Vol 1 Issue 7 | Jan - Mar 2017
The Power of Introspection
New Acropolis is an international non-profit organization – with a presence in over 60 countries. At its core it is a school for practical philosophy in the Classical style run by volunteers. Worldwide we have close to 40 thousand volunteers. All our volunteers are dedicated to bringing philosophy closer to the society for all people regardless any differences of social, religious, gender or political background. We came into being almost 60 years ago, with the aim of bringing universal philosophy and wisdom to life in the hearts of the cities worldwide. Our focus is on philosophy - not just in the sense of the quest for knowledge, and ideas, but on how we can use it so it will turn into Experience and Wisdom, thus widening our perspective over life and helping us evolve individually and collectively. We focus on philosophy as a way of life – as practical philosophy. For more please visit our website www.acropolis.org.in
Cover Image Courtesy Vitalii Bashkatov / Shutterstock.com
Editor’s Note The Clarion Call Vol 1 Issue 7 | Jan - Mar 2017
Editor-in-Chief Ran Kremer Editorial Team Ankit Jain Arijit Das Design Team Shashwati Balasubramanian Rashmi Balakrishna Production Ankit Jain
The Clarion Call is published in India, by New Acropolis Cultural Association. Reprints of individual articles are obtainable on application to the editor. All rights
Dear Reader, In the words of Lao Tzu: “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” In this issue, we touch upon this incredible gift we have as humans, which is the power of introspection- our inherent ability to understand our own self, our own mind closely. The opportunity our human life presents to us is to use this power, in order to create the possibility of a much better world. Each one of us can understand from within us the story of the entire humanity- the fears, the restlessness... and at the same time the limitless potential to be joyful and harmonious beings. And thus, going inwards can help us understand not only ourselves deeply but also others, strengthening the possibility of a much more compassionate and loving world.
reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means
Hope you enjoy the first Clarion Call issue of 2017. Happy New Year!
without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. New Acropolis Cultural Association
Editorial Team The Clarion Call
(South India) Ran Kremer, National Director 261, 6th Cross, Indiranagar 1st Stage, Bangalore - 560038 Tel: +91 9663804871 Email: info@newacropolis.in Web: www.acropolis.org.in
1
Introspection is the first step in the Eightfold path taught by the Buddha
The Power of Introspection By Ran Kremer
National Director, New Acropolis South India
Our journey together along with this short write up
which gives a stable foundation, right direction and
about Introspection will start with the very first step on
clarity to our thought processes.
a path to a higher perspective of life – the said first step in our conceptual journey here is interestingly also the first step in the Eightfold path from the teachings of the Buddha, which is related to the final noble truthMAGGA or the cure from Ignorance and the liberation from suffering.
The main work (KARMA YOGA) and in-depth learning requires:
•
Start with zeroing in and focusing on practical
knowledge/philosophy which can facilitate simple and clear “Know Thyself” – the understanding of our Soma (body), Psyche, and Nous (Soul), and the
The Eightfold Path consists of eight practices: right
harmonization of the three.
introspection, right resolution, right speech, right
•
conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and the right SAMADHI (perfect concentration/ Enlightened consciousness).
At the same time, one also needs to learn how to
practically concentrate the mind better, learn how to be more single-minded with one’s thoughts, how to be hell-bent with one’s focus to achieve clarity and avoid
It was said by those ancient wise ones like the
distractions.
Buddha that humans are brought to this world in order
•
to actively introspect and develop “VIVEKA” – the capacity to discern clearly between what is real and unreal or what is eternal and what is transient (MAYA). The right introspection will lead to the second step on the eightfold path as taught by the Buddha - the right Resolution/ way of thinking - which would be obviously impossible to achieve unless the right introspection/ insight was practiced already. It seems that the ability to develop a clear and bright way of thinking depends on a firm base of focused and consistent introspection
2
The meaning of Concentration is to unite with the
heart/core of things, similar to the concept of YOGA; be one with what we are by being one with what we know and what we do; bring down the separation between one’s own life and the life that is shared. In order to open a path to better Introspection, from my individual knowledge and practical experience over the years as a disciple and teacher on a path to Wisdom, Introspection can also be seen as a form of practice of devotion (BHAKTI YOGA), of being truly
process that reveals to us once we engage with it and start walking this path, the deeper meaning of things
Introspection can also be seen as a form of practice of devotion (BHAKTI YOGA), of being truly In-touch and even in love with Life and Wisdom.
- the deeper aspects of life. Nonetheless, it will probably still remain our own individual work as aspiring philosophers to use this philosophy in a practical way while we introspect, and not just in an intellectual manner, so the energy of the teachings will not be “shelved” or wasted, and we will be able to experience gradually a certain progress in the quality and clarity of our thought processes and perception.
