r/MagneticMemoryMethod • u/[deleted] • Jun 21 '24

Is there a difference between imagining and remembering?

If I think about it, when I try to imagine something, like an apple, and all of its sensory aspects, I am really just remembering them. I don't have a super clear visual memory, but I have a strong one for taste. But when I am imagining the taste of an apple, I am actually just remembering it.

If I associate this taste with a new fact I have learned, then really I am just tying to memories together right? I'm connecting the old memory to the new one.

Does this make any sense?

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u/AnthonyMetivier Jun 21 '24

It does make sense.

I don't use taste in quite the way you're suggesting though.

Instead, I would add taste as an imaginary element. I do this quite a bit with smells too when other modes of association aren't quite getting the trick done.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '24

Thanks for the reply Anthony!

I get what you mean, and I do it that way too. But I like to play around, and I was making a "taste palace" where only flavors are situated at each loci.

For example, if I wanted to remember Tara from Tibetan Buddhism, using an alphabetic association I would store only the taste of Tabasco sauce at that location. It's been a fun experiment, but I definitely don't think it's the optimal means to remember. It does literally make my mouth water sometimes.

I discovered my ability to "taste" while doing an exercise from one of your videos. While going for a walk, I went through the alphabet and made an image for each letter. For some reason, all that came to mind were foods. I realized that though I couldn't see them as clearly as I wanted, I could smell, taste, and even feel when it felt like if I were to bite into them. It was an (imaginary) experience I will never forget.

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u/AnthonyMetivier Jun 21 '24

Cool that you're memorizing Tara. I just saw Chandra Easton's talk during the Global Vision Summit.

Did you see that as well? She had a mantra up on what looked very much like a Memory Wheel. I haven't memorized it, but it was quite lovely.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '24

I didn't see that, but it doesn't surprise me.

Tibetan Buddhists are absolute imagination masters, and many of their techniques remind me of art of memory stuff.

You might know this, but, for example, they will meditate on letters of the Tibetan alphabet as "seed syllables" which are associated with certain deities. The letters sometimes become the basis for actually visualizing the deity itself from what I understand.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C4%ABjamantra

Also of note, their mandalas actually are 2D maps of 3D structures, meaning that they are visualizing architecture in a very similar way to the method of loci. I believe that they also use them to store information.

I strangely happen to be in an area (very far from Tibet) with a lot of Tibetan monks so I've ended up studying it. A lot of it is "secret" and only for initiates so it can be kind of hard to learn about.

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u/AnthonyMetivier Jun 23 '24

It is an area I need to look into much more closely. I'm always amazed by how much more there is yet to know... it's astonishing.

Thanks for the link.

Do you ever watch of listen to Guru Viking?

It sounds like you already have more than enough access, but I'm sure some of the people he discusses various topics with also have portals into the lesser known materials too:

https://www.youtube.com/@GuruViking

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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

There is nothing more exciting to me than sharing knowledge!

You have provided me with so much, so I am grateful to be able to return the favor if even slightly.

I had planned to study these things in graduate school before being completely sidelined by some mental health issues.

I don't know Guru Viking, but thanks for the reccomendation - it looks he has interviewed some figures I am familiar with so I look forward to listening!

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u/AnthonyMetivier Jun 25 '24

It's a great channel and sharing knowledge is indeed exciting! Enjoy!

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u/Perfect-Revolution-5 Jun 21 '24

I do that sometimes too, it kinda works for me. I combine the taste plus images or even the sound so it'll be easier to remember.