Everything will set itself right with time

 Sri Ramana Maharshi

A middle-aged Andhra man asked: “Is thought of God necessary for fixing one’s sight (or making the mind one-pointed)?”

M.: What is the practice?

D.: To fix the look.

M.: What for?

D.: To gain concentration.

M.: The practice gives work for the eye right enough; but where is the work for the mind in the process?

D.: What should I do for it?

M.: Thought of God, certainly.

D.: Does the practice make one ill?

M.: Maybe. But all will be rightly adjusted of its own accord.

D.: I practised dhyana for four hours a day and fixation of sight for two hours. I became ill. Then others said that it was owing to my practice. So I gave up dhyana.

M.: Matters will adjust themselves.

D.: Is it not better that the gaze of the eye becomes fixed naturally?

M.: What do you mean?

D.: Is practice necessary to fix the gaze or is it better to leave it to happen of its own accord?

M.: What is practice if it is not an attempt to make something natural? It will become natural after long practice.

D.: Is pranayama necessary?

M.: Yes. It is useful.

D.: I did not practise it. But should I undertake it?

M.: Everything will be all right with sufficient strength of mind.

D.: How shall I get the strength of mind?

M.: By pranayama.

D.: Is food-regulation also necessary?

M.: It is certainly useful.

D.: Should my contemplation be on the Infinite or the limited being?

M.: What do you mean?

D.: May I contemplate on Sri Krishna or Sri Rama alternately?

M.: Bhavana implies khanda i.e., division.