Corpus Hermeticum 11: The Hymn · 3 of 5 · tr. G.R.S. Mead
Section 1c
It must, then, be that such a one as this must be some one who's wholly One.
9.
For as the many motions of them [all] are different, and as their bodies are not like, yet has one speed been ordered for them all, it is impossible that there should be two or more makers for them.
For that one single order is not kept among "the many"; but rivalry will follow of the weaker with the stronger, and they will strive.
And if the maker of the lives that suffer change and death, should be another <from the maker of the immortals>, he would desire to make the deathless ones as well; just as the maker of the deathless ones, [to make the lives] that suffer death.
But come!
if there be two - if matter's one, and Soul is one, in whose hands would there be the distribution for the making?
Again, if both of them have some of it, in whose hands may be the greater part?
10.
But thus conceive it, then; that every living body doth consist of soul and matter, whether [that body be] of an immortal, or a mortal, or an irrational [life].
For that all living bodies are ensouled; whereas, upon the other hand, those that live not, are matter by itself.
And, in like fashion, Soul when in its self is, after its own maker, cause of life; but the cause of all life is He who makes the things that cannot die.
Hermes: How, then, is it that, first, lives subject to death are other than the deathless ones?
And, next, how is it that Life which knows no death, and maketh deathlessness, doth not make animals immortal?
11.
Mind: First, that there is some one who does these things, is clear; and, next, that He is also One, is very manifest.
For, also, Soul is one, and Life is one, and Matter one.
Hermes: But who is He?
Mind: Who may it other be than the One God?
Whom else should it beseem to put Soul into lives but God alone?
One, then, is God.
It would indeed be most ridiculous, if when thou dost confess the Cosmos to be one, Sun one, Moon one, and Godhead one, thou shouldst wish God Himself to be some one or other of a number!
12.
All things, therefore, He makes, in many [ways].
And what great thing is it for God to make life, soul, and deathlessness, and change, when thou [thyself] dost do so many things?
For thou dost see, and speak, and hear, and smell, and taste, and touch, and walk, and think, and breathe.
And it is not one man who smells, another one who walks, another one who thinks, and [yet] another one who breathes.
But one is he who doth all these.
And yet no one of these could be apart from God.
For just as, should thou cease from these, thou wouldst no longer be a living thing, so also, should God cease from them (a thing not law to say), no longer is He God.
13.
For if it hath been shown that no thing can [inactive] be, how much less God?
For if there's aught he doth not make (if it be law to say), He is imperfect.
But if He is not only not inactive, but perfect [God], then He doth make all things.
Give thou thyself to Me, My Hermes, for a little while, and thou shalt understand more easily how that God's work is one, in order that all things may be - that are being made, or once have been, or that are going to be made.
Themes
◆Anthropomorphismtheology
Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.
The divine speaker addresses Hermes directly as 'My dearest Hermes' and refers to 'Me'.
All passages →◆Divine Providencetheology
Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.
The passage states that one speed and order has been ordained for all motions by the single Maker.
All passages →◆Hidden Sayingssoteriology
Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.
The phrase 'thou hast no longer need to learn of Me' implies prior esoteric instruction.
All passages →◆Living Godtheology
The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.
God is described as the active 'maker of the lives' that suffer change.
All passages →◆Microcosm Macrocosmcosmology
The human being as a small-scale image of the entire cosmos; the body, soul, and intellect mirroring the structure of the heavens and the divine — distinct from correspondence in that it makes the human the privileged mirror.
It draws a parallel between the unified functions of a human being and the unified actions of God to illustrate divine unity.
All passages →◇Divine Simplicitytheology
The doctrine that God has no parts, divisions, or composite attributes; pure undivided being.
[auto] The maker is described as 'wholly One' without division or rivalry, implying absolute simplicity.
All passages →◇Logoscosmology
The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world.
[auto] References to 'one speed been ordered' and 'one single order' indicate a divine ordering principle governing the cosmos.
All passages →◇Monadcosmology
The absolutely simple, undivided first principle from which all multiplicity and existence flows.
[auto] The passage argues centrally for a single, wholly One maker who unifies all motion and existence.
