God manifests
God manifests primarily in three forms: the Ultimate form where he is nameless, formless, attributeless. Then we have the closest to that manifestation which, in Sanskrit, we call the Antaryamin, meaning 'one who resides within.' The third form is that in which he is worshipped in external idols, icons, pictures, etc. The way of development is to start with the external worship at a young age when we are not able to conceive of some more abstract forms. And when religion has served its purpose by giving us some idea of God, giving us some piety, morals, ethics, then the search has to be turned from the outside to the inside. That is precisely where spirituality begins.
Taken from the book "The Principles of Sahaj Marg, Set 1, Vol. 1", Chapter "Religion and Spirituality" pg. 82, by Revered Chariji. Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation, Inc.