When Spiritual Progress Stalls: Learn to Introspect

If one becomes negligent in spiritual practice, one will lose oneself in trivial daily matters, causing spiritual progress to stagnate or even regress unintentionally. By consistently maintaining self-awareness, observing oneself, examining oneself, and reflecting upon oneself, one can ensure there are no gaps in the mind for afflictions to penetrate, allowing meditative concentration and wisdom to gradually arise. When spiritual practice fails to advance, there must be an underlying issue. That the problem persists yet remains undetected—what does this indicate? Discovering the problem yet lacking the will to resolve it—what does this indicate? Wishing to resolve it but being unable to do so—what does this indicate? Worldly matters are the easiest to entrap one, yet the hardest to break free from. When mental strength is insufficient, what is lacking?