All passages →◇Unity Of Beingtheology
The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.
[auto] The text emphasizes that all things must come together into one under a single order and maker.
All passages →Related passages · 69 parallels
◆christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 13, Section 1c
“Emily Brontë: “Every existence would exist in Thee.”) And if all things be conceived as being ultimately unified with each other, then all things taken as a whole are One.
507 507 All things possess the same Super-Essence, and that is why…”
Both passages emphasize the unity and oneness of the divine and the interconnectedness of all things. They discuss the singular nature of the creator and the unity of existence, though they come from different mystical traditions.
◆christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 5, Section 1e
“And if these Universals exist by participating in Existence, far more is this true of the things which participate in them.
6.
Thus the first gift which the Absolute and Transcendent Goodness bestows is that of mere Existence, and so It d…”
Both passages discuss the unity and oneness of the divine creator and the interconnectedness of all things. They explore the idea of a single, all-encompassing source of existence and life, emphasizing the unity of being and the attributes derived from this singular source.
◆greek_mystery|Orphic Hymns|Hymn LXXXVI. DEATH (part 1)
“LXXXVI.
TO DEATH.
The FUMIGATION from MANNA.
HEAR me, O Death, whose empire unconfin'd, Extends to mortal tribes of ev'ry kind.
On thee, the portion of our time depends, Whose absence lengthens life, whose presence ends.
p.
225 Thy sl…”
Both passages discuss the nature of life, death, and the role of a divine or unifying principle. They explore the interconnectedness of existence and the ultimate source of all things, though from different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 9
“Section 5 5. Now this Animate might be merely the body as having life: it might be the Couplement of Soul and body: it might be a third and different entity formed from both. The Soul in turn- apart from the nature of the Animate- must be e…”
Both passages explore the relationship between the soul, body, and the animate being, discussing the nature of desires, affections, and the unity of the self. They both delve into the metaphysical aspects of existence and the interplay between different facets of being, though from different philosophical and mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 88
“NINTH TRACTATE. "THE REASONED DISMISSAL". "You will not dismiss your Soul lest it go forth..." [taking something with it]. For wheresoever it go, it will be in some definite condition, and its going forth is to some new place. The Soul will…”
Both passages explore the nature of good and evil, the role of the soul, and the relationship between the divine and the material world. They discuss the unity and singularity of the divine principle and its interaction with the lower realms.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 118
“Section 15 15. According to Plato, lots and choice play a part [in the determination of human conditions] before the Spindle of Necessity is turned; that once done, only the Spindle-destiny is valid; it fixes the chosen conditions irretriev…”
Both passages discuss the relationship between the soul, the body, and the divine, emphasizing the unity and hierarchy within the cosmos. They share a conceptual parallel in their exploration of how different parts of the universe are interconnected and governed by a higher principle.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 129
“Section 7 7. Empedokles in identifying his "elements" with Matter is refuted by their decay. Anaxagoras, in identifying his "primal-combination" with Matter- to which he allots no mere aptness to any and every nature or quality but the effe…”
Both passages explore the relationship between the intelligible and material realms, and the role of a divine principle in shaping and illuminating matter. They discuss the nature of the divine and its interaction with the physical world, though from different philosophical and mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 133
“Section 11 11. "But, given Magnitude and the properties we know, what else can be necessary to the existence of body?" Some base to be the container of all the rest. "A certain mass then; and if mass, then Magnitude? Obviously if your Base…”
Both passages explore the nature of matter, form, and the role of a unifying principle (Soul or God) in bringing together and animating the diverse elements of existence. They share a metaphysical inquiry into the fundamental components of reality and the necessity of a singular, unifying force.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 134
“Section 12 12. It is the corporeal, then, that demands magnitude: the Ideal-Forms of body are Ideas installed in Mass. But these Ideas enter, not into Magnitude itself but into some subject that has been brought to Magnitude. For to suppose…”
Both passages explore the relationship between form, matter, and the divine. Plotinus discusses the nature of Matter and its relationship to Ideal-Forms and Reason-Principles, while Hermes Trismegistus discusses the unity of God and the creation of life, soul, and matter. Both texts delve into the metaphysical foundations of existence and the role of a unifying principle.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 135
“Section 13 13. Are we asked to accept as the substratum some attribute or quality present to all the elements in common? Then, first, we must be told what precise attribute this is and, next, how an attribute can be a substratum. The elemen…”
Both passages explore the nature of matter, form, and the role of a unifying principle (Soul or God) in bringing about existence and order. They discuss the relationship between the material and the immaterial, and the necessity of a singular, unifying force.
