Mindfulness

A poem about mindfulness inspired by Ancient Greek Wisdom

The illusions of my true phantasy

Reflect in the mirror of my vanity

Igniting the desires of my awareness

To arrive at the door of my mindfulness

For mindfulness balances my inner measures

Completing my total perishable wholeness

Driving my cells and atoms, daily, to total death

Giving my whole human existence a new re-birth

Mindfulness makes me cry every day

Sensing the instance of my dire necessity

For my emotions run me to the ground

Waiting for the seeds of happiness to abound

Oh! Dear mindfulness, come forward

Bring the elements of my life toward

Elevate my mind to highest consciousness

Let my soul enter the serene valley of awareness

Always remembering the following wise sayings of the ancient Greeks:

Anaximander: ‘What is infinite is something other than the elements, and from it the elements arise’;

Aristotle: ‘Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom’;

Democritus: ‘In truth there are only atoms and the void’;

Epicurus: ‘The art of living well and the art of dying well are one’;

Protagoras: ‘Man is the measure of all things’;

Pyrrho: ‘By suspending judgement, one can attain a quiet and peaceful mind’; and

Socrates: ‘All I know is that I know nothing’.

Arcadia: A Land of Bliss

A poem about Arcadia inspired by Ancient Greek Wisdom

Oh! Holy Arcadia, land of naked Pan

Country of colours, ideals and great fun

Full of mountains, hills and rocks of granite

Fables, stories and ancient myths to ignite

You give new ideas to our creativity

Firing the waves of our spirituality;

You lead us to your altar of high altitude

To strengthen our bonds of steady fortitude

You created for Pan a fast-running wild contest

Providing a word to all that defines him best;

You made him chase away frenzy and malevolence

Bonding your land of happiness with kind benevolence

Oh! Greatest and most glorious Arcadia

Alter ego of mountainous divine Gaia

You bring us all closer to God’s Dominion

Driving away from the traps of eternal oblivion.

Always remembering the following story of Kallisto:

‘KALLISTO (or Callisto) was a daughter of the Arkadian King Lykaon, son of Pelasgos who was the first man who ever lived in Arcadia and led his people out of their primitive stage of Golden Age and introduced certain aspects of civilization such as eating acorns instead of grass, leaves, and roots. They all lived in the forests and mountains in pure innocence and harmony.

Kallisto was a hunting companion of the goddess Artermis. Kallisto is derived from Greek ‘kallistos’ meaning ‘most beautiful’. In ancient Greek mythology Kallisto was a nymph who was loved by Zeus, the father of the gods. She was changed into a she-bear by  Hrea, and subsequently became the Great Bear constellation in the sky. Kallisto was revered as a goddess in Arcadia as her son Arkas gave this mountainous land his name, Arcadia’.

A Call to the Master

A poem about God inspired by Ancient Greek Wisdom

I’m hiding behind transient simplicity

Searching for ways to find tranquility

To get to God’s land of serene symmetry

To reach the final milestone of harmony

 

Please don’t call on me when it’s light

Wait for the little hours of the long night

When the dawn makes my aura so bright

Bringing me divine energy and might

 

For then I will be the fearless knight

Kind, loveable, enviable and upright

Clad with humility and peaceful arms

Preaching the Lord’s powerful charms

 

His words make me the sweet little boy

So kind, good and full of spiritual joy

With no great fuss and bouts of worry

Singing lovely hymns to His eternal glory

 

Oh! Lord, my one and only Master

My creator and benevolent Father

To You I utter in silent perpetuity

The true echoes of my human trinity

 

Oh! God, to your altar I always offer

My thoughts of love in every prayer

To You I call and request continuously

To absolute my soul from materialistic captivity

 

Always remembering two wise ancient Greek sayings:

‘God humbles the arrogant and elevates the humble’ by Diogenes Laertius; and

‘Divinity is beauty, wisdom, goodness and everything that is the same with these’

by Plato.

