.7.

 

The City of a god

 

 

Towering above the metropolis of Crotona, the White City stood magnificent on top of the verdant hill. The majestic Cedars and the olive trees heightened the splendor with their evergreen leaves. The golden sunrays reflected on the immaculate ivory of the high walls. A tranquil serenity swathed the whole area with an eerie ambiance of peace that the birds praised with their melodious songs.

The outsiders stood always in awe in front of what they had surnamed the Celestial City with Mighty Walls. The great mystery that cloaked its very foundations kept impelling the youth of Crotona, as well as those of the adjacent cities, to seek admittance. In spite of the difficult rules of the Master, curiosity goaded many to venture inside its secrecy, with a passionate aspiration to discover the unknown. Yet, to enroll, young men and women should be introduced by their parents. Sometimes, it was one of the assigned Masters of the Pythagorean Society who assumed the introduction.

At the massive wooden gated entrance, one could admire the marble statue of Hermes-Enoch, the father of the spiritual laws. A cubical stone formed its stall where a skillful hand had carved the words: No entry to the vulgar.

Inside the city, an amalgam of scents emanated from a diversity of flowers that bloomed from patches scattered around in attractive geometrical forms. Every main edifice benefited from its own botanical courtyard; the Majestic Temple of the Muses, the humble residence of the Master, the two dormitories for men and women, and the gymnasium, which was under rapid construction, just to name a few. Several verdurous patios spread throughout the entire domain as if Eden had resurrected on Earth to reflect the unique harmonious rhythm that existed among the living elements of Nature.

The live-in disciples counted in the hundreds by then; some had remained with Pythagoras ever since Samos. Many of the youth of Crotona had soon joined in. Men and women alike had adhered to the Fraternity and abided by its rules. One could see, at that moment, young women in dainty tunics of different colors and shades walking down the hill in a row. They headed to the Temple of the grand goddess Ceres-Astarte on the shore. There, they would proffer the sacred rites to the young deity who personified the deepest mysteries of womanhood and Mother Nature.

Through the gates of the Temple of El-Apollo, the Sun God, men in white robes proceeded with devotion. Royally hoisted within the White City, the new shrine had witnessed, in the previous week, a grand opening ceremony led by the Master himself. Currently, the procession of the devotees entered the Temple to perform the rituals that would connect them with the Heavens above.

Then, to the right, the sports center…

The Pythagorean gymnasium differed, to a large extent, from those built in the other Italian cities. Even in its present incomplete structure, the athletic amphitheater promised to bypass any major gymnasium ever built in the region not only in size and beauty, but more importantly, by the new regulations of the Master. These rules, in fact, forbade all violent games and trivial palavers.

For the moment, active youngsters used the playing field to engage in mild sports. Some ran a court race, some competed in hurling heavy metal disks, and others darted their bronze arrows onto wooden boards. In the central square, some players performed a simulated fight in the form of Dorian dances. All the players abided strictly to the rules of the Master and avoided, at all costs, any brutal fight that could incite hatred and destroy friendships.

About the White City, people convened in various groups, here and there, to share their thoughts in a civilized manner that required freedom of speech and reciprocal respect. A sense of contentment reigned in their communication, for mutual esteem and tolerance led their hearts and minds. As instructed by the Master, such a method always allowed the revelation and recognition of the true-self.

As per the rules, new novices could enjoy a few days of unbound errands for personal acquaintance. Then, they would undertake a series of tests and trials under the strict surveillance of the Masters. Pythagoras attended these examinations, covertly, in order to observe and analyze the behavior and expressions of the new students. Having long studied the Human Physiognomy, he had mastered the art of determining the personality of the new novices from their features.

In reality, the Lover of Sophia proved to be a skillful observer par excellence. Minds and hearts yielded always to his stare and scrutiny. And since he cared for the City to encompass but the best potentials, he weighed every novice for the final admittance to his Society of Initiation. In addition to the cerebral potential and skills, a neophyte needed to excel in character and personality.

“The Truth I tell you! Not all wood is proper for sculpting a Hermes,” Master Pythagoras often stated, and by wood he meant the novice seeking his Initiation.

As a matter of fact, crossing the cubical stone of Hermes-Enoch at the entrance did not ensure adherence to the Pythagorean Secret Society. A year of trials should be achieved while delving in the Master’s several interesting topics on life issues. Based on the outcome, Master Pythagoras would ultimately decide on their admission. Failure would send them back home and back to their life as commoners.

*  *  *

              As an alternative to the Egyptian cryptic tests of Memphis, Pythagoras adapted a test of endurance and cerebellum. The trial required from the novice to spend a night of complete isolation inside a cave at the foot of the hill of the White City. Memories of previous tales of monsters and phantoms, alleged to dwell near and inside the cave, made it harder on the beginners. In a state of mind that wrecked their nerves and tested their valor, they brazened out their hallucinations that could deceive their better judgment on the realities of the phenomenal world. Eventually, some had refused to submit to this initial psychological and physical test. Some had simply escaped in the middle of the night. Both categories had wasted, in consequence, their unique chance to continue the process of Initiation. Truth be told, many had failed the tests in overcoming the illusions of their minds.

Aristaeus, a young man from Crotona, undertook his assessment with eagerness. He looked forward, with bravery, to the aforesaid hard process of acceptance. However, when one of his Masters woke him up – in the middle of the night – without prior notice; he followed him, in disoriented confusion, into a special Spartan cell inside the White City.

“This is your test of acceptance, Aristaeus of Crotona,” his sponsoring Master commanded in a dry voice that chilled the bones of the young novice. “You must decode one of the Pythagorean symbols. Once you find the answer, or simply give up, you will let me know by knocking on the door.”

              Aristaeus glanced around the dark, cold cell. He noticed a small candle, an old clay water jar, and a piece of bread placed on a bamboo mat on the floor. He shuddered and turned to his Master.

