What you say is true but first we must distinguish two kinds of phenomenon of human beings who are moved by something higher in them.
The first kind are the Vibhutis.
The truth behind the tendency to deify exceptional human beings in any field is that these human beings owe their genius because nature exceeds her limits in them. In ancient India men of such exceptional capacity or achievement were regarded as Vibhutis, as some kind of special recipient of the Divine Grace. Since the Divine seems little more difficult to relate with, there is a tendency to turn such human beings into some kind of a representative of the Divine. There is a truth behind this is that such human beings can serve as an inspiration for others since easier to relate with as someone their own.
However, as you rightly surmise, and paradoxically so to say, when this is applied to all kinds of people claiming spiritual realisation, especially gained through severe austerities and ascetic discipline, then they become unrelatable and can no more inspire us. That is one reason why Sri Krishna as well as Sri Aurobindo propound and set before the world the ideal of an integral Yoga or at least of karma yoga. We need more such examples of regular people with true spiritual realisation. But as of now we are still under the spell of Mayavada with the belief that one needs to abandon the material life to achieve the spiritual or one needs to have limited beliefs to enter into relation with God. It is these one-sided partial realisations that actually fail to inspire, especially when they dress, live as if they are some otherworldly creatures.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
Follow up questions:
Thank you for the explanation Alok da. I find stories of Vibhutis very inspiring, since many didn’t even have any spiritual inclination but still acted in a great way. What bothers me is the deification of every spiritual person. Certainly there are some who are divine incarnation but I don’t think it’s possible for all to be like that.Yes, if we had more examples of regular humans having spiritual realisations, that would be much more inspiring for the rest of us.
Yes absolutely so. Besides there are degrees and aspects of Self realisation. Most importantly, at the end of the day, it is not what you realised but what you did for the earth and humanity in terms setting new standards, releasing new ideas, showing new and higher goals, giving a new path, a new understanding, a new possibility, or leaving for man immortal works and inspiring example. Personal realisations have their value only so far as they help mankind progress rather than simply assume a throne and receive respect and worship.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
