April 2019 - The Acropolitan Magazine

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

The philosophical tradition proposes that it is by decoding our past, that we might discover vital keys to forge a better future. As if to be baked in an alchemical oven, mythology suggests that it will require the kneading of ourselves, through difficult challenges, to rise in consciousness, and express the best of our human potential.

Ancient civilizations emphasized the need to emerge from the darkness of materialism and ignorance, to the light of wisdom and Truth; the Ancient Greeks spoke of it as the need to tune into the music of Orpheus, the natural harmony of life.

Let us dare to imagine a new model of human civilization; one that is rooted in such a harmony, and the pursuit of Truth, in which we each Discover, Awaken, and Transform ourselves. This spring we invite you to join us as we embark on this philosophical adventure!

ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE

Mythology as an Inner Compass: Q&A with Amish

April 1, 2019

By Vasant Sanzgiri

Amish Tripathi is the prolific author of the hugely successful Shiva Trilogy, the Ramachandra series and a nonfiction book Immortal India. His work has been recognized by numerous literary awards, and publishing benchmarks; the Shiva Trilogy is the highest selling book series in Indian publishing history. Amish, who goes by his first name only, seeks to be judged by his own karma, rather than that of his antecedents.

His books are steeped in familiar mythology, replete with symbolism, but with an emphasis on philosophy and a message that is surprisingly modern and liberal in its attitude towards gender, equality, and socio-politics.

Between Light and Darkness: A Lesson I Have Learned from Orpheus

April 1, 2019

By Sivan Barzilay

In recent months I have found myself walking between the light and darkness, on the seam line of the mysteries of life. People, both close and more distant, have passed away in circumstances that for some was a release from great suffering, while others caught me by surprise … And death, as always, is as real as life itself. It is hard to escape or hide from it. It knocks on your door and stands in front of you; steady, terminal and clear. And you can do nothing but deal with it.

Philosophy of History: A Key to the Past, the Present and the Future

April 1, 2019

By Julian Scott

There is an old Eastern saying which states: “The Past Time is the Present Time, as also the Future, which, though it has not come into existence, still is.” In the Eastern view of time, reality exists beyond the temporal realm and what we experience as separate stages are actually part of a simultaneous reality. This is an interesting concept, implying that the past still exists, the present is but a fleeting moment and the future already exists in the blueprint of nature. It would be one way of explaining the many instances of prophecy that have been recorded in history.

Life: A Box of Cupcakes

April 1, 2019

By Krutika Mehta

Those who love baking know the joy of seeing coarse ingredients come together to give birth to a cake. I am a baker by profession and absolutely love baking. Every time I put a tray of cupcakes to bake, I find myself staring into the oven to catch a glimpse of their gradual metamorphosis. I love to see them rise and wait to be the first one to catch their delicious fragrance. I am a hopeless addict; often baking cakes, brownies, and cookies, even when I don’t have orders to dispatch. The simple pleasure of sitting at a table, enjoying cake and coffee, to talk to a friend about how the day was, evokes within me the joy of having spread some love in my own small way.

A New Model of Civilization

April 1, 2019

By Gilad Sommer

One of the most astounding things about ancient civilizations is the unity of their way of life. In the Art Institute of Chicago, for example, there is a beautiful stele from the Mayan ruins of Calakmul in Mexico. This stele presents a ruler in his task as a high priest, dressed in ceremonial garbs, holding ritual objects and clearly executing an important ritual. The ritual in question, we believe, is related to the closing of a ten-year cycle in the Mayan calendar, which was measured to such preciseness, that today we can determine the exact date of the ritual. This stele, therefore, is artistic in its presentation, religious in its significance, political in its authority and scientific in its measurements.