                   Gathering all his courage, he uttered, “What is it? I’m ready.” He wished to sound more convincing. Under the circumstances, that was all he could come up with.

The Master nodded briefly. His eyes conveyed more challenge than approval. “Very well then. What is the meaning of the Square?”

     Aristaeus lifted his eyebrows in puzzlement. His own question remained pending for the Master disappeared at once behind the door. The sound of the key turning inside the lock resounded in his ears akin a death knell.

What is the meaning of the Square?

He murmured once, and then twice, and for the long moments that elapsed. He finally sagged to the ground. He held his head with both hands while his mind labored for the answer. He drew the symbol with his index finger on the dusty floor to discern what hid behind it, or around it, or inside it. He tried it again and again. Nothing materialized in his mind. He started to panic. Time became his enemy. He bit on his now dusty nails. Sweat ran in rivulets from his forehead. He tried again. He refused to give in.

For the next several hours, he strove to decipher the meaning behind this simple shape. He completely tuned off all his senses to ignore the occasional weird sounds that swelled up from the dark areas of the cell. He even closed his eyes, at times, to avoid the hallucinations that distracted him.

A square… His mind repeated.

A square… a shape of a house…  He tried to figure it out with its representation, yet no answer ensued.

He lost the sense of time. Thus, when his mind formulated the most probable answer, he realized that the exact hours of his isolation had escaped him.

A square is the shape of a house… which could be… the four sides of the world…

Of course! He leaped to his feet. “The square must be the symbol of the material world. It could not be otherwise!”

He charged to the door with renewed energy and knocked with vehemence. The sponsoring Master pierced him with curiosity when he came face to face with him.

At the smile of triumph that Aristaeus flashed at him, he uttered in doubt, “We’ll see… we’ll see. Go wash and meet me at the door of the Assembly Hall, inside the homakoeion”

“The Common Auditorium?” Aristaeus asked more to himself than anyone else. He knew that door very well for having seen it so many times; a door whose access had never been permitted to him, akin all novices.

Less than an hour later, both Aristaeus and his Master entered the Common Auditorium.  Students, very much like Aristaeus, gathered in groups with their Masters, and a few recent members of the Inner Circle. Being a Pythagorean listener, thus an element of the Outer Circle still, Aristaeus joined his fellow members, who were deep in conversation, confidently.

The Outer Circle included some prominent personalities from Crotona as well as from the other independent cities of southern Italy – extending from Sybaris to Rhegium. Called the Pythagorists, these members usually enjoyed access to the lectures given by Pythagoras, yet without the rights to participate in the dialogues and discussions. They were surely not present there at the Common Auditorium, for no lectures were to be given by the High Master that day.

As a matter of fact, that day was very special to students, like Aristaeus, who were present and waiting to face their eventual fate. It was a day when they would be acknowledged with certain admiration into the Pythagorean Society or simply abandoned to their ordinary life outside the White City.

Aristaeus met some adepts of the second degree. From their exchange, he came to know that after their observance period of two to three years they had undertaken the Pythagorean first degree; a Preparation period of three to five years. Aristaeus heeded with admiration how their hitherto achievement had earned them the approval of Master Pythagoras. In accordance, they were now in the direct discipleship of the second degree, better known as the Pythagorean Purification.

Someone nudged Aristaeus who veered at once to face the mocking eyes of a member of the Inner Circle.

“So! Here he is, the new brilliant Philosopher!”

The sarcastic tone irritated him, yet he bit on his tongue not to reply.

“Come on, Aristaeus!” Another fellow joined in teasing him. “Tell us what you have discovered. Don’t be shy. You did reach an answer, didn’t you? So what is it?”

Beginners of his same rank chuckled in amusement. Others, however, smiled pensively, embarrassed themselves as if they had suffered the same bullying. The Masters, the Sebastikoi, stood in a discreet state of alert, apparently keen to his reaction.

Aristaeus felt a strong urge to retort with the same level of disrespect, if not more. He inhaled deeply. His hands in fists, he attempted to control himself. He knew the answer of the cerebellum test, and ached to hurl it on their sarcastic faces. Yet, he hesitated. He dreaded a mistake that could jeopardize his progress or trigger more pestering.

Somehow, he felt unable to articulate his deduction, suddenly doubting himself.

What if I am wrong? They will certainly mock me!

Irritated and humiliated, he struggled to dominate his frustration.

“Did the cat bite your tongue?” someone jested to general hilarity.

Aristaeus could feel the eyes of his Master observing his moves, his every gesture. He deemed his physical and moral conduct to be at stake. That realization infused him with more determination to stand firm against peer pressure. He recalled those rumors about novices reacting in dishonorable attitudes such as aggressiveness and tearful breakdowns.

The banters and harassment increased, tempting his self-control to a dangerous limit. His basic instincts urged him to retaliate with curses and insults! Many had done it before him. Many had surrendered to such heavy pressures on their egos. Many had ended retorting back with cynicism, and even curses on the school, the Master, and his disciples. Yet the rules forbade any kind of hostilities, for being the second evil inflicted on oneself and others.

Aristaeus resisted the temptation. He refused to yield. He gathered all his self-control. The moment he turned to step away, he sensed an overwhelming aura filling the Assembly Hall. He became vigilant to the imminence of another trial of illusions. He glanced around and discerned a sudden general stance of seriousness and awe. Total silence engulfed the hall in reverence.

Aristaeus followed the direction of all the eyes around him. He froze in anticipation. Behind the white curtains that separated them from the annexed hall, the silhouette of Master Pythagoras materialized.

The voice emerged calm and forthright to reach them like some supernatural mist would do; untouchable yet real. “The Truth I tell you. Those who have failed to deal with this test of morality, and assented to their Ego should leave at once, for they have betrayed the most elementary traits of friendship and respect towards the Masters. They will be immediately escorted out of the city, and considered dead to our Fraternity. The same rule applies to the members of the Inner Circle, for we consider them incompetent to continue further in their Initiation. The wealth they have entrusted to a curator upon joining the direct discipleship will be returned to them in double.”

