Spiritual growth differs significantly before and after "abandonment" (vairagya).

Before abandonment, one remains in the realm of the mind, what is known as the astral dimension. Higher levels of consciousness may appear, but fundamentally, one rarely reaches the dimensions of Karana (causal) or Purusha.

Even if one acts in lower realms after achieving abandonment, the path to reaching higher dimensions is only through abandonment. My unseen guides say that even if it seems like there are other ways, in reality, there is only one way.

For example, if someone claims to be able to achieve something through techniques or summon higher beings, that is essentially happening in the astral dimension. In the parts closer to the physical body, techniques based on the aura or the five elements may be used, but such aura-based stories are stories of the astral realm, and they are not particularly high-level. When moving from the astral realm to the higher causal realm, there is no form, only geometry; fundamentally, there is no form. Some people claim to use techniques of the causal realm or higher, and even if it seems that way, very few can actually use them, and my unseen guides say that it is impossible to reach higher levels through the path of techniques.

To go beyond the causal realm, abandonment is absolutely necessary, according to my unseen guides.

For example, if someone has mastered various techniques in the astral realm, they must let go of them (at least temporarily). This letting go may take a lifetime, or it may take a few years, decades, or even a shorter period. Some people may achieve abandonment through near-death experiences. In any case, whether it is done slowly or rapidly, the process of abandonment takes place.

There is a clear difference between those who are in the process of abandonment and those who are not.

Those who are in the process of abandonment are calm.
Those who are not in the process of abandonment become intensely angry, react strongly, and argue when their pride is hurt. Their pride is still present.

By achieving abandonment, one becomes calmer in body and mind, and anger decreases. In particular, anger caused by pride disappears, unless one is dealing with a particularly troublesome person.

Until one renounces, they can be considered a spiritual intermediate or below.

Even if someone appears to have spiritual abilities, can manipulate energy, and seems impressive to outsiders, such abilities fundamentally operate in the astral dimension. Moving astral energy (based on the five elements and physical aspects) is fundamentally different from reaching higher realms, such as the causal realm.

To put it another way, even if someone has incredible muscles or excellent massage techniques, that is only a matter of the material realm, and is largely unrelated to higher realms (although there are certainly people who have developed those higher realms). This may be a point of misunderstanding, but when you train your body, it activates auras that are similar to the physical realm, and also affects the astral aura. Therefore, there is a connection, but they are different levels. Just as physical aspects of the body are only relevant to that level, the astral realm is only relevant to that world. Indeed, there is a smooth connection between the physical and astral realms, and they influence each other, and the upper part of the astral realm is somewhat connected to the causal realm. However, even though that is the theory, the astral realm and the causal realm are quite different in terms of levels.

Breaking through this limitation is what renunciation (vairagya) is all about. Whether or not one achieves this determines a significant difference in spiritual growth.