Every religion prescribes dictates that relate only to the external in reading, sitting, standing, keeping the body clean with baths and ablutions, and in the same way observing cleanliness about one's food and clothes, et cetera. With the eyes, you are told to look at good and religious objects; with the tongue and lips, to utter prayers; with the ears, to hear divine recitations, and so on. Thus, the rules and principles underlying all religions are only external; and hence from the beginning, the Avatars have enjoined their followers to carry them out.
The middle path adopted by yogis and others who studiously perform practices is almost always a complete failure because they depend upon the help of both the internal and the external for realizing the goal. In the practice of meditation, to activate the mind by deep inhalation and exhalation, they depend upon the internal. By sitting, reading and fasting, they make use of the external, and for this reason they generally fail. Therefore, until your fortune brings you into a Sadguru's orbit, it is best to follow and adhere to the doctrines of your own religion as closely as you can.
Once the internal is cleansed by the grace of a Perfect Master, then the person realizes God; after which the external is no longer cared for and is completely neglected. This is the reason why saints are usually found outwardly dirty. When their internal is rendered pure, what do the saints care about the external? The external will vanish one day anyway.
When Ghani was preparing Baba's bath around two o'clock that afternoon, the Master ordered chocolates from the market and distributed them among the mandali. He asked everyone if they liked the taste and, except for Arjun, all said they were delicious. Sometime later Baba inquired, "Is the taste which you enjoyed just a few moments ago still present?" The men replied it was no longer there.
Baba then explained:
The mind is pleased when a good thing is given to it, but it soon returns to its original state. The same mind revolts when some bitter medicine like castor oil is forced upon it, but again after a short while it reverts to its normal state. This proves that both the pleasures and pains of this world are ephemeral and short-lived.
A few moments ago you ate the chocolates with a sense of enjoyment, but immediately after the same enjoyment and delicious taste became a thing of the past because the flavor did not linger in your mouth.