== SAVE ONESELF FROM BAD MEMORIES ==
Namaskar,
Memory plays a huge role in the life of any sadhaka - in the life of any
human being. People want to remember things but often are unable to
remember all that we wish to recall.
Memory is not just about recalling facts and figures, passwords and
PIN's, but serves as a key aspect of our overall happiness. We should
remember those sweet and dharmic points that keep us moving in the right
direction, and we should forget those painful moments that weigh us down.
So memory plays a crucial life in the proper growth of every human being.
Unfortunately, the power of memory is often misused as people dwell on
things that haunt them from the past and forget to recall those finer
ideas that will bring love, momentum, and light into their life.
As sadhakas, we are in better position than the general public. Our
sadhana and devotional practices reinforce sentient ideals and keep our
psyche buoyant and free - not sunken and bogged down.
Even then, we all have room for growth and improvement; we should better
understand memory and the functioning of mind in this regard.
Baba has outlined three distinct ways to enhance our memory and hence
enhance the quality of life. We should learn and practice these points
and share them with all we know.
#1: BE POINTED IN APPROACH
Baba's first mandate for developing a strong memory recall is to be
pointed and concentrated. If one is studying chemistry, one should not
also be talking on the phone and listening to music at the time. Then
one will not be able to remember the subject of chemistry. Because the
mind cannot simultaneously involve in two things with full
concentration. The mind will be bifurcated and the memory will be retarded.
Baba says, "One mental flow is engaged in memorizing the subjects being
studied, while another mental flow entertains various other thoughts
such as: 'What will my parents and seniors say if I fail in the
examination? The juniors in my locality will cease to respect me, they
will say all kinds of unpleasant
things...' and so on. Obviously that boy's mental power has become
bifurcated." (APH-5, p.357)
So the mind should be completely fixed on what you want to remember. If
the mind is in a fickle state or moving from one pabulum to another -
from one thing to another - then remembering any point will be quite
difficult, if not impossible. So fixed concentration is needed.
At the same time, one should not entertain other types of thoughts -
such mental diversions should pushed aside.
Baba says, "What should a wise person do in such circumstances? He should
think nothing else except: 'I will memorize whatever I'm reading now,
without bothering about my gains if I succeed or my losses if I fail in
the task. I will not allow any portion of my mind to flow in an
undesirable direction, and thus I will keep my mind exclusively
engrossed in the task of learning'." (APH-5, p. 357)
Accordingly, we should only think only about that thing that we wish to
learn and remember. That is Baba's teaching.
For instance, if one is walking down the street and remembering their
ista mantra, then one should not also think about that when they get
home they have to pay their taxes nor should they think about the fact
that last year their business sales were low. If one wants to remember
their ista mantra, then that sadhaka should think about their mantra -
period. No active attention should be paid to any other thought, word or
idea. By this process one will develop a stronger and stronger ability
to remember their ista mantra.
One other critical component is that one can generally create pointed
concentration only if the topic is of interest and value to them. If
anyone thinks that something is useless or unimportant, then they will
not be able to concentrate properly and hence will not remember that
idea or teaching.
For instance, if one goes vegetable shopping then upon their return they
will most certainly remember what they purchased and how much it cost,
but they will not remember all the faces of the other customers or
recall what other people purchased. Because those things are not
important to them.
MEMORY CAN BE DISASTROUS
Embedded within this first point of pointed concentration is that we
should have both keen awareness and vivek (discrimination) regarding
those things that we are trying to remember.
Specifically, we should not remind ourselves again and again about
memories that are harmful to us. This much understanding we should have.
Yet all too often, a distraught widow thinks again and again about the
death of her spouse, or a man recalls the day his wife left him, or
people think again and again about mistakes they made long ago in the past.
In short, people commonly think about the sadder or more shocking
moments of their life. They cannot do anything to change those events,
yet for months and years they bring those sorrowful memories into their
mental plate on a daily basis. This in turn invites much anguish and
pain in their life.
If one really cannot rid oneself of a negative or horrifying memory - if
they are unable to free oneself of that terrible thought mentally - then
changing one's environment or taking away external reminders of that
occasion can help remedy the situation. For instance, do not revisit the
scene of a car crash that killed your baby. That physical reminder will
immediately trigger that painful memory in the mind.
Side by side, equally detrimental though less painful, people may also
spend much time remembering their past glories - such as how they scored
three goals in a football match 40 years ago, or how they became class
president in high school, or so many other useless things from days
bygone. These also do not contribute to their growth as human beings or
sadhakas. Yet people churn these events in their mind again and again.
Thus along with proper concentration, we must be careful about the types
of things that we are remembering - are they helpful for our development
of mind, or not.
#2: REPETITION NEEDED
Baba's second mandate for developing a strong and proper memory is
regular repetition.
For instance, if we want to remember a sutra or shloka or one of Baba's
discourses, then first we must follow point #1: Employ pointed
concentration to the subject matter. But that in and of itself will not
be enough. The human mind has its limitations and over time we will forget.
In that case, to keep the point alive in the mind regular repetition is
needed. In the beginning we may need to review by reading or listening
to the topic monthly or even weekly. Thereafter, the span of time
between review sessions can increase to 3 months, 6 months or even
yearly, until finally we reach a point when those ideas are fully rooted
in the mind and we have them for life - they will not be forgotten.
So the above is an excellent way to remember good ideas. I
n contrast, if there is a painful memory, then we should take the
opposite approach. Above we are using books and cassettes as external
stimuli to keep the mind fresh in the mind. Conversely, if there is a
place - such as our deceased sons's bedroom - that reminds of some
horrific event etc, then we should be sure not to revisit that place as
it will only reinforce those painful memories in the mind.
