The gods divinely inspired me to pass this along.

[dust1n]

The Gods came to me in a dream last night, told me to look up Pytheagoras. I did, and found his scripture, and realized, for a religious text, Pytheagoras might have written the most divine text of human history. Also, the Gods came to me and not you, because you do not call out to them, and do not wish the see the truth. No reason to talk me out of it. I experienced it firsthand, so no one has the capacity to argue against what I experienced first hand internally.

Here ya go;


1. First worship the Immortal Gods, as they are established and ordained by the Law.

2. Reverence the Oath, and next the Heroes, full of goodness and light.

3. Honour likewise the Terrestrial Dæmons by rendering them the worship lawfully due to them.

4. Honour likewise thy parents, and those most nearly related to thee.

5. Of all the rest of mankind, make him thy friend who distinguishes himself by his virtue.

6. Always give ear to his mild exhortations, and take example from his virtuous and useful actions.

7. Avoid as much as possible hating thy friend for a slight fault.

8. [And understand that] power is a near neighbour to necessity.

9. Know that all these things are as I have told thee; and accustom thyself to overcome and vanquish these passions:--

10. First gluttony, sloth, sensuality, and anger.

11. Do nothing evil, neither in the presence of others, nor privately;

12. But above all things respect thyself.

13. In the next place, observe justice in thy actions and in thy words.

14. And accustom not thyself to behave thyself in any thing without rule, and without reason.

15. But always make this reflection, that it is ordained by destiny that all men shall die.

16. And that the goods of fortune are uncertain; and that as they may be acquired, so may they likewise be lost.

17. Concerning all the calamities that men suffer by divine fortune,

18. Support with patience thy lot, be it what it may, and never repine at it.

19. But endeavour what thou canst to remedy it.

20. And consider that fate does not send the greatest portion of these misfortunes to good men.

21. There are among men many sorts of reasonings, good and bad;

22. Admire them not too easily, nor reject them.

23. But if falsehoods be advanced, hear them with mildness, and arm thyself with patience.

24. Observe well, on every occasion, what I am going to tell thee:--

25. Let no man either by his words, or by his deeds, ever seduce thee.

26. Nor entice thee to say or to do what is not profitable for thyself.

27. Consult and deliberate before thou act, that thou mayest not commit foolish actions.

28. For it is the part of a miserable man to speak and to act without reflection.

29. But do that which will not afflict thee afterwards, nor oblige thee to repentance.

30. Never do anything which thou dost not understand.

31. But learn all thou ought'st to know, and by that means thou wilt lead a very pleasant life.

32. in no wise neglect the health of thy body;

33. But give it drink and meat in due measure, and also the exercise of which it has need.

34. Now by measure I mean what will not incommode thee.

35. Accustom thyself to a way of living that is neat and decent without luxury.

36. Avoid all things that will occasion envy.

37. And be not prodigal out of season, like one who knows not what is decent and honourable.

38. Neither be covetous nor niggardly; a due measure is excellent in these things.

39. Do only the things that cannot hurt thee, and deliberate before thou dost them.

40. Never suffer sleep to close thy eyelids, after thy going to bed,

41. Till thou hast examined by thy reason all thy actions of the day.

42. Wherein have I done amiss? What have I done? What have I omitted that I ought to have done?

43. If in this examination thou find that thou hast done amiss, reprimand thyself severely for it;

44. And if thou hast done any good, rejoice.

45. Practise thoroughly all these things; meditate on them well; thou oughtest to love them with all thy heart.

46. 'Tis they that will put thee in the way of divine virtue.

47. I swear it by him who has transmitted into our souls the Sacred Quaternion, the source of nature, whose cause is eternal.

48. But never begin to set thy hand to any work, till thou hast first prayed the gods to accomplish what thou art going to begin.

49. When thou hast made this habit familiar to thee,

50. Thou wilt know the constitution of the Immortal Gods and of men.

51. Even how far the different beings extend, and what contains and binds them together.

52. Thou shalt likewise know that according to Law, the nature of this universe is in all things alike,

53. So that thou shalt not hope what thou ought'st not to hope; and nothing in this world shall be hid from thee.

54. Thou wilt likewise know, that men draw upon themselves their own misfortunes voluntarily, and of their own free choice.