Aristaeus smiled inwardly, his self-confidence reinstated at once. He realized that, not only had he unlocked the puzzle of the Square, but he had also succeeded in standing firm against the harassment and sarcasm of the gathering. He, in fact, had thriven in controlling his reactions; something very few people could have done under such circumstances.

Encouraged, he stepped forward quickly and surprised himself by gushing out with fervor, “I think the Square means the physical world!” The resonance appeared strange to his ears. He blushed profusely.

A stunned silence responded to his enthusiasm. He had anticipated a comment or a reaction of some sort, but not this total stillness. He swallowed slowly. Cold sweat crawled down his back. His heart pounded fast; as fast as the wheel of time hovering in wait above the White City.

Then finally, “Who spoke?” the Master inquired, his tone strong, yet Aristaeus noted the clear hint of curiosity.

“My name is Aristaeus… Aristaeus of Crotona, Master!”

“Aristaeus… well son, listen,” Pythagoras uttered with a pitch in his voice that hinted pleasure and affection. “You are not completely wrong. Let’s say you are half-way right.”

Relieved, Aristaeus made haste to affirm his zeal and goodwill, “Master! If you allow me! I can certainly proceed in interpreting the whole meaning of the Square, and other symbols as well. I will! Hardships and pains I shall overcome, and my very best I shall commit; all for the sake of discovering but glimpses of the ultimate truth!”

A faint sound behind the curtain ensued as if the Master cleared his throat to control his amusement. “I tell you this, Aristaeus. You possess the heart of a Lion and the will of an Eagle. You are therefore admitted into the Pythagorean Society. However, bear in mind that you must first undertake our observance period.”

“Master… Thank you, Master!” Aristaeus answered, thrilled, and confident like never before. He noticed how the Master moved his head slightly for a quick look in his direction. Their eyes met in mutual respect, and then the neophyte gave his Master a gallant nod and a smile.

The beginners and students – of Aristaeus equal status – stood abashed, as Masters and members of the Inner Circle hastily gathered around Aristaeus. They shook his hands warmly, congratulated him for his achievement, and welcomed him as a probationary member in the Pythagorean Society.

*  *  *

At this particular moment in which the sun extended its morning light over Italian plains, Pythagoras ambled all by himself. He cherished these saunters that connected him to the peaceful and splendid Nature that characterized the Italian landscape, and almost every part of the Mediterranean world. These promenades often led him to the adjacent towns where opportunities to confer wisdom never lacked.

On that particular day, the Master performed something really unusual. While addressing the citizens of Metapontum, he appeared, simultaneously, in Tauromenium, known today as Sicily. The people witnessed his presence, in each of these cities, even though a great distance separated them, by land and by sea. Some ascertained having seen the white man walking on the water that linked both cities. Some alleged that he had overcome the distance, in so short a time, by means of a golden dart given to him by Abaris[37] – the old priest of the enigmatic Hyperborean tribe.

Whatever the means, such a mystical manifestation shocked the citizens of both cities, indeed. Eventually the news of such a phenomenon stormed through the country and beyond. The sages interpreted it as one of the god-like manifestations that made Pythagoras omnipresent.

Needless to say that time and events proved Pythagoras a true prophet. Among many of his amazing endeavors, he predicted earthquakes, and foresaw the death of friends he later buried, as seeds, in the bosom of Mother Earth.

 

*  *  *

Down in the crypt, inside the Temple of the Muses, a meeting of high interest was about to take place. Pythagoras and the Sebastikoi congregated with the nine sister-goddesses of harmony, arts, and sciences. The Sebastikoi, known to be the leaders and Masters of the Inner Circle, assembled eagerly around their Great Master. The occult lesson that followed was aimed at examining the esoteric properties of Numbers.

Previously Initiated by Pythagoras into the hidden knowledge of Sophia, the Sebastikoi devoted nearly all their time to theoria. They indulged, as such, in pure speculations. They spent their time in meditation of the Divine Truth based on the Pythagorean Philosophy that relied on mathematical theories and their direct application to life.

The Master started. “Before we take on the secret of the two most important Numbers, I should tell you a matter of high importance. Today in the afternoon, one of our brothers died in a tragic accident after falling off his horse and hitting his head on a sharp rock by the side of the road, outside the White City. Now, since you are assuming the role of religious functionaries of the Order, you should carry the body, first thing in the morning, to the Temple of Apollo. In the middle of the terrace, where we raised an altar for the outside religious ceremonies, the body should be placed. Certainly, you should not burn the body of our brother into ashes. It should, instead, be wrapped up with a white piece of cloth for the body to revert back to its first nature. And hence, fellow brothers, you must only burn fire all around and near the cadaver to exorcise the bad spirits! Verily I say unto you; this ritual is undeniably one of the most mysterious of all religious ceremonies, for fire comprises, in fact, the power of the One.”

A moment of reflection passed before Pythagoras resumed his teachings to his closest disciples.

“The two most important numbers, my friends, are One (1) and Ten (10). I will explain the reason in a while and elaborate on the hidden properties of all the numbers from one to ten. For now, know that the Numbers are the measure of all things. Each number has its own personality, whether it is masculine or feminine, complete or incomplete.

“One, the number (1) is the Monad, the Universal Mind that diffuses through everything,” he proceeded to elucidate the symbolic meaning of the numbers. “Ten, the number (10) is the very best number because, not only does it contain the first four numbers: one (1), two (2), three (3) and four (4), it is also the sum of all of them: one plus two plus three plus four equals ten. (1)+(2)+(3)+(4) = (10). Ten is the ensemble of the ultimate Truth!”

“Listen and heed! The act of Creation occurred by the invisible power of the One. It is a solitary, all-embracing whole in which everything is truly interconnected.”

