wisdom | بن عربي

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.

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“Know yourself , ” we usually repeat this sentence, but we often lose sight of the true meaning . Concerning the confusion existing about this sentence two questions should be raised : the first concerns the origin of this expression , the second its real meaning and purpose. Some readers may believe that these two issues are completely separate and have no relation between them .

After reflexion , and after careful consideration; it is clear that they are closely related .

If you ask those who have studied Greek philosophy , who is the man who first had pronounced this wise sentence , most of them will not hesitate to tell that the author of this maxim is Socrates, yet some argue that it can belong to Plato and others to Pythagoras. After these conflicting opinions, we have the right to conclude that this sentence was written by none of these philosophers , and it is not with them that we must seek it s origin, simply because two of these philosophers , Pythagoras and Socrates didn’t leave anything written . As for Plato , whatever its philosophical jurisdiction is , we are not able to distinguish what was said by him or by his teacher Socrates.

Much of the doctrine of the latter is only known by us through Plato, and we know , moreover, that it is in the teaching of

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