Is it possible to enter into a spiritual life without having detachment from worldly life?

[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on January 16, 2021, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[Smt. Suganya Raman asked: Few years back, when I met Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), I asked her, if I could live in the ashram and lead the simple ashram life. Amma said, “You should not come to the ashram in virakti (detachment). In fact, towards life, you should not have virakti at all”. My question is, “Is it possible to enter into a spiritual life without any detachment towards worldly life?” A climax-devotee might be able to enter into spiritual life due to his or her natural attraction, but an ordinary human being generally turns towards spiritual life out of virakti from worldly life. Later on, he might understand the correct spiritual knowledge and gradually start liking this world as well because it is created by God.]

Swāmi replied: Detachment from the world is not a prerequisite for developing attachment to God. Due to the attachment to God, the detachment from the world should automatically take place. Since you have tasted divine nectar, you naturally get detached from all worldly drinks like coffee etc. For getting the divine nectar, the detachment from coffee is not necessary at all. After drinking the divine nectar, the detachment from coffee etc., is a spontaneous consequence. The inherent property of the mind is to always be attached to something, whether it is divine nectar or coffee. Without tasting the divine nectar, even if by force, you manage to detach yourself from coffee, you will not be able to stay detached for long. If the divine nectar is not available, after four or five days, you will lose your detachment from coffee and drink ten cups of coffee on the same day! Thus, if the attachment to God has not already taken place, any detachment from worldly bonds is only temporary. The attachment to God is a prerequisite for developing the permanent and real detachment from worldly bonds, which is called vairāgya or virakti.

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