1 Resolution Published in 2019 by New Acropolis Cultural Organization. Mumbai, India. http://www.empoweringrealchange.com/ www.acropolis.org.in [email protected] Copyright © New Acropolis Cultural Organization 2019. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the publisher. Printed in India. Resolution New Acropolis Cultural Organization is an independent We have always tried to understand the expression of all member of an International non-profit association (IONA), cultures, past and present, to discover the roots of their represented in over 60 countries across the world. works of art, scientific advances, religious experiences and social and human projects through Philosophy, Culture and IONA promotes an ideal of timeless values to contribute to Volunteering. With inspiration from the timeless principles individual and collective evolution. Its associative structure of the Indian tradition, New Acropolis India, works with a guarantees respect for the diversity, autonomy and initiative specific focus to rediscover India’s rich artistic, scientific of each of its member associations. Its operational structure and human heritage and offer it as a vital contribution to enables it to act independently of all political, religious or collective human progress relevant to our times today. financial interests. Philosophy, when it is practical, is educational. It helps us to know ourselves and to improve ourselves. To be a philosopher is a way of life committed to the best aspirations of humanity. PHILOSOPHY 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 CULTURE of the mind and opens the human being up to all the expressions of the spirit. Volunteering is the natural of a spirit of union with life and humanity, which manifests in the practice of values such as unselfishness, commitment and VOLUNTEER striving for the common good. Table of Content 07 10 11 In the Light of Truth National Committee Messages of Support By Yaron Barzilay Marks Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary Govt. of India: Press Release 18 21 25 CONFERENCE THE VISION ENVISIONING A MODEL RESOLUTION OPENING ADDRESS SOCIETY Yaron Barzilay Dr. Saamdu Chetri & Dr. Tridip Suhrud Moderated by Dipti Sanzgiri 37 49 63 TRANSFORMATION RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS RECONNECTING WITH THROUGH EDUCATION Ronnie Screwvala & NATURE Anu Aga & Chetna Gala Sinha Dr. Vandana Shiva Sonam Wangchuk Moderated by Harianto Mehta Moderated by Harianto Mehta Moderated by Zarina Screwvala 72 86 91 BECOMING THE CHANGE Panelists Understanding Gandhi Pierre Poulain & An Exchange with 5 Fernand Schwarz Dr. Tridip Suhrud Moderated by Yaron Barzilay By Harianto Mehta and Manjula Nanavati 97 103 104 Daring to Dream of a New In the Press Around the World and Better World Q&A with Yaron Barzilay By Manjula Nanavati “Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time.” M. K. Gandhi 6 In the Light of Truth By Yaron Barzilay Curator, Empowering Real Change Director, New Acropolis Cultural Organization (India) Our recent times are characterized by a Truth is a familiar word to all. Yet it may be most phenomenon due to which we may refer to it elusive of all. We often use the word, but how as a Post Truth Era. Not only are the differences little we know of it; what does truth really mean? between the real and unreal fewer, and less What is truth? clear, but they are regarded as irrelevant. This seems to be yet another inevitable step If we refer to an absolute all-embracing truth, or downward in postmodernist thinking, and the timeless omnipresent reality, we may never it deserves our attention and reflection as it really get to know it. Instead we are only able seems to be yet another warning sign for what to grasp glimpses of relative truths. Yet, there 7 is yet to come. In a world so heavily bombarded must be some correlation between what we by an overwhelming quantity of information refer to as relative and absolute for one who and stimulation, with a constant increase in walks on a path towards a definite destiny. It speed and movement, it seems almost natural may be a direct path towards the goal. Or it to adopt an indifferent approach to what we may be twisted and curved. But the general read, hear or see; it is very easy to develop a direction should be clear. In order to move on a general apathy towards the world around us, path, one needs to leave one’s current position, where real life tragedies are folded together one’s relative perspective. But it is also essential with entertainment, and the boundary between to know that one needs to move forward and fact and fiction disappears. upward, not backward nor downward. To pursue relative truths, which are not merely a result and inclined to fall apart. A real direction is of intellectual debate, but extracted from needed; a search for a higher perspective. It reflection, experience and inner conviction, may not save us from making many mistakes. depends on the recognition of the existence But if our search is sincere, we will have a good of a larger objective truth. The pursuit of truth, reason to learn and correct ourselves. or wisdom, is a fundamental quality of any real philosopher; it acts as an inner compass that What does it mean to live in the light of truth, enables a certain level of orientation. It fills the a relative truth? It means that it is necessary to heart with the great joy of self-validation and of recognize the relativeness of what you perceive making great discoveries. Above all, it allows today. It shows you how little you know and the seeker to become an integral part of a much how much more there is to know. One has to greater life, which we may refer to as Nature in be humble in the light of truth. How can we the broader sense of the word. presume that we know a definite fact, when we can see how relative our perceptions are? A world without truth; what does it mean? Or But, this is already a truth to behold! It is to find better said, what does it mean that the world meaning in truth, because how can anything be does not accept truth as reality? Well, evidently really meaningful without it? What is the value we see it manifest around us rapidly. A world of a wishful aim when reality stands? It is like without truth is a world without direction, not molding sand palaces on the seashore, that the upwards, nor downwards. With such a loss waves wash away, as if laughing at our attempt of direction can there be any valid source of to create our own reality, a fantasy. hope, or a possibility to confidently imagine the betterment of humanity? Without truth in our To pursue truth is to remain alert, by observing life, can we speak of ethics at all? Can there be your own distortions, prejudices, assumptions, any good or bad, any virtues? Can we speak of judgments, desires and rejections…anything aesthetics and harmony without the base of an that colors your vision from seeing things as objective truth? Can there be any valid meaning they are, as clearly as you can. Such a pursuit 8 at all? leads you to know yourself, by removing layers of what you are not, the masks of false identities. In India, the ancient Upanishads continue to The pursuit of truth is therefore a means of remind us: “Truth Alone Triumphs.” Mahatma self-discovery, a necessary step towards self Gandhi resonates with this fundamental when fulfillment and real confidence. It is to discern he says, “Truth alone will endure, all the rest will between the real and the unreal, imagination be swept away before the tide of time.” Can we and fantasy, the good and bad, which expresses utter the word Sustainability without referring to real intelligence, which is not at all synonymous Reality as the underlying Truth? with intellectuality. The pursuit of truth demands attention to what you say, and how you say it. And here we are…in a post truth world; confused It develops the inclination of being truthful, and To be able to change and move on the upward path of consciousness is to rediscover what has already been learned by those we consider wise. It is to echo with life and the universe, and to feel that we are an integral part of it, as we have always been, although we know a mere fraction of what it is. with it, an inclination towards the Just and the possibilities lies a significant difference in the Beautiful. And as has already been thought by meaning of life. To live but only one life, without great philosophers such as Plato, it is also the any continuation means what really? On the pursuit of Goodness, not only outside of us as other hand, if I am an immortal soul, in one of its an ideal of life, but also the need to Be Good. many incarnations, I am definitely not the one I recognize today. In order to live with deeper We may discover only fractions of the total meaning, I must align myself with who I really reality, reflections. We may only discover am. It is not a matter of belief, but of realization how little we really know.