New Acropolis

Aims and Principles

Aims

The mass mentality which has overtaken our society goes against the expression of our deeper human concerns. However, the need to give expression to our aspirations remains. This need explains the presence of New Acropolis in society.

Professor Livraga identified several factors which he saw as producing a kind of apathy in the human soul: the ever-faster pace of life in our cities, the lack of contact with nature, the artificiality of our relationships and communications and the ephemeral and utilitarian goals we set ourselves. He saw New Acropolis as an antidote to this state of fact. He was determined that our association should help all of us to raise our consciouness to these problems and to take the opportunity to express our inner self. The present situation but confirms this view for today, more than ever, there is a pressing need to bring these aims about.

1. The authentic Human Being
The authentic Human Being is a person who can distinguish between the essential and the non-essential and yet give both its own proper value; a person who can tell the difference between truth and falsehood and has the ability to strike a harmonious balance between inner experience and external life.

Philosophy broadens human consciousness, enabling self awareness and the subsequent development of better human relationships.

2. A renewal of the Human Being
As the authentic Human Being begins to awaken, a new sense of creativity opens up for him. He develops a feeling of self-confidence, inner strength and self-control, which enables him to face up and adapt to the challenges to seize the opportunities of his existence.

3. A cultural renaissance
So our challenge today is to move away from a conformist culture, which only follows the dictates of fashion, to a more dynamic application of the essential values of philosophy, sciences and arts to work with en eye to the future.

Principles

New Acropolis embraces and promotes principles of union inspired by such philosophies as Pythagoreanism, Neoplatonism, Theosophy and others, which in their time brought about real progress in civilization.

1. Fraternity among all human beings
Union beyond differences. Respect for different identities and traditions, combined with the understanding that we are all citizens of the world.

2. Harmonious coexistence between cultures
The practice of tolerance, fostered by a global education and culture, makes it possible to link together all fields of creativity and thought. Making connections in this way allows us to see beyond apparent contradictions and find them compatible and complementary.

It brings new and different people, ideas and feelings into harmony, in a richer and more open social community.

3. Development of the individual's spiritual capacity
The human being is an integral part of nature but he is unaware of his own potential even though the possibilities for self-development are almost infinite.

Delia Steinberg Guzman - Internationa Presidet

Born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on January 7th 1943
Obtained Spanish Nationality in 1975

Education and Qualifications

She began her musical studies at the age of six and graduated as a teacher of piano and composition at the Buenos Aires National School of Music at the age of seventeen. During this period she studied to improve her technique under the Argentinean pianist Flora Nudelman and later under the Russian maestro Hubert Brandenburg.

After following courses in exact sciences, journalism, advertising and humanities, she graduated in philosophy from the University of Buenos Aires. She went on with specialized courses in archaeology, history and history of music.

Musical Activities

She gave her first public performance at the age of ten. She was subsequently selected to give piano recitals on many occasions by a number of official and private bodies, including the Christian Youth Association, Young Argentinean Concert Performers, the Athenaeum for Culture and Arts, New Musical Values, Harmonicus Association, the Department of Culture within the Ministry of Education of the Argentine Republic, and Musical Promotions. On the 30th anniversary of the death of Maurice Ravel, she joined with other artists and journalists in a tribute to the deceased musician at the Institute of Argentinean Engineers on July 7th 1967.

She has played concerts at many different venues, as well as for radio and television in Argentina, Uruguay and Peru. Her performances received excellent reviews in the press.

In order to promote the study of music, she founded the Tristan Institute of Music, where she has been teaching the piano since 1989. This Institute, which was conceived from the outset as an international association, currently operates in Spain, Brazil and Germany.

She also runs musical appreciation courses in Spain, including courses on the complete works of J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart , R. Wagner and R. Schumann.

Wishing to promote new values, she instituted the New Acropolis Piano Competition in 1975, an international contest for which she sits on the Jury and which has helped to further the artistic careers of professional musicians.

Publications

Various magazines and newsapers published many of her writings on topics relating to philosophy, music and culture in general.

Since 1972 she has been editor of the Spanish magazine "Cuadernos de Cultura" (Cultural Notebooks), for which she has written many articles and regular columns, such as "Between ourselves", "At the end of the day", "A story to tell", "Let's think about...", aimed at promoting philosophical reflection throughout the course of our daily activites.

Since 2000 she has also been editor of the cultural magazine "Sphinx", which has a wide readership throughout Spain and Latin America.