59 more
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 165 (part 1)
“Section 9 9.
Wealth and poverty, and all inequalities of that order, are made ground of complaint.
But this is to ignore that the Sage demands no equality in such matters: he cannot think that to own many things is to be richer or that th…”
Both passages discuss the relationship between the soul, the body, and the divine. They explore the idea of a higher, unchanging principle (the All-Soul or God) that governs the lower, changing elements (individual souls or bodies), highlighting the sovereignty and immortality of the divine principle.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 198
“Section 11 11. Are we, then, to conclude that particular things are determined by Necessities rooted in Nature and by the sequence of causes, and that everything is as good as anything can be? No: the Reason-Principle is the sovereign, maki…”
Both passages discuss the nature of divine providence and its relationship with the world and humanity. They explore the idea of a single, unified divine principle governing all existence, emphasizing the order and purpose inherent in creation.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 240
“Section 8 8. It is a general principle that, to be modified, an object must be opposed in faculty, and in quality to the forces that enter and act upon it. Thus where heat is present, the change comes by something that chills, where damp by…”
Both passages explore the relationship between the material and the spiritual, emphasizing the primacy of the spiritual or divine over the corporeal. They discuss the nature of being, life, and the role of a higher unity or divine principle in creation and existence.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 241
“Section 9 9. In answer: It must, first, be noted that there are a variety of modes in which an object may be said to be present to another or to exist in another. There is a "presence" which acts by changing the object- for good or for ill-…”
Both passages explore the nature of reality and the underlying principles of existence. They discuss the concept of matter and its relationship to higher principles, such as Intellect and Soul, though from different philosophical and mystical perspectives.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 246
“Section 14 14. But would this mean that if there were no Matter nothing would exist? Precisely as in the absence of a mirror, or something of similar power, there would be no reflection. A thing whose very nature is to be lodged in somethin…”
Both passages discuss the nature of Matter and its relationship with form or ideas. They explore the concept of a fundamental, unchanging substratum that underlies all generation and change, and the role of a higher principle (Ideas or God) in shaping this substratum.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 258 (part 2)
“But the conception of Eternity demands something which is in its nature complete without sequence; it is not satisfied by something measured out to any remoter time or even by something limitless, but, in its limitless reach, still having t…”
Both passages explore the concept of an eternal, unchanging divine principle. Passage A discusses the nature of Eternity as identical with God, while Passage B describes the One God as the creator and sustainer of all life, emphasizing the unity and singularity of the divine.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 275 (part 1)
“Section 9 9.
Clearly a Being of this nature is not the primal existent; there must exist that which transcends it, that Being [the Absolute], to which all our discussion has been leading.
In the first place, Plurality is later than Unity.…”
Both passages explore the unity and plurality of the divine and the nature of existence, contemplation, and the relationship between the knower and the known. They share a mystical focus on the oneness of the ultimate reality and the process of emanation or creation.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 275 (part 2)
“In its character as Life, as emanation, as containing all things in their precise forms and not merely in the agglomerate mass- for this would be to contain them imperfectly and inarticulately- it must of necessity derive from some other Be…”
Both passages discuss the nature of a universal principle that encompasses all things. Plotinus describes the Intellectual-Principle as a universal being that includes all things, while Hermes Trismegistus discusses the One God as the creator and sustainer of all life, emphasizing the unity and singularity of this principle.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 276 (part 1)
“Section 10 10.
And what will such a Principle essentially be?
