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| Return to the One: Plotinus's Guide to God-Realization | 
 enlarge | Author: Brian Hines
Publisher: Unlimited Publishing LLC
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (10 reviews)
Sales Rank: 253173
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 390
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 1
ISBN: 1588321002
Dewey Decimal Number: 110
EAN: 9781588321008
ASIN: 1588321002
Publication Date: July 1, 2004
Release Date: July 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In the "Enneads," 3rd century mystic philosopher Plotinus synthesized a thousand years of accumulated Greek wisdom with his own profound mystical experiences. What is the nature of God? Of spirit? Of soul? In what fashion can God be realized? How can the validity of spiritual experiences be tested? "Return to the One" presents Plotinus's compelling answers to such ageless questions in a refreshing modern style. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, you will find yourself challenged and stimulated by Plotinus's matchless blend of rationality and mysticism.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
A book for all faiths August 4, 2008
Hines' book comments and expands on a variety of paragraphs from the Enneads, a set of treatises by Greek philosopher and mystic Plotinus. The "central message . . . .is that what each of us truly longs for, even if we don't consciously realize it, is to return to the One--which may be thought of as `God'. . ." Even in translation Plotinus is difficult for the modern reader, and Hines does a good job of making this very religious philosopher accessible.
Plotinus is often Buddhist and sometimes Christian in his outlook. No matter what their stance, this book can help readers of all traditions identify the yearnings that drew them in the first place. Hines concludes, "If religious pursuit is viewed as akin to a trek up a mountain with God at the apex, then the various religions may be conceived as paths that attempt the ascent up different vertical divisions of the mountain." His point is not merely that the differences are differences of symbol, language, and understanding of revelation. His point is a deeper one: that the Divine One offers us unity, not mere relationship with Another. In these chapters, Christians might find themselves thinking of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; Buddhists might think of Buddha Nature or even Dependent Arising in general.
Hines has a gift for short, memorable comments:
*The soul isn't in a body: it is a body that is in the soul.
*Simplicity is a reliable guide to truth.
*If I'm bad it isn't because the Devil made me do it. I'm just insufficiently filled with the Good.
Many readers will disagree with Plotinus' concept of each soul's pre-existence, the idea that each of us has had "an enduring soul-essence" that has been reborn in this universe. His thoughts on the subject, as well as Hines' comments, are still worth reading and pondering. If you disagree, keep reading, and focus on what else he says, that each of us is more than just the "I" that we know ourselves to be.
There are things to disagree with in this book. There are also things to learn, and many opportunities for growth. You'll come away feeling like God is your friend: God is present to all beings . . . the world participates in God.
Lucid and Luminous September 8, 2007
For years I've been telling friends, "You must read Plotinus--he's the single greatest mind in the Western mystical tradition." But when they pick up his great classic, the Enneads, they complain they can't understand a word! The problem is the English translations are geared for readers with an extensive knowledge of ancient Greek philosophical terminology.
I'm so grateful to Brian Hines for writing a book that makes Plotinus' profound and incredibly inspiring insights accessible to everyone. With bracing clarity and vivid examples Hines "unpacks" the Enneads, explaining the master's brilliant realizations in terms people today can easily understand.
Lucid and luminous, Return to the One is a contemporary spiritual classic.
 Excellent, very readable introduction to Plotinos' rich contents June 14, 2006
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Plotinos (Latin: Plotinus) is not well known to the general public, much less than Plato in whose tradition he stands. Nevertheless Plotinos is well known in smaller circles on behalf of his enormous influence on Western mysticism, and not less as a very original philosopher. However his writings are not read very often outside the small circle of lovers. And this is understandable because what is left of them, is mostly restricted to an - although extensive - collection of loose and often smaller tractates, after adaptation bundled by his pupil Porphyrius. Due to Plotinos' influence on christian mysticism and on philosophy in its stricter sense many introductions to his work are written from those viewpoints, and so are rather christian-theological or more strictly philosophical. Too soon forgotten then is Plotinos' objective of a view of life that is to be lived, and this as well without reference to christian theology and without the modern opposition of philosophy and practice. Perhaps it might even be said that in so far the tradition of the hellenistic mystery schools was integrated or still got some place within the christian West, this mainly took place through Plotinos and the neoplatonism inspired by him.