Some of her major book titles are:

Published in Spanish:

"The Games of Maya" (Madrid, 1st ed. 1980, 2nd ed. 1982)
"Someone told me..." (Madrid, 1984)
"Today I saw..."(Madrid,1983)
"Life after Death" (Madrid, 2002)
"The Everyday Hero" (Madrid, 1st ed. 1996, 2nd ed. 2002)
"The Dangers of Racism" (Madrid, 1997)
"The Soul of Woman" (Madrid, 2002)
"Freedom and Predestination" (Madrid, 2002)
"Memories and Reminiscences" (Madrid, 2002)

Published in Portuguese:
"The Art of Successful Living" (Oporto,1995)
"Towards a New Middle Ages" (Oporto, 1996)
"Why Cults are Booming" (Oporto, 1996)

Published in Turkish:
"Flight towards Freedom" (Ankara, 1st ed. 1993, 2nd ed. 1995, 3rd ed. 1996)

Published in French:
"Philosophy for Living" (Paris,2002)

The works written in Spanish have been translated into French, German, Czech, Portuguese, Turkish, Russian, Greek and other languages.

Activities within the International Organization New Acropolis
In 1966 she joined the International Organization New Acropolis and followed the complete course of studies of the School of Philosophy of that organisation under the guidance of its founder Jorge Angel Livraga.

Since she has begun teaching at this institution, she has given classes in History of Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Symbolism, History of Religions, Eastern Philosophy, Psychology and Metaphysical Aesthetics. She has also written guides for teaching these subjects.

She has given courses and seminars on subjects such as: "Common Points among Ancient Civilizations"; "The Phenomenon of Religion in the Middle Ages"; "The Keys to Astrology"; "The Origin of Man and the Universe according to Eastern Cultures"; "Philosophy for Living"; "Astrology and Psychology"; "Keys to the Interpretation of Ancient India"; "Magic and the Enigmas of Ancient Egypt"; "The Legacy of the Templars"; "Pre-Columbian Civilizations"; "Philosophical and Religious Doctrine of Buddhism"; "Egypt: Thought, Life and Religion"; "Music Therapy"; etc.

In 1977, she started a Short Story Competition in Spain, which was promoted internationally, and sits on the panel of judges alongside distinguished figures of this literary style.

From 1972 to 1991 she was the Director of this institution in Spain, during which period the cultural activity of New Acropolis extended to over thirty cities throughout the country. Between 1975 and 1991 she was also the co-ordinator of the activities of New Acropolis in Europe. From 1991, after the death of the founder of New Acropolis, Jorge Angel Livraga Rizzi, she was elected as its International Director, taking charge of the management of the organization and co-ordinating its development in the around fifty countries in which it is established.

In 1980, for her work as Director of New Acropolis, she was awarded the Silver Medal in Arts, Sciences and Literature by the Academic Society of Education, accredited by the French Academy.

Beatriz Diez-Canseco Bustamante - International vice-president

Born in Lima (Peru), on April 23rd 1957.

Specialized in oriental and occidental philosophy and in the implementation of human development projects.

Following a successful career as President of New Acropolis in Peru, she is named International Co-President of New Acropolis in March 2005.

Her work in the educational and cultural domains has been extremely fruitful. Since 1986, when she became President of New Acropolis in Peru, professor Diez Canseco has worked for the growth and development of the national organization by opening 34 branches across the country.

Applying the humanistic philosophy of New Acropolis in all domains, she brought together thousands of people of all ages and came to direct the largest association of volunteers existing in Peru. These volunteers participate in numerous social projects in the educational, health, cultural, and environmental domains. Currently, the diverse projects and activities carried out for the fulfillment of the human being bring tangible aid to over 430 000 Peruvians each year.

One of the main aims of these activities is the training of men and women in order to capacitate them to effectively face the challenges of our era and of their own fulfillment.

Impact of Diez Canseco’s work in Peru

Improvement of the quality of education:
In 1985, professor Diez Canseco implements an experimental academic project approved by the Ministry of Education in Peru, by founding the Giordano Bruno College. The result of this project is an inspirational pioneering work in terms of education and of the teaching of human values for children and adolescents. The Giordano Bruno pedagogical model has been used by other educational associations.

Revaluation of musical Arts

Always concerned about the necessity of offering youths a global education, and in the face of the absence of musical programs in Peruvian schools, professor Beatriz Diez Canseco directed during 22 years (since 1983) the implementation and development of a National Program of Musical Education. The program consists of the on-going promotion of musical practice in more than 500 schools located in the country’s major cities (Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo, and Cajamarca). These schools annually participate in the “New Acropolis International Music Competition” bringing to it over 15 000 students.

This event has proven to be an effective instrument in strengthening the quality of musical interpretation and in improving the pedagogy of instructors, thus benefiting the rehabilitation of music as educational instrument at the national level.

Rehabilitation of natural medicine

Inspired by the rich tradition of natural medicine in Peru, professor Beatriz Diez Canseco encouraged, in 1984, the foundation and development of the “Seraphis Institute of New Medicine” that gathers numerous doctors and health professionals, all members of New Acropolis. These health professionals have complemented their university-level training with specialized studies in medicinal plants and alternative treatments.

