One day in early spring, the Master undertook a lonely journey through the fields that linked Sybaris to Crotona. He reveled in the mild weather and the fresh air. The rising sun essayed timid tints on his white robe, and radiant hues on the soft waves of the sea.
While treading on the shore, he caught sight of some small boats nearing the beach. He stopped to observe the local fishermen. Upon reaching dry land, they jumped out in a good mood and hauled their boats further in. They then proceeded in downloading their laden nets. Smiling at their happiness, he lingered around for a while. He halted near a group of three fishermen at their tasks of the early morning.
“Good morning, brave people,” he greeted cordially. “A good catch today, it seems! Your net is loaded.”
The elder one among them lifted bright eyes at him then replied, “Yes indeed. We fared the sea all night. Hard work pays back.”
Pythagoras approved, “No doubt, you must wonder how many fish you caught today.”
“Hundreds!” exclaimed the youngster, probably the son from his physical resemblance. The third man chuckled in delight.
“Hundreds? Are you sure?” Pythagoras uttered in amusement. “How about if I tell you the exact number of fish in your net?”
It might have sounded like a joke of some sort, but he knew for certain that these hard-bitten men would accept his challenge, no matter how gentle.
They went still for a while, perplexity showing in their eyes. Suddenly, they cracked open in disbelief.
“Come on! You don’t believe yourself to be some kind of god, do you?” the son enjoined.
The father shook his head in annoyance, pointed his finger at Pythagoras in accusation, and admonished, “You know? We often hear of people alleging to know the unknown. And guess what… they always turn out to be nothing more than crazy fellows!”
A general guffaw mocked the Master who responded with a smile. Unscathed by the scorn, he browsed the sea with his eyes. The waves seemed to whisper to him, Maybe it is time….
Probably, why not? He thought, weighing the conditions appropriate for the manifestation of his divinity.
“Try me!” He commanded evenly and ceased smiling. With a serious confidence of his inner power, he stared at them in turn.
They came to a standstill, so did the silent moment that elapsed like a cloud of mist.
“I shall predict the exact number of fish,” Pythagoras affirmed. “However, you must promise me something when my prediction comes true.”
The son smirked and asked, “And what would that be?”
“You shall return the fish, alive, back to the sea.”
The reaction came at once from the three fishermen.
“What?”
“It’s our food in there, our weekly income!”
“Alive?”
“That’s what we do for a living!”
Pythagoras raised the palm of his hands to command silence. “Leave your problems and worries to me. Have faith. I shall solve them all.”
They hesitated. The son poked his father on the hip while he threw glimpses of dread at Pythagoras. They looked at each other with concern then the eldest scratched his head.
“Tell me, why should we do that?” The father flaunted in feeble flout.
“Because if you don’t, you will never know if I can, or not, deliver what I promise,” Pythagoras sounded calm but a hint of defiance lingered over their exchange.
“Okay then, say it!”
Pythagoras turned slowly to the net and stood still. His eyelids half-closed, he examined the fish, alive still but not for long. Mist blurred his vision and the inner eye of his mind read clearly a three digit number.
He veered back to the fishermen and intoned with confidence, “153 fish[33]!”
“Is it so?” The eldest sneered and his companions grinned in derision. “Let’s see then!”
They dashed to spread the contents of their net on the golden sand. Pythagoras observed the process with quiet vigilance. It took them a considerable amount of time to count them all, yet the fish remained alive in the presence of the Lover of Sophia.
With the last fish, they sagged back on the sand with livid faces then gawked at him, astounded. The number he had predicted was indeed exact!
Pythagoras felt a surge of fatherly affection towards them at their, suddenly patent, vulnerability. Smiling at them, his tone kind, he rendered, “You may now return the fish back to the sea.”
They leaped to their feet, gathered the fish with fearful glances in his direction, and threw them all back into the sea. Having done that, they walked back to stand, in wait, in front of him. To their surprise, Pythagoras drew a few coins out of his pouch and handed them over.
The three men gaped down at the money then shook their heads in refusal.
“You have families to feed,” Pythagoras insisted in a tone of authority.
The eldest, the father, took the coins with humility, “Thank you, uh… Master,” he added, not knowing for sure how to address him.
Pythagoras smiled then requested their silence on what had just happened. At that, he moved on.
A few meters ahead, he sensed their presence at a respectful distance behind him. His intuition told him that they had followed him at once. He shook his head when he heard them asking people on the shore about him.
Naturally, the incredible story spread around, racing throughout Sybaris to Crotona, and even farther away to the city of Rhegium. His disciples informed him, later on, that much fervor and faith kindled the narration of his deed. Many called him Pythagoras, the miracle-worker.
Consequently, a large number of people showed eagerness to meet him, listen to him, or simply glimpse at the extraordinary Master. Citizens and visitors, from all around the Italian cities, flooded Crotona.
* * *
By that time, Pythagoras’ fame had spread out and crossed borders. The Senate could no longer consider him a mere temporary socio-cultural phenomenon, but more of a tide in expansion that risked swapping them over. In addition, to deem him a charlatan would be a terrible mistake. The followers and devotees of this real, human enigma numbered in the hundreds. Capable of almost anything, they would stand up to keep and protect him if needed!
