The Principles of Memory and Amnesia

Question: Twelve years ago, I suffered severe brain hypoxia resulting in functional impairment and memory loss (as confirmed by medical examinations), specifically regarding memories of people and events. Doctors said it might be permanently irretrievable, and I could only take some medication to slightly enhance memory function to avoid affecting daily life. For the entire twelve years since then, my memory has been very poor. I couldn't remember people's faces and often forgot things that had just happened.

During the pandemic this year, I was alone in Wuhan. Those dozens of days were exceptionally quiet. Suddenly, one day, past people and events flashed through my mind, scene after scene vividly clear. I immediately called my mother, and she asked me many questions, confirming that the memories had indeed returned. However, my memories of these past twelve years remain very hazy. I deeply long to understand an answer: what exactly happened with my memory loss and recovery? Also, regarding my personality—I've observed that since recovering my memories, I resemble my childhood self more. My mind has fewer distracting thoughts, my concentration is better, and I am more self-disciplined. Even with very little sleep, I feel energetic all day, completely unlike myself during those twelve years. My brain has become very active. Master, I earnestly desire to know an answer; I truly wish to understand what happened.

Answer: If the brain suffers from hypoxia, qi and blood cannot circulate normally, preventing the synthesis of essential nutrients within the blood. This results in insufficient blood supply to the brain. When blood supply is inadequate, the ultimate faculty (胜义根) of brain function lacks the corresponding four great elements (四大种子), causing damage to brain function. When brain function is impaired, it cannot properly receive the six dusts (六尘), including the dust of dharmas (法尘) and reflected images (独影境). When the sense faculties (根) and objects (尘) cannot interact normally, consciousness fails to arise to recall the past. This is the principle behind amnesia.

During this pandemic period, with more leisure time, the mental faculty (意根) grasps at fewer objects. With less activity and fewer distractions, both consciousness and the mental faculty attain a state of meditative concentration (禅定). As the mind settles into stillness, the mental faculty becomes less attached to the body. Qi and blood circulation becomes smooth, and the supply of the four great elements balances out. The brain receives replenished nutrients, its function recovers, and it resumes normal reception of the dust of dharmas and reflected images. Then, consciousness arises to discern the reflected images, restoring the functional attribute of recollection.

However, during the twelve years of illness, the ultimate faculty of the brain was damaged. The discerning function of consciousness was weak and indistinct, failing to store clearly discerned seeds within the Tathagatagarbha (如来藏). After recovery, the reflected images and dust of dharmas capable of manifesting from the Tathagatagarbha are no longer present. Therefore, consciousness struggles to recall the events of these twelve years clearly; the memories remain hazy.

During these twelve years, consciousness was weak and lacked the strength to influence and control the mental faculty. The mental faculty manifested its inherent disposition and temperament. Twelve years ago, consciousness was strong and effectively influenced and controlled the mental faculty; the personality, temperament, and disposition of consciousness were dominant. Now that consciousness has recovered its memories and its function is strong again, it will resume the personality, temperament, and disposition it possessed twelve years ago.