Free e-book: How to reduce occupational stress

Free e-book: ‘How to Reduce Occupational Stress’

Book inspired by ancient Greek wisdom

Published: Feb, 12 2015, by John Kyriazoglou

http://bookboon.com/en/how-to-reduce-occupational-stress-ebook

A self-help guide and an approach to manage and reduce occupational stress and improve the mental health of your people

Table of Contents

PART A

Prologue

Chapter 1: The Stress Management Approach

Chapter 2: Occupational Stress Management Action Plan

Chapter 3: Strategy #1: Incorporate Basic Stress Reduction Actions

Chapter 4: Strategy #2: Add Spirituality to Your Basic Stress Reduction Actions

Chapter 5: Strategy #3: Improve Your Stress Reduction Management Process with Better Relationships

Chapter 6: Strategy #4: Strengthen Your Stress Reduction Management Process with More Robustness

Chapter 7: Improve Stress Efforts

Chapter 8: Concluding Remarks

Bibliography

PART B

Over 10 appendices with examples of Plans, Policies and Questionnaires that support Part A of the book.

http://bookboon.com/en/how-to-reduce-occupational-stress-ebook

Ancient Greek Wisdom on Family

 

By John Kyriazoglou

 

Man (meaning both genders, male and female) is a social animal. He has learnt from very old times to live in communities and groups with other people. His family, however, is the group that provides a safe life full of love and security. Family is very important part of our everyday life. It helps us improve our personality. It also helps us shape our life. It teaches us the value of love, affection, care, truthfulness and self-confidence and provides us tools and suggestions which are necessary to get success in life.

Family is a place where you can be yourself. It is a place where you are accepted for what you are. This is where you are completely tension free and everyone is there to help you. Family encourages you when you are surrounded by problems. It helps you survive through tough times and brings joy and happiness into your life.

Decency and dignity are very important in the activities of daily life. They help us make strong relationships and bonds with others and make us come across as a very gentle, intelligent and likable person. We all love to be in a company of such a person. Family helps bring decency and dignity into our life which is absolutely necessary to lead a happy and balanced life.

One of the most important aims of our life is to build a successful and highly rewarding career. Our families help us in creating a strong future. It gives us valuable suggestion about different career prospective. It not only guides us in choosing the best but also financially helps us to cover the expenses of education. Thus it helps us in making a good future.

Today, most people don't realize the importance of family. They prefer to spend most of their time with their friends. But when they are surrounded by problems, it was their family that helped them get rid of problems. At the time, when even our best friends refuse to help us, it was our family that came to help us. So it is very important for each and every individual to give importance to their families above anything else and enjoy spending time with family members.

Here is an example of what noted ancient Greek poets and philosophers have said about Family and its expressions: Marriage, Wife, Children, and Parents.

 

Aeschylus: ‘Every person must honor his (or her) parents’.

 

Aristotle: ‘Family is the cell of life’.

 

Dimosthenis: ‘The person who does not take care of his (or her) parents is an enemy of both people and Gods’.

 

Euripides: ‘There are three rules to be followed by anyone who wants to be right: To love his (or her) parents, to love other human beings and to love what is just’.

 

Isocrates: ‘We should behave towards our parents the same way we would want our children to behave towards us’.

 

Plato: ‘You can teach children better by using the method of playing games rather than by force’. ‘Correct education is one therapeutic way for our soul’.

 

Plutarch: ‘There are three bases that contribute to a child’s good upbringing: Nature, education and exercise’. 

 

Socrates: ‘Education comprises the festive activities of the soul, as it includes many games, events and activities that support and improve our souls’.

 

Sophocles: ‘A bad woman is the worst thing that can happen to a man, and the best gift will be a sensible woman that will come his way’.

                

In conclusion: It is very difficult, if not impossible, for anyone, to live happily, survive and prosper without the support and long-term bonds of a family. Also parents are considered to be the most valuable thing for all human beings. For this exact reason we have an obligation to always respect, honor, support and love them. Finally it is also our divine duty and moral (and legal) responsibility to also support, love, care, educate, train and provide for our children, to the best of our abilities, for the very simple reason that we brought them to this world.

 

Water: Life’s keeper

A poem about water inspired by Ancient Greek Wisdom

Verse 1: Life’s custodian

Oh! Water, keeper of God’s fauna

And good guardian of Earth’s flora;

You fuel the arteries of eternal life

And ignite the currents of creative strife.

Verse 2: Biosphere’s guardian

You fill the streams and wild rivers

With primordial animals and beavers;

You give us the riches of fish and flowers

And support our life’s spiritual towers.

Verse 3: Hope’s sentinel

You keep with your cold-warm arsenal

What is evident to all, and crystal-clear

Rich, poor, old, young, wise and criminal

Hope and love, to time immemorial.

Verse 4: Divine circle

You’re always in a circle, non-stopping

Promoting all life in divine bouts of eloping;

You gratify living forms with oxygen’s purity

Cleansing all cells from carbon’s wicked toxicity.

Always remembering one of Thales’s wisest sayings:

‘Water constitutes the principle of all things’.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!