Pythagoras knew that these facts worried the State Council of the Thousand. The news reached him that the House of Senate had issued an urgent call to its members to discuss the matter in a closed summit. Thus, when a day later, they summoned him to their presence, he nodded with a simple smile and went to meet them.
In spite of their nervous stances and anxious looks, they welcomed him with honorable manners. The due greetings done with, the head of the Senate took his presidential seat to start. A blue shoulder-band covered the right side of his white tunic and blue trims enhanced the sleeves.
He pierced Pythagoras with sharp eyes and intoned, “Pythagoras, son of Phoenicia! We have heard what you have been teaching to our youth. It is all good… very good, in fact, all these social and moral codes,” he emphasized with a waving gesture of his hand, “they are indeed commendable! Actually, we very much approve!”
The senators all nodded in confirmation.
“And yet!” he snapped. “We wonder, why? What is your intention in assuming such a burden all by yourself?”
The question carried more suspicion than caring concern. Pythagoras would not fall into this political trap.
“With all due respect, gentlemen, since you approve of my teachings, then, asking the reason – why – is of no relevance,” he answered with the calm confidence known only to those who have deepened in the sagacity of life and beyond. “Behold, I do not carry the burdens of life on my own, we all do; we humans walking the troublesome path of this existence.”
Silence reigned for a moment.
Time for them to think…
“What about that power of yours?” One of the high senators broke the silence in a challenging tone. He dashed towards him and looked him squarely in the eyes. “Yes! We
heard about it! Some of us have even witnessed it. Come now, tell us! What is your mystery?”
Pythagoras held the accusing attitude in the power of his coolness. The senator hesitated for a second then charged on, “Allow me to ask you another question. What is that unseen power that allows you to guide the spirits of the people, especially those of our young men and women?”
“There is no mystery at all,” Pythagoras replied in a serene voice. “That unseen power that makes you wonder is nothing more than the power of Hokmah; Sophia. It is there in each one of us, in each one of you, fellow men. It is just lying dormant, waiting to be awakened. The Truth I tell you; it is not a matter of me guiding the youth, but a matter of a fusion between my Essence and theirs. They are drawn to me in the same way that I am drawn to them.”
Bewilderment walloped the administrators in total stillness for a while. They then gazed at each other in confusion. Soon, murmurs emerged as they shared their deductions.
Pythagoras waited. His powerful hearing skill grasped most of their exchange. He perceived their reassurance concerning their previous assumption that he might be a threat to them. They seemed to have accepted his words as honest and clear, and considered them of divine meaning. He sensed their vibrations of insecurity. They still needed an answer to one question; a dilemma that harassed their minds and hearts. He knew for certain what bothered them still, yet he waited.
At last, someone dared to put it forward. “We heard… hmmm… how should I put it? Well… We heard that you have performed a miracle. Some people see in you a god. Some regard you as the only manifestation, or one of the manifestations, of the God Apollo. Are you?” he snapped in accusation.
Pythagoras shook his head in amused disbelief. “Me… incarnating the god Apollo… or being his manifestation?” He exclaimed in their direction. “Aha… how could that possibly be? I was born to a woman. Don’t you know?” He smirked, and they smiled back in relief. “Honestly, what could have made you think that? Listen, I have informed the young Crotoniates of who I am, and I, here, reconfirm it to you, fellow brothers. “I am the Lover of Sophia. That’s who I am!” The Master declared loud and firm. “I strongly recommend you bear in mind, at all times, that the act of procreation is sacred simply for being a natural phenomenon. You must always consider it with high respect. In truth, it is the only way by which myriad souls are incarnated into the world.”
Even had they fathomed the depth of his statement, the senators could not have responded to it. Their concern appeared to focus on the nature and aim of Pythagoras. They, in fact, shared looks of reprieve and chuckled, amused at having believed the rumors and wrongfully accusing him.
Pythagoras sighed, inwardly disappointed by their narrow minds. He decided to advance the statement more clearly and proclaimed out loud. “Of course, reproduction is the way for the soul to reincarnate, but only in the manifested life.”
Everybody went silent. The reaction he had wished for failed to ensue. Again, his last declaration went unfathomed. However, he regained some level of hope when they prompted to ask him to convene with them more often in the near future. They appeared eager to heed more of his wisdom. They – the actual leaders of the people – intended to communicate, in turn, his knowledge to their citizens.
Obviously, such a request from the Senate stood as a direct invitation for him to carry on with his vision and mission. He appreciated such a significant opportunity for expansion, to develop his concepts, and educate the general public. In return, Pythagoras reassured them that his teachings would not endanger the Dorian[34] constitution of Crotona in any way, but would instead confirm and enhance it.
The smiles they wore brightened the mood in the House of Senate. All their doubts, regarding him as a possible threat, vanished never to return again. Truth be told, Pythagoras embodied the characteristics of a Spiritual Reformer.
