

what a tree cannot do, what ananimal cannot do, we can do.And that is mans place: theability to think, to put ourselvesin harmony with nature andwork with her, instead o break-ing her laws.

I would give man, rom a philo-sophical point o view, a role o

support and responsibility, nevero destruction and exploitation.

How can one understand andact according to natures laws?What laws?We see that every day there is asun which appears on the hori-zon and disappears in the eve-ning into the West. We are usedto the seasons, the course o theseasons; we are used to storms,

the results o storms, a volcanosuddenly erupting, the sea risingand devastating the shores. Dowe think that all o this hap-pens or no reason? Would wethink that our digestion, or theacceleration o our pulse, or theact that sometimes our heartseems to want to leap out o ourmouth, happens or no reason?

Image courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lea.jpg

I understand laws to meandiscovering how and whyNature operates. This has to bebased on a philosophical typeo observation. In other words,rather than merely wanting toknow what, it is about wantingto know why.

For that, we have to have anattitude o patience, careul

observation and respect oreverything we see; it is notsimply about observing a serieso experiences and seeing howoten they repeat themselves,but about realizing that thethings that happen do not hap-pen by chance. This is to under-stand Nature. It is to discovercertain laws, a systematic wayo acting, just as we accept it orother living beings.

So this leads us not only tounderstand, but also to act.

To act.

To understand alone would beto adopt an attitude o a passivereceiver, an observer o Nature;but, as I said beore, the humanbeing is endowed with responsi-

bility, and someone who isresponsible does not just standby and watch. I we just watch,we are not doing anything.Whereas i we are part o Natureand i Nature is alive, is movingand evolving, we have to bealive, we have to move and wehave to evolve. This to act inand as part o Nature.

So do you think that lie evolveswith a purpose and is not there-ore the product o chance?

It is impossible that the gran-deur which we see around usevery day on the earth and in thesky is the product o chance.It would be a waste i it weremere chance, and it would beby chance that the humanbeing, who has been studyingthe universe and Nature around

us so much recently, is unableby chance to create similarthings. Something which, beoreour very eyes, clearly and pre-cisely demonstrates that it hascycles, that those cycles repeatthemselves but are never exactlythe same, demonstrates that itis leading towards a goal.


5/17

8 9

The act that we do not ullyunderstand the goal does notmean that it has to be chance.We should do away with theconcept o chance and lookinstead or the causes.

I there is a goal, why dont Iunderstand it? I I dont under-stand it, is it possible or meto understand it? I everythingtaking place around me reveals

a harmony and a permanentdirection, what gives me theright to think about chance?Wouldnt it be better i I triedto nd the reason behind all othese things?

It is not really a question obelie, it is a question o logic.What we see has a direction and

everything that has a direc-tion has a purpose. Chance, onthe other hand, is a number othings inharmoniously com-bined, and only human beingsgenerate chance events, andeven then not always

The thing is that today man isdeeply imbued with the termculture, and has largely sepa-rated the term culture, and his

own culture, rom his view oNature as a whole. What, romthe philosophical point o view,would the relationship bebetween man, nature andculture, between culture andnature? Culture has beentransormed into a term thatis almost as meaningless asphilosophy, a philosophy which

Image courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stellar_Fireworks_Finale_.jpg

is abstract enough not to studyanything, except or the remainsthat are let over rom the othersciences.

What is not covered by anyscience, what no science canexplain, it leaves to philosophy,to see how it can solve it witha ew empty denitions. And Ithink that with culture we are

doing the same.

What is culture but the producto the inner man, o what hethinks and eels? Can man eeland think by abstracting him-sel completely rom Nature?Impossible, we are immersedin Nature. Can we create aculture that abstracts itselrom Nature, can we create anabstract culture? I think it wouldbe dicult.

I see it as being as dicult asthinking that the world exists bychance. Is there a science thatcan abstract itsel rom Nature?Is there an art that can abstractitsel rom Nature? Is there aphilosophy that can abstractitsel rom Nature? Is there aninner concept o human

evolution, o human develop-ment that can abstract itselrom Nature? No.

So, i culture is the expression oeverything that we experience, ina orm that can be transmittedto other generations, either asscience or as art, as philosophy,as dierent orms o thought orbelie, this culture is necessarily

linked to the world around us,the environment in which welive. To abstract it rom that is toempty it o meaning, it would nolonger be culture.

Many people think that bywanting so much to becomepart o Nature, man would losehis dening characteristics.How can we become part o itwithout ceasing to be men,

Image courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snail_on_fowers.jpg


6/17

10 11

human beings?To become part o it whilecontinuing to think, to becomepart o Nature intelligently, is away o combining both integra-tion and identity. Man can, andin act does orm part o Nature,but he can also think it, under-stand it, he can take part in itintelligently. How then could helose his identity?