In-touch and even in love with life and Wisdom. It is about extending your heart with goodness and justice to what you do and to those who are dear to you. It is
Later on, clarity of thought, in the more advanced discipular phases, shall also reflect more and more in our day to day quality of speech and deeds.
to keep our inner eyes open to see the hidden beauty within, around us and in others. It is to keep our inner ear attentive to others while getting used to enjoying silence when no one is around. Introspection does not necessarily require too much time in a day as it is not about quantity, rather it is the quality of time spent being present in the moment. It is within the moment that you should be concentrated! Be attentive to yourself and what’s around you, and you will be able to remember the essential, resolve well, think right and see things as they really are! The fruit of the right introspection is clarity of thought, higher perspective and eventually the holy grail - that is to say being able to be decisive about our right direction in life. On a final note, while relating again to the path to Wisdom which I have mentioned individually, The Practical Esoteric Philosophy which is being taught at New Acropolis provides us with the fundamental knowledge and practices that are required for the process of cultivating practical introspection, the
3
Knocking on a Door from the Inside Through introspection, we come back home...
By Nirit Kremer
Co- Director, New Acropolis (India)
Sitting in my office, I have a habit of listening to classical
virtues and human values which are valid beyond time
music when I read. Usually I am touched by a piece and
and space, like beauty, justice, good and truth.
start listening to it for a while. If you are a music lover, you are probably familiar with those moments when you already know the piece well, listening to it again and again, anticipating the next melody to come, and enjoying the silent pause just before the next note. In a way, it is like listening to a good friend- enjoying his or her familiar voice, smile, words, and warmth.
When I was about eight years old, I read a story about a young boy who could become invisible. When he wanted someone to see him, he used to put a blanket on himself, so that the outlines of his body would be visible. It is the same with the various expressions of the path that Plotinus presents to us- they all give form to the invisiblethey frame for us the abstract virtues and ideals and
Plotinus, (ca. 204 to 270 CE) a major philosopher of the
translate them using the language and materials of our
ancient world, talked about three optional paths to elevate
concrete world.
the consciousness. He described them as the paths of the Lover, the Artist (musician) and the Philosopher. The three paths start from a concrete attraction and a love towards someone (the lover) or towards sounds (the artist) or towards ideas (the philosopher). But by walking with them, the lover/ artist/ philosopher is experiencing something which is beyond the forms/ sounds/ ideas/ relationships- something which is connected to the essence and the source of those expressions. Describing it will not be easy, since it is a little too abstract, but it can be experienced. Those glimpses into the abstract archetypes behind the expressions awaken within the travelers of the paths an understanding that what they are after is beyond the temporary vehicles of this world. The music, the good friend, the beautiful philosophical ideas- all reveal to our inner eyes eternal treasures,
4
There is a funny story about a man who was crawling on his knees in the middle of the street. A friend saw him and asked him what happened. The man told him that he had lost the key to his house and was now searching for it. The friend decided to help him and started searching around for the key… After two hours, both of them were still on their knees, and the friend stopped and asked: My dear friend, can you try to concentrate and recall where exactly the key fell down? The man answered: Oh, I remember well, I have lost the key in my house. The friend, quite surprised, asked: “Then, my friend, why are we searching here in the street?”. The man answered, ”Because here, there is much more light!” The starting point of the search for happiness is in many ways quite similar. We look for our happiness outside, we
Image Courtesy Photoangel - Freepik.com
think it is dependent on the love of others, and we can
accommodate better the inner reality of oneself- the
blame others if we don’t manage to find it or hold on to
radiant sun, the wisdom. However simply introspection
it… but taking a path is always an invitation to go back
is not enough. It should correspond with our actions,
home and search for the key within ourselves.
with our expressions and the way we communicate with
Going Home The one person, whom we should learn and know well, after so much time spent together, is the one that we are. Hence the paths lead us to “Know Thyself”, to learn who we are, meet ourselves and understand ourselves. One of the tools for that practice is Introspection.
people around us. Through the path and practice of action and introspection, we meet again the kind friend, we hear again the beautiful sounds and reaffirm the depth of the beautiful ideals- we meet them in our home, we see them around us and we can appreciate them.
There are various ways to practice introspection, and all of them require discipline and commitment, otherwise we might find ourselves “rushing back to the street in the search for the key”. But the path of introspection is also fascinating and magical, and we have to be ready for some surprising revelations, which sometimes might seem exactly the opposite of what we thought we knew before.
Knocking on a door, it opens. I’ve been knocking from the inside.
