A way to remember ...

[Guest guest]

A few years ago, I had read about a technique in memorizing lists of

unrelated objects. Why would any one want to remember 10 random

objects in a certain sequence ? I dont know, but it made for

interesting reading and I recently found an application for it in my

learning the Chandi.

 

 

The tip itself is simple. Imagine a road route that you are familiar

with , or even imagine the rooms of your house and you are walking

into the rooms in a certain order in the house.

 

The route or the house is very familiar to you , so you dont have to

memorize that. All you have to do is to place the objects that you

are trying to remember at each of the milestones in the journey or in

each room of the house. Then as you drive that route or walk the

rooms in that order , you simply pick up the objects along the way.

 

Hey presto - you remember the 10 random objects in a specific order.

Whats more if you reverse your journey your will remember the objects

in the backward sequence.

 

The idea is to place the objects and concoct a wild story with each

of the objects , the more fanciful the better . And personalize it .

 

So the objects will make it vivid for you and before you know it you

will remember.

 

I tried this out with one thing in the Chandi that is fairly easy but

I have a tough time remembering, because the sequence is so important

here.

 

It is the Tantroktam Devi Suktam - the "ya devi " series , where all

you have to do is to plug in a mantra -- Buddhi , Nidra , Kshuddha

and so on.

 

I visualized a trip from San Jose to Lake Tahoe and put my mantras at

strategic points/ Exits with some crazy story to go with it. Now when

I want to remember the mantras, I just remember where I am on the

road and the story and I remember the mantra.

 

For those not familiar with California or my life, I am sorry if you

cannot relate to the following example . You could try it out in your

own interstates with your own associations and see how it works for

you.

 

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Exit on 680 - McKee Road - (mantra to remember ) Buddhi - (meaning )

Intellect -- (someway to remember the Mantra) I remember the "brian"y

waving to me from his brand new car at this exit.

 

Berryessa Rd - (mantra to remember ) Nidra -- Sleep - I visualize the

lake berryessa (elsewhere but what the heck) in one of the boats

snoozing in the sun with a fishing rod in my hands .

 

Milpitas - (mantra to remember ) Kshuddha - Hunger - I know of an

awesome bakery here and I am full of Kshuddha for a tea cake.

 

Fremont -- (mantra to remember ) chaaya - form of appearance -

shadow -- I see the setting sun casting long "chaaya"s on the road.

 

Pleasanton - (mantra to remember ) shakti - energy - I have tons of

pleasant shakti when I pass through the rolling hills of Pleasanton.

 

580 - (mantra to remember )Trshna -- Desire -- I remember the sniper

in the news and think what insane Trshna prompted him to go on such a

spree ?

 

San Ramon - (mantra to remember ) Kshanti - Patient Forgiveness -- I

think of Ammachi whose Ashram is in San Ramon and I think of her

hugging everyone with Kshanti .

 

Walnut Creek - (mantra to remember )-- Jaati - All living beings -- A devotees

house in Willow Pass Road where we had chanted the SundarKand and remember

thinking how with Maa's grace people from different cultures came together to

sing Gods praise.

 

Martinez - Humility -- (mantra to remember )Lajja -- There is this certain

devotee who shall remain unnamed. She is so knowledgeable but yet so full of

Lajja. She used to have a house in Martinez.

 

Concord - -- (mantra to remember ) Shaanthi --Peace --- Concord

itself means a state of agreement , a Shaanthi.

 

Fairfield - (mantra to remember )Shraddha- Faith -- Folks Full of

Faith at FairField - nice ring to it. Notice how Fairfield in IOWA , a

relatively small town has been visited by many of the Divine Mothers ? Cos

Fairfield's folks are full of faith.

 

Vacaville --- (mantra to remember )Kanti - Beauty enhanced by love -

Hmmm , cant think of any association to this place . Why "Kant i" ?

 

Dixon -- (mantra to remember ) Lakshmi -- True Wealth -- I see a

Treasure chest filled with $$$$ at this exit. Unless I can think of Dixie Chicks

making a lot of money.

 

Davis -- (mantra to remember ) Vritti - Activity -- I see one of my

friends from the Mandir here and I see her in a flurry of Activity

 

Sacramento -- (mantra to remember ) Smrti -- Recollection -- Brings

me back to the days when we used to visit a relative living here

 

Folsom - (mantra to remember ) Daya -- Compassion - remember the

prison of Folsom and tell myself to have compassion for the inmates

 

Citrus Heights -- (mantra to remember ) Tushti - Satisfaction -- I

gorge on oranges and reach the height of satisfaction.

 

Carson City -- (mantra to remember ) Matri - Mother -- I see my

mother in a Casino ! Mom what are YOU doin here !!!!

 

Lake Tahoe -- (mantra to remember ) Bhranti - confusion --- A place

of external beauty and peace but inwardly I am still confused.