Ritual practices and detachment from the world: an ethnographic exploration of the ways in which Sai Baba groups control the mind

Abstract

This article begins by examining the concept Sai Baba groups have on the mind, and then argue that their ritual performances are “technologies of the self”, in Foucauldian terms, designed to quiet the mind and gain subjective attitude consisting “let things happen”. Subsequently, we explained that devotees strive to apply this attitude a everyday life give that “mundane” is considered an illusory product of the mind that distracts from the spiritual path. At this point try the classic Weberian theme of “attitude to the world” and how it manifests between Sai groups, especially in regard to the detachment and asceticism. Finally, we conclude that the ritual performances and detachment from worldly are the facets sacred and profane, respectively, of an overall strategy to “kill” the mind set on playing for the Sai devotees.