The ‘Houses of Life’ – the Wisdom and Mystery Schools in Ancient Egypt
Author: Sabine LeitnerMarch 28, 2026
I will never forget a very well-educated friend of mine who once said, with a hint of contempt in his voice, that the Egyptians didn’t have philosophy. He claimed they weren’t worth studying, and this is a view I have heard more than once – that Western civilization was born entirely of Greek and Roman thought. We now know, however, that the Greeks were deeply inspired by Egypt. Many of [...]
Is Meaning Dead?
Author: Sabine LeitnerDecember 30, 2025
I have always believed that it is healthy to question everything every now and then and to check whether the beliefs we have adopted during our journey through life are still valid. In some way, we could call this a mini-crisis of meaning because it can be quite painful, even destructive to current arrangements, and a time of great sadness and loneliness because suddenly we might not enjoy what [...]
Developing Inner Life
Author: Siobhan FarrarDecember 30, 2025
“Inner life is indispensable” - Jorge Angel Livraga Rizzi In general scientists and philosophers agree that what we call ‘Life’ is characterized by movement, and ‘inner life’ is the same, except that the movement is of an inner or invisible nature. This includes the movements of the ‘stranger within’ whom we can recognize as a presence that has always accompanied us, and whom [...]
Many Traditions, One Essence: Seeking Beauty through a Diversity of Expressions (Celebrating Arts Day 2024)
Author: Manjula Nanavati (compiled by)July 8, 2024
New Acropolis, a school of practical philosophy present in over 50 countries, celebrated Arts Day 2024, in recognition of the value of art and culture in all their myriad expressions, to individuals and to societies. India North, comprising the main centre Mumbai and the Pune branch, hosted an event at each location on June 9th, entitled Many Traditions, One Essence: Seeking Beauty through a [...]
Building The Future
Author: Carlos AdelantadoJune 8, 2024
The path of philosophy is long but not hard. It is a path of searching, of always learning. We like to define a philosopher as a seeker, a lover of wisdom. A philosopher is the one who asks questions about life and tries to find answers; answers that can be valid and useful to find some meaning in life. Today, a question brings us together: How can we build our future? This question carries [...]
‘To be or not to be’ Today
Author: Ana Luisa LellisSeptember 8, 2023
'To be or not to be, that is the question’. How many times have we heard, seen, or read this sentence? From Laurence Olivier to Bugs Bunny, so many have tried their hand at interpreting what is quite possibly the most famous soliloquy in literature. Hamlet’s themes, characters, and iconic lines have permeated various forms of art and entertainment, and yet we still must ask ourselves if we [...]
What Has Philosophy Taught Me?
Author: Antonin VinklerMay 14, 2023
Probably, all of us philosophers have to regularly answer questions such as - “What do you need this philosophy for?”. Today I am asking myself that same question – why do I need it in life? what has it taught me? And since it has taught me quite a few things, I will list some of them here: – what is my Sun and which are my planets – karmic “banking” – spiritual math – to [...]
My Friend, the Insect
Author: Carlos AdelantadoApril 9, 2023
One night, like most nights, I was reading while lying in bed. It was a book of lectures by Professor Jorge A. Livraga. It was the end of the day, darkness all around, silence.... By the light of the small lamp on the bedside table, my intellectual activity extended into the moments before sleep. Reading, reflection, peace in my heart... Everything was perfect. Suddenly, he appeared, [...]
All the Time in the World
Author: Sivan BarzilayDecember 27, 2020
For many of us who live in big cities, Time is something we always lack. We find ourselves struggling to reach places on time, to submit our work on time, to wake up on time, and the list can go on and on… If only someone could give us a little more time to complete everything we want to. If only someone could teach us how to stop time from always moving forward, as if it is falling through our [...]
Plant Lore – A Brief Insight Into the Mythology and Symbology of Plants
Author: Gareth KinsellaNovember 19, 2020
"And just as speech is invention about objects and ideas, so myth is invention about truth." - Humphrey Carpenter You may not know it, but as a child, plant allegories may have left a bigger impact on you than first imagined. Vivid and captivating fables, like conceptual seeds that were sown in your mind through fairy tale and superstition. Plant lore, like any other, has its roots in vague [...]
The Spring Equinox
Author: Nataliya PetlevychApril 17, 2020
We all are cheered by days full of the renewing energy of spring – a beautiful time when nature awakens, the days become longer and everything living rejoices. There is a special time in the year when the Sun is exactly above the equator, hence the Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun and day and night are approximately 12 hours long everywhere on Earth. This is known [...]
Bill Viola / Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth
Author: Miha KosirMay 26, 2019
What is life, what is death, is there a rebirth? These are the big questions arising with the first spark of self-awareness. But what are the answers? A recent exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts entitled Bill Viola / Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth displayed some of the finest drawings by versatile renaissance artist Michelangelo together with video installations of contemporary video [...]