There is a very simple analogy of the spiritual journey. Think of an always glowing lamp. Covered by layers of dirt. When all layers of dirt are removed, its light spreads limitlessly. Removing the layers of dirt is the entirety of the spiritual path.
(This analogy, of a hurricane lamp and dirt on its glass, is from Chariji)
Analogies are obviously limited. Depending on how you like to think of Reality, that lamp, its light, and everything around it are one, in space. Or there is no real distinction at one level of vibration. The layers of dirt are not all the same vibratory levels either. E.g., there is physical dirt and mental dirt. Mental dirt is described variously as veils, impurities, complexities. There is also energetic dirt when the physical body functions abnormally. And so on. Babuji terms all dirt as grossness.
All authentic spiritual paths try to get every human to understand that the light is their own and they also created that dirt. So there is nothing I can do for spreading the light, except cleaning, or better, letting go of my own dirt.
How the cleaning is done varies across paths.
Once the light shines as it can, and should, the real evolution of life, especially of human life, can happen.
Sahaj Marg is aimed from the very beginning to be something very simple and effective for all humanity. Babuji said that very little of his work was on abhyasis. Its prayer says ... goal of human life ...
Still, very few humans seem to appreciate the self-discipline, spareness, and lack of colour or rituals in Sahaj Marg. Even the immense peace and tranquil love felt occasionally, or often, slips away into the subconscious. And of those who do appreciate, many cannot look inwards all the time, especially in the midst of outward activities. And so they look for succour outside.
Babuji called Sahaj Marg "civilized madness"! This was in comparison to avadhutas who get lost in Divine madness and also lose normal behaviour.
Daaji has been working to bring all spiritual paths to work together. He has succeeded to a great extent with Indian yoga schools, at least the authentic spiritual ones. Like Chariji said earlier, and Daaji says now, black marketeers and criminal gangs seem to work together more harmoniously than spiritual organisations. Each spiritual organisation fights to prove it is more effective. Or worse, the only effective one! When viewed from the perspective of human evolution, it is such a waste of time, money, and other resources.
Babuji said about Mahesh Yogi (of TM fame) that he is also working to bring peace of mind to people. And why should he stop him from working?!
What I have understood so far is that once one understands one's own internal progress at removing one's own dirt or grossness, there is no need for outside validation. Even from the Guru or seemingly more experienced travellers. It's nice to be validated or appreciated once in a while. But it's not necessary when one does one's practice. After all, how difficult is it to understand an increasing lightness and peace? Or since temporary troubles result in greater lightness and peace afterwards, that they are meant to remove some specific grossness?
Some tools or techniques do have to be learnt for immediate use - how to become calm after being disturbed, how to prepare for a disturbance ahead, how to avoid hurting others, how to help others effectively, how to stay positive, how to avoid adding more grossness or heaviness, how to remove freshly added dirt, and so on. Basically, how to stay light-hearted. Sincere and serious spiritual teachers offer a version of some or all of these techniques.
Understanding all this is crucial to getting past spiritual politics - natural, or at least endemic, - to organisations, and focusing on one's own spiritual practice and its useful context.
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