They know enough
who know how to learn.
                                           .. .Henry Brooks Adams

Many of us believe that we have a limited memory that accounts for our forgetfulness and our inability to recall facts. This conception is common to almost everyone. Older people, in particular, are believed to be more vulnerable to loss of memory. There are facts, however, which point to the contrary. These facts show that there are no apparent limits to the capabilities of memory, and that for all practical purposes, the human memory seems to be infinite, and without bounds. Let us look at some of these facts.

In our dreams, we sometimes see people whom we have not met for a very long time. In some cases, we may not even remember that we know such people. But more often, we see friends and relatives we have not seen for years and years together, but their images in our dreams are as clear as ever.

They take on the colour and expressions of the people we know well. This fact proves that we do have them stored in our memory somewhere even if we are not aware of the existence of such a memory.

Scientists in some instances have experimented by connecting electrode wires to a patient’s brain. The patients then re-experience certain events from their past like it was happening to them right at that moment. This goes beyond memory recall, it is more like reliving a past incident. In one particular experiment, the patient relived an experience as old as 40 years. This proves that information about the past incidents is definitely stored in the memory.

Under the effect of hypnosis, a person can recall things of which he apparently has no memory. For instance, the victim of an assault may have blocked the faces of his attackers or their descriptions from his mind. But when he is hypnotized, he can accurately recall such facts and this has often helped authorities in arresting criminals. Even memories which people have apparently blocked out from their mind can be revived through the use of hypnosis. Mind has two part that is conscious and sub-conscious. The conscious mind is used when we knowingly think or do something. But the sub-conscious mind is much more powerful though it is not under our direct control. It functions on the basis of information stored in it right from a person’s birth, including those we are not consciously aware of. This is where there is maximum recall from our memory storage.

There is also such a thing, which scientists call a photographic memory, believed to be possessed by children. Through this, a person can exactly and totally remember everything that he sees. But this is a short-term memory and children lose it as they grow and are forced to concentrate on a more logical system of studies.

The above facts prove that human beings do indeed have a capability for memory storage beyond our own imaginations. An Indian called Rajan Mahadevan set a new world record in 1981 by memorizing 32,811 digits for the value of Pi and beat his own record in 1982 by memorizing 35,000 digits for the same value. He says he is able to remember numbers by associating them with real-life situations. This is one technique you can use to improve your memory ‘the power of association’. Quick and regular revisions, both at home and at school, can improve your memory too. Never be discouraged even when you do not see immediate results in your task of memory-improvement. Like all other body organs, the mind also needs time to get used to its new function. When you persevere, you will be surprised at the progress you have made after a while.

Older studies regarding the structure of the brain believed that the physical size of the brain was based on heredity alone. Today, new experiments have proved that external stimulation of the brain or an enriched working and living environment can significantly increase the size of the brain, including the size of neurons, and the number of certain cells. The guidelines of Vastu, when properly applied, can yield just such an environment. The tips in this chapter are meant to help the student in improving his memory so that he will perform better in his studies.

TIPS FOR MEMORY IMPROVEMENT

1 Adopt a System

Do not develop a habit of studying at any other place except for your study table. Many students develop the habit of studying on the bed and they read their lessons lying down. This is the worst posture that you could take for studying because the joints of the body get undue pressure, as there is no correct support for the body. Staying in this position for a long time harms the muscles and you will feel a lot of pain in your joints after a while. Reading while lying down also spoils the eyes very badly. There is a lot of strain on the eyes as they have to work harder to maintain focus if you are lying down. When the reading is unfocussed, comprehension and eventual memorizing also becomes difficult. The same topic will take a longer time to be understood and learnt.

A lot of students, especially in hostels, tend to read under torch light inside their blankets and bedclothes. This harms the eyes beyond repair and arouses tension in the mind as well. Instead of having to go to all this length to study, use your given study time well at the study table. If you do so, you will not have to go to extreme measures to learn your lessons and you will also improve the health of your muscles as well as your eyes.

2 Read And Read Again

Reading the subject matter of your study carefully is the key to understanding and comprehending it. If you do not understand the topic at first reading, read it again and try to grasp the meaning of what you have read. Be careful to focus your thoughts on what you are reading. Before retiring for the night, you should read the particular topic in which you have a problem of comprehension. This will help you to stay focussed even when you are about to sleep. Several minutes before you fall asleep, you enter a dreamlike yet wakeful state, which is a good time for memorizing. Then you can read the topic again as soon as you get up in the morning. You will find that you have gained a better level of understanding during the night. This is because the matter has been instilled in your mind and it has adopted its own ways of solving your problem.