“Remember, honorable Senators. The city has been entrusted to your care by your ancestors. Your political positions in the government are a grant from your compatriots to you. What you have obtained is a common heritage to all. Hence, my recommendation is that you govern your country accordingly, and legate it, in due time, to the next generation with similar wisdom and value.”
He moved around the circular hall of the House then halted at the center where he stood firmly and stared at each in turn.
“Please, pay attention to what I am about to convey to you now. These are major suggestions for the administrative running of your beloved city, Crotona. They are only five but of major impact. Listen!
- Be equal in everything you do to and for your citizens. Represent them honestly and serve them wisely as only true leaders do. If you ever need to make an exception, let it be through Justice. Only Justice should occupy a position of Authority. And so, be just, for every man and woman loves fairness.
- Be worthy of your words. Do not use the gods as objects of oath, for they must be dissociated from the laws of the city. Instead, make sensible choices in managing the government, and manage it rightly! This should earn you a good reputation and trustworthiness, and allow you to resolve issues without the need of oaths.
- Be faithful in everything you do and undertake. Be truthful with everyone around you, especially with your friends, and in particular with your wives; these companions of your life! Abstain from having affairs outside the institution of earthly marriage. This is important for you to avoid the destruction of your family and of society, and to ultimately circumvent the bastardization of the nation.
- Be caring individuals so that you may prevent people from acting wrongly. Do not let them fear the punishment of law. Instead, instill them with a deep respect for good manners. Give them that opportunity, for it is the only way and the only good thing that makes them see the path of truth.
- Be cooperative with those who contradict you. Do not feel offended at all by their differing opinions. Instead, you should approach their ideas with an open mind. Try to benefit from their concepts before reaching a conclusion. I tell you: live democratically!”
The State Council of the Thousand remained seated for a long moment after Pythagoras had concluded his speech. Then, as if moved by the same spirit, they stood up together at once, and gathered around him in awe and admiration. They shook his hand, one by one, expressing their gratitude; praising his wonderful speech of reform and his remarkable suggestions.
In fact, Pythagoras, who really disliked politics, never meant to create a new form of government. That was never part of his actual mission. But necessity called upon him to act because of the many injustices taking place in the cities. His main focus bounded him to cultivate the youth’s knowledge, the opportunity to extend his impetus to the governing class merged in as a must. He, in fact, wished for them to realize that their leadership should utterly harmonize with a philosophical way of life. Ultimately, the socio-political set of reforms and the moral-religious set of laws he communicated, to both the politicians and the people, contained none other than the authentic elements of wisdom; Sophia!
* * *
Months elapsed and Pythagoras succeeded in attracting a large number of rich citizens, including the majority of the Senate, and the young men and women of Crotona. Truth be told, the Master throve in restoring their independence and liberty. The Senate, who had come to trust him to a high degree, acclaimed his input as foremost. All the Italian cities – from the far-away Rhegium, to the closest, Sybaris – followed suit in accepting the same providence. Such an enormous accomplishment earned him more esteem than ever before. His ambition and willpower to improve human life created a breakthrough at that time. The rigid and long adopted systems in their social, cultural, and political context changed drastically.
Pythagoras persevered. With his popularity increasing, he came up with a plan to build an exclusive Institution for his disciples. Wealthy Crotoniates expressed enthusiasm and committed to support the noble project. Encouraged, Pythagoras proposed his idea to the House of Senate during one of
their weekly meetings.
“An Institute? How interesting!” The head of the Senate exclaimed. “Let’s hear it!”
Eager to advance his initiative, Pythagoras did not hesitate. “The project would form a fraternity of secular Initiates who would live in a community inside a school of life, without being secluded from society. Those among them who are found worthy of holding a tutorship (Mastership) would be immediately appointed to teach the sciences of: Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and Religion. Based on the rules of the Community, the young men would be submitted to essential examinations before being admitted for further instruction. Under the guidance of the Grand Teacher (High Master) of that future prestigious scholarly Order, these young men would progress through different and successive degrees of Education (Initiation). And that would be intended, if I may say, according to their levels of intellect and their good will.”
“Furthermore, those who wished to formally adhere to the Circle of Teaching (Circle of Initiation), and I mean those best qualified to become Teachers (Members of the Inner Circle), would be asked to relinquish their wealth to a curator. In case they wished to leave at a later stage, they would simply recuperate their money. Undoubtedly, there should also be a section for young women to favor from an adequate Education (Initiation) that better suits their roles in life.”
Thrilled to have such an innovative institution in their city, the Senators promised to discuss it meticulously in private. And so they did during the several days that ensued. Their decision taken at last, they summoned him straight away.
An honoring welcome received him in the House of Senate upon his arrival.
“Congratulations, Pythagoras! The votes were unanimous in favor of the execution of your project,” the head of the Senate informed him, at once, his tone official. “It is there, noted down on the calendar of our affairs for now and the years to come.”
Amidst the sound of applauses, and overwhelmed by the apparent affection their smiles expressed towards him, Pythagoras delighted in the positive decision.
Pythagoras the Mathemagician Page 21