Showing 581 articles

Philosophy and the Sacred

Author: Gilad Sommer

January 22, 2023

Some of my readers might be confused, asking themselves what is the connection between philosophy, a purely rational discipline, and the sacred? Isn’t mysticism the domain of religion? This misunderstanding is rooted in the fact that today we use the name philosophy for two completely different things. To be more precise, at some point in [...]

My Original Face Before My Parents Were Born: The Tryst with Koans

Author: Sukesh Motwani

January 10, 2023

A Zen master asks his student, “Without thinking good or evil, in this very moment, What is your original Face? …. Show me your Original Face, the face you had before your parents were born.” “Quickly, quickly, without thinking right and wrong…” (Before the engines of thought and feeling start revving, before you’re making judgements [...]

Giordano Bruno: Some Life Lessons

Author: Ambuj Dixit

January 10, 2023

“And how many years can some people exist Before they’re allowed to be free? Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head And pretend that he just doesn’t see? How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky?” These lines from Bob Dylan’s song – Blowing in [...]

SACRED GEOMETRY: In conversation with Adam Williamson

Author: Manjula Nanavati

January 10, 2023

Adam Williamson is an award-winning calligrapher and sculptor whose permanent public works can be viewed around the U.K. He is drawn to particular shapes and patterns that embody universal principles found in nature, made visible through the hands of craftsmen. Adam has been commissioned by many prestigious clients including Oxford University, Shakespeare’s Globe London, Westminster [...]

Name Our Era

Author: Antonin Vinkler

December 30, 2022

Are we living at a turning point in history? Probably many people have said this to themselves (while looking at the first bicycle, binoculars or the first field canon). Many of us who have explored world history, are certain that our era is not like the previous centuries, when people have changed attributes, characteristics, emphasis [...]

The Key to Triumph

Author: Carlos Adelantado

November 7, 2022

At the outset, I believe we must differentiate between what we call “success” and what we would consider a true “triumph”. Success comes through the happy outcome of a matter in which we have been involved, or the actions we have taken to achieve a certain end. But to do something successfully does not mean [...]

Without Ethics, Nothing is Going to Work

Author: Gilad Sommer

October 23, 2022

In March this year, the British Journal of Medicine, one of the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed journals in the field of medicine, published an article called “The Illusion of Evidence Based Medicine”. In a nutshell, the article argues that “evidence-based medicine has been corrupted by corporate interests, failed regulation, and commercialisation of academia.” The [...]

Harmonizing with Nature: The Ashaninka Tribe

Author: Axelle Defrasne

October 9, 2022

Modern-day living seems to center around finding as much comfort in life as possible and aspiring for some growth, usually material. As a result, we are facing the great challenge of seeing our planet’s resources declining, and a general concern about our survival on earth. The fact that ecological activism is on the rise is [...]

A Lifetime Of Architecture: In Conversation With B V Doshi

Author: Zarina Screwvala and Nupur Sampat

October 9, 2022

“Projects must go beyond the functional to connect with the human spirit through poetic and philosophical underpinnings.” – The 2018 Pritzker Architecture Prize Jury Citation for Mr. Doshi On 30th October 2021, New Acropolis Culture Circle hosted renowned architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi, sharing his life experiences in a talk titled ‘A Lifetime of Architecture’.  Charting [...]

Qawwali: Call of the Spirit

Author: Harianto Mehta

October 9, 2022

This article serves only as an introduction to the legendary origins, metaphysical purpose, and the traditional form used in the practice of Qawwali. It would be impossible to capture the cultural nuances, complex history, and social impact of the genre in this brief work, but I hope to share some principal themes that have emerged [...]

The Measure of Success

Author: Yaron Barzilay

October 9, 2022

It is natural to wish to live a successful and meaningful life; to feel we managed to contribute, and make some difference, some impact on the world around us; to feel we fulfilled our life. To do so, it can be logical that one would seek to influence others,  to be considered successful in their [...]

Interview with Delia Steinberg Guzmán, Honorary President of New Acropolis

Author: International Organisation New Acropolis

September 11, 2022

Introduction In 1991, Delia Steinberg took over the presidency of New Acropolis following the death of its founder, Jorge Angel Livraga Rizzi, under whose guidance she had worked very closely over a period of more than 20 years. She is currently Honorary President of the International Organisation New Acropolis. Under Delia’s leadership, New Acropolis has [...]