3 Study At Your Own Pace

Serious study can be compared to eating something. You must chew thoroughly after every bite. If you content yourself with just an initial reading of your lesson, chances are that the matter will not be etched clearly in your mind. After reading the material that you have placed before you, take your time to learn what you have read. Make sure that the facts in your book are also in your head. A hurried reading will not give you anything because it will only be like food, which is not properly digested. This material will get into your head only to get out again the moment you set your mind on something else. The time that an individual to learn something differs from person to person. Know yourself well enough and study at your own pace. There is no competition for the speed of your learning for exams. For your own advantage, learn to read faster because this will also fasten the pace at which you understand things.

4 Vocabulary Addiction

Get yourself addicted to learning new words and using them in your vocabulary. Linguists have identified two levels of knowing and understanding words. The first is passive vocabulary. This is the situation when you know and understand the words when you see them but do not use them in your own speech and writing. Another level is the active vocabulary when you know the words, understand them and also use them in your speech and writings. An active vocabulary is more lasting than a passive one and enriches our personal vocabulary in far more ways. Get a good dictionary for yourself. Many teachers recommend the Webster’s and Oxford editions. Keep one on your study table and check any new word, which you come across while studying. A good dictionary should have examples of the usage of the word, pronunciation, and details about their origins. Learn prefixes and suffixes of the words also in order to gain confidence in using them. Cultivate a habit of reading. This habit will go a long way in enriching your word power. Also learn the spellings of words as you learn their meanings.

5 Thorough Study

Study a subject thoroughly. It is a full time job. There is no substitute for studying more if you want to excel in your lessons. Do not waste your time in learning the tricks of the trade (or short - cut methods) but learn the trade itself. There are many institutions and courses today, which offer miracle jobs in teaching you the tricks of selective study to pass and obtain good marks in your exams. Such offers may help you in getting marks in the exam but you will only end up knowing nothing of what you study because such courses are exam-oriented and do not offer you a comprehensive knowledge of your subject. If you are thorough with what you study, you will have no need to learn the tricks because the real tricks are found only within a sound knowledge of the trade itself.

6 Take A Break After Meals

Do not study immediately after a heavy meal. It is advisable to take at least half an hour’s break. You must have noticed yourself that you feel more drowsy and dull after a heavy meal. There is a scientific reason behind this. When we eat food, it goes down to our stomach for digestion. It stays there for about 3 to 4 hours, while the stomach adds digestive juices and the food gets digested. This requires additional supply of energy to the stomach area. Since the blood supply in the body is constant, the blood supply to the stomach area increases while digesting food, leading to a decreased supply to the brain. This is why we feel lazy after eating food. This also means that intelligence; IQ or brainpower decreases for some time after eating. Studying immediately after your meals would thus be a waste of precious time because the senses are effectively dulled within this period.

7 Use Vastu Principles For Better Learning

Good Vastu can make learning a pleasure. It can be a feast for the mind and spirit and a source of lasting joy. Use Vastu principles to create a positive frame of mind while you are studying. If you follow the guidelines offered by this science, you will be in a harmonious rhythm with the universe benefiting from the many positive influences it can offer you. Visualize your goals while you follow the guidelines and keep reminding yourself of your goals. Have faith in the power of good Vastu and never be disheartened by results, which might not be up to your expectations. A positive frame of mind is what good Vastu promotes at all times. Success of remembering depends upon interest, attention, persistence, intelligence as well as positive Vastu. Know that the human brain has been proven to grow in enriched environments. The surrounding environment should conform to rules of Vastu so that your mind will be constantly fed to perform better. Have confidence in the power of your memory. Attention, repetition, a harmonious environment and association are the key Vastu tools that you can use for better learning.

8 Ancient rules for Concentration

The amount of time you spend studying is not as important as the intensity of your concentration while you are studying. Total concentration while learning keeps the mind focussed and activates it, to be more receptive to new ideas and information. Vastu principle like sitting down facing the northeast, placing items of furniture according to Vastu rules and being in harmony with nature will help you to concentrate better. The practice of yoga will help attain better concentration. The human brain has, what psychologists call, the ‘goal-seeking mechanism’, the power to get exactly what it wants. It has a quality of a magnet to see and find what it wants. For this power to be utilized to its maximum capacity, the concentration skills have to be sharpened. Learn to use the guidelines offered by Vastu to train your mind and get it to work for your advantage.

