History of the Movement
The “LIGHT IN ACTION” Movement has a history deeply rooted in the past, with its trunk rising in the present and its branches aiming at a bright future. To understand the evolution of the Movement’s vision over time, I must provide a brief autobiographical review. During my student years, alongside my academic studies in medicine, I pursued two parallel paths of exploration. One was internal, and the other external. I felt an urgent need for a deeper understanding of the Self, persistently seeking answers, which led me to many paths of inner study and apprenticeship. I was sure that a human being was much more than muscles, bones, glands, and tissues.
The Nobel Prize-winning theory of Jacques Monod, which supports the idea that we are children of “chance” and “necessity,” evolving mechanically through the natural selection of species, could not adequately answer my existential questions. As one of my first teachers on the Path, N. Kazantzakis, says, “The human heart is a tangle of caterpillars struggling to become butterflies!” Inner intuitions and psychic experiences from that period led me to the experiential revelation of the spiritual dimension of humanity, which illuminated my life with meaning. I confirmed what all wise traditions boldly proclaim: “True peace and genuine bliss, which humanity desperately seeks, lies within, as long as one takes the trouble to search for it!” In my case, it seems that it found me first…
This profound realization starkly contrasts the current state of humanity and the world. Violence, suffering, fear, injustice, hatred, and irrationality prevail everywhere. Unaware of its true nature, humanity struggles desperately through dark and hopeless paths. It sustains itself on empty pursuits, forgetting its noble origins and inner riches.
“Oh, poor wretch of a man, you have the power to move mountains and perform wonders, yet you succumb to filth, laziness, and disbelief! You carry God within you, but remain unaware of it – you only realize it at the moment of death, and by then it’s too late.” – N. Kazantzakis.
Scientific progress and technology not only failed to free humanity from its sufferings, but in the hands of the ruthless and greedy, they ended up as weapons of control and brutal exploitation. Realizing this and feeling the weight of my own responsibility, I became actively involved as a volunteer in various organizations and activist movements that fought for social justice, non-violence, freedom, human rights, and environmental protection. I have many memories, but the most vivid ones are connected with the marches, hunger strikes, the collection of signatures for important referendums, and the fight against the “Holocaust from Hunger in the World” (Lotta Contro lo Sterminio per fame nel Mondo). In 1980, the Italian Radicals, led by Marco Pannella (Note 1), launched a campaign for emergency aid intervention. More than 100 Nobel laureates co-signed the aid appeal on June 24, 1981, in many European capitals. The radical MPs managed to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session in August, during which a proposal was passed obliging the government to allocate three thousand billion lire for this purpose. Forty support committees were spontaneously formed in France, Belgium, Spain, and other countries. The campaign was supported by the then Presidents of the Republic, François Mitterrand and Sandro Pertini. Pannella went on a sixty-day hunger strike to raise public awareness, reaching a critical point for his health. The Catholic world strongly supported the campaign, and in 1986, Pope John Paul II received Marco Pannella and MP Emma Bonino, representing the Executive Council of “Food and Disarmament,” in an audience.
My brother and I were part of an association for which I even created the logo (Associazione Contro Lo Stermino per Fame, Note 2). The association’s president was Francesco Rutelli, who later became the mayor of Rome and a candidate for prime minister. One of the association’s most significant actions was organizing a traveling exhibition that focused on world hunger, armaments, and the exploitation of third-world countries by the West and the North. I vividly remember the train journey to Strasbourg, where we demonstrated in support of our campaign. We displayed banners outside the European Parliament, including one in Greek that read “NO TO THE HOLOCAUST FROM HUNGER IN THE WORLD.” Thanks to these political and activist efforts, the European Parliament eventually passed a law allocating 1% of the GDP of member states to the affected populations as logistical aid.
If this decision had remained consistent over the following decades, the tragic migration problem to Europe might not exist today. Despite my enthusiastic involvement in social struggles, I soon realized that simply changing laws and institutions is not enough if it is not accompanied by a parallel change in the level of citizens’ consciousness. In the end, the rulers are a reflection of the governed. At that time, among other activities, I also collaborated with “La Comunidad,” the community of the Argentinian humanist philosopher Silo, which emphasized overcoming psychological suffering through the dissolution of contradiction and discovering the true meaning of life.
Throughout my involvement in various organizations, I found that while I fulfilled a psychological need, my more profound desire was to combine all the pieces into a cohesive whole. I formed close connections with my fellow members, but I didn’t exclusively identify with any particular group, often making me feel like an outsider. However, this eclectic experience allowed me to gain a broader understanding and acceptance of different perspectives. As a result, I felt a growing need to seek a unifying and holistic approach that could offer comprehensive solutions to the challenges faced by modern society and guide us through this complex crisis. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an organization that fully embodied these characteristics.
In the following years, while specializing in psychiatry, I met some remarkable people in the spiritual field through synchronistic events in late 1995. Together, we founded the “Movement of Philosophical and Metaphysical Groups for Free Spiritual Expression” in 1996. The primary goal of this movement was to defend free spiritual research and expression and to overcome intolerance, ignorance, and the stigma of being labeled “heretical.” In the declaration we all signed as representatives of various philosophical and metaphysical groups, I added two paragraphs (Note 3) that were particularly important to me and expressed my student vision. One (the 5th) concerned the application of spiritual values in individual daily life, and the other (the 6th) concerned the application of the same principles in society to create a just and peaceful world. The Movement was active for several years, organizing two or three public annual events in Athens and Thessaloniki. It provided significant education on metaphysical, philosophical, and social issues, including cremation and spiritual responses to the global crisis (Note 4). During the same period, I voluntarily coordinated the “Self-Knowledge Group,” gave frequent lectures, and regularly wrote articles in various magazines such as Atrapos and God and Religion. Shortly afterward, I began a live weekly program called “Introspections” on the Green Party’s channel, where I shared psychological and philosophical reflections. The program lasted for about five years. Several lectures and TV shows have been uploaded to my YouTube channel (Note 6). Many more are still awaiting digitization.
