Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume II - Part 1
An idealistic notion or a religious belief or emotion is something quite different from getting spiritual light. An idealistic notion might turn you towards getting spiritual light, but it is not the light itself.
It is true however that “the spirit bloweth where it listeth”, and that one can get some initial impulse or touch of mental realisation of spiritual things from almost any circumstance, as Bilwamangal got it from the words of his courtesan mistress. Obviously it happens because something is ready somewhere,– if you like, the psychic being waiting for its chance and taking some opportunity in mind, vital or heart to knock open a window somewhere.