Christ’s Warning Message to the Soul: Understanding the Death of Consciousness

In Matthew 6 vs 20, Christ says "Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal"

I want to believe that the psychological meaning of this is the complete detachment from material possessions. Treasures are priceless possessions that can bring its owner—prominence, wealth and honor.

A pitfall to the possession of treasures is the affinity it creates with the possessor. More often than not, this fondness, has the capacity to transform the possessor into an addict—one who lives for the outward display of his possessions—one who lives for the attention they receive. Think of it this as how the Cordyceps Fungus takes host of the neural abilities of its host—primarily ants and controls the actions of the ants thereafter. The ant loses its self and acts solely on the orders of the fungal parasite. Eventually, it dies, but only after the parasite has used up all of its resources and no longer sees a need for it.

The above description is exactly how we become when we let our possessions become the centre of our universe. They take control of our consciousness and we automatically become their mindless minion. Additionally, it is this strong affinity that leaves us—the zombies— anxious; worried about a hypothetical attack that may or may not befall our prized possessions—or better put—the masters of our consciousness.

This attachment further erodes the possessor’s sense of judgement further alienating him from himself such that he cannot construe himself without the mention or display of his prized possession. Eventually, the corrupting influences of his material possessions sprouts in his soul, fusing him with his prized possessions and ultimately contributing to the utter destruction of the lines that divide the possessor and his possessions.

This is the final death of consciousness—at this stage, the self cannot be extricated from that which it possesses. Most people who have gotten to this stage, live in a world that is extremely distant from reality. It’s a fate worse than physical death—the complete destruction of the self such that the self cannot separate itself from its possessions.