Neuroscience and Karma

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 97

Knowing, Learning, Memory, Intelligence
59 to learn the symbolic significance of external signals, even when they are adult. Avadhāna Vidya (The Art of Memory Miracles)
In India, the faculty of memorising was very highly developed in pre-writing era. All the treasures of scriptural and scholarly knowledge had to be preserved only in memory, banded down from generation to generation. This necessitated the development of a technique called "Avadhāna Vidyā" for achieving long lasting memory and faithful recollection whenever needed. The technique consisted of mainly associating the perceived object or word with another similar but more familiar and easily memorised object or thought. Concentration of mind, versatility of imagination and stability of intellect are three essential constituents of this technique.
An important facet of Avadhāna Vidyā is the use of the power of memory for instant matbemetical calculations, such as, higher roots of very large numbers. Demonstration of Avadhāna Vidyāl almost appeared to be a miraculous feat. 8. Intelligence
Intelligence is possessed by all humans to one degree or another. Both 'intelligence' and 'electricity' lack complete explanations that appeal to our common sense. Yet we do recognize the undeniable fact of their existence. Intelligence is something exhibiting all the abilities — to think rationally, to act purposefully and to deal effectively with (the) environment -- that make mankind the highest order of mammal. This force is both deliberate, logical and predictable or disordered, intuitive and spontaneous. Testing Intelligence
There is little relationship between perceptual abilities and intellectual achievement. French phychologist Alfred Binet, the father of modern intelligence-testing, argued that reasoning, judgement, comprehension and the capacity for self-criticism, raiber than keenness
1. Muni Mahendra Kanar, Couthor of this book, is himself a famous Satavadhani"
(i.e., innemonist of 100 items at a time.)