Book 1, Sutra 11: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Memory
Patañjali outlines five types of vṛttis (mental modifications), which are:
Pramāṇa – correct knowledge/perception which includes sense perception, logic and verbal testimony
Viparyaya – incorrect knowledge
Vikalpa – imagination
Nidrā – sleep (passivity)
Smṛti – memory
The 5th vritti is memory and even though it is subtle, it still needs to be restrained. We need to restrain memory as with the other vrittis as we are told in sutra 2, chitta vritti nirodha (yoga is restraining the modifications of the mind), because memories leave a residue or impression which can resurface if we have not achieved this restraint. A painful memory can pull us into emotional suffering and a pleasurable memory can lead us to craving.
These impressions can distract us from our present state causing attachment or aversion. It might be aversion to a memory where we felt humiliated or attachment to an experience on a holiday.
Memory can include remembering physical items as well as mental emotional images we carry within. We can have memories of objects that we use or see. Additionally, on the lower mental-emotional (kama-manasic) level we can recall past desires and the satisfying of those desires. We all visualise the things we desire whether they are low level desires or aspirational – these are all remembered by us and linked to images we think up in our minds. We might aspire to ‘heaven’ or we might desire another meal at restaurant – high level or low level it is the same.
We also use memory when we learn facts through our schooling which isn’t necessarily related to our desire but related to the intellect and its interests. We also have memory related to all of the senses for example smelling a perfume as a child can be redolent of a wonderful or a traumatic experience in childhood.
Lastly, memory also includes the experiences of the soul over countless incarnations.
The main goal for us is to drop all of our memories and see them as simply fluctuations of the mind or vrittis as with the other vrittis so that we can liberate ourselves from the suffering of our lower nature or personalities.
References
Patañjali, & Bailey, A. (2013). The light of the soul : its science and effect : a paraphrase of the Yoga sutras of Patañjali. London.
Bryant, E. F. (2015). The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali. North Point Press.
Iyengar, S. (2012). Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. HarperCollins UK.
Paramhansa Yogananda. (2013). Demystifying Patanjali: The Yoga Sutras. Crystal Clarity Publishers.
Satyananda Saraswati, Swami. (2013). Four chapters on freedom : commentary on yoga sutras of Sage Patanjali. Yoga Publications Trust.
Sounds True. Second Initial. Michael Singer 2024-2025 The Michael Singer Podcast [Audio podcast]. Website. https://resources.soundstrue.com/michael-singer-podcast/