 

Here is an ancient Greek quotation for your consideration and enjoyment:

‘Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.’

   Epicurus (Greek philosopher, 341- 270 B.C.)

 

More sayings, quotations and maxims of ancient Greece and how these may apply and improve your personal, family and business life are included in my recent book

‘Ancient Greek Pearls of Wisdom for the 21^ST Century’ (Amazon.com).

 

Best and warmest regards,

 

John Kyriazoglou

 

Ancient Greek Wisdom

New Book: ‘Ancient Greek Pearls of Wisdom for the 21st Century’

 

Hi,

 

I am glad to inform you that this book was just published and is available at: https://www.createspace.com/4324169   and

 http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Greek-Pearls-Wisdom-Century/dp/1490441735/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386180048&sr=1-2&keywords=kyriazoglou

 

Authored by John Kyriazoglou

This book 'Ancient Greek Pearls of Wisdom for the 21st Century' is about guiding and supporting you to improve your personal, professional and business life in our current 21st century society.

This is achieved by:
1. Presenting a set of Ancient Greek Pearls of Wisdom in each area of life (wealth, governance, friendship, etc.) and proposing a solution in responding to basic questions in each such area (e.g. 'Why should I believe in the Supreme Being? and What do I need religion for in my business activities?)
2. Summarizing the impact of several noted ancient Greek thinkers to the world and the relevance of their contributions today.
3. Offering you, an Improvement Approach (The Pandora Way) based on Ancient Greek Wisdom (for each area: governance, wealth, association with others, self-management, education and family, etc.) including: over 60 'tips', more than 40 'golden rules' and numerous (over 20) 'recommendations' that you may consider and use to manage yourself, your family and your business more effectively and potentially make your life better.
The ancient Greek wisdom pearls relate to:
(a) The maxims, quotations and sayings (over 600) of the Oracle of Delphi, the Seven Sages and other well-known ancient Greek thinkers: Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Epicurus, etc.
(b) Four hymns, the Hippocratic Oath, 9 fables of Aesop, several short stories (over 17) and the works and thoughts of noted ancient Greek philosophers, poets and intellectuals, such as: Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Heraclitus, Epicurus, Pythagoras, etc.

(c) The real-life examples and stories of the every-day life and activities of ancient Greeks.

The book contains: A foreword, a preface, ten chapters (one for each area of living, such as: governance, wealth, etc.), three appendices, and a bibliography.

I would appreciate your comments if you have the time to review it.

 

Please like my ‘Ancient Greek Wisdom’ page on Facebook.

You may follow me on Twitter and Slideshare and connect with me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

 

 

 

Thank you for your support and my best wishes for the Holiday Season and the New Year 2014.

 

John Kyriazoglou

 

 

Maxims of the Oracle of Delphi

The maxims of the Oracle at Delphi were made up of very brief quotations (two to five words) full of wisdom and moral values. The subject matter they deal with varies from religious faith, to obedience to law, how to treat friends, how to behave in a just manner, education, country, way of life, happiness, etc. 

These maxims, 147 in total, were inscribed in the frontal columns at the temple of the god Apollo, at the Oracle of Delphi. They were copied on single marble tablets and were transported to all parts of the Ancient Greek World, as the writing on paper or on parchment was not known at the time.

It should be noted that these 147 maxims of Delphi embodied the complete universe of values for the ancient Greeks. The number 147 equals 3 times 7 times 7 (or 3x7x7). The meanings of numbers in the ancient Greek world were quite important. Number 3 represents divine perfection, and in Pythagorean terms completion. . Number 4 represents the whole creation, as there are 4 seasons in a year, 4 winds, 4 directions, 4 elements (fire, water, air and , earth), etc. Number 7 is the combination of 3 and 4, and represents the universe. Also Apollo’s lyre (musical instrument) had 7 strings, there were 7 sages, etc. In Pythagorean terms 7 is a cosmic number with 3 of heaven and 4 of the world. Number 147, being 3x7x7, represented all divine values for all universes (a universe of a universe).

Most of these maxims have been attributed to the seven sages of Ancient Greece: Thales, Pittacos, Bias, Solon, Cleovoulos, Periandros, and Chilon.

