The Pythagorean Brotherhood, was formed in Southern Italy's coastal regions around 580 BCE by a mystical teacher known as Pythagoras, who was said to possess mystical powers or extraordinary abilities (he had "a golden leg" and could be "two places at once"). This brotherhood pursued a radically different approach to life. The Pythagorean philosophy maintained that everything about the universe is based on numerical relationships; music heals the spirit, and there is celestial harmony created by the motion of the planets.
Although Pythagoras is best known for developing the theorem that bears his name, his influence and significance go far beyond his contributions in mathematics. He was not only a mathematician but also a spiritual leader, a mystic, and the head of an organization established to bring people into harmony with the Universe. This week we will examine some of the secrets of the Pythagorean Brotherhood and their science of Harmony.
The Pythagorean Brotherhood: A Community of Seekers
The Pythagorean Brotherhood originated in Croton as a religious and philosophical organization creating an environment for the spiritual cleansing of its members' souls through community living.
To become an initiate, an individual had to endure a series of initiations and prove that he or she is worthy of entering into the inner circle. This process lasted for five years, during which the initiate swore to remain silent about all things related to the Pythagorean Brotherhood, which allowed the initiate to enter into the brotherhood's close-knit group of members.
The community functioned on the basis of communal living; the brothers lived together and shared all of their possessions, while adhering to a strict moral code that was designed to foster ethical development and a harmonious relationship between the brotherhood and the universe's divine order. Ultimately, the Pythagorean Brotherhood strived to attain arete (excellence) and live in harmony with the universe's divine order.
