*ATTACH/*ATTACHMENT - also see DETACH
Even small attachments one never really desires to conquer (ie. person, clothing, book, food, gossip, knowing, seeing, hearing) can seriously damage our soul by being an obstacle to spiritual progress and transformation in God. St. John of the Cross illustrates by a bird tied to the ground with a thin thread. The thread may be earier to break than a heavy rope, but until it is finally broken, the bird cannot fly free. (Purif, p97)