Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 11
अनुभूतविषयासंप्रमोषः स्मृतिः ॥११॥
anubhūta-viṣaya-asaṃpramoṣaḥ smṛtiḥ ||11||
Memory is the retention of the experience of an object.
anubhūta - experience, experienced; perceived, understood, apprehended; resulted, followed as a consequenceviṣaya - an object; any object of affection or concern or attentionasaṃpramoṣa - retention; ‘the not allowing to be carried off’; not letting drop (as from memory)smṛti - remembrance; memory; mindfulness; the whole body of sacred tradition or what is remembered by human teachers and constantly revisedCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:
“Anubhūta is the change that
occurs in one’s state of mind
when it is related to external objects
through the involvement of the senses.
This is also known as experience.”
“When this relationship becomes strong through repeated encounters,
a unique power develops in the mind which is linked to Jīva.
This power is Saṃskāra and from it arises memory or that aspect of understanding
where objects can be comprehended without being physically present.
Based on previous experiences of objects, Saṃskāra gives rise to understanding
and in order for this to happen, Jīva must be linked to the mind.
This ability to remember, known as Asaṃpramoṣa, stays with us for a very long time.”
Commentary by TKV Desikachar:
“When we look at things,
memory always intrudes.”
“In Samādhi there is an understanding.
Something not based on your memories,
something that transcends your memories.
Prajña comes only in Samādhi.”
Commentary by Paul Harvey:
“Memory is the retention of the outcome
of our experience of an object.”
“In Sūtra 1.11 Patañjali defines Smṛti as
the retention of the experience of an object.
How do we know whether Smṛti is Pramāṇa,
given the presence of Viparyaya and Vikalpa
within our parti pris shaping of an experience?”
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