I I were now to bend down andpick up a lea, or a snail which aew moments ago was crawl-ing along the ground and mustnow be hidden behind a shrub,has this snail lost its identitybecause o the act o beinghidden behind some leaves?Does a lea like these ones loseits identity, can I conuse it witha horse, or a dog? Nevertheless,it is so harmoniously at one

with Nature, that I believe thatits way o being is, precisely, toorm part o Nature and to benaturally what it is.

Man believes that in order notto lose his identity he has tobe dierent, but I think thatman has to be, rather than bedierent. When man is able to

understand himsel, to be trulywhat he is, he will nd his trueplace in Nature and no one willconuse him with either a stone,a lea, or a horse.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

An interview with Delia Steinberg Guzman(President o International Organizationo New Acropolis)

Schedule o Public EventsApr Jun 2013

Mentorship at Orphanage

First Aid Workshop

Members Seminar 2013


7/17

12 13

First Aid is the immediate, albeit temporary, help given to an injured or asick person, beore proessional medical treatment can be provided. To

come to the assistance o a ellow human being, at a tragic time o need, istruly the duty o every citizen. Basic First Aid Training will already enable you

to ace up to a challenging crisis through a calm, yet eective, immediate re-sponse. You could truly make a dierence to the lie o a loved one, a neigh-bour, or o a complete stranger. This presentation, in collaboration with the

Liesupporters Institute o Health Sciences, will earn you a certicate romLIHS as a First Aid practitioner.

Limited Seats. Register now at +919920018204 [email protected]

Apr 14: Sunday9am to 5pm, FEES APPLYWorkshop, Rs 1850/-

New Acropolis Centre, Mumbai

First Aid Essentials

Mythology must be understood through the eyes o the Soul, inorder to truly unlock Universal Truths about the Cosmos and about

Human Existence. The protagonists that participate in mythologybecome role-models or humanity to emulate; they overcome theirhuman faws through eort and persistence, thereby becominginspirational heroes. In this presentation, we will trace throughMythology o Ancient Greece with the purpose to look or clues onhow to ignite the inner heroic spark that exists within us all.

Apr 20: Saturday6 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSION

Lecture


Greek Heroes:Mythology and Symbolism

In assosiation with


8/17

14 15

Vedic Mathematics

The study o Mathematics has ound mention is several importanthistorical and mythical texts across ages. To look at mathematics

beyond dry numbers and arithmetic, we must explore the num-bers around us. Gradually, it becomes clear that mathematics isintegrated deeply into our lives. The Ancient Indian Vedic Traditionoers one such system o mathematics. To discover how VedicMathematics impacts us, we will delve into the background andrecent history o the study. In addition, through various exercises,we will uncover wondrous numerical patterns, oering a novelperspective with which to consider numbers.

Apr 27: Saturday6 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSIONLecture


Colour Psychology

We see colour everywhere. It is a very important part o our everyday lives.But what truly is colour? Colours naturally aect human behaviour, and

evoke instinctive eelings in the human psyche. Although colour preerenceis subjective, Colour Psychology investigates the ability o each colour to

trigger collective emotional, mental and physical responses rom Man.Lets discover how dierent civilizations have experimented with colour.

May 11: Saturday6 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSION

LectureNew Acropolis Centre, Mumbai

Image courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raimundus_Lullus_alchemic_page.jpg


9/17

16 17

May 18: Saturday6 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSIONLecture


UnearthingAncient Temples

Image courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tanjore_Temple_-_Great_Living_Chola_Temple%28India%29.jpg

Cultures around the globe have independently developed the concept o asacred area, a Temple, within the community. But what truly is a Temple?

How exactly does a Temple acilitate an interaction between Man and TheDivine? An exploration o Temple architecture may help unlock how a delib-

erate design helps Man connect to a higher consciousness. Lets embark ona voyage to visit ancient temples rom various parts o the Ancient World,and re-discover the mystical experience Temples enable.

Introduction to Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an internal martial art and health exercise based on ancient ChineseTao Philosophy. While maintaining overall tness, it is also a unique system

o sel-deense. As a ollow up rom our previous collaboration with SenseiSandeep Desai, we oer yet another presentation on Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan

Practical Method at the NA Centre. Still a beginner level seminar, this timeSensei Desai will ocus on the therapeutic value o Tai Chi, known to benetpatients o Type II Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure, and

Bone Density issues, among many others. Students will have the opportunity tolearn and practice this unique art orm, under guidance and supervision.