He paused for the brief moment it took for him to glance at them.

“The Ten, or the whole, is the superlative manifestation of this interrelated reality. Adding to that, Harmony is the mysterious binding agent whereby every existing atom, in this vast Kosmos, is related to the other.”

He waited for them to reflect on the knowledge he had just imparted. He meant for them to absorb the deep meaning behind his statement before he continued.

“Listen to this and listen carefully. I’m using the word Kosmos for the first time to indicate a well ordered and harmonious universe. The Kosmos is, in fact, an immeasurable musical instrument in perfect tune with itself. Its vibrating numbers produce melodious tones that resound almost everywhere. Hence, both the Universe of gods and Man, Heaven and Earth, the Macrocosm and the Microcosm, are all linked together eternally. They do reflect the same harmonious proportions we examine in mathematics. Yes! But this is only achieved through the Divine Numbers, which are the primal reality.”

“Now, to really invoke the powers of the Kosmos like an Initiate should, there is no need to perform prayers and rituals. Instead, put thyself in synchrony with them. And so, if you use the same numerical proportions as those of Heaven, then and only then, dear brothers and sisters, would you be definitely able to vibrate in the same frequency of Heaven. Your spirit would call forth the Heavenly Spirit. It would descend upon you like a white dove from the sky.”

It would descend upon you like a white dove from the sky…

The sentence reverberated for a long moment in the secret chamber, and deep inside their inner realms. The Philosopher wanted to ensure that they would always, and only, seek and long for Heaven.

He waited because his next revelation would surely incite, even more, their desires to synchronize themselves with the Numbers that existed behind the powers of the Kosmos.

“This approach, without a doubt, allows me to hear the Music of the Spheres, and therefore live in Harmony with the universe!” He asserted with great confidence. He read clearly in their eyes a new fiery aspiration.

“The Kosmic music of the Muses should be imitated here on Earth,  starting with our own White City! Only then shall we move on to the other neighboring cities. If this is done successfully, I assure you that we will achieve a state of Homonoia; a true and strong union of minds and hearts among all people on Earth!”

They were all in wonder for a while, dreaming and imagining that incredible, yet difficult to accomplish, union of all the people of Mother Earth.  

“To finish, for now, our lesson of the day,” he brought them back, not to disturb their imagination but rather to strengthen their dream of a better world. “I tell you this, my friends, be like your Master, act like him. Do not be afraid to approach the gods… Together, let us build a Kosmic Kingdom… here on Earth!” the Philosopher ended his dialogue.

With this passionate invitation, he had just imparted his Sebastikoi with the keys to the heavenly Kingdom, and moved them into a higher level of intellectuality. Its modus operandi exposed, they should know by now how to live in its replication, which was the Kosmic Earthly Kingdom. His explanation of the strong connection between Heaven and Earth revealed to them a Kosmic Unity. He had managed to artfully sketch the exact trail that joined the above with the below.

He had widely opened the door of self-realization to his Inner Circle. And he had, unquestionably, made all of this appear to be in alignment with his own philosophy.

The state of homonoia that he had envisioned, and aimed to create on Earth, could seem an impossible task to achieve. However, the construction of the Kosmic Earthly Kingdom, via mathematics and numbers, would enact nothing more than the reproduction of the Kosmic Heavenly Kingdom with the God Al-Apollo as its Eternal Ruler. How to realize it? That remained, indeed, the biggest question of all.

However difficult the task ahead, his powerful will and faith never lessened, or halted, in front of the immensity of such a mission. As a matter of fact, the inspiration and the direction of the Divine Hokmah in him worked as his greatest inner allies. They guided him through the right path to ultimately succeed in establishing his White City to be the City of a god.

 

*  *  *

Two years and a half into the observance period, Aristaeus of Crotona adhered officially to the Pythagorean Secret Society. He earned the right to wear the brass necklace engraved with the distinctive five-pointed star of the Fraternity. With the Preparation period ahead, he readied for that phase, which required three to five years from him.

Consequently, the time duration of the first degree, known as the Pythagorean Preparation, would firstly vary according to the level of Intellect and the mental evolution of the neophyte. Secondly, it would differ according to unknown variables, uncontainable circumstances, which might play against him along the way, such as infirmity, a death in the family, emotional breakdown, and other things of the sort.

Throughout the first Initiation level, the novices would not be allowed to see the Master who always conducted his lectures from behind the curtain in the Common Auditorium. The same procedures applied in his cave, set for his lectures, at the right border of the White City. Known as the akousmatikoi, they profiled the Pythagorean Outer Circle as being the Listeners, or the Auditors. Their participation was strictly restrained to only attending the conferences.

Believed by his followers to be the Son of Hokmah, Pythagoras possessed a true spiritual and religious essence that a student with an exoteric inhalation could not absorb clearly, nor fathom easily. For that particular reason, he chose at will to sit behind the curtain and conceal his physical appearance, so to speak, from his akousmatikoi.

Differently from the general public living in the White City and to which Pythagoras clearly appeared when addressing them, he deliberately chose to hide himself from the akousmatikoi during his lectures because he mostly communicated with them in parables. His akousmatas, those magnificent symbolical terms and enigmatic allegories, contained double meanings; one exoteric and the other esoteric. The akousmatikoi always struggled to comprehend their significance. Only the Masters, the very few Sebastikoi, and the most excelling members of the Inner Circle, understood, perfectly well, the esoteric meaning behind the symbolism of Pythagoras’ parables.

From this perspective, when the Master mentioned the Chant of the Mermaids, he in fact meant the Harmony of the Spheres. When he spoke of the Islands of the Blessed, he betokened the Sun and the Moon. When he conveyed the image of the Dogs of Persephone, he certainly implied the Planets. And when he discussed the Lyre of the Muses, he expected the Initiates to fathom his reference to one of the Constellations!

