Testimony of Pedro. Ecuador

(He was in New Acropolis for 5 years. He entered at 16 years old and belonged to the Security Corps.)

I met NA in October or November of 1996 at the suggestion of a high school teacher who recommended the lectures held at the local headquarters where I live. They seemed interesting and I decided to join the course they call probationism. At that time probationism lasted about 3 months, although for several reasons that are irrelevant here that time was extended until May 1997. Being still a teenager I was placed in a course that had more boys my age. Enthusiastic about the classes I stayed on as a member and almost 2 years later I was "invited" to be a Living Force (a prior and necessary requirement to be an instructor).

The Janos (young acropolitans) rushed us to become instructors and Living Forces because at that time a kind of schism and "mass departure of members" occurred and they needed to replace those who left.

I had to go through a "preparation" of about a year or so, and in the end they put you through 4 tests. First I walked barefoot from the headquarters to a river (approx. 2 km) around 8 p.m. I had to cross hanging from a bridge, holding on to the railing from the outside once with both hands and another time holding with one hand. I had to walk a stretch inside the river that had risen somewhat. Finally, in front of the Security Corps symbol they lit a fire in a brazier and I had to take out a symbol they had thrown into the fire. As I learned later, they made it difficult for me because compared to the "tests" of others who had entered before me mine were much harsher.

In short, I did the Living Forces probationism and entered the so "longed-for" inner circle. I belonged to the Security Corps (CS) or "black shirts" as they call themselves. Meetings always began with the infamous Nazi salute and by pronouncing "ave". The CS uniform was all black: shirt, trousers and shoes, short hair in a "masculine" style, and the red armband with the Egyptian cartouche containing the lightning bolt and the S. For their part, the Men's or Work Brigades (BM) wore khaki-colored uniforms. One thing always repeated to you internally is that Hitler only failed because he was advised by black magicians, but that ideas of that kind are very good.

It is encouraged and seen favorably that you learn to use weapons of all kinds. I practiced some martial arts (a discipline invented by them called Nei Kung Do) and they used to tell you that a black belt and an FV should not be afraid to kill.

I remember the anecdote when some members of the Bodhidharma martial arts school were going to take their black belt test. Since there weren't many students they forced CS members to go as opponents for the tests. One of the examinees ended up with a fractured jaw because the fights were full-on, rough, without restrictions. From the pain, he asked permission to go to the bathroom and they forced him to stay because if he didn't, he wouldn't pass the test.

Continuous work and physical, emotional and economic wear

I entered directly to become part of the "work secretariat," a euphemism for calling the unpaid labor for maintenance and cleaning of the headquarters. Several months later I became "propaganda secretary" with 3 members under my charge. We were in charge of distributing press leaflets, pasting posters and handing out invitations. At the same time I had to teach, give a monthly lecture and do the blessed watches (which basically consist of being at the headquarters all night without sleeping).

My routine started at 9 in the morning and ended at 1 in the morning the next day: I had to do reception tasks, then propaganda, I ate (around 1 p.m.) and went out to the headquarters to clean and prepare classes, or sometimes the lecture hall; if I had to give the lecture I gave it (6 p.m.) and immediately had to teach for 3 hours, then I had a propaganda secretariat meeting with the members and between grabbing something to eat, an ideological reinforcement (brainwashing) and tasks related to distributing posters, invitations, etc., I arrived the next day at my home.

After a time as an FV and instructor I was given the opportunity to give lectures in a nearby city. Out of the fervor of feeling useful and helping the "ideal" I said I would take charge until there was an acropolitan who could dedicate 100% to that city (serious mistake).

At the weekly "council" meetings they drilled into you that you must bring members, something like evangelizing savages. They always hammer you with the phrase "tell me with members," so if you have any opinion and you haven't brought members, they don't take you into account.

They manipulated you to always prioritize being there for the ideal to the detriment of your personal and family life. They insist a lot that if you prefer to go to a party instead of to classes then you are a "weak" and proceed to tell you anecdotes (impossible to verify) about acropolitans who walked 60 km all night to get to their classes because they didn't arrive in time to catch the bus, and that after having walked all night they went on to give their classes all day.

Every so often they asked you for an extra fee for various reasons, either for the website, for the visit of the "top command," for the countless meetings in other cities that you were obliged to attend... They subtly suggested you buy books and magazines that came from the NA Spain printing house; even when Oriflame- and Herbalife-type commercial sects became fashionable the national command L.S. got involved in one of them and the local commanders suggested members join those businesses to help the national command.

