deterioration of memory and intellect

[Guest guest]

New Delhi, INDIA

 

Please accept my humblwe obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

> Generally we are made believe that our memory and intellect deteriorates

> by less nutritious foodstuffs due to Kali-influence and also by discharge

> of semen.

>

> How to reconcile this by the statement of Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad

> Gita, wherein He says that knowledge, remembrance and forgetfulness come

> from Him?

 

In the same way, Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita 13.15:

 

sarvendriya-gunabhasam

sarvendriya-vivarjitam

 

"The Supersoul is the original source of all senses, yet He is without

senses."

 

The subtle senses Krsna is the sourse of are actinng through the medium of

the gross sense organs, like eyes, which He is also the source of. If due to

karma a person deserves to be blind, then his gross sense organ, the eyes,

will become disfunctional, and he won't be able to see. Or, if he is not

blind but just strongly shortsighted, he might not have have enough money to

buy a pair of suitable glasses and therefore will be functionally blind. At

the same time, he still retains his potential ability to see with his subtle

senses. There are numerous reported cases when blind or blindfolded people

could see with their hands, forehead and even with the tip of the nose. It

is also their karma, of course, because if any of us takes his eyes out, we

may not retain our vision completely, to say the least.

 

Similarly, when the brain gets damaged and prana circulation gets depleted

and disturbed by someone's unhealthy eating and sexual habits, this impedes

the person's ability to use the information stored in his mind. The data is

still there and could be brough out by an expert. Still, normally we cannot

use it, which means that we forget it. Besides, as you rightly quoted Lord

Krsna saying Himself to be the source of forgetfulness, since unhealthy

eating and sex are mostly sinful, the karma of the person becomes worse and

Paramatma acts to such a person as the sourse of forgetfulness.

 

Moreover, we cannot rightly say that Krsna covers the memory of a sinful

person altogether - He highlights the part of it which is necessary for the

fulfillment of his material desires, gives him the knowledge he needs to

succeed in his sinful life, and covers up the rest, including his relations

with the Lord.

 

Yet, for a sincere devotee Krsna causes him to forget the former material

life and sins lest such memories should disturb his spiritual progress, and

highlights his spiritual remembrances and gives him the knowledge how to

come to Him.

 

Conclusion - Krsna is still the source of knowledge, remembrance and

forgetfulness, but it is up to us (i.e. up to our activities and habits),

which of these three functions He applies to us first and how exactly.

 

Looking forward to receiving further enlightment on the question.

 

Your servant,

Madana-mohana das