Questioner: Some yogis say that one must renounce this world and go off into secluded jungles if one wishes to find the truth.
Sri Ramana Maharshi: The life of action need not be renounced. If you meditate for an hour or two every day you can then carry on with your duties. If you meditate in the right manner then the current of mind induced will continue to flow even in the midst of your work. It is as though there were two ways of expressing the same idea; the same line which you take in meditation will be expressed in your activities.
Questioner: What will be the result of doing that?
Sri Ramana Maharshi: As you go on you will find that your attitude towards people, events and objects gradually changes. Your actions will tend to follow your meditations of their own accord.
Questioner: Then you do not agree with these yogis?
Sri Ramana Maharshi: A man should surrender the personal selfishness which binds him to this world. Giving up the false self is the true renunciation.
Credit: This is from “Be As You Are” By Ramana Maharshi, Edited by David Godman.