Question: I've always thought that the people who did some work using their hands were more conscious than others.

Sri Chinmoy: No. Take Ramakrishna. There are many people who do not create or do physical work and are fully conscious. If one became conscious only by doing physical work then that consciousness would not be complete. He who prays and meditates well has more capacity to do things consciously.

Farmers work with their hands. That is their job. Each has to appreciate his job, whatever he is doing. True. However, if you are meditating while using your hands, you become infinitely more conscious.

When you do something mechanically, it is no good. One good thought is a new thing you have created. It enters into the physical work. Meditation is consciousness itself and it makes us conscious.