Everything Is Worship

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So long as the daily life is imagined to be different from the spiritual life, these difficulties arise. If the spiritual life is rightly understood, the active life will be found to be not different from it.

-- Talks - Pages 341-342
One generally regards pursuit of Self-knowledge and daily life as two water-tight compartments. Activities are classified as 'worldly' and spiritual life as 'other-worldly'. The underlying assumption is that there is a conflict between work and wisdom.

The idea of conflict between work and wisdom is deep-rooted and long cherished. When one leaves home for penance, when one joins a monastic order or a nunnery, tearing away from attachment, or when one wanders in Himalayan heights, it is only to give a practical turn to this belief.

The belief is that withdrawal from whatever activities one is engaged in at that time, or from the present situations and circumstances, is essential for reaching spiritual goals. Some are therefore willing to pay the price and prepared to sacrifice the comforts of family life. But one may not be ready; not spiritually evolved enough or have the necessary passion to keep one going. If the necessary inner ammunition to hold on steadfastly is not there, impulsive vairagya would leave one only with regrets. Also, one's lot in life may not permit such a cutting off of the bonds held so dear.

It is in this context that one has to examine in depth whether the mental division of activities as those belonging to God and those belonging to man is justified. What we are doing is really to split activities vertically.