Please share some tips for memorizing verses

by Chaitanya CharanNovember 3, 2012

From: Jayasree mataji

While reading the scriptures, we feel very inspired to memorize some inspiring slokas. Please suggest some valuable tips to memorize slokas.

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Chaitanya Charan
6 Comments
  • Mukul
    November 3, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    HK. Prabhuji. Thanks for sharing amazing insights.

    The main points discussed by prabhuji in lecture are:

    Three broad guidelines: Repitition, Revision and Utilisation.

    1. Repetition:
    When we are doing memorisation: Repeat the verses aloud, in meter (musical tune). Thus both Verbal memory + musical memory comes into play. If we don’t have musical sense, even then also, we can follow this method, which is as:
    Reciting each individual line of the verse 5-10 times. Then set of two-two lines for another 5-10 times. Then the whole shloka 5-10 times.
    Any verse, no matter how much complicated can memorised through this method. This is the traditional method, and is seen especially in south india.
    Repition alone, however gives short term memory, hence we need following:

    2. Revision
    To take it to long term memory.
    First way: make list of verses to be memorised over a month, keep checking the list and keep recollecting the verses, already memorised, in sets.

    Second way: small pocket diary/ flash card with verse written or/ e-book in mobile. Try to revise it as we get time.

    Third way: The most relishable way is if two devotees may come together and memorise same set of shlokas and when they meet next time, may prompt each other and revise. This activity is very enjoyable also and also adds spiritual substance to relations between devotees.

    3. Utilisation:
    This is very important. unless we utilise the knowledge of the verses we memorised, automatically after sometime we’ll loose the interest in this activity. using them in our outreach when sharing KC with other is fine.
    But beyond that they can be used for our personal contemplation on Krishna. They are ready made templates on how to think about Krishna. The visualisation is not evocative unless we have these shlokas to help us, eg. description of Krishna’s colour, qualities, etc.
    When we are engaged in activities that are primarily physical in nature, we can chant and revise these verses and remember Krishna. This is much more enchanting, than just impressing others with the recitation.

    To recite the verses when we take darshan of deity is very special activity. At that time we can offer these verses to Krishna. These newly learnt verses/ part of verses becomes prayer and we and Krishna both will look forward for new verses everytime.
    Some verses, might just analyse the material world, especially the verses by Prahalad Maharaj where he analyses the futility of the material world. Even such verses can be recited in front of deities. This would mean as if a child is describing his understanding of the material world to his parents.

    Series of verses: if we could learn verses in series (as they appear in scriptures), it becomes a readymade unit for utilisation and revision. Random verse selection can sometimes become difficult to be traced back. However, a series of verse from one chapter can help us get in that mood. More systematic and focussed approach to learn shlokas can help enable more focussed and systematic discussion when we share these verses with others/classes.

  • Jayasree mataji
    November 3, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    HARE KRISHNA PRABHU.
    We are very grateful and very thankful for your wonderful guidelines.
    We came to know about many important points and instructive lessons from your
    explainations.
    We will definitely follow your guidelines.
    That; you have mentioned that PERSONAL CONTEMPLATION of these shlokas help us to be more properly fixed in our prayerful mood and remembering KRISHNA.
    And a systematic and focussed learning of shlokas.

    We sincerely thank you once again.

  • Dhananjay
    November 3, 2012 at 7:17 pm

    Thank you prabhu ji for telling these ways of memorising shlokas.
    Also, thank you Mukul prabhu for transcribing the answer.

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