The spiritual aspirant should note the distinction between the conduct of the ordinary (sahaja) person and the spiritual aspirant. Rice in its natural state and boiled rice —can these two be the same? The hardness of natural rice is absent in the boiled one. The boiled grain is soft, harmless, and sweet. The unboiled grain is hard, conceited, and full of delusion. Similarly both types of individuals are souls (jivis) and humans, no doubt, but those immersed in external or multiplicity based illusions (avidya-maya) are ‘people’, while those immersed in internal or knowledge based illusions (vidya-maya) are ‘spiritual aspirants’. Though the Lord is situated in every heart, spiritual practice is necessary so that they may discover it for themselves, right? It isn’t possible for us to see our own face! We need a mirror! So too, a basic path, a spiritual practice, is necessary.

- Prema Vahini Ch 59.