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Plotinus: Porphyry
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The essentially devotional nature of Plotinus' philosophy may be further illustrated by his concept of attaining ecstatic union with the One (henosis see Iamblichus). Porphyry relates that Plotinus attained such a union four times during the years he knew him. This may be related to enlightenment, liberation, and other concepts of mystical union common to many Eastern and Western traditions. Some have compared Plotinus' teachings to the Hindu school of Advaita Vedanta (advaita "not two", or "non-dual"),[6].
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Plotinus was no anarchist, nor was he an advocate of violence or lawlessness. Rather, he was so concerned with the welfare and the ultimate salvation of each individual soul, that he elevated philosophy -- the highest pursuit of the soul -- to the level of a divine act, capable of purifying each and every soul of the tainting accruements of sensual existence. Plotinus' last words, recorded by Porphyry, more than adequately summarize the goal of his philosophy: "Strive to bring back the god in yourselves to the God in the All" (Life of Plotinus 2).
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Plotinus's teachings attracted many followers. The most noteworthy were Porphyry and lamblichus, who carried on his teachings with slightly different emphasis. Neoplatonism, through the development of the many schools it spawned, came to embrace a great number of mystical and superstitious beliefs from the East. It proved to be a resilient and attractive rival to Christianity, and even after Justinian closed the philosophical schools in 529, Neoplatonism remained influential in the development of thought during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
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After Porphyry went to live in Sicily, word came to him that Plotinus had died. The philosopher spent his final days in seclusion on an estate in Campania which his friend Zethus had bequeathed him. According to the account of Eustochius, who attended upon at the end, Plotinus' final words were: "Strive to give back the Divine in yourselves to the Divine in the All." At that moment a snake crept under the bed Plotinus lay, and slipped away through a hole in the wall; at the same moment Plotinus died.
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The closest students lived together with him, at least for certain periods of time, but he ... made this house a sort of an orphanage for children whose parents died and asked Plotinus to take care of their offspring. He is said not only to have taken care of the children's upbringing and education, but to have been managing their money with great skill. Scholars cannot imagine this contemplative sage dealing with financial issues, arguing with managers and accountances for the sake of his proteges. Plotinus-the-ascetic seemed to have lived fully active life, and have dealt with the full range of trials and tribulations, the real daily grind. At the same time, his biographer Porphyry says, he was amazingly able to keep his attention turned to the Mind within.
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Porphyry is eager to begin his conversation with Plotinus. He knows that Plotinus is a Neoplatonist, and therefore realizes that he must start his inquiries with universal concepts. He seats himself before Plotinus.
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