smriti: memory

                                 

how is smriti a merit?

There is more than one way. 

The faculty of memory definitely improves. More and more. Which really contradicts everything that I first believed about memory. Part of this is that our senses become more acute. And, more memory than what we realise, is absorbed via our senses. This is part of becoming Whole, Complete. 

rather than looking at yoga, or any spiritual journey, as "letting go" of everything to do with oneself, it can instead be a journey of becoming truly complete. Anything not needed for this will naturally fall by the wayside

Swami Sivananda wrote that an improved memory is a prerequisite to dharana, which is concentration. Here we are talking about concentration in meditation. And in this context we could say that this is what smriti is actually about. In the practice of meditation, most usually there is a focus aspect. This can be many things:

• it can be as simple as mentally repeating a sound, known in yoga as a mantra. This is what Transcendental Meditation is based on. As indeed, are many other yoga systems. It is not uncommon for a meditation mantra to be given according to one's Astrology sign.
• focus on not being involved with the inner fluctuations, the chitta vrittis
• the breath
• a psychic pathway
• the inner spiritual spaces, known as akasha
• a symbol. This can be a personal symbol, usually it is the symbol of our psyche in this incarnation and is based on the Yoga astrological symbols for meditation. You might be doing something like a chakra symbol. And, also common, is the use of personal deity. Our God or Goddess for this lifetime, and this too, is based on astrology 

So, how does memory work with all of this?  Ah, the fascinating part. Whilst we are doing the first part of our meditation, the sound, breath, pathway, etc, the idea is to 

• be relaxed. When we go deep inside of our selves, and we are tense, it's then chaos inside, and this is not pleasant. In my view and experience, this is quite destructive. We are creating memories that when ever we meditate, difficult feelings and thoughts will manifest, for, 

whatever we do, over and over, that creates the same result, at the same time, creates strong memory tracts via the nervous system

• whilst we are doing our "technique", we allow whatever comes up within, to come and go. We are allowing the chitta vrittis, the manifestations of "mind", both superficial and deep, to express themselves, then pass by. This, in itself, is very powerful, and is one of the basic tenets of Raja Yoga, the path of Meditation. For, by not "adding to" whatever arises, we are clearing ourselves of whatever is blocking our True Nature from being revealed. 
• the next step is to moving into relaxed focus of our symbol, or deity, and of course, this might be our actual technique. Still allowing things to come and go.
• the next step, at the end of our techniques, is to be present. Just Be. At this stage, we may have entered a space, or place, of absolute equanimity. Energised, yet peaceful. Often this stage is not adhered to, however, it is important to cultivate the memory of it, for then it will slowly, bit by bit, become established in the rest of our life. It might only be for ten seconds to start with, but in time may well actually become our meditation technique.

Because you've developed the memory of this stage, it becomes easier and easier to slip into. We reach the stage where we close our eyes, and immediately, we are "there".

Such is the power and grace of smriti.
And, in this way, we are on the journey to becoming established in our own true nature, which is what yoga, and any spiritual system, is about.