The potentiality of the Universe: the potentiality whose non-existence would mean the non-existence of all the Universe and even of the Intellectual-Principle which is the prim…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the ultimate reality or divine being, emphasizing the unity and primacy of this being over all other existents. They explore the relationship between the divine and the intelligible, though from different philosophical and mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 276 (part 2)
“It cannot be, itself, The Good, since then it would not need to see or to perform any other Act; for The Good is the centre of all else, and it is by means of The Good that every thing has Act, while the Good is in need of nothing and there…”
Both passages explore the concept of a singular, ultimate source or principle from which all things emanate or are created. They discuss the nature of this principle as being simple, prior to all things, and the cause of life and existence, demonstrating a genuine conceptual parallel across different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 295 (part 1)
“Section 8 8.
These considerations, amounting to the settlement of the question, are not countered by the phenomenon of sympathy; the response between soul and soul is due to the mere fact that all spring from that self-same soul [the next…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship to a higher, unified principle. They explore the idea of a single source from which multiple souls or principles emanate, highlighting the concepts of unity and multiplicity within a mystical context.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 300
“Section 13 13. The Ineluctable, the Kosmic Law is, thus, rooted in a natural principle under which each several entity is overruled to go, duly and in order, towards that place and Kind to which it characteristically tends, that is towards…”
Both passages discuss the concept of a unified, divine soul or mind that governs and creates the material world. They emphasize the singularity and sovereignty of this divine principle over the multiplicity of existence.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 309
“Section 22 22. May we think that the mode of the soul's presence to body is that of the presence of light to the air? This certainly is presence with distinction: the light penetrates through and through, but nowhere coalesces; the light is…”
Both passages explore the relationship between the soul and the body, questioning how the soul interacts with or resides within the body. They both delve into metaphysical concepts of existence and the nature of the soul, though from different philosophical and mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 356
“Section 36 36. The Universe is immensely varied, the container of all the Reason-Principles and of infinite and diverse efficacies. In man, we are told, the eye has its power, and the bones have their varied powers, and so with each separat…”
Both passages discuss the unity and diversity of creation, the role of a single divine principle in animating all things, and the hierarchical nature of existence. They share a monistic view of the universe, where all things are interconnected and derived from a single source.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 360
“Section 40 40. But magic spells; how can their efficacy be explained? By the reigning sympathy and by the fact in Nature that there is an agreement of like forces and an opposition of unlike, and by the diversity of those multitudinous powe…”
Both passages discuss the unity and diversity of the cosmos, the role of a single divine principle in creation, and the interconnection of all things. They explore the idea that all living things are ensouled and that the universe is a unified, living entity.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 384
“Section 5 5. Again, there is movement: all bodily movement is uniform; failing an incorporeal soul, how account for diversity of movement? Predilections, reasons, they will say; that is all very well, but these already contain that variety…”
Both passages explore the nature of the soul and its relationship to the body, arguing for the non-corporeal and unitary nature of the soul. They both use logical reasoning to support the idea that the soul transcends physical attributes and is indivisible.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 385
“Section 6 6. It is easy to show that if the Soul were a corporeal entity, there could be no sense-perception, no mental act, no knowledge, no moral excellence, nothing of all that is noble. There can be no perception without a unitary perci…”
Both passages explore the relationship between the divine, the soul, and the body, emphasizing the unity and singularity of the divine creator. They also discuss the nature of life and death, and the composition of living beings, though from different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 388
“Section 8 8. A. [sometimes appearing as 9] There are those who insist on the activities observed in bodies- warming, chilling, thrusting, pressing- and class soul with body, as it were to assure its efficacy. This ignores the double fact th…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship to the body, emphasizing the distinction between the incorporeal and corporeal realms. They both argue for the existence of a higher, non-material principle that governs the efficiency and qualities of bodies.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 389
“Section 8 8. B. (10) If the soul is body and permeates the entire body-mass, still even in this entire permeation the blending must be in accord with what occurs in all cases of bodily admixing. Now: if in the admixing of bodies neither con…”
Both passages explore the nature of the soul, its relationship to the body, and the unity of the divine. They discuss the impossibility of multiple creators and the singular nature of the divine source, showing a conceptual parallel in their mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 392 (part 2)
