forms of existence

The School that erects other material forces into universal causes is met by the same reasoning: we say that while these can warm us and chill us, and destroy weaker FORMS OF EXISTENCE, they can be causes of nothing that is done in the sphere of mind or soul: all this must be traceable to quite another kind of Principle. Enneads III,1,3

And what else is there to attribute to it? Repose, no doubt; but, to an Intellectual-Principle, Repose is not an abdication from intellect; its Repose is an Act, the act of abstention from the alien: in all FORMS OF EXISTENCE repose from the alien leaves the characteristic activity intact, especially where the Being is not merely potential but fully realized. Enneads V,3,7

The true Wisdom, then (found to be identical with the Intellectual-Principle) is Real Being; and Real Being is Wisdom; it is wisdom that gives value to Real Being; and Being is Real in virtue of its origin in wisdom. It follows that all FORMS OF EXISTENCE not possessing wisdom are, indeed, Beings in right of the wisdom which went to their forming but, as not in themselves possessing it, are not Real Beings. Enneads V,8,5