In April 1994, in order to support medical treatments and to foster a true restoration of patients’ health, she proposes and sponsors a research project in natural pharmacology, named “Paracelsus Laboratories”. This initiative allowed to perfect over 500 products pertaining to natural medicine without the presence of contraindications, thus benefiting over 12 000 patients.

Encouragement of social responsibility

A pioneer with regards to the implementation of social aid projects, for over 20 years Beatriz Diez Canseco has carried out permanent campaigns on medical, nutritional, psychological, environmental, and legal assistance, among other domains. All of these projects have received the continuous support of private entrepreneurs, of local authorities, and of other national and international organizations. These campaigns annually aid over 250 000 people, especially children, women and the elderly, living in extreme poverty.

Promotion of culture and of human values

Aware of the necessity of decentralizing cultural activities in Peru, professor Beatriz Diez Canseco strongly encourages the opening of cultural centers and public libraries pertaining to New Acropolis in every city of the country, thus maintaining a strong presence of the institution at the national level since 1995. Thanks to this decentralization effort New Acropolis is currently able to offer over 14 000 free cultural activities each year in its 34 branches: recitals, exhibits, lectures, theatrical representations, etc. Further, its public libraries allow people access to more than 50 000 books. All these projects combined have allowed over a million Peruvian citizens to have access to culture.

The multiplying effect of pedagogical work

All the social and cultural work undertaken by professor Beatriz Diez Canseco is proof of her strong commitment in favor of collective wellbeing, via the application of the educational program proposed by New Acropolis.

Professor Beatriz Diez Canseco became a member of New Acropolis in Peru in 1979 by following the Program of Philosophical Studies of the association, and by participating in numerous educational workshops pertaining to the development of the individual.

As a member of the teaching body of the association, for 20 years she has been carrying out an intense pedagogical work by teaching a diverse range of philosophical subjects, such as Ethics, Psychology, Oriental Philosophy, Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy and Symbolism.

An excellent public speaker, she presents numerous lectures, at both the national and international levels. In this way, each year she comes into direct pedagogical contact with over 14 500 people.

A main axis of her work has consisted of the « training of trainers » and of the continuous supervision of instructor volunteers, who, by developing both their awareness of social problems and their willingness to serve their environment have acquired a true mastery in terms of communication skills, group leadership, and emotional intelligence. This work represents a tangible contribution on the part of New Acropolis to the fostering of human values and to citizenship.

The richness and intensity of professor Beatriz Diez Canseco’s experience in Peru represents in this way a promise of further strengthening and developing the social, cultural, and humanistic contribution of New Acropolis in the world.

Origins

New Acropolis : Its beginnings

The New Acropolis Cultural Association was created 49 years ago, in 1957. Ever since then, it aims to provide young people with the best kind of philosophical education - one that is suited to our modern times, independant and unrestricted by any religious, political or socio-economic influences.

Initiated by Professor Jorge Angel Livraga Rizzi, together with a group of young university teachers and students, the project soon attracted leading personalities from the world of arts and culture. The focus that brought them all together was an idea and a movement which were both enriching for the mind and promising for all.

At the beginning of the Seventies, the extent of its social and cultural activities led to the Association's recognition as a state-approved organization in Argentina. At around the same time, it began to take on an international dimension.

Today, the New Acropolis Cultural Association is present in over 50 countries around the world. Its over 10.000 active members and hundreds of thousands of supporters express themselves in more than 18 languages and come from a wide range of religious denominations, ethnic origins and cultural backgrounds, offering a fine example of fraternal co-existence and mutual understanding.

Its Founder

Jorge Ángel Livraga Rizzi was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on September 3rd 1930 and died in Madrid on October 7th 1991. Both his mother, Victoria Rizzi, and his father, Ángel Livraga, an industrial engineer, were of Italian extraction. Both their families were of peasant origins and had emigrated to Argentina at the end of the 19th century. This family relationship later enabled him to obtain Italian nationality.

The early death of his father, when Jorge was only fifteen, brought about a profound crisis which led him to become interested in esoteric philosophy. He came into contact with the Argentine Theosophical Society, where he embarked on studies of the History of Religions and Symbolism, combining them with his training at the Medical Faculty of the University of Buenos Aires. At the same time, his interest in history, archaeology and art led him to take courses in these subjects at the same university. He also cultivated poetry and, in 1951, won the Argentine National Poetry Prize with his book “Lotuses”.

