← Home
Select Works of Plotinus · 387 of 752 · tr. Thomas Taylor

Select Works, Section 365 (part 2)

The punishments of wrong-doing are like the treatment of diseased parts of the body- here, medicines to knit sundered flesh; there, amputations; elsewhere, change of environment and condition- and the penalties are planned to bring health to the All by settling every member in the fitting place: and this health of the All requires that one man be made over anew and another, sick here, be taken hence to where he shall be weakly no longer.
Themes
◆Logoscosmology

The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world.

The passage references a 'natural law' that governs the interaction between parts of the whole, aligning peripherally with the concept of a divine ordering principle.

All passages →
◇Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] The text explicitly uses the analogy of a 'one living organism' to describe the All, portraying the divine cosmos as active and spontaneously purveying gifts.

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 passage centrally argues that the petitioner is 'no alien' to the All and that parts function within a single whole, reflecting the doctrine of ultimate ontological unity.

All passages →
Related passages · 4 parallels
◆christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 3 (part 3)
“The seven spirits are in the centre of the Father—that is to say, in the power of the Word. The Word changes the wrathfulness into sweet joy and shapes it into a crystalline ocean; therein the seven spirits appear in a burning form, like s…”
Both passages discuss the interconnectedness of parts within a whole, whether it be the stars within the universe or the seven spirits within the Godhead. They also explore the idea of natural forces and powers acting independently of will, though from different metaphysical perspectives.
◆christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 10 (part 15)
“"The Spirit of Christ in His children is not bound to a certain form, so that He could say nothing but what is found in the writings of the apostles; but as the Spirit was free in the apostles, and as they did not all use the same expressio…”
Both passages discuss the interconnectedness of all things within a greater whole and the idea that divine or natural forces act without conscious will, emphasizing the unity and harmony of existence. Passage A focuses on the impassivity of the All and the natural law governing its interactions, while Passage B highlights the unity of spirit among saints and the manifestation of divine wisdom in various forms.
◆christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 11 (part 9)
“225:1 All disputes about the nature of Christ only prove that the disputants are not Christians, because if they were true followers of the Christ they would have the living Christ within themselves, and know His true nature. The misunders…”
Both passages discuss the interconnectedness of the universe and the role of divine forces within it. Passage A from Plotinus describes the stars as parts of a whole that act naturally and can be influenced by other parts, while Passage B from Jacob Boehme discusses the incarnation of divine wisdom in human form and the interconnectedness of the macrocosm and microcosm. Both emphasize the unity and interdependence of all things.
◆platonism|Plato: Timaeus|Section 1
“Wherefore of all modes of purifying and reuniting the body the best is gymnastic; the next best is a surging motion, as in sailing or any other mode of conveyance which is not fatiguing; the third sort of motion may be of use in a case of e…”
Both passages discuss the idea of maintaining health and balance, whether it be physical or spiritual. They both emphasize the importance of proper care and alignment to achieve a state of well-being and harmony, though they come from different philosophical and mystical traditions.