Pythagoras the Mathemagician Read online

  My vision will soon see the light! His heart cheered out. The Philosopher in him declared out loud, “I tell you this: the most excellent men of all times are the ones who can discern the benefits for their society. They are the ones who heed and learn from the useful events experienced by others before them!”

  Flattered, they rejoiced openly in his statement.

  * * *

  Some three years elapsed in the memory of the people of Crotona before they, the disciples and followers of Pythagoras, smashed down a brothel at the outskirts of the city, on the order of the House of Senate. And so it happened that on the same spot, there on the hill, they began building a Temple meant for the Muses[35] in the year 515 BCE.

  Evergreen trees fenced in the construction of that edifice. In spite of its unfinished status, one could already see the greatness and beauty of its structure. The gates already looked fabulous, and so did the well-designed gardens of beckoning fragrances. There in the middle, a very modest residence was planned for the Master. In his belief that he should always remain in the center, he had opted to build his house in the axis of the gardens. He considered this essential for his energy to radiate throughout the circumference. Moreover, such a position would make a strong statement that he would always remain close to everyone and everything without, nonetheless, taking sides.

  Months later, the construction successfully achieved; the Temple of the Muses rose in all its glory and majesty. It stood on the green hill akin a queen on her throne. Next, they commenced two novel constructions: a house for Pythagoras and two dormitories – for male and female disciples, and students within the starting community.

  After settling down in his new house up the hill, a month later, Pythagoras considered that the time had come for him to speak again to the youth. He left his cozy dwellings and went to the city to commune with the young men gathered at the Temple of Apollo.

  “Dear brothers! I came to check on you and see how you are faring.”

  Thrilled by his approach, they all shared the events of their week.

  “Talk to us, Master!” they invited him to speak. “Tell us some of your thoughts!”

  Pythagoras smiled at their eagerness. “Well, I will gladly offer you some important advice; useful stances that you should seriously consider as you walk the path of life. Heed me, for the Truth I tell you!

  - Do not condemn anyone, and do not take retribution against those who condemn you.

  - It is easy for the moderate among you to uphold truthfulness in their lives, yet beware the difficulty in sustaining such value as time goes by. Hard it is, as well, on those inadequately nurtured to adopt honesty. And it is similarly hard for those who are simply negative.

  - If you decide to take the path of Truth and Honesty, then follow the steps of those who have preceded you and left their imprints in life. Learn not to oppose them for you might offend them.

  - Finally, I tell you this! Practice heedfulness for, thus, you will be able to communicate correctly and be heard accordingly. When you speak, be brief and concise. A remarkable impression can be achieved with few simple and modest words.”

  The youth rushed their questions on him. Hence, he remained with them for a while to counsel and converse before bidding them goodbye.

  On his way farther into the city, he halted at the Temple of Juno where young women gathered for their religious services. With cheerful cordiality, they greeted him.

  “Are you coming to share with us some of your wisdom, Master?” A young woman asked him with hopeful eyes.

  “Certainly, if you wish so,” he grinned amiably.

  “Of course we do!” the reply came unanimous.

  They, at once, settled down on the steps of the Temple. Pythagoras remained standing yet his demeanor reflected his modest character.

  “Dear sisters, I will be glad to give you four pieces of advice to apply as you venture through life. Heed me and learn, for only the Truth I tell you!!

  - Above all, live by a grand sense of high moral values. Be modest and fair, so that the gods may hear your prayers.

  - Do not worship the gods with sacrifices of blood and bodies. Instead, offer them something made by your own hands. Cakes would be a good example. And when you do that, do not exaggerate your offerings for that stance curtails your obligation. Know, instead, that the most righteous thing is the act itself.

  - Love your husbands with all your hearts, the same way you love your parents. Neither oppose them, nor be submissive. Instead, perform sacred rites the same day of your union. It is lawful to do so for you are children of the earth.

  - Now listen to this! Your gender is the most fitting among all the children of God for religious devotion. Take as example the Priestess-Medium of the Temple of Delphi. She always brings the unknown to light through oracles. Hence, I say, do not wear expensive garments as you do now. Instead, enter the Temple with extreme reverence and simple attire, void of any luxurious influence.”

  He spoke with kindness all along. At the end of his session, he announced, “Know that from now on, I shall refer to the unmarried and virgins among you as Proserpine-Astarte. The bride shall carry the name of Nympha, and the mother shall be named Mater. As for the grandmother, I shall identify her as Maia.”

  That night, Pythagoras returned, to his small abode, elated. By contributing his wisdom to the youth of Crotona, he had granted them the opportunity to join the unique community he was about to start. In truth, he presently had succeeded in paving for them the good way.

  * * *

  His powerful charisma inspired and encouraged his listeners everywhere. The young Crotoniates were the first to have ever listened to him on Italian soil. His holy character impressed them in such a way that they decided, in spite of his refusal, to call him the divine rather than Pythagoras. He maintained his preference in being referred to as the Philosopher.

  Divinity, however, was not at all an inaccurate characteristic bestowed upon him. The divine powers he had effectively manifested, since his exploit with the fishermen, represented a good example for serious consideration.