Limited Seats. Register now at +919833033239.Fees - Returning Students: Rs2200/- First-time Students: Rs2800/-

Jun 1 & 2 : Saturday & Sunday8:30 am 11:30 am, FEES APPLY

2-Day SeminarNew Acropolis Centre, Mumbai

Image courtesy: Sensei Sandeep Desai


10/17

18 19

Jun 1: Saturday6 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSIONLecture


Mystical Jewellery

Image courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amanishakheto_Jewellery_01b.jpg

Ancient cultures developed unique cratsmanship abilities to work withprecious metals and gemstones to abricate stunning pieces o jewellery.

These skills, however, were not originally developed or the vain purpose odemonstrating economic status. Instead, jewellery has played the important

role o capturing mystical elements through the symbolism o shape,colour, and material that enabled the wearer to identiy deeply with theHigher Sel. In various civilizations, objects o jewellery have been regarded

as necessary elements or sacred rituals. Together, we will voyage throughdierent cultures, to understand the deeply rooted role that jewellery playedin their lives.

SIMPLY PHILOSOPHY

Who am I? Why am I here? What is the purpose o Lie? In an attempt toanswer these undamental philosophical questions about our existence,

humanity has pigeonholed Philosophy into the realm o theory and intel-lectual discussion. Consider instead, Philosophy as a liestyle; an active and

practical view o the World, aligned to the Cosmic Laws o Nature. Live Liein wonder, and truly see the unending magic unold beore you. Join us oran inspirational seminar on truly Practical Philosophy, and open your heart

to the mysteries o lie.

Jun 8 : Saturday6 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSION

SeminarNew Acropolis Centre, Mumbai


11/17

20 21

Be happier! Live a more meaningul lie! Live up to your truepotential, and make a real dierence in the world around you! AtNew Acropolis we oster an active and practical approach to LivingPhilosophy with an acute awareness o the World around us.This Open House gives you the opportunity to learn about theintroductory course (beginning 20 Jun 2013, Every Thursday, 15Sessions) World o Wisdom where you will learn what it takesto become a true philosopher through a comparative study othe Teachings o the Great Masters o the past. World o WisdomCourse Outline, Introduction.

Jun 13: Thursday7:30 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSIONOpen House


Open House :Introductory Lecture

This introductory course establishes the basic oundation o everyaspiring Philosopher. The curriculum comprises o traditionalknowledge, presented as a comparative study o Classical Philoso-phies, and helps each student to develop a sensitive ability torecognize and internalize the undamental Laws that govern Nature,and Humanity. The course material serves as a basic introductionto ancient cultures and investigates the origins o humanity a time when the Invisible Consciousness was respected, drawing asense o wonder and esoteric mysticism. New Acropolis strivesto preserve this universal heritage, by oering it as an integral parto its scholastic development. Course Duration - 15 Sessions.Every Thursday, 7:30 pm 9:30 pm, beginning 20/6/13.Prior Registration Required.

Jun 20: Thursday7:30 pm [2 hrs], FEES APPLY

New Course, Rs. 4,500


world of wisdom1st Lecture of new course


12/17

22 23

Around the world, every civilization has used Music as a medium o expres-sion. Although music is all around us, we dont always listen careully

enough, to understand its design, or the way in which it aects moods andenergy levels. This presentation will shed light on the connections between

various aspects o music and how they relate to the dierent acets o Lie.By refecting on these connections, it will be possible to get a glimpse o themagic that exists in music, and in Lie.

Creating Musicusing notes of Life

Jun 29: Saturday6 pm [2 hrs], FREE ADMISSIONLecture


At New Acropolis I started my realprocess o education.The educationI received here helped me to knowmysel better and helped me in under-standing the true meaning and purposeo lie.Now I eel more connected tolie than ever beore and eel motivated

rom within to Be the change I wish tosee in the world.

Deepa Roongta

As Mark Twain said, there are twoimportant days in a persons lie; the daythey are born and the day they fnd out

why. Thats exactly been my story withNew Acropolis and I realise the journeyhas only just begun.

Kurush Dordi

TESTIMONIALS


13/17

24 25

Title: Wisdom through the LensA practical guide or photography as ameans or sel transormation

Author: Pierre Poulain

Publisher: New Acropolis India(North)

Available at New Acropolis Art Store,

Rs 250/-

BOOK REVIEW

Beyond photography, this bookpromotes philosophy, rombehind the viewnder o a cam-era. A staunch ollower o phi-losophy in the applied sense, theauthor Pierre Poulain has taughtphilosophy and been a photog-rapher or more than 25 years. Tohim they are not separate roads,but dierent expressions o thesame search o wisdom, which

expresses itsel as beauty andaesthetic.

