Meditation - The Essence

A young boy about seven years of age, once asked Ramana Maharishi, "Can you explain to me what is meditation? Whenever I ask my parents they tell me that I need not bother about it now. I will come to know when I grow up." Ramana said, "I shall tell you presently. For now, sit by my side."

A little later someone brought a carrier full of dosa, dinner for everybody in the ashram.

Ramana took a small piece for himself, gave one full dosa on a leaf to the boy by his side, and ordered the rest to be distributed to the many devotees present.

He told the boy, "Look here, I'll raise my finger as a signal for you to start eating. Once you start, please continue to eat but don't finish eating this dosa till I raise my finger again to stop. Once I signal to stop, you have to stop and also, no dosa should remain on the leaf. If there's even one small bit, you lose."

Ramana gave the signal and the boy started eating. He was looking with concentration at Ramana for the stop signal while eating - tearing off big pieces in the beginning and later on, smaller bits. Suddenly Ramana signaled stop! The little boy put the last piece of dosa into his mouth and said "I'm finished. I win!"

Ramana then said, "what you now did is meditation. You were looking at me all the time but were eating dosa. Similarly keep your mind pointed upon God, but continue with your normal duties."

"Let your normal activities - walking, eating, talking, etc., go on, but focus the mind constantly on God all the time. That is Meditation."