In 1956 he founded the magazine “Estudios Teosóficos” (Theosophical Studies), which was intended to make the works of H.P. Blavatsky more widely known among university students, by comparing them with the new scientific discoveries of the 20th century. In the following year, on the instructions of the renowned theosophist Sri Ram, he took this work a step further by creating “New Acropolis”, an Association intended to promote Philosophy among young people, along the lines of the classical Schools of Philosophy, such as Plato’s Academy and the Neoplatonic School. “We realised that humanity possessed an immense treasure of Wisdom, which had been hidden and forgotten, and lay beyond the reach of young people. A Wisdom that provides answers about the meaning of life and ways in which society - the world around us - can be improved”, he recalled on one occasion.

A few years later, the Association’s international vocation led it to establish its first centre outside Argentina, in Montevideo (Uruguay). This first step, which was soon followed by others, took New Acropolis to other countries on the American continent, such as Mexico, Peru, Chile and Venezuela. In 1972 Livraga decided to take his philosophical ideal to Europe, first to Spain, then to France and the United Kingdom. New Acropolis has continued to expand ever since and today is present in around fifty countries across Europe, America and Asia.

It could be said that the life and work of Jorge Ángel Livraga were bound up with that of the movement he had founded. He focussed on establishing a well-developed and rigorous base of knowledge, a synthesis of the great systems of thought at the root of the many civilisations and cultures of history. He was a tireless traveller and regularly visited the countries where the Association had centres, promoting cultural activities, giving classes, writing articles and coming into direct contact with the widest variety of people.

His prime concern was to ensure that this treasure of knowledge was applied in a practical way, proposing philosophy as a way of living accessible to all kinds of people of different mentalities and from various social backgrounds all over the world. In that sense, he used to define his task as the creation of a survival module”, helping to foster a better individual, who in turn could build a better world. The barriers which tend to separate human beings and set them against one another, such as violence, dogmatism, racism and exclusion of all kinds, could cease to have their devastating effects if another way of life was to be promoted – tolerant and educated, firmly based on a solid philosophical education, capable of awakening the latent qualities that lie within every human being.

His works

The aim of bringing knowledge and philosophy to the widest possible audience is paramount in the works of Jorge Ángel Livraga, which have a clearly educational content. As a result, a considerable part of his intellectual output consists of compilations of his classes and lectures, given to the most varied audiences and on the widest range of topics, although always guided by a single thread: the need to awaken the individual consciousness in each human being and to develop a sense of responsibility for creating a more just and caring world, in which everyone would have access to education and culture.

Jorge Ángel Livraga reflected on the times in which he lived and argued for the need to exercise freedom of thought and individual independence in the face of the manipulation and deceit of the powerful. His lectures are collected into a four-volume work entitled “Magic, Religion and Science for the 21st Century”.

His first works were in the genre of historical narrative, such as his first novel, “Ankor the Disciple”. In this he narrates the adventures of a young aspirant to esoteric wisdom, in the imagined atmosphere of the time just before the sinking of Poseidonis, the last vestige of the mythical Atlantis, according to the dialogues of Plato. In this youthful work, Livraga presents the teachings which he himself had received during his own philosophical training. He returned to the genre of historical narrative in “The Alchemist”, a work which recreates the atmosphere of the secret fraternities that arose in Europe in the 16th century and at the same time offers an impassioned defence of freedom of thought.

The explanation of natural phenomena sums up the contents of one of his most translated works: “The Spirits of Nature”. The same approach was extended to every area of Esoteric Philosophy in “Introduction to Eastern Wisdom”, a real guidebook for those wishing to begin their quest for the underlying knowledge behind phenomena, philosophies and religions. Another work in this educational line is “Letters to Delia and Fernando”, a series of dialogues with two of his closest disciples on the questions that arise for young people when they adopt a philosophical point of view, enlivened by the original approach of the founder of New Acropolis.

Insights into the events of our times are expressed in two works of particular interest. One of them, “Myths of the 20th Century”, takes a retrospective look at the high-sounding words which have been used to justify many outrages, injustices and contradictions, and invites the reader to enter the 21st century with greater independence and freedom of opinion. In “Moassy the Dog” he reiterates that criticism, using the fiction of a dog with the appearance of a man, who confronts human irrationality with his logical, dog-like simplicity.

His love for archaeology and his in-depth knowledge of Egyptian civilisation made him choose Thebes, the ancient capital of the Middle Kingdom, to interpret some of the features of that far-off, yet familiar world, since, as the author somewhat enigmatically states, “Thebes is a state of consciousness”.

As a way of transmitting his understanding of the soul of Greece, Livraga chose the subject of theatre and its genres, in his work “The Mystery Theatre.Tragedy”. Through his analysis of this art form he provides deep insights into the world of the soul and unveils some of its keys, always in the light of the greatness of the inner hero who lies hidden within every human being. It was the first of a series of studies which he left unfinished.

These works have been translated into many languages, including French, English, Portuguese, Greek, Russian, Czech and German.