So this point of reinforcement or review works in two directions and can
be used to remember important things as well as free ourselves from old,
painful memories.
#3: DO DHYANA
Baba's third mandate on enhancing one's memory is doing dhyana sadhana,
i.e. sixth lesson.
Here is one of Baba's unique teachings where He is indirectly referring
to Himself. Some jinanis may not be able to understand Baba's below
teaching, but any devotee will certainly recognise that in the below
citation Baba is talking the dhyana of Ananda Marga.
Baba says, "The psycho-spiritual approach which strengthens the memory,
and makes the intellect omniscient. A good way to stabilize the memory
is to meditate on someone you have seen or heard about who possesses a
unique photographic memory. This will increase your own memory." (FOK-5)
By keeping Baba's image in our mind - then our mind becomes like His
mind - in which case there is nothing in this universe that we will not
be able to remember.
KEEP THE MIND LIGHT
Here Baba reminds us of one important teaching from Lord Buddha. Namely,
if one wishes to cross the ocean of samskara then one must make the mind
light and free - one cannot cross that ocean if one is weighed down by
all kinds of worries from the past of fears about the future. Such
memories are an impediment and just shackle us.
So the mind should be pure and focused in the present.
Baba says, "When you are to move fast, your mind should be light; if the
mind is heavy it will not be able to move fast. What makes the mind
heavy? So many impurities of thought...
Muinca pure muinca pacchata majjhe muinca bhabassa pa'ragu'
[Remove all the water from the boat of your body; being free from water,
it will become very light.]
“You should make your mind light. You should give up all worldly
thoughts, all base thoughts, all depraving thoughts, and make yourself
light.” To make oneself light means to free oneself from impurities. A
magnet can easily attract a piece of iron, but if that piece of iron is
full of impurities, that very magnet may not be able to attract that
iron. So the Supreme Self, Supreme Lord, is always attracting you, but
because of your heaviness due to worldly impurities, you are not being
attracted by Him." (AV-31)
Thus, if one is bogged down by all kinds of crude thoughts then
remembering Baba will be extremely difficult.
We are to get rid of those old, worn-out memories and think only about Him.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, He has blessed us with the realisation that He is the
most venerable Entity in this universe and only He should be remembered.
At the same time we should systematically remove those thoughts which we
do not want to remember. This will help us immensely in life. Finally,
when remembering Him becomes our fixed habit (dhruva'smrti) then our
success and salvation are assured, by His grace.
Baba says, "Those who have developed a memory capable of retaining
information do not forget anything any more. That is, they always
mentally remember God. Then what happens in that condition? They get
their memory firmly implanted – firmly based in a solid foundation – and
they never forget. And that condition of never forgetting anything, is
called dhruva'smrti. And memory then stands firm and sure. Then you have
full control over your memory according to your wish. Such people are
called dhruva'smrti – they can always remember God and thus feel a
special kind of a'nanda or bliss in their minds." (AV-6)
Namaskar,
Cinmay
Note 1: MORE TEACHINGS FROM BABA ON MEMORY
Here are a few more of Baba's invaluable guidelines on enhancing one's
memory.
Baba says, "One whose mental power is weak, whose nerve-cells are
feeble, who has little will-power, who cannot make his mind singularly
pointed or concentrate sharply, has a short memory. He is unable to
remember what has been seen or thought after a lapse of time." (AV-6)
Baba says, "At the time of learning something, you should
empty your mind of all other thoughts, giving full importance to what is being
learnt...As a result, you will develop your thinking capacity." (APH-5,
p. 357)
Baba says, "The exact mental reproduction of what has been previously
perceived is called smrti or memory. For instance, you once perceived an
elephant by observing a real elephant and seeing its huge body, legs,
eyes, ears, nose and trunk. The physical form of the elephant struck the
retina of your eyes creating a vibration in your optical fluid, and was
ultimately imprinted in your mind as the image of the elephant. Now some
time later when you see an animal with the same type of limbs as those
of your previously perceived elephant, you immediately conclude that
this animal must also be an elephant. Your conclusion is based on your
previous perception. This is memory." (AFPS-7)
Baba says, "When the memory becomes established, unfailing and
spontaneous, it is called dhruva'smrti, or constant memory.
Dhruva'smrti, or constant memory, is an essential prerequisite for
spiritual sama'dhi or bliss." (AFPS-7)
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Importance of Sadhana
Baba says, "Numerous rich and beautiful cities of the historic past are
now buried under the earth. Many splendid palaces and mansions, many
churches, temples, mosques and synagogues, and many pyramids have been
reduced to rubble. With the constant change in the flow of time, how
many major changes have occurred in the universe? Similarly, with the
change in time and space, people also change. A small two year old child
becomes a smart and active twenty-five year old youth. And the same
energetic youth becomes an infirm, inactive old person in due course.
Thus, nothing in this universe is permanent. Many gigantic animals of
the past have become totally extinct from the surface of the earth.
Royal pomp and opulence, the pride of power, the vast knowledge of
mighty scholars have become things of the past, thrown into the dustbin
of history. Many objects emerged in the past, remained on earth for a
short time, and then disappeared according to the inexorable law of
nature."
"The only eternal truth is Parama Purus'a. He is Ana'di, beginningless,
endless, all-pervasive; an entity beyond the scope of time, place and
person. He is the only eternal, undecaying, imperishable, immutable
entity. He is the Supreme Source from which the inanimate, plant and
animal worlds have emerged. He is the starting point and the culminating
point of everything. Hence, wise people should utilise their physical,
psychic and spiritual power to realise that supreme omnitelepathic
entity, to become one with Him." (PNS-18, p.6)
Note: Please read Baba's above teaching again carefully. It explains
everything.
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