Originally Posted by
Eric the Green
I guess we should have a poll asking which one of these we each suffer most from. Assuming we would answer honestly, of course.
Pride, as you describe its harm, amounts to self-deception. We can't see our own faults, because that disturbs our inflated self-concept; what we'd like to think we are. So it goeth before a fall when reality knocks. But if we know our own magnificence, and that it comes from our higher self which we all have, we have no need for false pride, or to hurt others by putting them down. When we can put ourselves in others' shoes, then we can follow the golden rule instead of the sin of pride.
Envy, I have for other things besides money. Like you say, it's motivating, provided it does not prompt you to obstruct or hurt others in your attempt to get what you want. It also blinds you to what you already have, which from the enlightened or esoteric perspective, means you are blind to the fact that what you want is already within you.
Wrath or anger comes to us through frustration and insecurity; it is fear acted out. Sometimes it can get you off your duff.
Sloth or laziness often happens because we think we can't succeed, so we give up or procrastinate. Or we have been drained of energy because we are clinging to life or distracted by temptations.
Avarice or greed is also a form of fear and insecurity. We think we don't have enough, so we have to have more, and cling to it. And if we are deceived that life is material, we naturally want more things. If we know that life is spiritual, then we want soul development instead.
Gluttony is one of my favorite sins to indulge in. Fortunately, it doesn't go TOO far in my case. It is often a substitute for real fulfillment, which might require us to face fear, or to do work. We fill ourselves with food when our life seems otherwise empty, especially empty of love. But relationships are difficult, so we settle for a stimulation and contact that is easier.
Lust is a kind of craving, and a kind of envy. Not for money, but for beauty in the flesh. Like gluttony, we are not convinced that physical beauty can come easily to us, so we over-compensate. We might see beauty in others, but not recognize that we already have it in ourselves. In moderation, like envy, it is motivating. It's often frowned on a lot (including by some folks here?), as well as promoted and used for commerce a lot.
The Enneagram is another contemporary, esoteric version, with 9 sins instead of 7.