Therefore, his audience focused completely on his words in order to comprehend the meaning. The akousmatikoi, in turn, were mostly ignorant of the hidden meaning. They, nonetheless, respected at all times the silence required during the lectures. They abstained, no matter what, to contest or discuss the teachings. They acquired a comprehensive knowledge, void of any detailed explanation, demonstration, or even reason – the latter being the most powerful of all human mental abilities. Thus, they meditated upon the parables on their own, or conferred among themselves in groups of two or three members. When it happened that some members of the Pythagorean Outer Circle disagreed over a certain theory of the Master, the debate never developed into a dispute. It quickly ended when any one of them issued the statement Autos epha-ipsi dixit, which meant “He (the Master) said it”. As a result of that conformity, they all strove in maintaining and preserving the testimony and words of the Master.

In addition to the akousmatas, his lectures to the akousmatikoi contained clear elementary instructions relating to ordinary everyday life. These were subjects he communicated with the general public. In fact, at that time, Pythagoras preferred to abstain teaching them the mysteries of life or what dwelt beyond its physical manifestations. He contented himself to insinuate, and sometimes openly declare, their important connection to the universal laws and fundamental truths upon which the Listeners should base their queries. His words triggered their primordial faculties of intuition and inspiration. With every new revelation, a flicker of light seeped into their psyches for future self-accomplishments.

*  *  *

Early in the morning, when the sun appeared in the East, Pythagoras waited for his disciples in his cave, his head bent in serene meditation. The many apertures of the upper rock that formed the roof filtered in a few warming sunrays. His head now bathed with them. His disciples would be along, any moment now, for their lessons of the early day.

The birth of every new dawn on the Pythagorean City represented a new prospect of resurrection for the human spirits that longed to hear the Master; the Son of El-Apollo. And every Rising Sun, being nothing less than the rising of the god Apollo, re-creating life in the wide visible Kosmos. Despite being portrayed as the One, the Not Many, Apollo formed all Numbers in the unseen Kosmos.

In the garden around the Great Temple of Apollo, the young neophytes used the bedecked basins to submit to their washing ritual. They then proceeded, in steadfast reverence, inside the Temple. Whether they belonged to the Inner or Outer Circle, they all undertook the morning exercise of memory recollection as part of their essential training. They were required to recall the events of the previous day in their exact order.

In truth, the preservation of memory constituted a prime method for the fortification of knowledge acquired over the years. The sciences, experiences, and wisdom bestowed by the Master formed real treasures that required protection and memorization for as long as possible. They certainly recognized that without good memory, everything ended in vain.

Therefore, deep silence shepherded their prayers and meditation during that inner trip back. On their way out, they gathered in small groups to meander through the alley under the royal gate of the Temple. They discussed some of the imperative social issues related to the teachings of the Master. Others sat on stone benches and chanted hymns to the God. Moments later, they all strolled through the well-structured avenues of the White City. At the intersection of two streets, they met with a group of students coming from the square of the gymnasium.

All together, they headed now towards the Sacred Garden around the cave, known also as the habitat of the Initiate. For having earned the right to see the Philosopher, only the Members of the Inner Circle outstripped the restriction of the shielding veil of truth, and joined him inside. Members of the Outer Circle congregated outside in patent anticipation of the morning lecture.

Minutes later, the poised voice of the Master drifted to greet them with warmth. From behind the curtain set inside the cave, his silhouette basked in the sunlight of the Divine Inspiration of the sacred teachings. The Lyre in his hand, he posed like a real musician.

When he started his speech, his words traveled as swiftly as the speed of Light. He appeared in a transcendental state, like a Son of the Sun – the son of Al-Apollo, whom he confidently called Father. His firm and yet melodious voice resonated loudly to reach the neophytes in the Sacred Garden outside. The magical tunes of his dearest instrument, the Lyre, accompanied his words in tender melodies.

Pythagoras believed that his music produced a powerful yet soothing effect on both the physical and psychological levels. For that particular reason, he often combined his everyday teachings with the miraculous effects of his music on his audience.

And as usual, his words began full of wisdom and right to the point. “Verily I say unto you: Women and men are all equal in this Society. Both genders should assume their roles with much tact and efficiency while conforming to our tradition. We should all behave as one family; one for all and all for one! The Truth I tell you. In spite of the many differences between both genders, some women have the ability to become Philosophers, and may undoubtedly join the Inner Circle.”

“Heed me. I reveal myself only to the members of the Inner Circle for they have succeeded in completing their Preparation period and moved up to the Second Degree that is the Purification. To them only, I communicate the wisdom kept and concealed in my heart for so long. I call them the mathematikoi. These Initiates, men and women, trek slowly and silently beyond the veil and into the secrets before they ultimately start their spiral ascension towards the Divine.”

He granted to the meditation that followed enough time for his neophytes to ponder on this revelation. The soft tunes of his lyre prevailed under the game of his fingers.

“Wrong are those who claimed that wisdom could be found by men and for men only!” His voice spoke out what his spirit believed. “Listen to me, and listen well, for I only reveal you with the Truth. Sophia belongs also to women! Alongside the accomplishment of their domestic duties, and their most innate roles as creators of life and mothers, women have all the rights in the world, and all the capabilities, to seek and preserve wisdom. Indeed! For women are known to be wonderful custodians,” he affirmed with the steadfast tone of conviction.

“Dear brothers and sisters, I end my oration today with an advice that you should consider as essential and carry as holy at all times in the depth of your hearts. Love your parents and honor them for they have always loved you dearly. Look upon your father as you would look upon God; the Creator of the Kosmos. There is nothing more revered than the value of a father. Look upon your mother as you would look upon the generous Nature, the Mother of humanity, and of the fauna and flora. A Mother nourishes her children with deep joy and remarkable care. Mother, what a beautiful phenomena!

