Spirituality does not mean the life of a hermit, on the contrary, true spirituality involves active participation in the life of human society. Spirituality is to sow the seeds of divine love in the hearts of all people, to work so that all of humanity flourishes and develops in harmony and peace.
(Sathya Sai Baba – «Summer Showers of Brindavan», 1990)
Yes, it is a very common misconception that a spiritual person should be a hermit and an ascetic. For centuries, official religion has reduced the spiritual path to mere external renunciation, or worse, imitation of renunciation. The spiritual path is «subtler than the subtle,» it consists in contemplating and realizing the identity of one’s Self and God.
It would be naive to assume that by retiring to the mountains or forests, renouncing family life and material well-being, only then will you come closer to realizing the eternal treasure that is hidden in the depths of your Spiritual Heart.
People go on distant pilgrimages seeking God in distant temples, while the true pilgrimage is made to the depths of their consciousness. Of course, if a trip to holy Jerusalem, Mecca or Kailash will help you find the truth in your heart, then you need to go. By the way, Sathya Sai Baba by no means denied the need for pilgrimages or temporary solitary practices. A trip to Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram is also a pilgrimage that has helped many people to discover the truth within themselves.
Arriving at Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram, deep spiritual seekers did not become attached to his outward form but discovered eternity within their hearts. Sathya Sai Baba constantly asked people not to be attached to his physical presence, but to dive into the depths of their soul.
Of course, it was difficult to implement because Sathya Sai Baba was a living divine incarnation. In the presence of Sathya Sai Baba, it was very difficult to get rid of attachment to him and disengage from the desire to constantly see him, listen to him, and communicate with him.
The manifested world is a space of spiritual evolution and endless self-perfection. Matter, space, and time are manifestations of the Divine Consciousness. If you want to escape from the illusion of this world, then you need to change your perception as just physically avoiding participation in social life will not help.
I have visited many Orthodox and Catholic Christian monasteries, Buddhist monasteries and Himalayan yoga ashrams. Monastic life in any denomination cannot help or bring one closer to the depths of the spirit; any monastery, whether Buddhist or Christian, is still a part of society. Real renunciation takes place in the mind, and it consists in letting go of attachment.
Even if you go to the distant Himalayas, you will see the same human society there. One should not run away from one’s duties in society but should be cleansed of ignorance and attachment. Trying to run away from people and pretend to be a saint is naive. The spiritual path is insight, awareness of divinity in yourself and in every person who is next to you.
As long as you are in duality, you will want to run somewhere or avoid something, expecting to find peace outside the circle of life. Being in unity, where and from whom can you run? While serving society and people, you feel that in fact there are no “other” people, because everything is in unity.
Everything that happens in life is a step on the spiritual path. Sathya Sai Baba perceived life in unity, therefore his blessings affected all levels and aspects of human existence. Good health, a happy family, caring for one’s parents and children, a successful career and business, scientific research and artistic creativity, spiritual insight are all integral parts of the divine evolution of man.