The Perils of Spiritual Deception
Spiritual deception exerts a destructive influence on the mind because, by diverting it from a true and pure path, it leads to tangled thoughts and the loss of the ability to concentrate. When a person consciously or unconsciously develops the mind not toward higher truths but under the influence of deception, he essentially surrenders his mind to weak and damaging influences that prevent him from achieving clarity and true concentration. For example, it is stated: "By honing one's mind not in the divine, but in deception, a person betrays himself to the devil." (source: link txt) This assertion emphasizes that relying on distorted intellectual activity leads the mind to lose its intended purpose—the ability to remain pure and clear. At the same time, a mind shielded from the influence of deception, freed from passions and delusions, is capable of developing the simplicity of thought that allows it to clearly perceive reality. As further noted: "Simplicity is the established habit of the soul that has become indifferent to all differences and incapable of deceit." (source: link txt) Thus, by engaging the mind based on deception, a person deprives himself of the opportunity to achieve complete clarity and concentration, as his mental resources are used to sustain feigned, confused thinking, thereby hindering the path to true wisdom and focus.Supporting citation(s): "By honing one's mind not in the divine, but in deception, a person betrays himself to the devil." (source: link txt) "Simplicity is the established habit of the soul that has become indifferent to all differences and incapable of deceit." (source: link txt)