“In Truth, the love you hold for your country, as you must, stems from your primal childhood feelings of love towards your mother ever since she was your guardian.

“And, to speak with finality, behold the following important truth. Our parents were not given to us by mere coincidence! Not at all! Only the ignorant deems it a coincidence. In reality, such things do not exist, for everything occurs for a clear reason of the Divine Plan; an Essential Will. Things truly happen, the way they happen, by necessity, and due to a superior order of the Number. Behold that truth, dear brothers and sisters, and behold it well.”

The Master ended his discourse and disappeared, further into the depth of the grotto… into the depth of his thoughts. He knew that such knowledge remained undeniably difficult for the akousmatikoi to grasp. Even the few mathematikoi, those closer to him, would not understand, but only slightly, the full meaning of his final statement. In fact, that knowledge would remain vague in their minds until they attained the great mysteries, akin to the Sebastikoi; those few leading members of the Inner Circle who had achieved the mysterious path towards the truth.

*  *  *

Later, sometime around midday, the Pythagorean novices offered prayers to their minor deities: the gods and the good spirits. They then sat quietly for their lunch, composed of bread, honey, and olives. Sometimes vegetables, milk cakes, and fruits were added. The non-vegetarians among them enjoyed a meal made up of meat or fish.

Based on their motto a healthy mind in a healthy body, the afternoon saw them exercising in the gymnasium. Some ran for miles, others built up their muscles by throwing disks and hurling arrows. Some of them engaged in wrestling, which they practiced in the form of Dorian dances. Others jumped with weights in their hands. And, while they considered these sporting activities a must – to train their bodies the way they educated their minds – they reveled in the physical and moral benefits of the games.

The routine of the day continued, afterwards, with the Pythagorean Listeners devoting themselves to poetry and history, be it individually, or in small groups of two or three. The importance of poetry was ascribed to its mythological context, which contained highly interesting theological and philosophical figurative forms.

As the sun edged down on the horizon, they allocated some time for essential contemplations. Some meditated with hindsight on the early morning lessons of the Master. Others converged in small groups that walked in the garden around the Temple of Apollo while sharing their inputs on their recent studies.

The moment in which the sun disappeared behind the sea, they headed for their bath before assembling for their common prayer. During the open-air ritual, young men and women burned incense on the outside altar of the Temple of Apollo. With magnificent hymns, they eulogized El-Apollo, the One and the Father. With Cedar, Laurel, and Oak branches in their hands, raised up in veneration, they honored their gods. Ceres-Astarte, Mother Nature to all living beings, received her share of incantations, followed by exaltations to Diana, the protector of the Dead.

Reputed for their strong faith, the Pythagorean brothers and sisters of both Circles always honored their divinities in the White City. They strongly believed in consulting their gods, the source of all good, for guidance and enlightenment. Hence, they carved their images in fine splendor on brass of spherical forms. Brass held a particular importance in that work of art, for they deemed this metal to be the most appropriate, beside the spherical shape, to operate as a divine receptor.

When the night fell smoothly on that heavenly City and the stars appeared softly in the large celestial realm, they gathered for their dinner in the Assembly Hall. Since they had abstained from consuming any strong drink during the day, they could now allow themselves some wine. Halfway through their meal, the youngest among them joyfully recited some poetry. However, an older brother might critique it at will.

Their dinner ended an hour and a half later with the due honor to their Master. They all stood up, raised their goblets, and cheered to him. They then chanted delightful hymns to their divinities, to their parents who fostered them, and to the Fraternity.

In peaceful spirits, the akousmatikoi headed to their homes to join their family members. The Sebastikoi and the mathematikoi, in turn, retreated to their secluded dormitories in the homakoeion. All dressed in untainted white, they stretched down in their beds of white sheets and covers. Before they slumbered their night away, they performed the rite of memory recollection. Hence, all behaviors, actions, and words of the day withstood a profound assessment, an honest self-examination of their conscience. Only then did they allow for the calmness of the night to engulf them in the peace that presided over their sleep.

*  *  *

Apollo rose again in the early morning to find his so-called son already waiting in the cave. His head bent, Pythagoras surrendered in devotion for the Light of Apollo to bathe him and for His Divine inspiration and wisdom to anoint him. Basked in serenity, he soon received his mathematikoi inside the cave while his akousmatikoi assembled outside in the sacred garden.

With a poised smile, he grabbed his lyre. He stared at the mathematikoi settling around him in a semi-circle. He then moved closer to the curtain to address his neophytes and those outside as well.

“Brothers and sisters! May the Sun Apollo shine upon your day as in your mind today, and grant you the needed enlightenment. Happy am I, indeed, to be able to give you some crucial advice. Heed it and adopt it in your life, for by it you shall find the Golden Way[38] towards the Divine Virtue.

“I am delighted that you are honoring the Supreme God El-Apollo, the Immortal gods and the Divine Law that spoke about them, in order. It gratifies me, as well, to see you venerating the honorable heroes, and the spirits of the dead, and revering your parents and relatives, and finally, the oath.

“The Truth I tell you! No one will find, either in words or in ways of life, anything more perfect than Philia, friendship. Philia is a universal law of mutual attraction and interdependence. Philia is a Kosmic force that attracts all the elements of nature into harmonious relationships.

“Thus, select your friends and life associates according to what affinities you share with them. Among all the people you may encounter in life, whether here or outside the White City, elect them from among the ones who excel in virtue. You must realize that a friend is another self that you should honor like you honor a god. Friendship is equality, and among friends everything should be common. Do not get into fights with them. Do not reach the destructive level of hatred towards them, especially for insignificant, silly mistakes. Yield to kind words and helpful deeds as far as you can, for ability is near to necessity.

“Pay attention to the following advice; I ask you today to cast your pride away, for it is better to live a life of modesty than of egotism. When you are happy, do not exaggerate your expressions of laughter. And when you are annoyed, hinder your anger from your faces.

