Functions and Mechanisms of Memory

Memory is the function of the mental consciousness, involving recollection and remembrance. All events occurring in the present moment, along with all actions of body, speech, and mind, involve the operation of mental consciousness. The content discerned and created by consciousness is delivered to the mental faculty at all times and in all places. After the mental faculty discerns it, this content is deposited as seeds into the storehouse of the eighth consciousness. The eighth consciousness then stores these contents as seeds. Later, when the mental faculty grasps and seeks to discern, the eighth consciousness, recognizing the volition of the mental faculty, complies and cooperates by releasing the previously stored seeds. This process forms the mental objects (dharmas). When the mental faculty contacts these mental objects, its discernment is too weak to perceive the specific content clearly. It then generates volition, determining to discern these mental objects. Consequently, the eighth consciousness cooperates by giving rise to mental consciousness to discern these mental objects. Thus, mental consciousness discerns what the mental objects actually are—meaning mental consciousness recalls past events. This is the process of recollection and remembrance.

If an event is incomplete, or if the mental faculty pays little attention, or if the discernment and creation by consciousness are slight, the karmic action is minor. The karmic seeds stored by the eighth consciousness are then weak. When the eighth consciousness releases these seeds to form mental objects, the mental objects are not very clear. Consequently, mental consciousness discerns incompletely and unclearly, commonly referred to as weak memory. For example, if we memorize an article incompletely, this karmic action is also stored as seeds. When the eighth consciousness releases them later, mental consciousness cannot discern them completely, and we cannot recite the article perfectly.

Similarly, if the mental faculty pays little attention to a person, with minimal mental engagement toward them, the volition lacks sufficient decisiveness. Mental consciousness then understands and recognizes this person incompletely, resulting in a shallow impression. This event is also stored as seeds. When the seeds mature and we encounter this person again, the eighth consciousness releases the past karmic seeds, but mental consciousness cannot clearly discern the person, leading to a vague and indistinct impression.

When the eighth consciousness releases karmic seeds to form mental objects and delivers them to the subtle sense faculty, if the subtle sense faculty is impaired or obstructed—such as due to cerebellar atrophy or other hindrances—the images released by the eighth consciousness do not fully correspond to the karmic seeds. The manifested mental objects are inaccurate. At this point, mental consciousness cannot discern correctly and without error, resulting in inverted discernment or a complete inability to discern. This is amnesia.

Damage to the subtle sense faculty, brain trauma, or nutritional deficiencies in the brain can all cause varying degrees of amnesia. Therefore, students should enhance their nutrition before exams to ensure the harmonious balance of the four great elements within the subtle sense faculty. This enables the eighth consciousness to manifest the internal perceived division's images normally, allowing mental consciousness to discern these images correctly. During the exam, thinking can then be clear, performance optimal, and exam results favorable.

If the subtle sense faculty is impaired, the images manifested by the eighth consciousness may become chaotic information. Consequently, the discernment by mental consciousness becomes disordered, potentially leading to inverted or erroneous discernment. Others may perceive this person as mentally unstable, while the individual themselves feels completely normal and utterly unaware of any abnormality.