The Relationship Between Virtues And Vices

When we are internally strong, our nature characteristics and skills are
reflected, from inside us to the outside, to everyone we interact in, in
the form of virtues. If we are internally weak, those same traits emerge
and radiate as vices. *Vices are just qualities or virtues that have lost
their focus and strength.* For e.g. if we take the quality of love - when a
strong soul radiates love, it is unlimited and without any conditions. Such
a soul respects and has good wishes for everything and everyone and under
all circumstances, irrespective of whether love and respect is coming from
the other side or not. When a weak soul radiates love, he/she tends to
restrict the love to limits e.g. the love would vary from person to person
and from situation to situation. *In a sense, if spiritual might (strength)
and spiritual light (understanding or knowledge) are taken away from the
virtues, they get transformed into the six vices, which make us spiritually
unhealthy or weak:
*
*Ego* - developing an image of the self that is false, temporary or
imaginary.
*Greed* - finding short term fulfillment by acquiring material goods, a
role in society or money or through the physical senses - eyes, tongue,
ears, etc.
*Attachment* - finding security by developing a feeling of possessiveness
over loved ones and material objects.
*Lust* - using excessive satisfaction through the senses as a means of
fulfillment.
*Anger* - the feeling of hatred and revenge when any of the other vices are
threatened or being taken away from us.
*Laziness* - becoming inactive on a spiritual, physical or mental level.