58. Right Way to Use Memory🔗

In the earlier sessions, we looked at Patanjali's definition of memory. I can say, memory is the source of all good things and bad things! All scientific research can happen only based on memory. You need a memory to do all the analysis and achieve results and do further R&D based on the results. Whether in the medical field, or in the field of construction, or in the field of aviation, or in the field of administration, or in the field of execution, memory is the base.

Smrti or memory is responsible for what you are, how you talk, how you behave, the way you live. The difference between you and another person, the difference between a doctor and a lawyer, a lawyer and an engineer, an engineer and an accountant, is only memory, nothing else. Who you are, what you are, why you are, is all because of memory. I can say memory is responsible for both, remembering and forgetting. Sometimes, people have a large quantity of memory, but they can't retrieve it with a sharp quality. Sometimes, people have a sharp quality of retrieving memory, but they don't have access to a large quantity of memory. When you are able to access a large storehouse of memory and retrieve precisely what you need, you are a leader. A leader is a person who can a handle a large quantity of memory with a very sharp quality of remembrance.

If it is used properly, if it is retrieved properly, if it is lived properly, memory brings so much of joy and comfort. If it not used properly, it can become the source of the greatest suffering for you. A small story about how to use memory: Three accountants and two engineers are traveling on a train. The accountants start talking about how the train tickets are very expensive. The engineers say, 'Because the tickets are too expensive and we always travel on this train, we buy only one ticket and all of us share it.' The accountants, being accountants, ask, 'How do you manage when the ticket-checker comes? What do you do?' The engineers just wink and say, 'Wait and watch!' When the ticket-checker comes, all the engineers get into the restroom. The ticket-checker goes over to the restroom and knocks on the door, saying 'Ticket, please!' One hand comes out of the door and gives the ticket, and the ticket-checker takes it and moves on. The two accountants are very impressed by the whole scene. The next day, they also decide to do the same thing. They buy only one ticket and wait for the ticket-checker to come. Then they find that the three engineers have not even bought one ticket! The accountants warn them, 'Hey, not having even one ticket is dangerous. How are you going to manage?' The engineers again just wink and say, 'Wait and watch!' When the ticket-checker comes, both the accountants run into the restroom. The engineers wait for a few seconds. Then one engineer goes and knocks on the door, saying 'Ticket, please!'

One hand comes out of the door and gives the ticket to the engineer.

Now you know the rest of the story! Smrti is not just remembrance; it is the ability to handle the memory to arrive at a solution. Solutions can never be memorized and repeated; they have to be spontaneous. Many times, people get into trouble by trying to repeat or re-enact others' solutions. In the outer world, the best way to use memory is to use it more and more and more. In the inner world, the best way to use memory is to unclutch from it more and more and more! This is the sutra, this is the thumb rule for using memory. In the outer world, when you handle more and more memories, intelligence and power will start happening in you. In the inner world, when you relax from memories, the tremendous energy of spontaneity will start happening in you.

Today, take the first step to live free of memory in the inner world. Whenever you find that your mind is caught in a memory, just unclutch with awareness, disconnect, relax from it.