  In fact, an incident in the woods came to assert his divinity even more. A wild bear started to terrorize the inhabitants of the region of Daunia and beyond. The she-Bear caused havoc and destroyed properties. It attacked innocent people and inflicted pain and injuries. After every cruel deed, it prompted to retreat to the woods. The attacks continued on a daily basis until the Master took it upon himself to stop this.

  Thus, he lurked on the outskirts of the city one of those days. The moment the huge bear stormed out of the woods to launch one of its brutal attacks, the Master dashed to stand, steadfastly, on its way.

  The black bear hurled its large, heavy body at him. The growl it rendered prolonged, loud and deep. Saliva dripped from both sides of its jaw. Its paws, with the curved claws sticking out, knocked the air blindly trying to tear its obstacle apart. Pythagoras did not falter, nor did he move an inch. The beast halted a step away from him. It shook its massive skull angrily. Its jaw widened ferociously. Its bellow filled the air. Yet Pythagoras stood firm, unafraid. He looked at the animal squarely in the eyes, dominated it, subdued it, and held it in rein by his supremacy. The wild animal froze as if petrified.

  “On your paws, now!” The Master commanded with a gesture of his right hand, his voice resounding low yet full of authority.

  The animal abided at once. Pythagoras closed the distance between him and the beast while he muttered strange words in a velvety voice. In total stillness, the wild bear surrendered to his vigorous caresses and gazed at him in blatant obedience. Without releasing it, Pythagoras extended a hand to the fruits of an oak tree nearby, and picked some to feed the animal. He then walked to the field, followed calmly by the bear. He grabbed some maize and acorns, and gently gave them to the animal to munch on.

  For a while, he – the divine – rubbed the thick fur of the beast ever so tenderly. He then edged close to its ear. He commanded it never to hurt or e
ven touch another human being again. Tamed for good and forever now, the wild bear rubbed its massive head on his side in a gesture of affection, or was it apology that it meant? Whatever it was, the subdued beast left meekly for the woods and towards the faraway mountains, never to be seen or heard of again!

  The residents of the region spoke of what they had witnessed for years. His reputation as a divine man stormed through the cities of Italy and beyond.

  Skepticism and doubt would sometimes challenge the Master in his divinity. Accordingly, he would make sure to prove their holders wrong every time. For those claiming his divine deeds on account of illusions, he would manifest his powers once again, and with strong faith and fervor.

  When in Torentum one day, Pythagoras stopped to observe an ox in the field feeding on green beans.

  “This is a forbidden plant!” he shouted, before he continued more calmly, “Brave herdsman, I advise you to tell your ox to eat other kinds of food.”

  The shepherd, stunned, burst out laughing for quite some time. With a sarcastic smirk, he retorted at last, “My fellow man, I am not sure what you expect! One thing I can tell you, I don’t know how to speak in the language of oxen!” He snorted again, highly amused. “But, please! don’t let my ignorance stop you. If you know yourself, then, you are welcome to tell it so!”

  The Master shrugged off his shoulders and marched decisively to the ox. He knelt on one knee to address it. With his velvety voice, he explained why it should not feed from the beans of the field. The ox stood still, in attention, all the time that the Master took in communicating his reasons. To the shepherd’s amazement, his ox nodded several times, turned to rub his head on Pythagoras’ shoulders, and then toddled away. Bewildered and wordless, the shepherd gaped at him. Pythagoras smiled, bid him farewell, and continued on his way.

  The tale of the ox spread through time. People came to know that ever since that episode, the animal never approached this plant again, or ate from it. It lived to an old age near the Temple of Hera and became regarded as sacred!

  These feats, and others of similar or disparate nature, demonstrated that the powers of the Master comprised nothing of sorcery or magic tricks. They simply reflected the true manifestation of the Divine Hokmah that emanated directly from his mouth. He, in truth, held the power of the verb!

  * * *

  Pythagoras’ followers increased enormously in the following months. The main reason behind this wondrous triumph surged from his input on the socio-political changes of Crotona and the adjacent regions. In addition to this, his spiritual insights, his teachings of wisdom, and his miracles drove thousands of people to his abode on the hill. These major incentives formed, in effect, the backbone of his mission.

  One calm day in which Pythagoras worked inside his humble residence, vibrations of thrill drifted to him from his window. He tried to ignore them and reverted to his task at hand. He focused again on finalizing the basic procedures for the Order and the Doctrine. He believed that this plan would contribute a major impact on the process of improvement of mankind.

  The vibrations intensified, along with the imminent sound of a crowd. The noise broke the chain of his thoughts. By need, he pushed his notes aside, stood up in annoyance, and approached his window. A multitude of people filled the center of the Institute, requesting his presence. He smiled with affection and stepped out on the porch of his house.

  The crowd cheered in exultation at seeing him.

  “Peace upon you, my friends!” he greeted them by lifting his right hand.

  The mass responded with applauses. People called out his name, saluted him, and hailed him with words of praise. Pythagoras decided to address them with his wisdom, at once, in order to calm them down.

