It was Thales who advised Pythagoras to travel to Africa to learn about mathematics and astronomy and the theory of music etc...Pythagoras tried going into Egypt wita letter of introduction written by Polycrates, arriving in Egypt Pythagoras tried to gain entry into the Mystery Schools of Egypt, he was refused and tried again and again. He was told that unless he goes through a PARTICULAR TRAINING OF FASTING and breathing, he can not be allowed to enter the school. Pythagoras is reported to have said, "I have come for knowledge, not any sort of discipline." BUT the school authorities said, "we can not give you knowledge unless you are different. And really, we are not interested in knowledge at all, we are interested in actual experience. No knowledge is knowledge unless it is lived and experienced. So you will have to go on a 40 day and 40 nights fast, continuously breathing in a certain manner, with a certain awareness on certain points." After 40 days and 40 nights of fasting and breathing, aware, attentive, he was allowed to enter the Mystery School. It is said that Pythagoras said, "You are not allowing Pythagoras in. I am a different man, I am reborn. You were right and I was wrong, because then my whole standpoint was intellectual. Theough this purification, my center of being has changed. Before this training I could only undeerstand through the intellect, through the head. Now I can feel. Now truth is not a concept to me, but a life."
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