Meditation through Relaxed Focus
Once an earnest seeker came, prostrated in all humility to Bhagavan (Ramana Maharshi) and asked him:
“Bhagavan has said that the real nature of the Self can be attained only by constant dhyana. But how is it possible for one like me saddled with official responsibilities and the management of household affairs? If a major part of one’s life is spent managing these, where is there time for atma vichara, much less uninterrupted dhyana? What is the way out? I beseech Bhagavan to enlighten me on this.”
Looking at him compassionately, Bhagavan said:
“Suppose you leave your house with the intention of coming to the Ashram and on the way you meet a friend. You greet him, exchange pleasantries and then take leave of him, proceeding to Ashram while your friend goes his way. Now you don’t go away with your friend but rather continue toward the Ashram, do you not? The thought of coming to Ashram is so fixed in your mind that whomsoever you happen to meet on the way is spoken to in the proper way and parted with in order that you may fulfil your original intention. Likewise, if the mind is deeply engaged in meditation, after doing whatever has to be done, the mind will return to meditation. By engaging the mind before starting work and after finishing it, even while working, it will automatically acquire the ability to do the necessary while inhering in its natural state. In the course of time this becomes in-built, habitual and natural, and one no longer feels the lack of being engaged in constant meditation.”
- From the Mountain Path, Advent 2006 issue
“Bhagavan has said that the real nature of the Self can be attained only by constant dhyana. But how is it possible for one like me saddled with official responsibilities and the management of household affairs? If a major part of one’s life is spent managing these, where is there time for atma vichara, much less uninterrupted dhyana? What is the way out? I beseech Bhagavan to enlighten me on this.”
Looking at him compassionately, Bhagavan said:
“Suppose you leave your house with the intention of coming to the Ashram and on the way you meet a friend. You greet him, exchange pleasantries and then take leave of him, proceeding to Ashram while your friend goes his way. Now you don’t go away with your friend but rather continue toward the Ashram, do you not? The thought of coming to Ashram is so fixed in your mind that whomsoever you happen to meet on the way is spoken to in the proper way and parted with in order that you may fulfil your original intention. Likewise, if the mind is deeply engaged in meditation, after doing whatever has to be done, the mind will return to meditation. By engaging the mind before starting work and after finishing it, even while working, it will automatically acquire the ability to do the necessary while inhering in its natural state. In the course of time this becomes in-built, habitual and natural, and one no longer feels the lack of being engaged in constant meditation.”
- From the Mountain Path, Advent 2006 issue
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