~ Rumi
Through introspection, we come back home, we learn who we are, we listen and create an inner space to
5
In 2005, UNESCO established a day dedicated to Philosophy not just as a discipline, but as an integral component for the development of humanity and cultures around the world. Every year, Philosophy Day is celebrated the world over to emphasize the enduring value of Philosophy in our lives to help build a culture based on development of human thought and values. This year on November 19, New Acropolis celebrated the World Philosophy Day 2016 with a Panel discussion on the theme ‘Philosophy and Music: Bridges to Harmony’, to learn and experience the deep connection between Music, the Classical Arts and Philosophy as mediums that manifest the eternal virtue of harmony and thus serve as bridges to higher wisdom. The event was organized in collaboration with The Bangalore School of Music (BSM) in the Aruna Sunderlal Auditorium at the BSM campus. The evening brought together 4 panelists from the world of Music, Classical Arts and Philosophy: Ms. Shabnam Virmani (Filmmaker, singer and artist from the Kabir Project), Ms. Miti Desai (Designer, Classical Dancer and educationist), Mr. Ashok Kumar V. (Actor and Musician) and Ms. Nirit Kremer (Co-Director, New Acropolis International Organization-South India, Bangalore). The panelists shared deep insights from their individual journeys with philosophy through their respective art forms as expressions of beauty, harmony and wisdom and how music, classical arts and philosophy serve as tools to bring the sacred to life. The evening was infused with magic through enchanting performances by the artistes in the panel, to create an unforgettable evening filled with inspiration!
6
Recent Events at New Acropolis, Bangalore A glimpse into few activities at New Acropolis, Bangalore, over the past few months
Public Talk - Spirit of the Samurai
Members coming together to volunteer for the beautification of the school entrance area
The Autumn Bazaar - A give-and-take bazaar to promote ecology and celebrate the human spirit of giving
7
EVENT SCHEDULE Jan - Mar 2017
January
Public Talk | Free Admission Let the Beauty We Love be What We Do Date: Jan 21, Saturday Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Venue: New Acropolis Beauty comes in many forms and the best expression of beauty is the one we create through our actions. Plato explains Beauty as the fundamental virtue that forms a significant aspect of the structure of any society, while Rumi shows us how best beauty can manifest through our creations. Join us to explore how beauty comes to fruition through what we do!
February
Public Talk | Free Admission The Ethical Leader Date: Feb 18, Saturday Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Venue: New Acropolis True leadership begins with cultivating inner leadership of the self. The ability to foremost lead our inner self with a strong foundation in eternal virtues determines the success of any external act of leadership. Plato’s pyramidal structure of the society places the ideal of Justice at the very heart of leadership and governance, bringing alive it’s true essence.
For more information contact | www.acropolis.org.in
March
Public Talk | Free Admission In Search of Truth: Philosophy and Science Date: Mar 25, Saturday Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Venue: New Acropolis In many ancient cultures, Philosophy and Science played key roles in the growth of the individual and the progress of society. In Plato’s Republic, Science meets Philosophy, in an intriguing search for Truth. Join us as we explore the ideal of the ‘True’ that drives all scientific progression.
April
19 Week Course Living Philosophy Free Trial class: Apr 12 & Apr 19 (Wednesdays) 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Batch starts: Apr 26, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Wednesdays) Venue: New Acropolis A 19-week Foundation in Practical Philosophy. For details, please visit www.acropolis.org.in
| info@newacropolis.in | +91 96638 04871
About New Acropolis International Organization
New Acropolis is an international non-profit organization – with a presence in over 60 countries. At its core it is a school for practical philosophy in the Classical style run
by
volunteers.
Worldwide
we have close to 40 thousand volunteers. All our volunteers are dedicated to bringing philosophy closer to the society for all people regardless
any
differences
of
PHILOSOPHY Philosophy has always been a search for spiritual truth. A process of going deeper into
social, religious, gender or political
the knowledge of Nature, the Human Being
background.
and the Universe. The search is an exercise
We came into being with the aim of bringing universal philosophy and wisdom to life in the hearts of the cities worldwide. Our focus is on philosophy - not just in the
of fighting against ignorance, confusion and prejudices. To be a philosopher is a way of life committed to the best aspirations of humanity. At New Acropolis we work with Practical Philosophy, which means we do not limit ourselves to reading, studying and theoretical
sense of the quest for knowledge,
knowledge, but set ourselves the goal of
and ideas, but on how we can use
learning to live well.
it so it will turn into Experience and Wisdom, thus widening our perspective of life and helping us evolve individually and collectively. We focus on philosophy as a way of life – as practical philosophy.
10
CULTURE The practice of human values is the basis for a model of active and participative culture, which brings out the qualities of each person, broadens the horizons of the mind and opens the human being up to all the expressions of the spirit. New Acropolis seeks to bring a new vision of culture: a culture with practical and living values, which enables its audiences to transform and improve themselves.
