Practice of the Remembrance of God
Divine Life
Society Publication: Practice of the Remembrance
of God by Gurudev
Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj
I am easily attainable by that ever-steadfast Yogi who constantly remembers Me daily, not thinking of another, O Partha! (Bhagavad Gita VIII-14)
Constantly remembering the
Lord throughout the life is the surest way of attaining Him. He who remembers
the Lord by fits and starts, who remembers Him for six months and then leaves
the practice, and again remembers Him for six months and so on, cannot attain
Him.
Remembrance of the Lord at all
times is known as Smarana. It is unbroken memory of the Name and form of the
Lord. The mind does not think of any object of the world. It is ever engrossed
in the thought of the glorious Lord alone. The mind meditates on what is heard
about the glories of the Lord and His virtues and Names, and forgets even the
body. It is contented in the remembrance of God, just as Dhruva and Prahlada
did. Even Japa is only remembrance of God and comes under this category of
Bhakti. Remembrance also includes listening to the stories pertaining to the
Lord, talking of Him, teaching others about Him and meditating on His
attributes constantly.
There is no particular time
for practicing remembrance of God. He is to be remembered at all times without
any break, as long as one has one’s consciousness intact. Right from his
getting up from sleep in the morning, until he is completely overpowered by
sleep at night, a person is to remember God. He has no other duty in this world
except the remembrance of God. The remembrance of God alone can destroy all
worldly impressions. The remembrance of God alone can turn the mind away from
sense-objects.
Generally, the mind runs
outside, but the remembrance of God makes it introvert and does not allow it to
run to particular objects of the world. The remembrance of God is a very
difficult method of Sadhana. It is not possible to remember Him at all times
continuously. The mind deceives the person. He may think that he is meditating on
God but actually he will only be thinking about some object of the world or
something to do with name and fame. The remembrance is equal to concentration
or meditation. All the qualities which a Raja Yogi prescribes for the practice
of meditation should be acquired by a Bhakta who wishes to practice
Smarana-Bhakti. Smarana is swimming against the forceful current of the river
of Maya. Smarana leads to exclusive meditation on God, as is practiced in Raja
Yoga.
The company of sincere
devotees is an auxiliary to the remembrance of God. The service of Mahatmas and
saints is yet another necessity. The mind cannot but remember divine things
when it is in the company of divine people. Therefore, one should have Satsang
and always live with a saint or a great Bhakta. He should not be perturbed by
the censure or ridicule of the world. He should rely upon God and rest assured
that He will help him in all troubles and grant final emancipation.
The remembrance of the Lord
has given liberation even to those who thought of Him through hatred, just as a
worm, through its hatred and fear of the wasp, meditates on it and attains the
state of the latter. Haters of the Lord, like Kamsa and Sisupala, attained
liberation through Vaira-Bhakti. Constant remembrance is the fruit of all the
methods of Sadhana. This is the most potent method and the most difficult also.
A miser does not forget his
wealth even while he is engaged in other duties. A lustful man does not forget
his beloved at any time. A cow does not forget its calf even while it grazes.
Even so, a worldly man, though he may be engaged in the duties of life, should practice
the remembrance of God.
Prahlada practiced the
remembrance of God. He never forgot God at any time. He was tortured by his
cruel father in all possible manner but the devoted Prahlada crossed all these
troubles and attained the supreme Grace of the Lord. Prahlada was lost in the
consciousness of the Lord. Such should be the ardent aspiration of all
devotees. The seventh Skanda of the Bhagavata gives a beautiful
description of how Prahlada practiced Bhakti even amidst difficult and trying
conditions.
Excerpts from:
Practice
of the Remembrance of God by Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji MaharajArchives - Blog
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