_Question:_ Does a person have to renounce the world in order to make spiritual progress?

Sri Chinmoy: Renunciation is an ancient spiritual concept. I can even say it is old-fashioned. The world is not at that stage of development anymore. Instead of renouncing the world, slowly and steadily we can illumine the world according to our inner spiritual capacity. There was a time in India when renunciation was advocated as a high spiritual goal. The Vedic seers of the hoary past taught us to renounce everything. “Neti neti,” “Not this, not that,” they said. Give up everything. But the spiritual Masters of the 19th and 20th centuries said, “If you give up everything, then what will you be able to do for God here on earth?” Renunciation is not the best way, but transformation. If we have a desire, let us transform that desire into aspiration. That will be the right thing. If we enter into the world of aspiration, we can replace desire with aspiration. Then instead of praying for a house or a car, I will pray to God to give me peace of mind. If we cry to our Beloved Supreme for peace, love, light and bliss, only then shall we be happy and satisfied. So instead of renunciation, let us think of transformation of our nature. If our home is in darkness, what do we do? We try to put light into it. Similarly, if there is darkness in our own consciousness — in body, vital, mind or heart — then we shall pray to God and meditate on God to transform our darkness into light. Transformation of our nature is the right thing. God has created us. Now, if we renounce and neglect the body, the vital, the mind and the heart, how can He manifest Himself in and through us? The proper method is the transformation of our dark nature into an illumined nature.

From:Sri Chinmoy,AUM — Vol.II-6, No. 1, January 1980, Vishma Press, 1980
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