55. Unhappy that they are! They neither see nor understand that their good is near them.

56. Few know how to deliver themselves out of their misfortunes.

57. Such is the fate that blinds mankind, and takes away his senses.

58. Like huge cylinders they roll to and fro, and always oppressed with ills innumerable.

59. For fatal strife, innate, pursues them everywhere, tossing them up and down; nor do they perceive it.

60. Instead of provoking and stirring it up, they ought, by yielding, to avoid it.

61. Oh! Jupiter, our Father! if Thou would'st deliver men from all the evils that oppress them,

62. Show them of what dæmon they make use.

63. But take courage; the race of man is divine.

64. Sacred nature reveals to them the most hidden mysteries.

65. If she impart to thee her secrets, thou wilt easily perform all the things which I have ordained thee.

66. And by the healing of thy soul, thou wilt deliver it from all evils, from all afflictions.

67. But abstain thou from the meats, which we have forbidden in the purifications and in the deliverance of the soul;

68. Make a just distinction of them, and examine all things well.

69. Leaving thyself always to be guided and directed by the understanding that comes from above, and that ought to hold the reins.

70. And when, after having divested thyself of thy mortal body, thou arrivest at the most pure Æther,

71. Thou shalt be a God, immortal, incorruptible, and Death shall have no more dominion over thee.

http://sacred-texts.com/cla/gvp/gvp03.htm


I highlighted the especially important passages, which were revealed by the gods in a binary string of numbers, which I duely wrote down so that I could bold them later.

Here you go, and also you are most welcome for the holy text.


On a serious note, I'm curious as to what you all make of the above religious claims. Thanks.

 

[dust1n]

Really? No one? No one agrees or objects to anything thing about the religious text? Bummer. I thought it was interesting and to the point.

 

[Thief]

you lost me .....do nothing evil....in private.

Thief is ninja!

 

[Neo Deist]

The Gods came to me in a dream last night...

Most people stopped reading right there.

 

[suncowiam]

Where is the commandments section? The fewer the better when I shop around for religion.

But I do like 71... That looks real enticing.

 

[dust1n]

Most people stopped reading right there.

Fair enough. I'm learned to stop reading when people mention Gods as well.

 

[dust1n]

Where is the commandments section? The fewer the better when I shop around for religion.

But I do like 71... That looks real enticing.

Got to eat the right meats.

 

[Quintessence]

Guess I'm not sure how to respond because I don't view these as "religious claims" at all. What this really looks to be is a doorway into understanding historical Pagan ethics, but I'm hardly well-studied enough on this antiquity to provide much in the way of meaningful commentary there.

 

[Nakosis]

The sacred what?

Is that a Star of David in there?

The "Quaternion" refers to the "Quarter parts", or the 4 parts of the human being, each constituting a "Quarter" part of it. The first three components are the Body (with its instincts and related passions), the Soul (with its rational intellect and related passions), and theSpirit (with its judgment and pure intelligence). The fourth component has its location in the Spirit, but is only available after hard work of the human freewill for harmonizing and equilibrating the first three parts in a state of Godly Self Oneness. It is called philosophical Wisdom. Its attainment is the main purpose of life and the only hope of real human happiness but, unfortunately, because of ignorance, lack of will, or misuse of freewill, and thus missing work to harmonize the first three parts, it is too often out of reach. The four parts of the Quaternion are represented by both the 4 levelsof the triangle and, in a more complete 3D version, by the Cube figure located in the middle of the Hexagon at the center of the Triangle. The six side angles of the central 2D Hexagon itself (or the six faces of the corresponding 3D Cube) are often used to represent the six forces at the base of all human holistic formation: the 4 Cardinal Virtues (Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice), along with Beauty and Love. The overall 3D Tetractys symbol, with its central cube, should also be seen as integrated into a Sphere, that is the symbol of perfection once wisdom is reached.

 

[vaguelyhumanoid]

Pretty solid ethical code overall. A couple of the points I really disagree with, like vanquishing sensuality and anger, or sternly reprimanding yourself on all your wrongs before you go to bed. (That would seriously not go well for me.)

I've wondered for a while if neo-Pythagoreanism is a thing these days.

