Song of spiritual practice in all circumstances

Hari Aum.

I became a parent just over a month ago and it has been an interesting experience so far! There is the joy of having an opportunity to care for a child, who like all else in this universe, is a manifestation of the Supreme Being. Like all things in this world, it is the Divine hand that shapes and creates all.

Along with the joy, there are the challenges of parenting. The current main challenge is the significant sleep deprivation (as newborn babies require feeding every 2-3 hours both in the day and at night!) and the resulting fatigue. Doing spiritual sadhana in this condition is no easy task.

On the plus side, as I am now awake every 2-3 hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, I have an opportunity to try and fulfil my Guru Sivananda's command to try and remember God at all times! And when one is in a significantly sleep-deprived state at 3 am and the baby is wide awake and wanting to play instead of sleep, one can definitely make heartfelt prayers to God (to let the baby sleep so that one can too, as long as His will permits this of course)!

Finding time for formal sadhana is tough in this situation. But one then has the motivation to try to make everything one does into sadhana. Caring for another living being is a great privilege and can be made into an excellent sadhana- though it is not always easy by any means!

A Swami from my Gurus's ashram in Rishikesh recently told me that God has given me an excellent opportunity for sadhana in the form of making me a mother. He also said that the sacrifices that parents make for their children is the reason the yogic scriptures declare "Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava" (from the Taittiriya Upanishad)- meaning the mother is God, the father is God (well, everything is God but good parents are regarded as one of the noblest manifestations of God according to the yogis).

Anyway, I am still plodding on with my fourth purascharana. I had to reduce the number of malas for a couple of weeks from the time I went into labour and gave birth but this has now picked up again. (By the way, as one can imagine, labour pains are a great reminder of the pains of samsara- not that I needed reminding- and so I was repeating my mantra pretty desperately during this period!)

As I go through life through the fog of sleep-deprivation and fatigue, I remind myself of a famous devotional song (not sure who composed this) which Swami Chidananda (disciple of Sivananda) used to enjoy singing. This song basically says that no matter what circumstances one is in (good, bad, pleasant or unpleasant) one should say "Radha-Raman" (a name of Krishna that means the lover of Radha) or in other words, remember God. I feel this applies very much in my current circumstances.

The song goes like this (Hindi):

Jis haal mein, jis desh mein, jis vesh mein raho;
Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman kaho.

Jis kaam mein, jis dhaam mein, jis gaon mein raho;
Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman kaho.

Jis sang mein, jis rang mein, jis dhang mein raho;
Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman kaho.

Jis yog mein, jis bhog mein, jis rog mein raho;
Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman kaho.


The English translation is as follows:

In whatever state, in whichever country, in whichever form you are,
Say Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman

In whatever work, in whichever abode, in whichever village you are,
Say Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman

In whatever company, in whatever condition or mental state you are,
Say Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman

Whether in a state of Yoga, in earthly enjoyment or in sickness,
Say Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman, Radha-Raman


Swami Chidananda says:

"You have no other business than to be in God, to link up with Him, to dwell in Him, to be centered in Him. That is Life. When it is there, all is well. When it is not there, life is not life. Misfortune is not misfortune and good fortune is not good fortune, as we normally say in this world."

"Real misfortune is to forget God. Real good fortune is to remember God. Vismriti (forgetfulness) of Hari is true misfortune. In this way, we are told to approach God with Bhakti; no matter what the outer conditions are. Do what you have come here for."

"If you are mindful of that, all things will be well, no matter how seemingly up and down and painful they are. Basically, at the core, everything is well. All is well, if you are intent on doing for what God has sent you; to be what you are, as God has created you in His own image, as His own Atma, as a center of divinity. Therefore, the essential words in the Song of Chidananda are ‘har haal mein’.  Always be what you are. This is Abhyasa, this is Sadhana, this is Bhajan."

This is the link to the book by Swami Chidananda which contains the above song and teachings:

http://www.chidananda.org/uploaded_files/ebook/1422611307.pdf

I will try and remember and practice these teachings of Swami Chidananda as my life as a householder intensifies having become a mother. In the midst of laundry, changing nappies, feeding the baby and doing household chores, I will do my best to remember God and repeat my mantra. As he says above, "Do what you have come here for". I will try my best to do so.

Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Namo Narayanaya. Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat