There are Many Monisms, and All are True.

Thoughts on Ontologies and their Diremptions

Hermes, the “sponsor“ of this post, who pays in ever-glittering words, and whose songs shake Being asunder to release new meaning, new totalities, for the sake of thought and ever-new speech.

“three demiurgies, three monisms”[1]

The statement above refers to the Proclean interpretation of the division of Kronos’ sovereignty among Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, “The coherent fabric of ideas woven by Zeus; of psychical motions, woven by Poseidon; of images, woven by Hades”. What this inspired in my thinking this week indirectly concerns Poseidon:

“Note that Shiva, like Poseidon, bears the trident (trishula); Shiva has nothing much to do with the sea, but everything to do with the soul, and with the whole realm of generation. Perhaps the trident, then, is associated with the sea because it is associated with Poseidon, rather than the other way around.”[2]

It is interesting speculation, but my focus is Shiva here, and the monisms associated with him, for instance, see Coomaraswamy:

“This is His dance. Its deepest significance is felt when it is realized that it takes place within the heart and the self. Everywhere is God: that Everywhere is the heart.”[3]

Coomaraswamy describes a monism of Shiva as destroyer, but “…what does He destroy? Not merely the heavens and earth at the close of a world-cycle, but the fetters that bind each separate soul.” Where and what is the burning ground? It is not the place where our earthly bodies are cremated, but the hearts of His lovers, laid waste and desolate.” (Pg 68)

The pathological focus on the monism aspect of this activity obscures the "kind" of monisms being described, leading to conflation. This monism, for instance, seems very Psychic. It would differ from the monism of Proclus' Kronos, or even the monism of Zeus. Indeed, there is a general lesson here for monisms, that they are not exclusive. But how does one relate monisms? Through Gods.