Table of Contents
Memories of this World
Memories of this world represent the dead. For example, we have undergone the trauma of a disturbed childhood. We have worries and tensions about bringing up a teenage son or daughter. Our worries about family, friends, and others who mean a lot to us, all such memories that haunt us all the time, in the language of plain spirituality represent the dead. They are things that have no basis because the fear of these memories is created by the instrument of the Mind, which classical Vedanta calls Maya.
These memories apply to our mind as well as the body. It would not be wrong to infer that our body and mind hop every second from one life to another following a trail of unconnected memories. It is like dying every second and then coming back to life every other second.
This alternating cycle of both the body and mind gives the illusion of continuity of life. Life is never continuous. The presence of Life is, in the fact that death occurs every moment, followed by life the very next moment.
What we think of or imagine is already an event in the past. We try to hold it in our present, but the fact remains that it is already dead and gone. Every cell of our body which includes trillions of brain transmitters holds information. The word cell which represents the smallest living aspect of our body is a storehouse of emotions too.
The word “cell” is parallel to the battery cell holding electric energy. Our body cell holds memories (i.e. of the past). Our mind holds memories, thoughts, and ideas of the past.
Everything that belongs to a bygone moment is dead indeed.
Thinking about deceased people is depressing
If we hold close to our personality, our views, our thoughts, what we feel about others, and so on, without letting it go, it represents decay. When we hold memories of the past both good and bad, it represents holding on to decayed matter.
The truth is that thought is nothing but the subtlest aspect of matter. This is the philosophy of the sages of Bharata Varsha. So, if we hold on to an idea or thought, it means we are holding on to matter which is decaying fast. Hence people holding on to the memories of deceased people are always dull and denuded of all vitality.
They are depressing to be with. It is important to understand this theory about memories if one is to regain the vivacity of life. Remembering the good times that we had with our parents in childhood can never make one happy in the here and now. It is going to make us unhappier in the present moment.
Mostly, unhappy people remember and try to extract joy from a few moments in the past, which they imagine was pleasant. It is just like consuming Mushrooms, that grow on dead matter, like on the bodies of fox and dogs that die unattended in the jungle. People usually slip into these non-value-adding reminiscences when they want to escape the present moment.
If someone is not happy in their current situation, they try to bring back attention to past events that made them feel happier. This habit is very depressing. Indeed, it is a negative trait that is going to make us feel even worse, with every passing moment.
It is important to understand the science behind memories before we can deal with them head-on so that our present becomes more interesting and engaging.
Time is in the mind
Time is in the mind. Memories are created because of time and if we have consistent memories bothering us, then we are in the Time Warp.
Memories are better off purged, so that time does not get to us and disturb us.
Our association with memories cannot be negated, yet it is important to work towards their release, from our system as much as possible. This is essentially a detoxification of our thoughts and emotions, just like cleaning a pond that stands stagnated.
Unless we do that, our possibilities for the future becomes utterly curtailed.
Holding to the memory means holding the past, which means in a way not allowing time to help us rid of our pain, sorrows, and other aspects of our personality.
This becomes toxic as we enter the future. Our happiness quotient is inversely proportional to the amount of time we spend in the past. The more we are in the past, the sadder we are and vice-versa.
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Sensual memory problems
One should understand that the body is a mass of memory that extends to the mind and make it a great repository of the past. One should first get hold of the mind.
For example, if something tasted good in our childhood, we would want to taste that stuff even after we are grown up. This is sensual memory.
One of the major reasons for our displeasure is that we see the world change and say “In our times it was not like this…” and so on. This creates a great impediment towards accepting change.
This is based on our sensual memory. Hence one should learn to meditate on one’s breath or on the image of Vedic Gods. These are powerful ways to get rid of these memories that are associated with the senses.
Episodic Memory problems
One may remember past events and the emotions connected with these events.
Love, hatred, likes, dislikes related to such strong memories can create disharmony within our system in our present moment. The mind relives these episodes through present-day situational triggers.
One should learn the art of forgiving and letting go. One should understand that it is not we who run the world and whatever has to happen will happen. It is better to let go and move on.
Meditation and chanting of the holy names of the Lord are good practices that can help us getting relieved of episodic memory problems.
Some useful meditation practices
Memory is useful but unconscious use of memory can create disturbances in our lives. The best way to rid ourselves of unwanted memories is by cultivating practices like being mindful of our Breath and Pranayama.
If we become mindful of our breath, our thoughts get focused on the present moment because breath is directly connected with the mind and the physical manifestation of our subtle layers of consciousness.
Another great technique is to become aware of our body, as we sit or walk. Bringing back our attention to the way we sit, walk or lie down will rivet us to the present moment. Sometimes it is helpful to watch, whether our breathing is heavy or light and we should try to keep the focus on the breath hitting our nostrils.
Every time our mind goes along the memory lanes, one should slowly bring back the mind on the breath, without fighting with the mind or trying to block it.
Trying to wrestle with the mind shall aggravate memories instead of slowing them down.
Memory is Useful but memories are Harmful
Remembering the names of others, remembering what we have done the whole day, remembering mathematics, etc are very powerful forms of memory. This can enhance our lives and make them more interesting.
But remembering past events and the emotions associated with them are wasteful indulgences that suck out a lot of our present energy. Hence we need to graduate out of two major forms of memory namely sensual memory and episodic memory that we looked into earlier. All other forms of memory like short-term memory and long-term memory may be useful.
It is also not a great practice to remember past events even if they were neutral events, even if they do not evoke negative emotions. Many times memory also enhances our capacity to gossip.
This gossiping mentality also presents a big question on our integrity and our intentions.
One should meditate and be mindful of what one speaks and should avoid discussing the past.
The moment we avoid discussing the past as part of gossip even the memories of non-consequential events of the past shall fade away.
This is good for one’s spiritual health.
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