These maxims (translated into English) are the following:

1. Follow God.

2. Obey the law.
3. Worship God.
4. Respect your parents.
5. Be overcome by justice.
6. Base your knowledge on learning.
7. Understand after you have heard what has occurred.
8. Know yourself.
9. Intend to get married.
10. Take care to know the right opportunity.
11. Think as a mortal.
12. Act as if you are a stranger.
13. Honor your family.
14. Control yourself.
15. Help your friends.
16. Control your anger.
17. Exercise prudence.
18. Honor divine providence.
19. Do not use an oath.
20. Love friendship.
21. Concentrate on education.
22. Pursue honor.
23. Seek wisdom.
24. Praise the good.
25. Do not accuse anyone.
26. Praise virtue.
27. Practice what is just.
28. Be benevolent to your friends.
29. Guard yourself against your enemies.
30. Exercise nobility of character.
31. Shun evil.
32. Be interested in public affairs.
33. Guard what is yours.
34. Shun what belongs to others.
35. Listen to everyone.
36. Be religiously silent.
37. Do favors for your friends.
38. Nothing in excess.
39. Use time in an economical way.
40. Look toward the future.
41. Hate violent and offensive behavior.
42. Respect those who have taken refuge in holy temples.
43. Be accommodated to all.
44. Educate your sons.
45. When you have, give freely.
46. Fear deceit.
47. Praise everyone.
48. Be a seeker of wisdom.
49. Judge according to divine law.
50. Think first, act later.
51. Shun murder.
52. Wish for things possible.
53. Associate with the wise.
54. Test the character of a person.
55. Give back what you have received.
56. Do not suspect anyone.
57. Exercise knowledge and skills in profession, trade or science.
58. Give what you mean to give.
59. Honor good deeds.
60. Be jealous of no one.
61. Be on your guard.
62. Praise hope.
63. Hate a false accusation.
64. Gain possessions justly.
65. Honor good men.
66. Know the person who judges.
67. Submit tο married life.
68. Believe in good luck.
69. Do not sign a guarantee when obtaining a loan.
70. Speak plainly.
71. Associate with your peers.
72. Govern your expenses.
73. Be happy with what you have.
74. Revere a sense of shame.
75. Fulfill a favor.
76. Pray for happiness.
77. Be fond of fortune.
78. Observe what you have heard.
79. Work for what you can own.
80. Despise strife.
81. Detest disgrace.
82. Restrain your tongue.
83. Guard against violent and offensive behavior.
84. Judge in a just way.
85. Use what you have.
86. Judge without accepting gifts.
87. Accuse someone (only) when he/she is present.
88. Speak (only) when you know.
89. Do not behave in a violent way.
90. Live without sorrow.
91. Behave with gentleness to others.
92. Complete your activities without fear and without shrinking back.
93. Treat everyone with kindness and friendship.
94. Do not curse your sons.
95. Govern your wife.
96. Benefit yourself.
97. Behave with a friendly and courteous manner.
98. Respond in a timely way.
99. Struggle without losing your good reputation.
100. Act without repenting.
101. When you err, repent.
102. Control your eyes.
103. Think without time limits.
104. Act quickly.
105. Guard friendship.
106. Be grateful.
107. Pursue harmonic co-existence.
108. Do not reveal entrusted secrets.
109. Fear rulers (and ruling).
110. Pursue what is profitable.
111. Accept opportunity with pleasure.
112. Do away with enmities.
113. Accept old age.
114. Do not boast about your physical strength.
115. Your words should be words of kindness and respect.
116. Flee enmity.
117. Acquire wealth in a just way.
118. Do not abandon what you have decided to do.
119. Despise evil.
120. Venture into danger with prudence.
121. Do not get tired of learning.
122. Do not leave things undone due to thrift.
123. Admire the oracular responses (i.e. the responses of the holy men or women to questions put to them by anyone).
124. Love the people you feed.
125. Do not oppose somebody absent.
126. Respect the elders.
127. Teach the young.
128. Do not trust wealth.
129. Respect yourself.
130. Do not use insolence to govern.
131. Honor your ancestors by placing flower wreaths on their tombs.
132. Die for your country.
133. Do not be discontented by life.
134. Do not make fun of the dead.
135. Sympathize with the unlucky.
136. Gratify without harming.
137. Grieve for nobody.
138. Beget children from noble ancestry.
139. Make promises to no one.
140. Do not wrong the dead.
141. Be well off as a mortal.
142. Do not trust fortune.
143. As a child, be well behaved.
144. As a teenager, control yourself.
145. As middle-age, be just.
146. As an old man, be sensible.
147. On reaching the end, be without sorrow.

More maxims and quotations are contained in my forthcoming book
'Ancient Greek Wisdom for the 231st Centurey'.