They will always tell you that the headquarters needs money and they will always suggest that you enter some unconventional and even outlandish business as a way to extract money from you. Many "retreats" are organized with the "story" that classes on "The Presocratics" or "The Stoics" will be given, but they have a cost and, obviously, only the national command teaches them. In Ecuador the national command L.S. spends its time making "cultural" trips to Egypt, and many NA members ended up paying for those trips since they sell them to you as a "special" experience because you will be guided by someone who knows a lot about "the esoteric part of Egypt."

When there was a public meeting or in some area outside the urban zone they assigned you to take care of one of the commanders and you had to be attentive to everything he asked or needed. If he had trouble walking you had to become his cane, if he fancied a Coca-Cola you would buy it. You didn't ask the leader, you just bought it, nothing more.

The demands of monthly payments and all the extra fees for other activities began to hurt the finances of someone who had barely finished high school and was trying to find their place at university. My whole world began to revolve around NA. Now, all my friends were there. Outside I had nothing left.

Control of personal life and double standards

In NA they tell you what you must and must not read, how to dress, how to think, how to react, and even the music you must listen to. Reading a book by Blavatsky directly was practically a sin. And you only understand this by reading directly from the theoretical sources. They talk to you about Theosophy almost all the time, but everything is passed through the "acropolitan filter." Moreover, if by chance you happen to mention or read something by Krishnamurti they put you under observation since Krishnamurti, raised and formed in the bowels of the Theosophical Society, ended up closing the school of which he had been put in charge, understanding that each individual's path is unique and does not need the chains of others to evolve. They are terrified of individuality.

There is absolute control over all areas of your life. For example, within the Living Forces sentimental relationships are handled in a fairly controlled way. Weekly role meetings are held (one for "gentlemen" and another for "ladies") and within those meetings you must officially announce if you have a relationship with an acropolitan. Everyone demanded formality and seriousness in these cases. However, there were people who had certain licenses to bypass those values or principles.

It happened that an FV couple of ages similar to mine ended up expecting a child. That man announced three times officially that he was going to marry, he had two bachelor parties, and the guy never got married. I remember the first time they went to the civil registry to get married, they returned with the story that it was closed (later we learned that he had forced the girl to lie). However, shortly after, they made that man head of CS. In a group that rifles you from all sides with honor, with truth, ethics and values, you cannot put in charge a person who can be anything but a paragon of virtues. In the eyes of almost everyone at the headquarters the guy came off as a scoundrel playing with the girl, and even so they did not demote him from his status.

The same branch head (P.C.), when he had marital problems, was very cheerful and excited with a member. P.C. had problems with his wife, but began to "seek" comfort with a member to the point that he already spoke to her about marriage. It should be noted that, if the case arises, they instill the idea that "here they marry and divorce and nothing happens" since what matters is the ideal and loyalty to the leaders no matter how unscrupulous they are.

The point of mentioning these events is to show the double standard and double moral they apply to everything.

At the end of the day, in NA there are only two ways to advance: either you are totally servile and do everything they tell you, or, on the other hand, you have money or social and political influence. I remember how the national director and the one from another city fawned over a guy who was the nephew of a politician and businessman, and although he couldn't attend classes, they gave him "instruction" by correspondence, waiting for some moment to be able to use his position. Not long ago they tried to get into national and local politics, but I think they couldn't get any party to sponsor them, though they will continue searching and trying. I must point out that one of the high-ranking leaders here ended up fleeing because, out of economic (and perhaps political) ambition, he became entangled in a corruption case in personnel selection processes for the police; they removed him and hid him in Chile.

How I left New Acropolis

Friendships began to deteriorate. Frictions between FVs did not take long to appear. I decided to leave the country for personal reasons and I was hit by a tidal wave of criticism and complaints because according to the national director I could not "leave like that" abandoning everything. There I met the true face of the leaders who transform when they can no longer control you. In short, I traveled, the projects I intended did not work out, and I returned to my country. I never returned to NA.

I spent 5 years in that place. The psychological manipulation to which they subject you is so subtle that you only realize it when you try to live outside the bars of the "acropolitan ideal." People who act as leaders may have all the information and titles in the world, but morally and ethically they are monsters; they go so far as to make you believe that all the bad things that happen to you are your fault, they can become so mean that they try to use your family to manipulate you. Acropolitan "friendships" end up being only spies for the "command" (chief director, etc.) immediately above.

They try to manage your social life, your food, your readings, your finances.

During these more than 20 years away from NA, on a couple of occasions they have tried to "bring me back." The painful thing is that I still believed that the people who looked for me did so out of friendship. I never intended to return and even less so when, by the chance of fate, I learned that they had received the mission of bringing back old members because they were having trouble attracting new people.

Perhaps my testimony is not something dramatic, however I recognize much of what other ex-members tell and I know they speak the truth.

Pedro, March 2025