“I tell you, do not spend in excess like those careless of what is good, nor be parsimonious. Opt for the middle path, as moderation is always best. So chose the average way instead.

“Think wisely before acting, to avoid foolishness. It is the worthless man who gets in the habit of speaking and acting without tact and consideration. Only perform such acts in a way that you will not regret them later.

“I advise you to practice a lifestyle of purity, never of debauchery! Avoid all deeds that might cause envy. See that you always perform and undertake what holds no harm to you. Discard any attempt to embark on matters that you ignore, but learn what is necessary. In Truth, this is the way to ensure a more pleasant life for yourselves.

“A major advice, my brothers and sisters, is for you to recognize that death comes to everyone. Know that wealth will sometimes be acquired, sometimes lost. Whatever your destiny and whatever your grief, as mortals by divine probability, bear them without complaint. Yet, it is only right to improve your existence as much as you can. Remember this; fate does not confer so many sufferings on good people.

“A golden rule for you to know, my friends, is that many words befall men, wicked and noble alike. Do not be astonished or constrained by them. If a lie is told, endure it with gentleness. Whatever I tell you, carry it out to fruition, yet let no one persuade you by word or deed, to do or say, what is not best for you. Be liberal and candid.

“I strongly recommend for you to adopt simple garments that are always clean and chaste. Do not adorn your bodies with gold or the like, especially when you enter the Temple to perform religious rites. Purity, I tell you in truth, is a sign of equanimity and justice in reasoning.”

The mathematikoi and the akousmatikoi appeared riveted. Nothing could disrupt their attention, neither the heat of the morning with its twitters of birds, nor the colorful butterflies over the bushes. Their concentration revered the Philosopher of all time. And the Philosopher spoke, indeed, words of pure, authentic gold.

“As for what you consume, my brothers and sisters, I warn you against eating meat and fish. This kind of food reverts you back to your natural instincts. Do not eat beans, either! My observations and experience assert the interference of this plant with the process of lucid thinking. It distorts the prophetic visions during our meditations and dreams. Instead, drink as much water as you can, and wine but in small quantities, for they are both beneficial to the body. And so, you should not be neglectful of your physical health! Exercise your body. Consume your food and beverage with moderation to avoid regretting the detriment of any excess.

“I also advise you, brothers and sisters, to conform yourselves to the practice of restraint over your appetite, sleepiness, sexuality, and angry behaviors. Always abstain from doing shameful deeds, be it to or with others, and be it in public or in private. Instead, respect yourselves above all so you can respect others. Therefore, exercise Justice, not only in words, but also in deeds!

“Another golden rule I offer you, my friends! Do not kill, and never harm any human being who might endanger you, your family, or your beloved. It is more just, or rather holy, to be injured than to end the life of a person. I tell you but the Truth; our final judgment is mysteriously related to our actions here in this life.

“Heed my advice, my friends, and heed it well. It is of great importance to love life and to have compassion for all living forms. Do not kill harmless animals but treat them with kindness. Do not kill at all, for whatever the reason. When feeling threatened, defend yourselves for this is always justified. Do not cut trees, for they are beautiful and significant. The Cedar tree in particular, my friends, is to be highly respected and preserved, for it is the symbol of the Initiate!” The Master paused for a moment behind his curtain, yet his lyre prevailed with its soothing tunes.

The neophytes outside kept their eyes on his silhouette, their minds pondering on his golden advice and their hearts on that barely visible god-like figure who might judge them according to their deeds! Yet, the voice that spoke carried no judgment or admonishment whatsoever, just love and care in the tones and contents of the message.

“On Holy days, do not cut your hair or forget your religious services. Beware of offering your services for the sole purpose of increasing your profits! Stay religiously conscious and honest when enacting spiritual ceremonies. Pray to the gods for success, and get yourself to work!

“My final advice today, my friends, is to undergo a clear examination of your conscience every night. Always ask yourselves what wrong have you done during the day. Hold yourselves responsible for your shameful error, if any. Meditate on the duties you have failed that day, and rejoice in the good deeds you have achieved!”

The Master finished his speech. Silence prevailed inside the cave and outside in the Sacred Garden.

Truth be told, Pythagoras never deemed himself a divine judge, but mainly a Master to be duly respected, and his teachings to be adequately absorbed and applied. Most importantly, he considered himself a friend, who taught with much love and care all the necessary qualities that should help his followers live a good, a perfect life. He cared to embody the role of an older brother in his Fraternity. He throve for his charming friendship to liberate them from present and potential troubles and worries. Undoubtedly, he believed in standing as the ideal role model of the Philosopher. Therefore, his devoted and generous approach towards his people meant to instill their minds with an essential moral virtue that could ameliorate their socio-cultural behavior.

As a matter of fact, he lived virtuously by those same precepts and, therefore, what he preached and tutored always instigated the admiration of his followers. Their respect for him increased with each passing day. In consequence, they never doubted him and never hesitated to abide and live by his rules.

Always in a white linen tunic, he epitomized the god of their White City. He abstained from any intake of wine during the day. He adopted a strict vegetarian diet that consisted only of bread, honey and vegetables. He loved all his disciples dearly and equally, yet restrained religiously from any sexual desires, and abstained to love any woman in particular. He never laughed foolishly nor behaved cynically. He neither mocked nor punished any of them. In conclusion, he loved them with pure and divine feelings.

 

*  *  *

She was beautiful indeed. Her ebony mane cascaded on her fine shoulders and down her back to the waist. The green eyes, on her tanned face, brightened with anticipation. Alone on the green grass of the Sacred Garden, outside the cave, the young woman stood bathed in radiance by the sunrays. The neophytes glanced discreetly at her as they left the site of their morning lecture and headed to their duties of the day. Some lingered. They waited for the few confessions allowed after the discourse. By turns, they entered the cave and sat on the floor of the outer side of the veil to confess their personal issues to the Master, he, the Son of Light. When her turn came, the woman, in reverence and modesty, swathed her head with an elegant blue veil, then went in.