 

[dust1n]

Guess I'm not sure how to respond because I don't view these as "religious claims" at all. What this really looks to be is a doorway into understanding historical Pagan ethics, but I'm hardly well-studied enough on this antiquity to provide much in the way of meaningful commentary there.

"69. Leaving thyself always to be guided and directed by the understanding that comes from above, and that ought to hold the reins.

70. And when, after having divested thyself of thy mortal body, thou arrivest at the most pure Æther,

71. Thou shalt be a God, immortal, incorruptible, and Death shall have no more dominion over thee."

That's not a religious claim?

 

[dust1n]

Pretty solid ethical code overall. A couple of the points I really disagree with, like vanquishing sensuality and anger, or sternly reprimanding yourself on all your wrongs before you go to bed. (That would seriously not go well for me.)

I've wondered for a while if neo-Pythagoreanism is a thing these days.

I'm not sure what sensuality means in this context. Or anger. They are both pretty vague. Although, quelling makes sense.

And what, your demons don't haunt before you go to sleep? I didn't realize that was a commandment, I thought he was just stating a fact.

 

[suncowiam]

"69. Leaving thyself always to be guided and directed by the understanding that comes from above, and that ought to hold the reins.

70. And when, after having divested thyself of thy mortal body, thou arrivest at the most pure Æther,

71. Thou shalt be a God, immortal, incorruptible, and Death shall have no more dominion over thee."

That's not a religious claim?

Where them virgins at and how many upon my glorious death?

I think that's the religious claim, we're all looking for. Am I right?

 

[dust1n]

Where them virgins at and how many upon my glorious death?

I think that's the religious claim, we're all looking for. Am I right?

Apparently we become pure aether, which as far as I can tell, we become the stuff above the world. So probably, like, a ton.

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

Guess I'm not sure how to respond because I don't view these as "religious claims" at all.

This .
Also, there's the fact that this wasn't written by Pythagoras or the original Pythagoreans. We have possible allusions to the Golden Verses that allow for a possible earliest date at around 300-250 BCE, some 200 years after Pythagoras. However, it's not clear if these are actual references to the Golden Verses, which appears to have acquired this name around the same time the Mishnah was written down (c. 200 CE). It could be that they were used to create the Golden Verses, which isn't a particularly well-composed work:
"The poem, consisting of seventy-one hexameters, some of them rather clumsily formulated, contains a multitude of interesting “golden” rules"
Riedweg, C. (2005). Pythagoras: His life, teaching, and influence. Cornell University Press.

It's a bit like a patch-work of maxims, aphorisms, proverbs, adages, etc., adapted or copied from other sources (which could very well include earlier versions of the text and/or Pythagorean thought). Of course, Pythagorean thought itself wasn't very Pythagorean, or better yet wasn't a philosophical school (so far as we can tell) as it is frequently depicted to be:

"After the disappearance of the original society in the fourth century bc, Pythagoreanism survived only sporadically, mostly through individual personalities who continued to lead a Pythagorean way of life; the very existence of actual Pythagorean communities prior to the first-century bc revival is highly conjectural. What is well attested instead is a cultural interest in Pythagorean teachings, as evidenced by the writing of apocrypha, a phenomenon that gradually grew to impressive proportions. The apocryphal sources that have reached us by far outnumber the few fragments that can claim to belong to early Pythagoreans. This apocryphal literature is extremely varied and includes philosophical treatises, collections of precepts and sayings, and short poems such as the famous Golden Verses attributed to Pythagoras himself.
According to Zeller’s hypothesis, which dominated scholarship for a long time, this literature has its roots in the Pythagorean revival that occurred in Alexandria in the first century bc. Later studies, however, came to view this material under a different light, rejecting the hypothesis of a common origin and dating. Pythagorean forgeries were already circulating by the third century bc, and the production of apocrypha extended over a long period of time. Such varied material reflects the heterogeneous character of Pythagoreanism: originally a way of life (bios), it later acquired the features of a philosophical doctrine, initially thanks to Philolaus and Archytas but then largely through the influence of the Academy and the doxographical tradition.
Several factors explain the origins of this apocryphal literature, whose spread was initially favored by the lack of any writings by Pythagoras himself."
Bruno Centrone. (2014).The pseudo-Pythagorean writings. In C. A. Huffman (Ed.) A History of Pythagoreanism (pp. 315-340). Cambridge University Press.
Is this sufficient? Or must I provide more to appease you here:

Really? No one? No one agrees or objects to anything thing about the religious text?

