2.1.10. A New Kind of Demon

Having traced the roots of shame and glimpsed the possibility of grace, we now step into stranger territory: the landscape of subtle resistance that emerges as the old enemies fade. The obvious chains—anger, craving, distraction—have loosened, but in their place arise the Skandha demons: patterns of mind so refined and convincing they masquerade as insight. These are not monsters from without, but habits of identity, reflections mistaken for revelations. Here, the alchemist learns that the most seductive obstacles are born not from ignorance, but from insight applied without humility.

In the previous chapter, we explored the “powers” described in the Abhidhamma—certain mental factors that, when present, dominate the mind’s activity. Among these, shamelessness and moral indifference are especially significant. When combined with ill will—hatred, envy, resentment—these powers can generate a kind of jhāna, a distorted mental absorption that persists and shapes the inner landscape in subtle, dangerous ways.

This absorption can create demonic forms within the psyche. At first, they appear as mere reflections—temptations that distract or confuse. But if fed—through identification, indulgence, or repression—they become entrenched patterns of awareness. They start to act like autonomous forces inside one’s experience, manipulating perception and behaviour from within.

These are not external entities, but they behave as if they were. They trouble ordinary beings and even the committed alchemist up to a certain point. But once Albedo is reached, a fundamental shift occurs. The gross temptations—the sensory bonds—are severed. The “power” of shamelessness no longer arises in the mind of the anāgāmī.

The Subtler Fetters

Yet this is not the end of temptation. Beyond this point, the alchemist encounters more delicate traps:

  • The desire to be
  • The desire to not be
  • Conceit
  • Restlessness
  • Residual delusion

These five remaining fetters are like shards of a shattered self—each sharp enough to wound if clung to. They emerge as new temptations, often draped in spiritual clothing. Insight appears, but so does inflation. The trainee begins to believe the whispers of greatness, divinity, or uniqueness.

The Śūraṅgama Sūtra catalogues fifty varieties of such delusions—spiritual distortions that can arise when insight outpaces stability. These so-called Skandha demons mirror one’s inner development. And because they are born from genuine experiences, they prove more seductive than any earlier temptation.

The exhaustive list itself is less important than the principle: you will only recognise the demons you have already begun to outgrow. The others will remain opaque. That is their nature.

A Single Safeguard

So rather than rely on a checklist, I offer a single mantra:

Don’t identify with anything.

This one instruction protects better than any catalogue of pitfalls. After each realisation, the mind may rush into fantasy—imagining greatness, imagining roles. This is entirely normal. Recognise it. Smile. Then return to the Work.

The Skandha demons are not monsters. They are simply mental habits taken too seriously. But their consequences can be very real. If we act from these distortions—especially with intensity or conviction—we generate heavy karma. Even substantial spiritual progress does not erase the weight of consequential deeds.

The Necessity of Humility

This is why humility becomes the true guardian of the path. Not self-effacement, but the quiet resolve not to build a new self from insight. The Work is not complete. These demons may remain—sometimes until the eighth bodhisattva stage. But they are nothing to fear. They are concepts. Once seen clearly, their power fades.

At this stage of Albedo, the alchemist no longer battles temptation in its coarse forms, but in refined and spiritualised distortions. The Skandha demons arise from partial insight magnified by identity. They are overcome not by struggle, but through clarity and non-identification. The key is not to reject experience, but to see through it—and continue onward. With humility, all demons eventually dissolve.

This text is excerpted from the upcoming book Albedo: A Course in Modern Alchemy. The complete volume will include additional study guides, glossaries, and extended teachings. Learn more about the book here.