9 Visualize what you Read

Learn to practice visualization and encourage your imagination to become as vivid as possible. When you visualize what you read, you gather mental pictures and images that get recorded in the mind’s eye. Then, whenever you are reminded of these pictures, the mind will automatically relate to what you have learnt or remembered about it. When you practice visualization of what you study, you get both the right and left sides of the brain to work together. The left-brain, which is the logical part, tending to think in a methodical fashion, will be aided by the right brain, which is the creative part, thinking in images and colours. Our education system has laid emphasis on the left-brain activities in most cases and our ability to use the right brain is thus reduced. But when you start visualizing, the creative area of the brain is awakened and the two coordinate to produce better results. This technique is used in this very book where illustrations are given for every tip. Visualizing the illustration will help you to remember the useful tips and this becomes a good memory technique.

10 Read Faster A Quick Scan Prepares the Mind Better 

Learning to read faster will save you a lot of time, which means you will have more time to devote to your studies. A quick scan of what you are about to learn will also give you a general idea on what you will be studying thereafter. Reading faster also improves the concentration of the mind because the mind gets enough work to occupy it and does not have the time to be distracted elsewhere. Scientific studies have also proved that faster reading improves understanding. To improve your reading speed, try moving your index finger along the line and train your eye to move along with the finger. Practice this technique and try to perfect it and make it a habit. After a time, you will find that your reading speed has improved considerably. When you read faster, you will make a better and more profitable use of your study time and improve your powers of concentration and understanding as well.

25,000 words per minute
Can you read a whole book in just a few minutes? It may seem unimaginable, but the magic of speed-reading makes it possible!

A matter of technique
Normally, a person can read only about 240 words per minute but there are schools that conduct courses in ’speed reading’ or ‘photo reading’, which increase the reading capacity to about 25,000 words per minute. The students are taught how to use their entire brain for the process of reading. A person who masters this technique properly can photograph the entire printed page in his mind.

Stop speaking
Speed-reading is a technique, which everyone cannot master. However, you can increase your reading speed 10 to 40 times without opting for course in the same. While reading, don’t say each word in your mind as you proceed. This makes the brainwork harder, preventing it from straying to other thoughts. The best way is to move your index finger along the lines and follow the finger with your eyes. The reading should be absolutely silent. Even the lips should not move.

11 Exercise Your Mind

The human mind needs to be constantly exercised to keep it active and meet the new challenges. For the mind to easily grasp information while you are studying, you should always keep alert and active. Solving crossword puzzles in your spare time is a good exercise. This trains the mind to pick up clues and find solutions for the problems that may be posed. The rationalizing power of the mind is thus greatly increased. You can also train your mind to learn and practice certain memory techniques. One such technique is the use of association. To make it easier for you to remember some specific thing, which you find difficult, you can associate it with something easier to remember. In this way, when you remember the easier thing, your mind will automatically associate it with the actual thing that you want to learn. For instance, you can remember the names of the seven colours of the rainbow by the single word ‘VIBGYOR’, where each letter stands for each colour: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red, respectively. You can put your mind to a difficult task and keep at it until you have solved it. Solving mathematical problems is always a good exercise for the mind.

12 Forgetting is Forgivable

You are not a machine that can be expected to retain all the information that is fed into it. Do not worry even if you forget something. Pay close attention to important things that you wish to retain and work towards the same by using different memory techniques. To expect a man to retain everything is to expect him to carry about in his body everything that he has ever eaten. Remember that you are only human if you forget something you have read. Take courage from the fact that some of the most successful men in the world have had problems with their studies. Albert Einstein, the great scientist, was considered a dunce by his teacher who always thought him to be an under average student, but look where he finally brought himself to. Problems like forgetting something you have learnt is only a minor one when you consider greater problems that face mankind everyday. Adversities make one stronger if one has the courage to rise above them. Remember what Rabindranath Tagore has said about this: ‘Adversity is big, but man is bigger than adversity’.

13 It is Better to Fake Concentration than forcing it

Vastu does not recommend forcing yourself to concentrate. Forcing concentration can be like getting a donkey to move; push or pull it and it resists. Forceful concentration is similar to a harsh punishment that will only make your brain more stubborn. Other alternative and interesting methods can be adopted to increase concentration. You could just fake concentration. Pretend that you are absorbed in what you are doing and from such a state of mind, an attitude of concentration will naturally evolve. When you find it difficult to concentrate, let your mind take its’ own course and relax. This does not mean that you should let your body and mind wander away from your purpose. Just sit at your study table and fake an attitude of deep concentration. Though it may take some time, the mind will eventually bring itself to really concentrate without you even realizing it.