“The other order, the entire corporeal Kind, is process; it appears and it perishes; in reality it never possesses Being, but is merely protected, in so far as it has the capacity, by participating in what authentically is.…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship to the body, emphasizing the distinction between the incorporeal and corporeal realms. They both argue for the existence of a higher, non-physical principle that governs the physical world.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 393
“Section 9 9. (14) Over against that body, stands the principle which is self-caused, which is all that neither enters into being nor passes away, the principle whose dissolution would mean the end of all things never to be restored if once…”
Both passages explore the nature of the soul and its relationship to the body, emphasizing the incorporeal and unifying aspects of the soul. They share a conceptual parallel in discussing the soul's pervasive and integrative role within living beings.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 395
“Section 11 11. (16) What intelligent mind can doubt the immortality of such a value, one in which there is a life self-springing and therefore not to be destroyed? This is at any rate a life not imported from without, not present in the mod…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship to the body, exploring the idea of a unifying principle that brings together the diverse elements of existence. They both argue for a singular, prior existence of the soul that governs and guides the body, rather than being a mere byproduct of bodily harmony.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 401
“Section 1 1. Many times it has happened: Lifted out of the body into myself; becoming external to all other things and self-encentered; beholding a marvellous beauty; then, more than ever, assured of community with the loftiest order; enact…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship to the divine and the cosmos. They explore the immortality and unity of the soul, and the role of a single, divine principle in creation and existence.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 412
“Section 3 3. Yet, looking at another set of facts, reflection tells us that we are in sympathetic relation to each other, suffering, overcome, at the sight of pain, naturally drawn to forming attachments; and all this can be due only to som…”
Both passages discuss the emanation and unity of divine principles, with Plotinus describing the outflow of unity into plurality and the Hermetic text discussing the singular divine maker responsible for all creation. They share a conceptual parallel in their exploration of the relationship between the One and the many, and the nature of divine creation.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 417
“Section 1 1. What can it be that has brought the souls to forget the father, God, and, though members of the Divine and entirely of that world, to ignore at once themselves and It? The evil that has overtaken them has its source in self-wil…”
Both passages explore the concept of unity and multiplicity within a single soul or divine principle. They discuss how a single entity can manifest differently in various contexts, touching on themes of oneness and the distribution of qualities or experiences.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 418
“Section 2 2. Let every soul recall, then, at the outset the truth that soul is the author of all living things, that it has breathed the life into them all, whatever is nourished by earth and sea, all the creatures of the air, the divine st…”
Both passages discuss the role of a singular, divine entity in creating and sustaining life, emphasizing the unity and interconnectedness of all living things. They both explore the nature of the soul and its relationship to the divine, though within different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 419
“Section 3 3. The Soul once seen to be thus precious, thus divine, you may hold the faith that by its possession you are already nearing God: in the strength of this power make upwards towards Him: at no great distance you must attain: there…”
Both passages discuss the unity and origin of souls, exploring the idea of a single, primary source from which multiple souls or lives emanate. They both delve into the nature of this unity and the relationship between the one and the many, though from different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 420
“Section 4 4. But there is yet another way to this knowledge: Admiring the world of sense as we look out upon its vastness and beauty and the order of its eternal march, thinking of the gods within it, seen and hidden, and the celestial spir…”
Both passages explore the concept of unity within multiplicity, discussing how a single essence or divine principle can manifest in diverse forms without fragmentation. They both use examples from different domains (science, geometry, and cosmology) to illustrate the idea of an underlying unity.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 435
“Section 3 3. Sense sees a man and transmits the impression to the understanding. What does the understanding say? It has nothing to say as yet; it accepts and waits; unless, rather, it questions within itself "Who is this?"- someone it has…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its connection to higher realities. Passage A emphasizes the need to turn inward to perceive higher activities, while Passage B discusses the unity and activity of the divine in creating and sustaining life.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 447 (part 1)
“Section 15 15.
Conferring- but how?
As itself possessing them or not?
How can it convey what it does not possess, and yet if it does possess how is it simplex?
