The Path to Spiritual Decline: A Journey from Contemplation to Attachment
What is the correct sequence of the gradual decline of a person's spiritual state due to attachment to material desires?
Fill in the blanks to complete the sequence: Contemplation → Attachment → Lust → ?? → Bewilderment of memory → Loss of ?? → Falls down
a. Anger, Wisdom
b. Anger, Intelligence
c. Lust, Intelligence
d. Illusion, Wisdom
Answer:
The correct sequence is: Contemplation → Attachment → Lust → Bewilderment of memory → Loss of Intelligence → Falls down
The gradual decline of a person's spiritual state due to attachment to material desires follows this sequence.
In life, it is crucial to reflect on the impermanence and unsatisfactoriness of material things (contemplation) to avoid becoming attached to them. Once attachment sets in, it leads to an insatiable craving for material possessions (lust).
As lust grows stronger, it can cloud our memory and make us forget our true nature and spiritual path (bewilderment of memory). This forgetfulness then leads to a loss of wisdom and intelligence, which can ultimately result in delusional thinking.
When one believes that material possessions bring lasting happiness, they are at risk of falling from grace and becoming completely enslaved to their desires (falls down). This final stage signifies a total loss of spiritual progress.
Therefore, it is essential to cultivate mindfulness, detachment, and self-awareness to prevent this decline and maintain a balanced spiritual life.