About the Presentation
Pythagoras of Samos, c.570 – c.495 BC, was an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher. He adhered to the teachings of Orpheus, studied under Thales and in early life, realising great exponents of philosophy lived in exile to their birthplace, travelled widely to Chaldea, Egypt, Persia, and India to seek the Ancient Wisdom. Later, some such as 2nd Century BC novelist, Antonius Diogenes, suggested that Pythagoras discovered all his doctrines himself by interpreting dreams. He began teaching at age 58, and about 530 BC, he travelled to Croton (Krotona, now Crotone) in southern Italy, founding an occult school in which initiates were carefully chosen before being sworn to secrecy. They lived together in an active brotherhood (without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour), including married couples, practising a communal, disciplined lifestyle for many years. According to Iamblichus, many of these men and women, known as Pythagoreans, later gained renown in government, the arts and philosophy for their contributions to society until later persecutions.
This talk will compare some key ideas of the Pythagoreans with similar ideas found in Theosophy. He taught: that the principle [or the beginning] is in the universe unity; that Justice is the mother and nurse of all things; that amity or friendship is equality, equality is friendship; to act by everyone in the same manner as if you supposed yourself to be that one, and that one to be you; and to tread the middle way, to remain uniformly mildly joyful, and not at one time hilarious, and at another sad; and also to abide by the precept, “As duly by law, thy homage pay first to the immortal Gods; then to thy oath, and last to the heroes illustrious.”
Most importantly, that the spiritual path of 2,500 years ago provided the same conditions and teachings for spiritual progression as today.
About the Presenter
Simon O’Rourke is currently a national speaker for the Theosophical Society in Australia, and is a former President and Treasurer of Blavatsky Lodge. He has a long standing interest in Theosophy and the presentation of Theosophy in the great Traditions of the world.
