In the last days of the great Roman Empire, the decline was characterized firstly by a devaluation of the coin, by diluting it with cheaper metals.
And Secondly by a degradation of morals in social behavior. Both of these are clearly evident in what appear to be the latter stages of the USA and it's fiat hegemony as world reserve currency.
The moral decay is seen in the west particularly in the sexualization of everything and everyone. Taboos have been dissolved and morals loosened, to the point where it's unhealthy for the youth.
These two indicators of empire collapse are well known to observers of history.
Sex itself is not a problem. It's the overemphasis and overt sexualization of everything from sport to school that crosses the line of morality.
Worse than that though, is the fact that by pushing attention on sex, society is pulling attention away from the real business of human life which is beyond sex, namely the pursuit of consciousness beyond the body. That is the pitfall.
The empire is collapsing and civilization is being dragged into further ignorance of themselves and their true potential. We are being groomed up to be less informed obedient workers for the benefit of a few powerful people at the top of the material ladder.
Yet knowledge exists that can liberate us all from these overlords simply by shifting our perspective of ourselves and by practicing the techniques of awakening our dormant potential.
These techniques include the yoga process, which has a foundation in moral and ethical behavior, upon which daily practice is then added. All of this can allow each one of us to attain perfection or at least make a real success of this human form of life. Rather than be trapped in the snare known as lust that keeps us all here.
Bhagavad Gita ch3:41
tasmāt tvam indriyāṇy ādau
niyamya bharatarṣabha
pāpmānaṁ prajahi hy enaṁ
jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam
SYNONYMS
tasmāt—therefore; tvam-you; indriyāṇi—senses; ādau—in the beginning; niyamya—by regulating; bharatarṣabha—O chief amongst the descendants of Bharata; pāpmānam—the great symbol of sin; prajahi—curb; hi—certainly; enam—this; jñāna—knowledge; vijñāna—scientific knowledge of the pure soul; nāśanam—destroyer
TRANSLATION
Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bhāratas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realization.
PURPORT
The Lord advised Arjuna to regulate the senses from the very beginning so that he could curb the greatest sinful enemy, lust, which destroys the urge for self-realization, and specifically, knowledge of the self. Jñānam refers to knowledge of self as distinguished from non-self, or, in other words, knowledge that the spirit soul is not the body. Vijñānam refers to specific knowledge of the spirit soul and knowledge of one's constitutional position and his relationship to the Supreme Soul. It is explained thus in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: jñānaṁ parama-guhyaṁ me yad-vijñāna-samanvitam / sarahasyaṁ tad-aṅgaṁ ca gṛhāna gaditaṁ mayā: "The knowledge of the self and the Supreme Self is very confidential and mysterious, being veiled by māyā, but such knowledge and specific realization can be understood if it is explained by the Lord Himself." Bhagavad-gītā gives us that knowledge, specifically knowledge of the self. The living entities are parts and parcels of the Lord, and therefore they are simply meant to serve the Lord. This consciousness is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, from the very beginning of life one has to learn this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and thereby one may become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious and act accordingly.
Lust is only the perverted reflection of the love of God which is natural for every living entity. But if one is educated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness from the very beginning, that natural love of God cannot deteriorate into lust. When love of God deteriorates into lust, it is very difficult to return to the normal condition. Nonetheless, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so powerful that even a late beginner can become a lover of God by following the regulative principles of devotional service. So, from any stage of life, or from the time of understanding its urgency, one can begin regulating the senses in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service of the Lord, and turn the lust into love of Godhead—the highest perfectional stage of human life.
Reference: Bhagavad Gita As It Is, translation and commentary by Swami A C Bhaktivedanta, original MacMillan 1972 edition, freely available at prabhupadabooks.com.
Image: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-ruin-castle-archway-8927229/
Edited and published from my mobile device onto the Hive blockchain as a record of events.