The Twelve Vices (Listed)

[QUOTING]

The human-being possesses twelve fundamental vices, horrifying to behold. These are:

ignorance
grief and sorrow
intemperance
desire
injustice
greed
deceit
envy
guile
anger
thoughtlessness
malice

These fundamental vices are present in every human being born of matter. There is no exception. The worker in God's vineyard, sent out to labour in the nature-of-death, is daily reminded: 'Take care in your contact with the inhabitants of the nature-of-death. Keep in mind the twelve fundamental vices. If one of them fades into the background, it is more than likely that the others will act with re-doubled vigor'.

And that is how the Inner Man can be kept prisoner, if brothers and sisters in whom the Soul has been resurrected do not use their Soul-power to neutralize their own vices. And if they do not, no further progress can be made.

People often battle to control their vices. They observe these vices in themselves, or other people point them out, and then, full of good intentions, they often try to neutralize them with their ego. But that is never any use, in a liberating sense. These fundamental vices can only be rooted out with living Soul-power.

The period during which the influence of the New Soul is increasingly exerting itself, but the birth of the Inner Man from the substance of the Sophia has not yet taken place, is a critical one. That is why many pupils who already possess something of the Inner New Man are often obstructed in their progress by the presence of the Twelve Fundamental Vices. One can never afford to forget them for a moment.

'The Development of Gnostic Consciousness" - The Egyptian Arch-Gnosis, Vol IV - J. van Rijckenborgh

[END QUOTING]

Next: The Ten Forces