From behind the curtain, Pythagoras bent his head in attention to the confession of the woman.

“I want to tell you a secret, oh, Master,” she murmured shyly and her soft voice rang a bell in his memory.

“Go ahead my child,” he encouraged her with affection and focused at once on his duty at hand.

“I’m attracted to a certain man, Master, and I…, I think I’m in love with him. When I look at him, love overwhelms me. His words pierce my inner realm just as the first sunrays penetrate the soil of the Earth. And inside me, everything shivers, Master!” She admitted with fervor, and then paused for a while, probably thinking what to say next.

An extraordinary quietness echoed strongly inside the walls of the cave.

“Carry on my child. I’m listening,” he goaded her to proceed.

“Sometimes, I’m so besieged by his voice that his profound words reach me unfathomably. This whole situation perplexes me greatly. I don’t know what to do or how to think correctly. He has the power, and certainly the vision, but he keeps it to himself. What shall I do, Master?” she sounded desperate and it touched his heart.

There was a strange kind of tranquility for a few seconds.

“Why the despair my child? Is your love for him forbidden? Is he married, or has he rejected your feelings?”

“Oh no! None of these, Reverent Master. He… well, how should I put it… He just doesn’t know it. I’m not sure he has even noticed me at all!”

Somehow, he felt for her. “Then, why don’t you tell him what you feel? You ought to have the courage, my child. Courage is a value we uphold.”

“Courage? Oh Master, I have none!” She sounded distressed, her voice tearful. “Honestly? I’m afraid he might reject me! He…,” she hesitated as if weighing how to reveal the identity of the man who stole her heart.

Pythagoras then recognized the woman from one of her previous confessions.

“Theano,” the softness of his voice meant to comfort her in her pain. “Why should he reject your love for him? Tell me, who is he?”

A long silence ensued in which the Master waited with patience. He knew of her previous pleas as well, for she earlier struggled through her queries for faith.

“Theano,” he intimated with a firm kindness, urging her to speak out.

“Master, he… he is…,”

“Yes, Theano?”

Impelled by his tone of commandment, she rushed on her words, “He is the intimate friend and lover of Sophia, the Philosopher who prepares me to understand the secrets of life. He teaches me who I really am!”

“Is he one of the Masters?” he prompted to ask before he realized that she might have meant… him!

“You mean…?”

He saw her bowing her head from behind the curtain.

A mask revealed. Time stood still.

Pythagoras, the Grand Initiate of great spiritual life – he who always thrived on the occult powers of nature – sagged back in astonishment. He had renounced women since the very beginning. He never thought of loving in that sense, and especially not one of his disciples! He had directed all his energy and feelings, always and uniquely, to his White City and his followers whom he loved equally, based on the quality of Philia.

Theano’s revelation came unscathed from any seduction, but rather, a statement of untainted love. He suddenly became aware of her pleasant scent, which grabbed his senses. Completely beset, he wondered in the silence of his thoughts, what is happening to me?

The Master had long since learned to control his senses, squelch his emotions, and conquer all kinds of seductive illusions. However, this spell differed from anything he had ever experienced before. It swelled up, real, inescapable, and undeniable! Her strong spiritual glow, and her vivid mental vibrations penetrated his inner realm and ensnared him completely.

Without further hesitation, he lifted the curtain. There she was, the lovely Theano, the daughter of Brontinus of Crotona – an Orphic who had become a Pythagorean. In truth, the Philosopher had never suspected that she might nourish any such emotion for him. She had, indeed, succeeded in hiding it all along!

In her mid twenties and of medium height, Theano, with her beauty and youth, could have been married by then, but her fate apparently had decided otherwise.

From her father, Pythagoras knew that since childhood, she had always displayed a strong affinity for the spiritual world. The mysteries behind life had attracted her interest back then, and goaded her, still today, to grab all the opportunities and attempt to unlock their secrets.

He studied her soul through that special spark in her green eyes. Since becoming a Pythagorean sister, this was the first time they had come as close to seeing each other face to face or talk without the obstacle of the curtain. He knew, of course, the depth of her intellect for he had frequently attended, in secret, the many tests and trials of her probationary period. Akin all novices, Theano had undergone his clandestine scrutiny. She had completed the experimental period with an outstanding success and, at this stage; she adhered to the Pythagorean Preparation phase – the first degree. Her strong personality, her acute spirit of inquisition, and her spiritual intelligence made her emerge as an exceptional student. Her uniqueness had stood out from the start, not only among women but also among the brothers of the Pythagorean Society.

Looking at her now, the Master deemed her, somehow, a gift of fate. Without taking his eyes from hers, he stood up slowly. He grabbed her hands in his with affection to lift her to her feet. The softness of her skin touched him to the core of his heart. Their eyes hooked. The intensity of the moment reflected in the love her soul conveyed to him.

Time stood still.

It stood for some time…

Then, he saw it: their future together, a perpetual union that their fate claimed loudly in the quietness of the cave.

The moment her hands left his and she turned to leave, his heart shivered. An emotion, new to him, fastened his attention on her, walking the lane back to the Temple. She glimpsed at him over her shoulder. Her smile appeared to compete with the sunrays basking in her silhouette. He snatched himself from the magic of the moment to revert back to his cave and his thoughts. His mind fought his heart. The struggle between his intuition and rationality escorted him all day. Confusion unsettled him all night long. After all these years of restricted Initiation, the Master found it hard to accept that his heart had yielded to the love of a woman!

Is it possible? But how? What was that powerful emotion that took my breath away and entrapped me to that young beauty? Is it love or simply affection?

Affection! What kind of affection could trigger such physical desires that render me helpless and powerless?

Affection… love… physical desires…

What is the difference then between these emotions?!

And so it happened that the long night took him by surprise.