After touching on what thoughts are and how we get them, Patanjali now is defining the important function of the Mind, ‘Memory’

We come (our senses) come into contact with sense objects.

We become aware of them

Neurology explains the process thus.

We have neurons in our Nerves.

The neurons have two essential parts,

Axon and Dendrites.

These when the come into contact, through the appropriate sense, transmit the sensation, in the form of an electrical/magnetic impulses to the Brain.

( there is a debate whether these are transmitted as an electrical impulse or they are Magnetic;Indian Philosophy and Buddhism say it is an Magnetic Impulse)

These messages  do not travel through a pipeline as it were.

There is a small gap between one neuron and another.

The gap is called the ‘Synaptic Gap’

The impulses jump in the form of waves(electrical/magnetic)i to another neuron till the impulses reach the Brain or the Spinal Cord.

Depending on our Nature, the emergency and nature of the message , the Brain or the Spinal cord takes decision and reacts.

If we are sleeping, a mosquito votes us, the message is acted upon by the Spinal Cord..

If we see some things, then action is taken by the Brain.

Before this action takes place, the brain, after receiving the impulses (Stimulus), searches its memory bank to identify whether there is already some information there already and banks the stimulus there.

Then the Action center of the Brain takes charge.

It decides the action to be taken, based on the threat to the organism(individual) and selects a course already banked in the Data base, Memory.

In case the stimuli appears for the first time, action is taken on the basis of the threat level to the organism and the unconscious imprints of the actions already taken by the Brain earlier.

Then the message flashes out to the  appropriate muscles through the Nervous System.

Then we react.

Patanjali goes to the roots here and talks about the ‘Unforgotten experience’ .

He does not say ‘ remembered’, but says ‘unforgotten’

We remember what we want to and forget what we want to.

Patanjali here  says ‘unforgotten’ because the ‘forgotten’ ,(what we think consciously as” forgotten’ this is a paradoxical concept), Memory includes those which we consciously think we have forgotten!

Many of us are aware a,that, at many an instance, memories of what we thought have forgotten rush to us suddenly.

Memory, according to Yoga, is the recollection of ‘unforgotten’ experiences, both conscious  and unconscious.

( In Indian Philosophy, there is no such thing as Unconscious‘ ,we just do not remember that’s all).

So as a corollary,as all our actions, reactions, are registered and come back to us,

Indian Philosophy says,

‘Think, speak, and do Good always’

and Tamil Says,’

ஒன்று உண்டென்று இரு , தெய்வம் உண்டென்றிரு ,உள்ளதெல்லாம் உனதன்று  என்று  இரு ‘

“Trust The Reality,God,Remember whatever is here is not yours’

‘

 

anubhūta – perceived, understood, apprehended; resulted,; that has experienced, tasted, tried or enjoyed
viṣaya – sphere (of influence or activity); dominion, kingdom, territory, region, district
country , abode
asaṁpramoṣaḥ – the not allowing to be carried off, not letting drop (as from memory)
smṛtiḥ –  memories, remembrances,

“Memories are unforgotten sensory experiences”

http://ramanisblog.in/2013/04/22/sleep-stages-not-absence-of-thoughts-yoga-sutra-1-10/

 

Related articles

• Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Introduction Sutra 1 (ramanan50.wordpress.com)