For the true philosopher, lieitsel, with all its aspects, is thereal school and teacher. Photog-raphy enables one to capture amoment o reality, and in it, theessence o truth.

Excerpt rom Book Chapter 5So, is photography an art? ...It depends on the photogra-pher. When the photographerbecomes the bridge, then thephotograph has a chance tobe the refection o the arche-typal harmony, which is the onlycriterion or qualiying it as Art.Otherwise photography couldnot be more than the product

o the photographer himsel,it will only refect his ownsensibility, his emotions andhis thoughts. It can be a verytouching, deep, interesting andemotional image... but it wouldbe the refection o a man, noto an archetype. It would not beconsidered as Art.

Image courtesy:Pierre Poulain


14/17

26 27

Dervish and the MoneySpiritual Story by James Fadiman and Robert Frager

A dervish was praying silently.A wealthy merchant, observ-ing the dervishs devotion andsincerity, was deeply touchedby him. The merchant oered

the dervish a bag o gold. Iknow you will use the money orGods sake. Please take it.

Just a moment, the dervish re-plied. Im not sure i it is lawulor me to take your money. Areyou a wealthy man? Do you havemore money at home?

Oh yes. I have at least onethousand gold pieces at home,claimed the merchant proudly.

Do you want a thousand goldpieces more? asked the dervish.

Why yes, o course. Every day Iwork hard to earn more money.

And do you wish or yet athousand gold pieces morebeyond that?

Certainly. Every day I pray that Imay earn more and more money.

The dervish pushed the bag ogold back to the merchant. I

am sorry, but I cannot take yourgold, he said. A wealthy mancannot take money roma beggar.

How can you call yoursel awealthy man and me a beggar?the merchant spluttered.

The dervish replied, I am awealthy man because I amcontent with whatever Godsends me. You are a beggar,

because no matter how muchyou possess, you are alwaysdissatised, and always beggingGod or more.This Su story has been reproduced withpermission rom http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com. The story is rom thebook Essential Susm by James Fadimanand Robert Frager. In addition to excellentinormation about Susm, there are alsoseveral more Su spiritual stories in it.

SUFI STORY

Image courtesy: Harianto Hemant Mehta


15/17

28 29

New Acropolitans regard humanity not as the owners or custodianso Nature, but as an integral part o Nature itsel.

Together with the privileges we enjoy, we also strive to develop adeep sense o responsibility, to give back to the world around us.Countless communities have beneted rom the solidarity activitieso members at New Acropolis worldwide. The primary beneciarieso these eorts, however, are the very volunteers who give othemselves in service to Humanity, and to Nature.

Globally New Acropolis is involved with activities related to Ecology,Disaster Relie, Child Welare, Art, and all sorts o community service.

In addition, we oer inspirational corporate seminars on Leadership,Teamwork, and Corporate Social Responsibility with a deliberateattention given to Philosophy, a love o wisdom and truth.

To partake o these initiatives, please contact the New AcropolisCentre in Mumbai at [email protected]

For press coverage o these initiatives, please contact NewAcropolis Public Relations at [email protected]

The Spirit of Volunteering atNew Acropolis

How wonderfulit is that nobodyneed wait a singlemoment beforestarting to improvethe world.

Anne Frank

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Image courtesy: www.dhruvasamal.com


16/17

30

New Acropolis Centre,A-O Ground Floor, Connaught Mansions, Opp. Colaba Post Oce, Mumbai

+91.22.3192.0515 | [email protected] | www.acropolis.org.in

SELF DEFENCE TRAINING

Every Wednesday, 7:45AM-9:15AMFees: 1500/monthVenue: New Acropolis Centre

Krav Maga is an Israeli orm o sel-deence. It is ecient andocused on real-world situations.The name in Hebrew translatesas contact combat. Krav Maga emphasizes threat neutralizationand is used by the Israeli Deence Forces and several other lawenorcement organizations.

Today, we are oten surrounded by mindless violence and generalsense o lawlessness. It is not hard to imagine being conronted

by a situation threatening the lie o a ellow human being. Thisbeginner level course, guided by an instructor aliated to The In-ternational Krav Maga Federation, will develop ecient sel-deenceskills to enable participants to protect themselves as well as ellowMumbaikars.

To register, please contact us at [email protected].


17/17

New Acropolis Centre,A-O Ground Floor, Connaught Mansions, Opp. Colaba Post Oce, Mumbai+91.22.3192.0515 | [email protected] | www.acropolis.org.in

acropolis quarterly april -june 2013

Documents