  His voice rose strong above the noise. “Life, my friends,” he proclaimed in introduction, and the crowd settled down. “Life resembles the Olympic Games. Its participants are of three different categories. First, the contestants who participate for the sake of the game; the second dwells among the audience and it represents those who attend for the sole purpose of engaging in commerce during the games. But the wisest fellows, I tell you, are form the third category! They are those who come simply to enjoy the show. They are the ones who find their happiness there.”

  “The ingress of men to this present life is like the succession of a throng within a society of different views and backgrounds. Some are influenced by the need of money and luxuries, which are the first evils that invade our homes and cities! On the other hand, there are those who abide by their love of power and dominion, and those who are controlled by their desire for glory. However, my friends, I tell you this! The purest among them all are those who contemplate the most magnificent and uplifting things in life. Those are the Philosophers!”

  “Listen to me, and listen carefully! Nothing really happens in life by chance. Fortune cannot afford you what you strongly desire to possess, or endeavor to have. It is only by the Divine Will that things happen, in particular to good and pious men and women!”

  His words appeared to make a strong impact in the minds and hearts of the people there assembled. He had just openly invited them to pursue Philosophy, and that was, in truth, what he had aimed to achieve all along. However, none seemed to heed a main component of his speech yet, as had been the case in many of his precedent ones. Up until now, no one appeared to understand that his term ‘this present life’ referred to a doctrine of reincarnation!

  “Human life,” he resumed, “is divided into four stages: our Spring that sees us as children and youth for twenty years; our Summer that journeys us through adulthood for twenty years; our Autumn in which we enjoy our maturity for another twenty years; and finally, the Winter of our existence that encompasses our old age for twenty more years. Obviously, these periods are in union with the four seasons of our Mother Nature!”

  On that note, the Master smiled to them with fondness, and without waiting for their questions and cheers, he waved farewell and went back inside. He intended for them to wonder on their own about the profound meaning of this factual statement. He deemed this analogy to portray the association and union, not only between humans and Nature, but with all the earthly creatures as well.

  ‘It is but with the eyes of wisdom that we can discern their mysterious and unique resemblance,’ he murmured as he reverted back to his work.

  At sunset, one of those days, Pythagoras lived through a very strange occurrence. Accompanied by some of his disciples on one of his tours, he reached the River Kosas[36] (Casus) near Metapontium. They decided to stop for a rest. Pythagoras informed them that he intended to pay his respects to the spirit of the river and went to settle on the bridge.

  While deep in contemplation, a strange whisper greeted him. He opened his eyes to look around then scrutinized the river for the source of the call.

  “Fear not! I am your loving Father!” the voice intoned in the breeze.

  Pythagoras realized then that the call reached him from the higher spheres of his divine inner realm.

  “I place in your hands the foundation of the Kosmic Kingdom!” the voice commanded sotto voce yet it resonated strongly inside his being.

  Back home, the day after, alone with his thoughts, he followed by heart the voice that had talked to him. He considered the feasibility of dividing the organization of his Order into two circles. The first would be the Inner Circle where only the esoteric knowledge would be explored. The mysteries of the known and the unknown would also be revealed to those qualified at the Initiation.

  The second, the Outer Circle, would enroll all the other members who would live, or not, inside the city with the members of the Inner Circle. The Outer Circle would have access only to the exoteric rites of the cult of Apollo, the Supreme God, the One – the mystical Monad. The cult of the Muses would also be accessible to them. Along with that exoteric religious devotion, they would be led to seek a life of high social development.

  Abiding to his vision, the Lover of Sophia u
ndertook that day the establishment of the basic concepts of his Doctrine. He considered the first step to be the belief that man replicated the whole universe within himself; the second step, the belief in the immortality of the soul and, finally, the belief in reincarnation and the transmigration of the soul; in short, Metempsychosis.

  As a matter of fact, Pythagoras envisioned the organization of the Order in a wisely process. He aspired to create both a religious-spiritual and a secular society of brothers and sisters. Moreover, when it came to the Doctrine, he integrated all the principles he acquired from the Canaano-Phoenicians, the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, the Zoroastrians, and the Hindu Gymnosophists.

  Accordingly, the Pythagorean Society was born. It included a school of complete education that took into account mostly all the sciences of life. With careful studies of the theories, and the cautious performance of their practices, the novice should find the path to a mathemagical harmony of the spirit and mind with the universe.

  That devise represented the arcane true Philosophy that he intended to reveal to both Circles within his Society. It would strongly evoke the rising of the human intellect towards the higher level of consciousness: God – the Universal Mind – to whom men and women would merge.

  It would be, ipso facto, an inner actualization of the Truth. That Sublime Truth would absorb all people into its realm if, of course, they would aim for it of their own free will. A realm where the deepest impellers of faith would reside! It would be the true goal that every human being was created to achieve.

  The Master was determined to make out of Philosophy the true religion of Sophia. And henceforth, his steady direction and close up guidance brought about the first prosperous phase of the exact model of the perfect city. Surely and steadily, he moved it towards the manifestation of the utopian way of life.

  .7.