I can blather on some more and add a rant or two if tat helps.

 

[dust1n]

It's a bit like a patch-work of maxims, aphorisms, proverbs, adages, etc., adapted or copied from other sources (which could very well include earlier versions of the text and/or Pythagorean thought). Of course, Pythagorean thought itself wasn't very Pythagorean, or better yet wasn't a philosophical school (so far as we can tell) as it is frequently depicted to be:

How does this differ from Confucianism?

I can blather on some more and add a rant or two if tat helps.

Go for it. You got sources I don't, so go for it.

 

[Unification]

The sacred what?

Is that a Star of David in there?

The "Quaternion" refers to the "Quarter parts", or the 4 parts of the human being, each constituting a "Quarter" part of it. The first three components are the Body (with its instincts and related passions), the Soul (with its rational intellect and related passions), and theSpirit (with its judgment and pure intelligence). The fourth component has its location in the Spirit, but is only available after hard work of the human freewill for harmonizing and equilibrating the first three parts in a state of Godly Self Oneness. It is called philosophical Wisdom. Its attainment is the main purpose of life and the only hope of real human happiness but, unfortunately, because of ignorance, lack of will, or misuse of freewill, and thus missing work to harmonize the first three parts, it is too often out of reach. The four parts of the Quaternion are represented by both the 4 levelsof the triangle and, in a more complete 3D version, by the Cube figure located in the middle of the Hexagon at the center of the Triangle. The six side angles of the central 2D Hexagon itself (or the six faces of the corresponding 3D Cube) are often used to represent the six forces at the base of all human holistic formation: the 4 Cardinal Virtues (Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice), along with Beauty and Love. The overall 3D Tetractys symbol, with its central cube, should also be seen as integrated into a Sphere, that is the symbol of perfection once wisdom is reached.

I love the pyramid braingle of the suprasellar cistern!

 

[Milton Platt]

The Gods came to me in a dream last night, told me to look up Pytheagoras. I did, and found his scripture, and realized, for a religious text, Pytheagoras might have written the most divine text of human history. Also, the Gods came to me and not you, because you do not call out to them, and do not wish the see the truth. No reason to talk me out of it. I experienced it firsthand, so no one has the capacity to argue against what I experienced first hand internally.

Here ya go;


1. First worship the Immortal Gods, as they are established and ordained by the Law.

2. Reverence the Oath, and next the Heroes, full of goodness and light.

3. Honour likewise the Terrestrial Dæmons by rendering them the worship lawfully due to them.

4. Honour likewise thy parents, and those most nearly related to thee.

5. Of all the rest of mankind, make him thy friend who distinguishes himself by his virtue.

6. Always give ear to his mild exhortations, and take example from his virtuous and useful actions.

7. Avoid as much as possible hating thy friend for a slight fault.

8. [And understand that] power is a near neighbour to necessity.

9. Know that all these things are as I have told thee; and accustom thyself to overcome and vanquish these passions:--

10. First gluttony, sloth, sensuality, and anger.

11. Do nothing evil, neither in the presence of others, nor privately;

12. But above all things respect thyself.

13. In the next place, observe justice in thy actions and in thy words.

14. And accustom not thyself to behave thyself in any thing without rule, and without reason.

15. But always make this reflection, that it is ordained by destiny that all men shall die.

16. And that the goods of fortune are uncertain; and that as they may be acquired, so may they likewise be lost.

17. Concerning all the calamities that men suffer by divine fortune,

18. Support with patience thy lot, be it what it may, and never repine at it.

19. But endeavour what thou canst to remedy it.

20. And consider that fate does not send the greatest portion of these misfortunes to good men.

21. There are among men many sorts of reasonings, good and bad;

22. Admire them not too easily, nor reject them.

23. But if falsehoods be advanced, hear them with mildness, and arm thyself with patience.

24. Observe well, on every occasion, what I am going to tell thee:--

25. Let no man either by his words, or by his deeds, ever seduce thee.

26. Nor entice thee to say or to do what is not profitable for thyself.

27. Consult and deliberate before thou act, that thou mayest not commit foolish actions.

28. For it is the part of a miserable man to speak and to act without reflection.

29. But do that which will not afflict thee afterwards, nor oblige thee to repentance.

30. Never do anything which thou dost not understand.

31. But learn all thou ought'st to know, and by that means thou wilt lead a very pleasant life.

32. in no wise neglect the health of thy body;