And if, again, it does not, how is it the source of the manifold?
A single,…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the divine and the necessity of a transcendent principle. They explore the idea of a supreme being that is both one and multiple, and the relationship between the creator and the created. The passages share a metaphysical inquiry into the structure of reality and the role of the divine intellect.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 452 (part 2)
“And again, if that secondary is all things, and if above its multiplicity there is a unity not ranking among those things, once more this unity transcends Real Being and therefore transcends the Intellectual-Principle as well.
There is thu…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the One (or God) as the source of all things, emphasizing unity and the emanation of multiplicity from a single, transcendent principle. They explore the relationship between the One and the many, and the role of the divine in sustaining and creating the universe.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 465
“Section 12 12. Knowing demands the organ fitted to the object; eyes for one kind, ears for another: similarly some things, we must believe, are to be known by the Intellectual-Principle in us. We must not confuse intellection with hearing o…”
Both passages discuss the concept of a singular, primary entity (The One in Plotinus, God in Hermes) from which all other beings and realities emanate. They explore the idea of unity and the derivation of multiplicity from this singular source, showing a genuine conceptual parallel.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 472
“Section 5 5. And again: the multiple must be always seeking its identity, desiring self-accord and self-awareness: but what scope is there within what is an absolute unity in which to move towards its identity or at what term may it hope fo…”
Both passages explore the nature of the divine and the relationship between the divine and the created world. They discuss the primacy of the Good (or God) and the secondary nature of Beauty, as well as the unity and oneness of the divine principle.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 473
“Section 6 6. If this reasoning is valid, The Good has no scope whatever for intellection which demands something attractive from outside. The Good, then, is without Act. What Act indeed, could be vested in Activity's self? No activity has y…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the Supreme or God as a singular, transcendent entity that is the source of all being and goodness. They emphasize the unity and primacy of this entity above all other things, though they come from different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 509
“Section 1 1. Philosophy at a very early stage investigated the number and character of the Existents. Various theories resulted: some declared for one Existent, others for a finite number, others again for an infinite number, while as regar…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the divine and the cosmos, emphasizing the unity and oneness of the divine principle. They explore the relationship between the divine, the intellectual realm, and the material world, highlighting the role of the divine in creation and the order of the cosmos.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 512 (part 2)
“True, greatness and smallness are not claimed to be quantities, but relations: but it is by their apparent possession of quantity that they are thought of as relations.
All this, however, needs more careful examination.
In sum, we hold th…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the divine as a unitary source of all existence and the relationship between the divine, the intellect (or soul), and the material world. They explore the concept of a single, simplex source from which multiplicity arises, and the role of the soul or intellect in mediating between the divine and the material.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 545
“Section 7 7. What, then, are the several entities observable in this plurality? We have found Substance [Essence] and life simultaneously present in Soul. Now, this Substance is a common property of Soul, but life, common to all souls, diff…”
Both passages explore the relationship between Being, Motion, and Stability (or Life and Matter in Passage B), and the unity and distinction of these concepts. They both delve into the nature of existence and the underlying principles that govern it, though from different philosophical and mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 547 (part 1)
“Section 9 9.
The above considerations- to which others, doubtless, might be added- suffice to show that these five are primary genera.
But that they are the only primary genera, that there are no others, how can we be confident of this?…”
Both passages explore the nature of unity and multiplicity in existence, discussing how a singular principle can encompass diversity. They both delve into the relationship between the One and the many, and the role of principles or genera in constituting Being.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 550
“Section 12 12. Enough upon that side of the question. But how does the perfection [goodness] of numbers, lifeless things, depend upon their particular unity? Just as all other inanimates find their perfection in their unity. If it should be…”
Both passages explore the nature of the soul and its relationship to the divine or higher principles. They discuss the unity and multiplicity of the soul and its connection to life and being, showing a conceptual parallel in their mystical insights.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 551
“Section 13 13. We turn to ask why Quantity is not included among the primary genera, and Quality also. Quantity is not among the primaries, because these are permanently associated with Being. Motion is bound up with Actual Being [Being-in-…”
Both passages explore the relationship between Being, Motion, and Stability (or Life), and the unity and separation of these concepts. They discuss the nature of existence and the role of a higher principle (Intellect in Plotinus, God in Hermes) in maintaining this existence.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 559 (part 2)
“Clearly nothing may legitimately be excluded [from Being], for the whole must be complete in the higher sphere which, otherwise, would not be the whole.
