Reply #1: It depends on what your spiritual path is, I guess

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

I know there are people who are hermits and live away from the world, and for all I know they are in samadi all the time. Others have a path where they are in the world and not of it--to me, this is always a balancing game. I've had glimpses of the Now, usually in ceremony, but not always. That those glimpses have given me tools by which I can live my life, helping to sort the Real from the unreal, I would say they are useful.

Sounds to me that your path is similar to mine--staying in the world. Anyway, hope my musings help you a bit. Salaam.