33. But give it drink and meat in due measure, and also the exercise of which it has need.

34. Now by measure I mean what will not incommode thee.

35. Accustom thyself to a way of living that is neat and decent without luxury.

36. Avoid all things that will occasion envy.

37. And be not prodigal out of season, like one who knows not what is decent and honourable.

38. Neither be covetous nor niggardly; a due measure is excellent in these things.

39. Do only the things that cannot hurt thee, and deliberate before thou dost them.

40. Never suffer sleep to close thy eyelids, after thy going to bed,

41. Till thou hast examined by thy reason all thy actions of the day.

42. Wherein have I done amiss? What have I done? What have I omitted that I ought to have done?

43. If in this examination thou find that thou hast done amiss, reprimand thyself severely for it;

44. And if thou hast done any good, rejoice.

45. Practise thoroughly all these things; meditate on them well; thou oughtest to love them with all thy heart.

46. 'Tis they that will put thee in the way of divine virtue.

47. I swear it by him who has transmitted into our souls the Sacred Quaternion, the source of nature, whose cause is eternal.

48. But never begin to set thy hand to any work, till thou hast first prayed the gods to accomplish what thou art going to begin.

49. When thou hast made this habit familiar to thee,

50. Thou wilt know the constitution of the Immortal Gods and of men.

51. Even how far the different beings extend, and what contains and binds them together.

52. Thou shalt likewise know that according to Law, the nature of this universe is in all things alike,

53. So that thou shalt not hope what thou ought'st not to hope; and nothing in this world shall be hid from thee.

54. Thou wilt likewise know, that men draw upon themselves their own misfortunes voluntarily, and of their own free choice.

55. Unhappy that they are! They neither see nor understand that their good is near them.

56. Few know how to deliver themselves out of their misfortunes.

57. Such is the fate that blinds mankind, and takes away his senses.

58. Like huge cylinders they roll to and fro, and always oppressed with ills innumerable.

59. For fatal strife, innate, pursues them everywhere, tossing them up and down; nor do they perceive it.

60. Instead of provoking and stirring it up, they ought, by yielding, to avoid it.

61. Oh! Jupiter, our Father! if Thou would'st deliver men from all the evils that oppress them,

62. Show them of what dæmon they make use.

63. But take courage; the race of man is divine.

64. Sacred nature reveals to them the most hidden mysteries.

65. If she impart to thee her secrets, thou wilt easily perform all the things which I have ordained thee.

66. And by the healing of thy soul, thou wilt deliver it from all evils, from all afflictions.

67. But abstain thou from the meats, which we have forbidden in the purifications and in the deliverance of the soul;

68. Make a just distinction of them, and examine all things well.

69. Leaving thyself always to be guided and directed by the understanding that comes from above, and that ought to hold the reins.

70. And when, after having divested thyself of thy mortal body, thou arrivest at the most pure Æther,

71. Thou shalt be a God, immortal, incorruptible, and Death shall have no more dominion over thee.

http://sacred-texts.com/cla/gvp/gvp03.htm


I highlighted the especially important passages, which were revealed by the gods in a binary string of numbers, which I duely wrote down so that I could bold them later.

Here you go, and also you are most welcome for the holy text.


On a serious note, I'm curious as to what you all make of the above religious claims. Thanks.

This must be the true religion...those other guys only have a list of ten things!!!!!

 

[suncowiam]

Apparently we become pure aether, which as far as I can tell, we become the stuff above the world. So probably, like, a ton.

I hope you're not assuring me a one ton virgin upon my glorious death?

 

[Milton Platt]

I hope you're not assuring me a one ton virgin upon my glorious death?

Not only that......but 72 of them