14 Refresh Memory

It is important to periodically revise what we have learnt in order to refresh our memory. Revision is said to be the single most important way to memorize anything and this should be done frequently and systematically. The human memory is a powerful instrument with tremendous capabilities. You might have had a dream about people and things you haven’t come across for a long time with graphic colour and details, proving that memory has a huge storage capacity. There are also incidents when we have unexpected and sudden recalls. Revise your lesson in class immediately after the teacher leaves and you can repeat this exercise at home also. A daily routine should be devised for revising what you have learnt: revise immediately after learning your lessons and practice a daily revision. Revise your weekly lessons every weekend and then devote a longer period at the end of each month to re-revise what you have learnt within that month to refresh your memory. Learning to read faster, making short notes, taking short breaks and keeping your body fit will go a long way in sharpening your memory and keeping your memory fresh. 

15 Brain Power

The human brain has two parts connected by a corpus callosum. The convoluted outer surface of the brain is called cerebral cortex and is the basis of human intelligence. The left-brain is the logical part controlling speech, words and language. The right brain is the intuitive part and thinks in images and colors. These two parts of the brain work together and exchange information for its functioning. Though it has always been believed that the size of the brain is based on heredity, new researches have proved that external stimulation in the environments that are enriched for such a task can significantly increase the size of the neurons and number of certain cells. Recent studies have indicated that the human brain is capable of much more than had previously been imagined and that a normal adult does not utilize even 10% of the brain’s power. Do not worry about a case of over use of your brain, because the greater the task you put it to, the more exercise your brain will get, sharpening it and enabling it to do even more than was thought possible.

16 Meditation for the Mind

Being able to concentrate fully on the subject of study is of utmost importance to students. An absolutely focused mind is bound to sharpen your memory and to achieve this, encompasses determination, grit and a will to excel. Deliberate effort and care in this direction can go a long way to enhance memory. The more you care to improve your memory the sharper it will become, resulting in increased efficiency.

Take some time everyday to practice meditation and learn to silence your mind. Meditation gives a certain peace to the mind that enables the brain to have more memory power. The power of meditation and complete relaxation have been discovered and many corporate houses the world over are encouraging meditation among their employees.

The importance of meditation as a means to achieve concentration should never be undermined. Whenever you feel burdened and worried by the vast expanse of study syllabus do not hesitate to take the help of meditation. It will pacify your mind and give you courage to go ahead. Follow simple ritual:

• Wash your hands and feet and sit silently in a relaxed posture. Make sure that the ambience is peaceful and quiet.

• Shut your eyes. Do not make any deliberate efforts to control your thoughts. Let them pass through your mind. Just as a stream flows softly, so will the thoughts pass you by, leaving you tension free, relaxed and ready to face the challenges of your work.

• For maximum benefit meditation should be learnt from professionals only.

• A study of meditation with the help of a teacher will bring you to new horizons for the development of your inner faculties, so as to enable you to progress internally and reach those heights of understanding and undivided concentration within you that you strive to achieve. 

17 Clear your Doubts

There are a lot of things that you may not be clear about when you get down to study. For instance, if you learn a new mathematical formula in school, you might be able to solve the problems you are given in class. At home, new sums could pose a problem for you as you find yourself unable to apply the formula. Such cases can happen in any subject, in any field. So, make it a point of getting your doubts and problems clarified as soon as possible. The time you spend in school is almost double of the time you spend studying at home, so take advantage of the presence of your teachers. Do not hesitate to ask questions if you are unclear of what is being taught. Your teachers will gladly clear the doubts that you have after revising your lessons, as this is a sign of enthusiasm for studies, which teachers always appreciate. You can also ask your parents and others who are more knowledgeable if you find anything you do not understand. You can also consult books on the subject matter. Widening the scope of your reading will always enrich your knowledge. This will fasten the pace of your studies and cultivate a greater interest in you for the subject matter.

18 Take Notes

Develop a habit of taking notes both in the class and while you study on your own. Write down what you have learnt in your own words, using your own language. Doing this is often more helpful than learning your lessons by heart, especially as you advance in your studies. The notes that you write as you go along will help you in your revision as they will make your recollecting power stronger and better. Note down important points in short so that they are not cumbersome. You can read these notes anywhere and remind yourself of the complete lesson whenever you desire to do so. It will also be a practice for your exams since you will be reproducing what you learn the way you are required to do in your exams. It has been said that a short pencil is better than a long memory. This is true because the written word will outlast the memorized one in most cases.

