We cultivate memory as a means of continuance (Krishnamurti).

Krishnamurti goes on to say that without memories our property, ideas, friends, family would not matter as such.

By strengthening your memory muscle, you cultivate your ‘me’ and ‘mine’.

The gap between the two thoughts represents freedom from thought, freedom from ‘me’ and ‘mine’. Timeless space without any memories is important to cultivate, unless we want to become entangled in the events of life and afford ourselves no freedom.

Krishnamurti’s perspective on memory resonates. So, having assimilated his throughs, where do I stand? Where do I go from here?

What is the level, the intensity of attachments I have towards my stuff, my possessions, my home? My partner? My ideals, idea of achieving a life scenario I so intensely imagine?

By all means, one needs a certain level of thought intensity to live, and to achieve important goals in life that enable us to live our lives in comfort we desire & require. With least resistance and mind interference as possible. While doing least harm.

Once I have fulfilled my goal – either way I perceive it, as a failure or success – how willing and ready am I to let go, to drop it? How nimble am you, how quickly can I move on?

Dropping it and moving on, puts me back into the flow – I become that moment again. The potency of my level of success lies in between the two thoughts. How do I cultivate that to achieve my state of no thought – the state between the two thoughts? The silence between two notes when playing a piano.

Have you noticed how some older folks start losing their memories? I believe it gets harder and harder to let go. If we don’t practice the state of no thoughts fear easily creeps in and takes over. You can even notice the change in people’s eyes, their stamina, their body language. Fear of losing themselves in this world. Insecurity and fear of becoming useless, worthless, the forgotten ones.

If you cultivate the state of no thought from early on in your life, you will get comfortable by feeling that emptiness and you will not have to suffer the unnecessary fear – now or later on. More than ever, you will be able to cultivate and enjoy ever longer empty gaps.

There are certain sticky memories we all like to hold on to in life. The ones that caused our suffering and pain. The ones that offered immense pleasure and joy. I call them both sticky, because we like to hang on to those memories, those thoughts.

We think they make us the way we are, who we are – that is true. They indeed make us the way we are and we become very comfortable staying exactly the way we think we are and for that very reason it’s easy to get stuck. The unknown is often scary – unpredictable, something our minds are not prepared for and because of that – mind doesn’t want it. It would lose its grip, hence the resistance.

In order to become freer, one has no choice but to first deal with any unresolved issues from the past. The things that lock your freedom and your potential is the memory of your past you hang on to and actively keep on bringing to the present, clogging up your current flow. Consciously and subconsciously. Do whatever you need to, to let go. Find the right help, or therapy, make sure you forgive, resolve, pay your dues, have that conversation or encounter you’ve been avoiding for many years, let go of the grudge, resentments, anger, attachments. Let go, for your own good.

If you can, in your life, try to choose the unknown as often as possible. Start with little things, something you find comfortable. For example, some new food or flavor, a new kind of pen, different ink, the uncharted path in the forest, talk to the kind stranger in the shop. Challenge your comfort zone. Anything that counter balances the strength of your existing reality and dominance of your current thought patterns that add to your status quo.

All those small, conscious steps you make along the way contribute towards your greater freedom as you start widening and deepening the gap between the two thoughts. Slowly, slowly, you begin understanding what it means to become a creator of your own life, choosing your own fate, instead of living the assumed one.

Widen your gap, choose well, and may your life, and the life of those around you be blessed.

Om

(Above is the image of the painting by my dear friend and an inspiring artist Edward C. Campbell – The Umbrella Man, link to his playground: The Old Mill)