Life, too, burst upon Being, or rather was inseparably bound up with it; and thus it w…”
Both passages explore the concept of unity and perfection in different forms of existence. Plotinus discusses the unity and perfection of numbers and inanimate objects, while the Hermetic text discusses the unity of God and the singularity of the divine creator. Both texts emphasize the importance of unity in understanding the nature of existence and perfection.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 568
“Section 7 7. But Matter, it may be contended, is the source of existence to the Sensible things implanted in it. From what source, then, we retort, does Matter itself derive existence and being? That Matter is not a Primary we have establis…”
Both passages discuss the unity and interconnectedness of all existence, emphasizing the role of a higher intellect or divine being in maintaining this unity. They share a mystical perspective on the nature of being and life, though they come from different traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 595
“Section 5 5. Herein lies its greatness, not in mass; mass is limited and may be whittled down to nothingness; in that order no such paring off is possible- nor, if it were, could there be any falling short. Where limitation is unthinkable,…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the divine or the soul as a singular, indivisible entity that transcends physical limitations and is the source of life and order. They explore the idea of unity and the impossibility of division or multiplicity in the highest principle.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 602
“Section 12 12. Think of a sound passing through the air and carrying a word; an ear within range catches and comprehends; and the sound and word will strike upon any other ear you may imagine within the intervening void, upon any that atten…”
Both passages explore the concept of a unified, omnipresent principle (soul or divine) that permeates all existence. They use similar analogies (sound, vision) to illustrate the idea of a single, undivided entity manifesting in diverse forms.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 605
“Section 15 15. But how did this intruder find entrance? It had a certain aptitude and it grasped at that to which it was apt. In its nature it was capable of soul: but what is unfitted to receive soul entire- present entire but not for it-…”
Both passages discuss the nature of a transcendent, unifying principle (soul or God) that permeates and sustains the universe. They emphasize the oneness and greatness of this principle, which is beyond physical measurement and is the source of life and order.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 612
“Section 5 5. Often for the purpose of exposition- as a help towards stating the nature of the produced multiplicity- we use the example of many lines radiating from one centre; but, while we provide for individualization, we must carefully…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its omnipresence, using analogies to illustrate the concept of a unified, non-divisible principle that permeates all existence. They share a mystical perspective on the soul's relationship with the cosmos and the divine.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 614
“Section 7 7. To Real Being we go back, all that we have and are; to that we return as from that we came. Of what is There we have direct knowledge, not images or even impressions; and to know without image is to be; by our part in true know…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship to the divine. They explore the unity and multiplicity of souls and the concept of a single, overarching divine principle that encompasses all individual souls. The passages share a mystical perspective on the interconnectedness of all beings and the ultimate source of life.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 626
“Section 6 6. Granted, then, that there exist, apart from things, a unity absolute and a decad absolute in other words, that the Intellectual beings, together with their characteristic essence have also their order, Henads, Dyads, Triads, wh…”
Both passages discuss the concept of a singular, unified principle or cause that underlies the multiplicity of existence. They both emphasize the oneness and boundlessness of this principle, which is responsible for the order and unity of the cosmos.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 633 (part 1)
“Section 13 13.
It cannot reasonably be thought that the notion of unity is derived from the object since this is physical- man, animal, even stone, a presentation of that order is something very different from unity [which must be a thing…”
Both passages explore the nature of the infinite and the one, discussing the unity and multiplicity of existence. They both delve into the concept of a singular, ultimate principle that governs the cosmos, though from different philosophical and mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 636 (part 1)
“Section 16 16.
But here we may be questioned about these numbers which we describe as the primal and authentic: "Where do you place these numbers, in what genus among Beings?