19 Sleep after Studies

After an evening of study, Vastu advises that you should go to bed immediately instead of taking up any other task. The body needs a period of sound rest for it to function properly and this is true in the case of the mind as well. In order to maintain our ability to remember well, we need to take rest. Normally, the body and mind need rest after a period of about 40 minutes if the task is physically and mentally strenuous. Even if your evening study takes a longer period, take short breaks in between to remain fresh. After a through revision of all that you have learnt, you can go to bed confident of the knowledge that you have acquired. Another advantage of going to bed after your studies is that the dreamlike state in which you enter before you actually fall asleep is a good time to recall and retain all that you have learnt. After a good night’s sleep, you can revise your lesson again in the morning before the worries of the day begin to cloud your mind. 

20 Begin with the Easy

Begin your studies with something that you are already familiar with. This will help you gain confidence and give you the necessary motivation for further study. It will be a revision for you if you begin with something you already know and your knowledge skills will also be sharpened. Starting with a totally alien subject can kill your appetite for study because you will find it difficult and lose your enthusiasm to learn more about the subject. When you start with the easier tasks, you will also get a gradual introduction to the harder matter so that it becomes easier for you to understand it because you have already learned the basics about it. Another obvious advantage of using this technique is that you will have more time to devote to your studies. Revising the easy lessons will take less time and make it possible for you to manage the remaining study time in learning the more difficult lessons.

Shakuntala Devi is an ideal for students. She is known as a ‘Human computer’, ‘Maths wizard’, ‘Human calculator’, ‘and Living wonder’. The cube root of a 10-digit number is child’s play for this demure lady. She can come out with the answer even before one finishes writing the number. While the computer takes more than a minute to figure the 23rd root of a 201-digit number, Shakuntala took only 50 seconds. The Daily Mirror of London wrote, ‘The machines have no chance, for Shakuntala has never been beaten’. The genius entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 1980 by mentally multiplying two 13-digit numbers in 28 seconds. She asserts that the learning process should be a joyful experience and that a love for numbers should be created amongst school kids. She states, ‘We Indians are by nature very intelligent, but unfortunately in the daily grind of earning our living, our intelligence remains untapped. We blindly ape the West and are driven by deep-rooted complexes. The craze for the fair complexion should be weeded out.’

A Super Formula for Learning

SQ3R three letters and a number is the formula with which we can transport even the most tiresome reading matter into the relevant compartment of our mind. How does this method work? ‘S’ stands for Survey, ‘Q’ for Question, and ‘3R’ for Reading, Repeating and Reviewing. The SQ3R can be used in five steps:

Step 1 : Survey (S): Choose a text and see if it interests you.

Step 2 : Question (Q): Scan it quickly so that you can more or less recognize its contents. It is important to immediately write down any questions, which might present themselves.

Step 3 : Reading (R): Read through the text and memorize it to find out which sections provide the answers to your questions.

Step 4 : Repeating (R): What were the most important points of the text? Close the book and run over the contents in your mind.

Step 5 : Reviewing (R): Review the entire text. This does not mean that you should read it again. Instead, try to be clear about its contents. Use your notes to see if you have answered your entire question or if some sections of the text still appear unclear to you.

It is important that you act quickly and work through your text immediately using the SQ3R method. As long as the impression is fresh in your mind, you will remember most of a particular text.

Learning Properly Means Reading Properly

There are people who can effortlessly open their minds and produce what they learned in childhood. These individuals have followed the golden rule of memory: you will only be able to remember what you have really understood. If you don’t think about what you read, you won’t learn anything. It is only when you have mentally grasped the meaning of the words that they will remain stored in your memory.

One of the most important keys for understanding is concentration. Without this intensified form of attention, you will be unable to firmly anchor the words and their meanings in your memory. It has been proven that IQ alone is not decisive for human mental capacity. Instead, the critical factor is the way in which people absorb information.

The Six Big Questions

When you want to remember the contents of a book or magazine, ask yourself these six questions:
• Who?

Who are the people involved?
• What?

What happened? Look for the thread that runs through the action.
• When?

At what time did this happen? Does the story take place in the past, present or future? Does it last a day or does it drag on over months and years?
• Where?

In what place does the story happen? Give a detailed description of the scenes or locations.
• Why?

Find out about the motives of the people involved. Does the conclusion follow logically from the beginning?
• How?

In what way do the main characters act and what methods do they employ in order to get their way?

This technique of remembering is borrowed from the world of journalism!