The text reveals that the darkening of the mind develops step by step and manifests within the soul through a gradual loss of attention to spiritual responsibilities and the testing effect of passions, which eventually obscures true spiritual perception.

The Gradual Clouding of the Mind

The text reveals that the darkening of the mind develops step by step and manifests within the soul through a gradual loss of attention to spiritual responsibilities and the testing effect of passions, which eventually obscures true spiritual perception.

At the initial stage—as noted in the quote from file link txt (pages 221-223)—the darkening of the mind begins with a passive attitude toward God's service and prayer:

"And likewise, as soon as the soul becomes careless in matters of virtue, it is inevitably drawn to the opposite. For any deviation in any direction is already the beginning of the contrary. The beginning of the darkening of the mind (when its signs first appear in the soul) is primarily seen in a laziness toward God's service and prayer. For if the soul does not first fall away from these, there is no other path to spiritual deception; once it is deprived of God's help, it easily falls into the hands of its adversaries."

This passivity in religious service suggests that the soul, having lost the support of God's aid, gradually falls under the influence of opposing tendencies.

Furthermore, the darkening deepens under the influence of passions, as explained in the quote from file link txt:

"The darkening of the mind occurs from passions: from loquacity, from restlessness, from immeasurable concern, from sorrow, from daydreaming, from overindulgence in food, from excessive sleep; often it is even due to demons—that is, from their disturbances when they approach us. With the entrance of these passions into us, our spiritual eye closes, meaning the mind’s vision becomes dull; and it no longer perceives anything spiritual or engages in reasoning..."

Here it is shown that under the pressure of various passions—from excessive talk to overwhelming worries and even the influence of negative forces—the soul’s capacity to perceive spiritual realities is significantly diminished; "the spiritual eye closes," and the mind loses its ability for spiritual vision and reasoning.

It is also noted that the mind’s inclination toward the sensual, when it begins to merge with worldly and carnal matters, leads it into the slavery of passions. This state—where the mind no longer strives toward the Divine and becomes captive to sensual pleasures—signifies the loss of its true purpose as a luminous reflection of God.

In summary, the text outlines the following signs and stages of the darkening of the mind:
1. The initial weakening of spiritual attention, manifested by laziness toward religious duties (service and prayer), leading to the loss of Divine support.
2. The deepening of the darkening under the influence of various passions (loquacity, restlessness, excessive worry, sorrow, daydreaming, overindulgence in food, excessive sleep), which close the "spiritual eye" and obscure spiritual vision.
3. The mind’s descent into the slavery of sensual passions, abandoning its true spiritual path in favor of carnal attractions, thereby exacerbating its weakness and spiritual decline.

Supporting citation(s):

"And likewise, as soon as the soul becomes careless in matters of virtue, it is inevitably drawn to the opposite. For any deviation in any direction is already the beginning of the contrary. The beginning of the darkening of the mind (when its signs first appear in the soul) is primarily seen in a laziness toward God's service and prayer. For if the soul does not first fall away from these, there is no other path to spiritual deception; once it is deprived of God's help, it easily falls into the hands of its adversaries." (source: link txt, pages: 221-223).

"The darkening of the mind occurs from passions: from loquacity, from restlessness, from immeasurable concern, from sorrow, from daydreaming, from overindulgence in food, from excessive sleep; often it is even due to demons—that is, from their disturbances when they approach us. With the entrance of these passions into us, our spiritual eye closes, meaning the mind’s vision becomes dull; and it no longer perceives anything spiritual or engages in reasoning..." (source: link txt).

These citations confirm that the darkening of the mind begins with the loss of spiritual diligence and then intensifies under the influence of passions, collectively leading to a loss of spiritual vision and the ability to reason about the Divine.