Corpus Hermeticum in Plain English — Treatise I: Discourse of Poimandres to Hermes Trismegistus, Section 22
The Discourse of Poimandres to Hermes Trismegistus
“Poimandres, the Shepherd of Men” is the first of eighteen treatises of the Corpus Hermeticum and is central to the Hermetic tradition. It is an intricate and mystical text that weaves together ideas of cosmogony, spiritual ascent, and salvation.
This series of articles provides a “plain English” translation of the treatise with a step-by-step, simple-to-understand commentary. Each numbered section/paragraph of the treatise is dealt with in a single article for easy study and meditation. They are all linked together for ease of reading. The structure of the paragraphs adopted is taken from the Mead translation.
We provided an overview of this Treatise in an earlier article:
These articles are included in a list of articles collated together under the heading “History of the Soul”, where we examine the concept of the soul and how it has evolved over time. This list links to other examinations of the soul in other contexts.
The Previous Section
G.R.S. Mead Translation
Hermes: Have not all men then Mind?
Poimandres: Thou sayest well, O thou, thus speaking. I, Mind, myself am present with holy men and good, the pure and merciful, men who live piously. [To such] my presence doth become an aid, and straightway they gain gnosis of all things, and win the Father’s love by their pure lives, and give Him thanks, invoking on Him blessings, and chanting hymns, intent on Him with ardent love.
Poimandres: And ere they give up the body unto its proper death, they turn them with disgust from its sensations, from knowledge of what things they operate. Nay, it is I, the Mind, that will not let the operations which befall the body work to their [natural] end. For being door-keeper, I will close up [all] the entrances and cut the mental actions off which base and evil energies induce.
Plain English Translation
Hermes: “Do all people have enlightenment or understanding?”
Poimandres: You make a good point. I, the Consciousness or Insight [Nous], am present with those who are holy, kind, pure-hearted, compassionate, and who live righteously.
Poimandres: For such individuals, my presence is a guiding force. They quickly understand everything and feel a deep connection to the Creator. They express their gratitude to Him, pray for His blessings, sing praises, and focus on Him with deep love.
Poimandres: Before they naturally pass away, they detach from physical sensations and understand the actions they perform. In fact, as their Consciousness, I don’t let the usual physical reactions take over. I guard their senses and prevent harmful or negative thoughts from taking hold.
Commentary
This passage delves into the role and presence of the divine Mind (often referred to as the Nous or the universal intellect) in human lives, particularly emphasising its relationship with the virtuous and the ways in which it aids individuals in their spiritual journey.
Let’s break it down:
Do all people have enlightenment or understanding?
The seeker questions the universality of the divine Mind. Is it something that all humans inherently possess?
You make a good point. I, the Consciousness or Insight [Nous], am present with those who are holy, kind, pure-hearted, compassionate, and who live righteously.
Poimandres responds, indicating that while the concept of “Mind” (or Nous, the divine intellect) is universal, its active presence is especially profound in those who are virtuous, compassionate, and live righteously. This suggests that alignment with virtue and piety can amplify one’s connection with the divine Mind.
For such individuals, my presence is a guiding force. They quickly understand everything and feel a deep connection to the Creator. They express their gratitude to Him, pray for His blessings, sing praises, and focus on Him with deep love.
Poimandres, speaking as the Mind, elaborates on the benefits of this connection. Those in harmony with the Mind achieve gnosis (a deep, mystical knowledge), attract the love of the divine source (the “Father”), and naturally engage in acts of devotion and gratitude. Their spiritual path is one of deep love and reverence for the divine.
Before they naturally pass away, they detach from physical sensations and understand the actions they perform.
Those deeply connected with the divine Mind become detached from the transient and often distracting sensations of the physical body. They recognise the temporal nature of bodily experiences and prioritise spiritual awareness.
In fact, as their Consciousness, I don’t let the usual physical reactions take over. I guard their senses and prevent harmful or negative thoughts from taking hold.
The Mind is portrayed as a protective force. It guards against negative influences that might divert one from the spiritual path. By “closing up the entrances,” the Mind prevents harmful energies from taking hold, ensuring that the individual remains focused on their higher purpose.
The divine Mind in guiding and protecting those committed to a spiritual path
In summary, this passage underscores the essential role of the divine Mind in guiding and protecting those committed to a spiritual path. It highlights the transformative power of virtue and the benefits of aligning oneself with the divine intellect. Those in harmony with the Mind are not just passively blessed; they actively engage in deepening their spiritual understanding and connection, setting them apart from the distractions of the material world.
