Memory is important but how to handle it is the point.
Portraying a graphic picture of the ways of mind, Sri Krishna says in the Gita: In one who dwells longingly on sense objects, an inclination
towards them is generated. This inclination develops into desire, and desire begets
anger.
Anger generates delusion, and delusion results in loss of
memory. Loss of memory brings about the destruction of discriminative
intelligence and loss of discriminative intelligence spells ruin to a man.
‘Delusion results in loss of memory’ not only when we are
angry and upset and do things harmful and unethical but it also comes when we
are careless. Carelessness (called Pramada in Sanskrit) does not mean not doing
something but while knowing what is to be done – due to a lazy attitude and
lack of seriousness – forgetting to do it. That is why we have to be reminded,
again and again. (Gita, 2.62-63)
If ‘loss of memory’ is equivalent to carelessness (Pramada),
then it implies that one should cultivate constant, unbroken memory of the
ideal of our divinity. If we fail to do it, we ‘fall’ down. And it all happens imperceptibly.
Acharya Shankara points the dangers of Pramada in Vivekachudamani (325), if the
mind ever so slightly strays from the ideal and becomes outgoing, then it goes
down and down, just as a play-ball inadvertently dropped on the staircase comes
down from one step to another.
Comments an eminent monk of the Ramakrishna Order on this
verse:
A boy plays with a ball standing on the top stair. Inadvertently
the ball slips from the hands and falls on the first stair. The ball does not
stop there. . . It keeps gaining momentum in the course of its fall and does
not stop until it reaches the bottom . . . [Similarly] The falling mind keeps
gathering momentum until it comes down crashing to a very low level of human
life. This is the moral fall of man. . . Hence there is need to exercise great
caution. Be alert! Be alert! (The Message of Vivekachudamani, Swami
Ranganathananda, Advaita Ashrama, p.531)
In other words, ‘remember’ always, ‘do not forget’ ever. To
develop remembrance, in a spiritual perspective, remember our divine nature.
This is generally done in two ways: either being aware of our divine core,
‘separating’ it from the material entity — drig-drishya viveka or the discernment
of the seer from the seen. This, of course, presupposes purification of mind.
And having mentally separated oneself from the changing and therefore painful
phenomenon called this material world, one then dwells in one’s Divine Self.
The other method, much easier and widely used, is Nama-smaranam,
remembering the Divine Name — or the sacred name of the Personal God one believes
in. This means doing Japa or repeating God’s Name. This repetition is not a
mechanical act, done with speed and hurry. It is a loving remembrance of the
Lord, the Beloved One.