Unfortunately, my proposal for a stronger connection between spirituality and social issues did not receive widespread support. As a result, I decided to leave after around fourteen years of active involvement. The movement eventually lost momentum and failed to establish new roots, leading to its inevitable decline and end.
The concept of combining personal growth and societal change remained important to me until 2011. During this time, the “aganaktismenoi” protests highlighted the necessity of restructuring society based on sustainable and new principles. The resistance against the memorandum was simply the catalyst for the emergence of the crisis’s spiritual and moral dimension.
In the “lower square,” I participated in intense discussions reminiscent of the spirit of May ’68 (Note 7). Evidently, if we wanted tangible outcomes, our indignation needed to evolve from mere protest to a constructive proposal encompassing personal awareness (awakening) and accepting individual responsibility. As a result, I established a Facebook group called “Movement of Awaked Citizens for Participatory Democracy” (Note 8).
A meeting was called to exchange thoughts, which led to the creation of an ambitious initiative called “Wave of Awakening.” However, there were diverse views and needs, with a stronger emphasis on an external interpretation of the crisis, lacking the holistic character I had envisioned. The concept of self-knowledge seemed too “vague,” and my collaborators at the time, who did not share my experiences, approached “awakening” primarily as a political issue rather than a matter of consciousness. Once again, I had to withdraw, but I gained valuable insights and experience from the mistakes.
I continued lecturing, teaching at the Popular University of Agia Paraskevi, and creating thematic groups on Facebook to promote the same goals and ideas. In 2014, I started organizing philosophical walks, which later became a monthly event at Polis Art Café called the “Philosophical Café” (Note 9). By June 2014, I decided it was time to move forward with a new project, taking a different approach this time. Instead of starting from scratch with others, I set specific foundations and a framework to avoid getting lost in endless discussions with uncertain outcomes. Anyone who resonated with the proposal could contribute according to their strengths and abilities. In a relatively short time, I named the Movement, designed the logo, and outlined the basic principles and organizational structure.
I have always looked up to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King as my childhood heroes. I firmly believe active non-violence is a powerful tool for organized and conscious citizens fighting for justice. It’s no coincidence that the Transnational Radical Party (Partito Radicale Transnazionale Transpartito) in Italy, which I supported, chose Gandhi’s image as its emblem and uses non-violence as a fundamental method of political action. Through online research, I found that other spiritual activists were also moving in a similar direction, individually or as part of organized groups. This discovery filled me with enthusiasm, and I felt like a part of a global Bright Network for Change. Through texts and videos, I found inspiring and knowledgeable individuals, such as Matthew Fox, Adam Buco, Andrew Harvey, and many others. After studying the basic principles, goals, and strategy of “Light in Action,” I initiated the first call to action through the social network Facebook. Some friends responded, and thus, the initial core of Bright Activists was formed.
The “Philosophical Café of the City” holds successful monthly meetings that serve as a stable gathering for supporters to plan new actions. We have welcomed valuable new volunteers, and our plans are beginning to take shape. I want to mention our dedicated volunteer cameraman, Mr. Dimitris Potouridis, who consistently and selflessly records videos and takes photographs at all our events. We have also established a non-profit organization and created a website regularly updated with new content. In addition to our Facebook page, we have created a group called “Friends of Light Action” for all interested parties to communicate. Many other ideas are in development, as detailed in the “Light Actions” chapter.
With luminous and fighting regards,
Ioannis Avgoustatos
Notes
Note 1:
Marco Panella : http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Pannella
Note 2:
Associazione contro lo sterminio per Fame:
http://www.radioradicale.it/organizzatori/associazione-contro-lo-sterminio-per-fame
Note 3:
Declaration of the Movement for Philosophical and Metaphysical Groups for Free Spiritual Expression:
The “Movement for Philosophical and Metaphysical Groups for Free Spiritual Expression” is comprised of independent groups that unite to achieve the following purposes:
– Defend the right to express one’s opinions and beliefs freely.
– Promote acquaintance among individuals who share metaphysical concerns.
– Achieve respect for different perspectives among researchers.
– Provide accurate information to the public about metaphysical concepts and practices.
– Develop human virtues and relationships through philosophical practice.
– Support fellow humans and improve living conditions worldwide.
The website of the Movement for Philosophical and Metaphysical Groups for Free Spiritual Expression: http://kinisi95.blogspot.gr/
Note 4:
Articles from Symposiums of the Movement for Philosophical and Metaphysical Groups for Free Spiritual Expression:
- http://kalipoli.pblogs.gr/2014/07/anthrwpistikos-oikoymenismos-vs-kapitalistikh-pagkosmiopoihsh.html
- http://kalipoli.pblogs.gr/2009/01/h-pneymatikh-apanthsh-sthn-pagkosmia-krish.html
- http://kalipoli.pblogs.gr/2009/02/406416.html
Note 5:
Videos from the First Conference of the Movement for Philosophical and Metaphysical Groups for Free Spiritual Expression:
Note 6:
My YouTube Channel:
Note 7:
“Aganaktismenoi”, 2011
Note 8:
“Movement of the Awaked for Participatory Democracy”
Note 9:
Philosophical Café in Athens
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=
PL0mpMQPgo5t5ycgp6zZXcxfWMME-zbT77
Note 10:
- http://www.radicalparty.org/it
Note 11:
Facebook page: Light in Action – Movement of Spiritual Activism
Note 12:
Facebook group: FRIENDS OF LIGHT ACTION
