The six enemies of man are eating into his vitals, embedded in his own inner consciousness. They are the demons to be killed. They are Kama (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Attachment), Mada (Pride) and Matsarya (Malice). They reduce man to the level of a demon. They have to be overpowered and transmuted, by the supreme alchemy of the Divine Urge. (SSS Vol.7, p. 98)
Those who drag you into pomp, pedantry, paltry entertainment and petty pranks are enemies, not friends: friends cannot be got by social status, financial squander-mania, outer scintillation and verbal assertions. (SSS Vol.8, p. 210)
The mind has to be completely emptied of all bad thoughts to achieve real peace. Every bad thought must be rooted out the moment it arises in the mind. The war against bad thoughts is like the war against enemy hordes who attempt to get behind a fort through a subterranean tunnel. As each one of the enemy emerges from the tunnel, he should be struck down. Each one of the sense organs--the eye, the tongue or the ear--when it is influenced by a bad thought, is led astray and behaves improperly. When they are influenced by good thoughts and impulses, they act in a manner which produces joy and contentment. When the eye sees someone who is regarded as an enemy, there is an upsurge of ill-will in the mind. On the other hand, when one sees a dear friend the reaction is one of love and affection. (SSS Vol.19, p. 54)
Kabir has stated many times that it is good and very helpful to have an enemy that is ever eager to criticise you for your faults than a friend who will cast a blind eye on them. The enemy takes delight in abusing you and it is said in the Puranas that, as a consequence, he goes on diminishing and wiping off from your account the demerits you have to live out in misery. The faster and fouler his abuse, the sooner and better are your future prospects brightened. The enemy absorbs your sins and their effects. Moreover, since you are always aware of the enemy and his tactics, you are alert not to give him any chance to point his finger of scorn at you. He is your censor, corrector and conscience. Be thankful to him who talks ill of you, for surely he is doing you very great service by examining your every act on the touchstone of morality, truth and righteousness. (SSS Vol.9, p. 214)
Anger is enemy No. 1 of the Sadhaka; it is like spittle and has to be treated as such. (Prema Vahini, p. 67)
Nine enemies that waylay the earnest Sadhaka – 3 physical: adulterous urges, greed to possess things or gain, exclusive love and the tendency to injure living beings; 3 verbal: delight in causing panic by false alarm, invention of lies and spreading scandal; and 3 mental: craving for what belongs to others, envy and cynicism. ( SSSm Vol.4, p. 127)
Whatever else is unimportant, these two have to be attended as essential: (1) The conceit that knows everything (s) Doubt, whether it is or it is not. These two are the chief enemies of the Sadhaka. (Prema Vahini, p. 49)
The sins man commits are his greatest enemies. (LD, p. 29)
‘One who has succumbed to his inner enemies
How can he conquer the external enemy?
One who has realised the Tattva is verily the sanctified one
This is the truth here revealed’ (M&M, p. 61)