So there is a preparation for the wisdom which is higher than philosophy , which doesnot concern the reason, but the soul and spirit , and we can call it inner preparation , and it seems it had been the highest levels of the school of Pythagoras . It has extended its influence through the school of Plato to the neo -Platonism of the Alexandrian school , where it appears clearly again . If for this inner preparation words are still used , these could no longer be taken only as symbols for fixing the inner contemplation.By this preparation , man is led to some states that allow him to exceed the rational knowledge that he previously achieved , and as all this is above the level of reason , its was also above philosophy since the name of philosophy is always used in fact to describe something that belongs only to the reason . However, it is surprising that modern consider philosophy as if it were complete in itself , and so they forget what is higher . .
The first philosophers, especially Pythagoras , had consider their education , as being a new expression of the old ideas . There were several kinds of mysteries with diverse origins. Those that inspired Pythagoras and Plato were related to the cult of Apollo . “Mysteries” always had a reserved and secret character , the word “mystery” itself means etymologically the total silence , since things which are related to could not be expressed by words , but only taught by a silent way . But modern who ignore any other method which doesnt involve the use of words, falsely believed , that there was no teaching . We can say that this silent teaching was using figures , symbols, and other means designed to bring man to the inner states allowing him to gradually achieve the real knowledge or wisdom . This was the essential and ultimate goal of all the “mysteries” .
As for the “mysteries” that were specifically related to the cult of Apollo and Apollo himself , it must be remembered that he was the God of sun and light ,in the spiritual sense it s the source from where all knowledge , arts and sciences derive.
بن عربي 