Ofcourse it is possible to look at Plotinos in the ways described, and this even has become the norm for a long time in the past. But historically and practically it is possible to read the original Plotinos in a way which does not take those interpretations as the norm. A way which is distinct and at least as original. This is my opinion after reading Brian Hines book. However what I am not capable to do, is tracing exactly the accordance of his interpretation with Plotinos' texts or rather with the system entailed and described in those. Nevertheless I have no argument at all to suppose that Hines' interpretation is not relevant or not correct. He uses the best known sources and resources (including important secondary literature), the same as are used by other scholars. Fascinating is that Hines' interpretation delivers a view in much more accordance with the old interpretation of philosophy as part of a spiritual school of life, such as were a reality in the Classic Age. As well as with the way of psychological development which we also meet in Indian philosophies. Plotinos is a very psychological philosopher. [...]
In the first part of his book Hines gives a number of points to be attentive to in reading and interpreting Plotinos and his texts, as well as a justification of his method.
Then he summarizes the system of Plotinos in the form of chapters about aspects of his philosophy, selected and composed according to the way indicated in the system itself. First the aspects of the One and the Many, next the aspects of the way the soul goes from its descent from the One to the Many and its ascent from the Many back into the One. In this way the at first sight rather strange because rather technical philosophy of Plotinos becomes astonishingly "concrete" and actual, psychologically and spiritually profound. I recall the titles of a number of those chapters: God is the Goal, One is Overall, First is Formless, Infinity is Ineffable, Reality is a Radiation, Universe is a Unity, All is Alive, Truth is Transparent, Form is Foundation, Intelligence is Intuitive, Psyche is a Pilgrim, Descent is Debasement, Choice is Compulsion, Reason is Restricted, Image is Illusion, Suffering is Separation, Soul is the Self, Without is Within, Simplicity is Superior, Fear is a Fiction, Vision is Veracity. Very rich in content, these chapters are built around much cited and central statements and sentences from the works of Plotinos and present a clear interpretation of them in modern language within the context of modern ideas. Not just that many insights from philosophy and psychology are presented in passing but one now also sees how profound Plotinos' views are in comparison with these. And this in a way understandable to not only christians or professional philosophers but to everyone with interest in and some knowledge of modern (religious or spiritual) psychology and modern thinking about it.
Hines concludes his book with some chapters in which he elucidates some more general topics and problems, such as how to interpret the philosophy of Plotinos taken as a whole, how to interpret the relation between this neoplatonism and christianity, what might be the heritage of Plato and Plotinos and what might be the messages for us entailed in all this. That is to say for our search to find truth and regarding what we might or should be willing to invest to reach that goal.
His book ends with well described suggestions for further reading and / or study, and it comprises a good index.
Altogether this is a very valuable introduction into the original philosophy of Plotinos. Not difficult to read, nor does it reduce to meaninglessness the sometimes profound or complex questions that can be posed. On the contrary, this book is often elucidating and inspiring.
Very much recommended.
Plotinus September 4, 2005
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The Book is a must have for spiritual practitioners and seekers.
Brian clearly has connected with the mystic/theosopher, Plotinus.
Wonderful Seva Brian Hines!!! Thank You!!!
Finally a book that enlightens the reader to understand more clearly the philosophy August 14, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I am so impressed with the authors ability to open us up to explore the timeless philosophies of Plotinus.The author takes us on a wonderful mental journey that explores the vista of the soul as it leaves the One and returns with so many spiritual gifts acquired along the way. I feel a wonderful excitment about advancing through this journey instead of the usual fear of the unknown. This book has changed my expectations and the Philosophy coraborated by so many other philosophers renders this book so believable. I also enjoyed his style.
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