To everyone they seem to come under Quantity and you have certa…”
Both passages discuss the unity and interconnectedness of all things within a single, encompassing principle. Passage A from Plotinus speaks of the Intellectual-Principle containing all entities within a unity, while Passage B from Hermes Trismegistus describes a single, all-encompassing God who brings all things together.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 636 (part 2)
“When you enumerate two things- say, animal and beauty- each of these remains one thing; the number is your production; it lay within yourself; it is you that elaborate quantity, here the dyad.
But when you declare virtue to be a Tetrad, yo…”
Both passages explore the nature of the divine and the structure of reality, emphasizing the unity and primacy of the divine principle. They discuss the hierarchy of being and the relationship between the divine, intellect, and life, though from different philosophical and mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 637
“Section 17 17. But what of the Infinite Number we hear of; does not all this reasoning set it under limit? And rightly so if the thing is to be a number; limitlessness and number are in contradiction. How, then, do we come to use the term?…”
Both passages explore the relationship between unity and multiplicity, and the role of a singular, divine principle in the creation and organization of the cosmos. They both delve into the nature of being, number, and the underlying unity that precedes and governs all existence.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 642
“Section 3 3. What then is there to prevent man having been the object of planning There? No: all stands in that likeness, nothing to be added or taken away; this planning and reasoning is based only on an assumption; things are taken to be…”
Both passages discuss the unity and interconnectedness of all existence, with Passage A focusing on the Intellectual-Principle and Number as fundamental to Being, and Passage B emphasizing the singularity of God as the creator and sustainer of all life. Both texts explore the idea of a singular, transcendent principle that underlies and unifies all reality.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 646
“Section 7 7. But if it is by becoming evil and inferior that the soul produces the animal nature, the making of ox or horse was not at the outset in its character; the reason-principle of the animal, and the animal itself, must lie outside…”
Both passages explore the nature of the divine and the unity of being, emphasizing the concept of a singular, eternal, and all-encompassing principle that governs existence and life. They share a mystical perspective on the interconnectedness of all things and the ultimate reality.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 649
“Section 10 10. But failure There? What can defensive horns serve to There? To sufficiency as living form, to completeness. That principle must be complete as living form, complete as Intellect, complete as life, so that if it is not to be o…”
Both passages discuss the nature of unity and multiplicity within a divine or cosmic framework, exploring how a single principle can encompass and govern diverse forms and lives. They share a conceptual parallel in their examination of the relationship between the One and the many, though they come from different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 657 (part 1)
“Section 18 18.
But in what way is the content of Intellectual-Principle participant in good?
Is it because each member of it is an Idea or because of their beauty or how?
Anything coming from The Good carries the image and type belonging…”
Both passages discuss the nature of unity and multiplicity within a divine or cosmic framework, exploring how a single principle can encompass and govern diverse forms and lives. They share a metaphysical inquiry into the relationship between the One and the many, though from different philosophical and religious traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 659
“Section 20 20. Since we are not entitled to make desire the test by which to decide on the nature and quality of the good, we may perhaps have recourse to judgement. We would apply the opposition of things- order, disorder; symmetry, irregu…”
Both passages discuss the concept of a unified, divine source that encompasses all life and existence. They explore the idea of a singular, all-encompassing entity that is the origin of all things, though they do so within different philosophical and mystical frameworks.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 660
“Section 21 21. Now what in all these objects of desire is the fundamental making them good? We must be bold: Intellectual-Principle and that life are of the order of good and hold their desirability, even they, in virtue of belonging to tha…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the Intellectual-Principle or Mind as a unified yet diverse force that creates and sustains all beings. They explore the concepts of unity, diversity, and the movement within the divine principle, showing a genuine conceptual parallel across different mystical traditions.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 661
“Section 22 22. That light known, then indeed we are stirred towards those Beings in longing and rejoicing over the radiance about them, just as earthly love is not for the material form but for the Beauty manifested upon it. Every one of th…”
Both passages discuss the concept of a singular, unchanging principle that underlies and encompasses all of existence. They explore the idea of a unified, all-embracing entity that is responsible for the diversity and order of the cosmos, highlighting the necessity of this principle for the existence and activity of all things.