By Swami Chidananda
It is not correct to say that memory is a hurdle in spirituality. Remembering the teachings of the scriptures/teachers has immense value in our inner growth. Retention of the understanding that we gain during ‘shravana’ of (listening to) Vedānta sessions helps us speedily gain higher insights.
Brooding over the past of course is bad. Remembering the incidents where we were insulted and reliving those scenarios can indeed weaken us. Remembering the times when we enjoyed life and longing to have those times return to us also is a kind of emotional slavery. “Remembering”, taken in the right sense, is about retaining our grasp of moral values and spiritual principles. That kind of memory is an asset beyond doubt.
Adore retention!
smaram-upāssva
Chāndogya Upanishad, mantra 7.13.1