The Pythagorean community

Pythagoreans: the full-time residents of the community.
Pythagoritst: people who live in the surrounding region but attended Pythagoras' lectures on a regular basis.
Pythagoreans were divided into two groups:
Disciples: people who had completed the full term of probation.
Auditors: the rest of the group.

Before acceptance as a resident, each applicant to the community was rigorously examined. Pythagoras first asked about their relation to their parents and family. Next he observed the tone of their speech and laughter, and inquired about their desires, their friendships, how they employed their leisure, and what were the causes of their joy and sadness. He observed their posture and the shape and motions of their body, regarding these as visible signs of the qualities of the soul.

After subjecting each candidate to such careful screening, those deemed acceptable were invited to join the community as Auditors for a period of three years. During this time, Pythagoras carefully observed their character and habits, evaluating their susceptibility to desire and passion, and how they were affected by conflict and disappointment. He tested their acquisitiveness and pride, and placed a high value on generosity, reticence and modesty.

After this survey of manners, he directed his attention to their memory and facility in learning. He examined their ability to follow what was said quickly and accurately, and then whether they were driven y pure motivation and love to master all the disciplines presented to them. He stressed the importance of open mindedness, and this he called culture.

After the third year, those who were found unfit in any detail were required to leave the community; those who remained advanced toward discipleship. Because Pythagoras considered mastery over one's tongue as the most difficult challenge, successful Auditors were required at this stage to observe strict silence for five years. All their possessions and property were given to the community and committed to trustees. Finally, after five years of silence, those who had won Pythagoras' approval were initiated as Disciples.

Pythagoras explained that the extraordinary disciplines he imposed on applicants were necessary to clear away the thickets of excess and greed that obscure the natural reasoning power of the soul. "Excess brings lust, intoxication and uncontrolled emotions, which drive men and women into the abyss, " he taught. "Greed brings envy, theft and exploitation. Theses thickets, which choke the soul, must be cleared out by systematic discipline, as if with fire and sword. Only when reason is liberated from such evils are we able to implant what is useful and good within the soul."

Life in the community followed a strict routine. Special regard was given to two times of day---the hour of waking and the hour of falling asleep. Auditors and Disciples began the day with solitary walks to quiet places in the around the retreat---to groves, streams, temples and other sacred sites.