What if the greatest illusion of our time is the belief that matter and spirit are enemies? For centuries, we’ve been told that chasing wealth, relationships, or recognition means turning away from god. Yet this false divide may be the very reason so many feel unfulfilled. If the universe is an intelligent creation—overflowing with beauty and opportunity—why should engaging with it be condemned? To reject the outer world is, in a sense, to reject creation itself. Religions warn that attachments bring suffering, and there is truth in that, but rarely do they teach how to live that truth. Many dismiss the world as illusion while every breath depends on it, creating a painful inner split.

Worse, we are asked to deny what sustains us. It is like asking someone to fly while binding their hands and feet. No one survives without food, water, shelter, or relationships; even the body—called a sacred temple—needs material care. We have even split the body into halves: deeming the upper pure and the lower sinful. But life does not function in halves; such divisions harm more than they heal. True growth does not come from denial but from experience while engaging with real-world affairs. In relationships, we learn love and loss, joy and sorrow. In creation, we discover purpose and meaning. In hardship, we uncover strength and weakness. These are not distractions but the laboratory of inner work: loving despite loss, building despite uncertainty, and seeking recognition with humility—all refine our intelligence.

When the outer world bulldozes away possessions and expectations, pain and suffering force us inward. That turning reveals a steady core—an inner “blackhole” that is luminous, reliable, and inexhaustible. One does not have to suffer endlessly to start with this inward journey; sharpening intelligence gained from experience can guide one’s attention early toward this inner blackhole. Unfortunately, organized religions have often redirected humanity into cycles of guilt, sacrifice, and control. They preach that suffering for others brings us closer to God. Yet how can a beggar who cannot feed his family uplift others? How can someone living in fear offer courage? Without inner strength and richness, sacrifice only deepens suffering—for both giver and receiver. Masochism in the name of god may look noble, but it has no value for real growth.

The time has come to heal the divide between matter and spirit. Material success and spiritual growth are not enemies; they are partners in evolution. The outer world provides the laboratory for experience, and the inner world offers wisdom to transform it. Romantic relationships, in particular, mirror life’s dualities powerfully: love intensifies both joy and suffering, but for the courageous seeker, it becomes the fastest path to wisdom. One may take an entire lifetime to see the futility of seeking refuge in wealth, fame, and power, but the same realization may happen within a short span if one is bold and courageous enough to experiment through romantic love—provided both partners are willing to walk this path together. People often feel that when Kabir said, “Dhai Akshar Prem Ka, Padhe Jo Pandit Hoye,” it was entirely spiritual, but in truth, it was always deeply worldly. This subtle shift was devised to divert attention from the immediate challenge worldly love offers to everyone. The cunning mind postpones it, considering love for a person on a lower pedestal and love for some imaginary god whom no one has ever seen as highly spiritual.

Spirituality is not about rejecting life but embracing it fully while anchored in the unchanging inner self—our own inner blackhole. When this balance is found, duality dissolves, and life becomes a celebration—of inner peace and outer achievement alike.

( The writer is an IT Professional. )