I used to have this conflict too. But my solution is to try too practice this "thinking" in everyday live. For me Gandhi is the example in the sense of being fully in this world without being of this world. He was fully involved in everyday live and in politics, but at the same time non-attached. I found that the internet is a place where I can practice Yoga. Thanks to Jérôme et al, here on ET I can do my daily dose of Karma Yoga. Karma Yoga in the sense of selfless action, by setting up the Breakfast thread. At the same time I can practice vairagya or non-attachment in two ways. First by doing it lovingly without expecting any fruits for it and then by staying non-attached when reading (bad)news. Please note, the key-word is practice.

I only read Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj's book "the nectar of immortality".

And thanks, I just learned a new English word from you -luddite.