The easiest way to remember types of memory is by understanding the concept of Suno, Samjho, Jano and Karo (hearing, listening, knowledge and wisdom). Hearing is the shortest lasting memory. We hear and we forget is the rule. Once we listen and understand, the memory is longer lasting but the same memory become everlasting if we not only hear, understand and know but also incorporate the knowledge in our practice.

These principles have been used by marketing people in brand recall. I know many pharmaceuticals play a game and ask 100 doctors to enter into a competition in which they have to write the company’s brand a number of times in one minute and the one who writes the maximum number of times is given a prize. By repeatedly writing the brand name, you create a permanent impact of their brand in the soul and it is unlikely that you will forget the brand and its recall value will increase every time you think about the molecule.

The same principle has been used by devotees of Rama and Shiva where they ask people to write the name of Rama repeatedly everyday and the devotees of Shiva makes people writing the Om Namaha Shivai in a peace of a paper for years together. By doing so you inculcate the teachings of Lord Rama and Shiva.

Many spiritual Gurus give a Mantra, which is also based on the same principle. A mantra is nothing but a positive affirmation which you have to follow every minute of your life throughout your life. Once you start doing it a time will come when it will become a part of your sole consciousness and you will start living and behaving in a way as of your positive affirmation. For example, Brahma Kumaris say that always say a positive affirmation to yourself that I am a peaceful soul. After some time you will start behaving like a peaceful soul and you will lose agitation, anger and negative affirmations of life.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this write up are my own).