VOLUNTEERING For New Acropolis, volunteering is the practical way of embodying and applying Philosophy and Culture. It is the natural expression of generosity and service to society. It is an active and conscious participation to contribute to the common good. All the activities carried out by New Acropolis in the world, in its different fields of action, are achieved thanks to the work of thousands of volunteers. Volunteering makes us better as individuals and helps to make the world a better place.
11
My Journey A few new members of New Acropolis share their experience...
“ I am an entrepreneur and run a
“I am an entrepreneur by profession
“An engineer by profession, having
corporate training company for the last
and a passionate mother of a teen. I
worked in the Middle East for a couple
eight years. I came to know about New
believe, life is a gift and it needs to be
of years, I am at the moment aiding the
Acropolis through Meetup and followed
loved, savored, relished and shared.
family business. It was while frequenting
their Facebook page for two years
Every challenge is a stepping stone
Alliance Française, picking up a new
before enrolling. I grew up in a spiritual
to something bigger and better while
language, that I chanced upon the Living
environment and interest in philosophy
joy comes in making a difference. New
Philosophy poster and visited IONA for
came naturally. My deep interest in
Acropolis was introduced to me by a very
the intro session. It seemed like just the
understanding life and the neutral
good friend. As a seeker of the subtle
right fit. Continuous course correction
approach of New Acropolis firmed my
and profound, I was deeply moved by the
is something I strongly endorse, be it by
decision to explore the Living Philosophy
introductory class which spurred me to
religious inputs, or a feed of inspiration
course.
join the Living Philosophy Course.
every once in a while from great lives,
The teachings have helped me feel more
The key takeaway for me so far is the
grounded. My approach towards handling
need for introspection on self at all levels
Given my passionate stints in
key issues has changed. Today, my
and the need to practice balance and
volunteering earlier, I was all the more
overall outlook towards life and happiness
harmony. The tools for practical action
delighted to see the multitude of ways in
has been changing. I wish to implement
shared by the teachers at New Acropolis
which the organization engages itself on
these learnings in my day to day life.
are something I enjoy to grapple with.
very practical grounds, both within and
One thing that I like most about New
One thing that I love about NA is the pure
outside of it; not to mention the plethora
Acropolis is neutrality in teachings. This
welcoming energy that each individual
of cultural activities it partakes in.
helps students with larger perspective
brings to the table – be it a teacher, a
and allows them to choose what is
volunteer, a student. To have so many
appropriate for them.”
likeminded people in one forum is truly
~ Siddharthan
a find!”
Member of New Acropolis, Bangalore
~ Christina Mitali Ghose Member of New Acropolis, Bangalore
12
thoughts and so on.
As a member, with each passing meet, I am steering on the road to self-mastery, and wish for the path to be ever onwards and upwards.”
~ Arjun A. K. Member of New Acropolis, Bangalore
LIVING PHILOSOPHY To Awaken. To Transform. To Evolve. Foundation to Practical Philosophy
at The New Acropolis International Organization (IONA) - India Is philosophy restricted to books and concepts or is it possible to live the wisdom of the ancient masters in our everyday life? Living Philosophy is the foundation of a journey to discover and experience the deeper esoteric concepts of self, nature and humanity. Philosophy as a way of life begins foremost with an inward journey and when practiced, it finds its true essence of transformation of the self and that of the world around us.
For details of the upcoming batch of Living Philosophy refer to back cover.
Highlights of some of the themes that will be covered in the 19 session course: Know Thyself
Different levels of human consciousness with perspectives from the east and the west. What is transient and what is eternal?
The Wisdom of Ancient India
Learn the story of Arjuna, the warrior. The Bhagavad Gita describes the battles of life and tools to help us win this battle. Universal laws of Dharma, Karma and the discernment to identify and implement the Right action.
Life and Teachings of the Buddha
Explore the life of the Buddha and his teaching through the Dhammapada. This gives us practical advice on how to overcome pain and suffering and live a noble life.
The Artist, The In Love And The Philosopher
Who are you? Discover the wisdom of the ancient Romans through the Stoic philosophers. Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius teach us simple and practical philosophy, of working with virtues as a path to progress.
Tools For Life From The Ancient World
Explore the wisdom of the ancient Egyptians, the idea of justice. From ancient China comes Confucius’ expounding the importance of an ethical social order.
The Light At The End Of The Cave
What is the identity of a philosopher, the true leader and a politician. The metaphor of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, the grand illusion and how we can free ourselves from it.
‘Buddha’ By Michael Hoefner commons.wikimedia.org CC BY SA 3.0