I shall gather all these things for you into a single meaning so that their knowledge may be easy for you. Indeed, all these things are united by one meaning, which is: Bodily Pleasure. Therefore, whatever you find pleasurable through the body, leave it and beware of it; and whatever you find pleasurable through the intellect, take it and employ it.

O soul: Indeed, fire can be extinguished, but the fire of desire is never extinguished. Pains afflict the body and then depart, bringing relief; but the pains of desire bring no relief unless you treat them with the Intellect. Their remedy is to abandon them and to acquire patience against them; for the life of desire lies in its pursuit, while its death lies in its severance and in practicing patience against it.

You ought to know, O soul, that the desires of this world are not confined to food alone; there are those that lie beyond eating. Yet, the desires of food are the most harmful among them, for the body does not crave drink except after being sated, nor does it crave intercourse except after being sated. The same applies to clothing and all possessions that drive the soul to embark upon perils and terrors, leading it toward abasement, vileness, and meanness.

O soul: I have given you sight, so do not feign blindness. I have directed you toward what is right, so do not go astray, lest your regret grow immense and your torment be doubled by following your passion and desires.