Amir Shakkar's stay in the Chavadi is described as both an imprisonment and a great blessing. How could both be true?

This paradox is central to Amir's story in Chapter 22. Externally, his stay was like an imprisonment. He was confined for nine months to a single, miserable place—a damp and dirty Chavadi—and was even forbidden from visiting the Masjid. However, it was also a profound blessing. His unwavering faith in Baba's word was his true medicine. Because the Chavadi was on Baba's daily path, Amir received Baba's vision effortlessly every morning and evening. On alternate nights, Baba stayed in the Chavadi, separated only by a thin partition, allowing them to talk. This constant, intimate companionship with Sai was a rare fortune, transforming his 'imprisonment' into a period of deep spiritual connection.