Memory — how it works and fails

Memory is not a recording but a reconstruction — each act of remembering is also an act of rewriting, introducing new information into the original trace. The Sutras identify smṛti (memory) as one of the five categories of mental fluctuation, noting that even accurate memories can bind the mind to the past when held without discrimination. Understanding memory's mechanics — encoding, consolidation, retrieval, interference — is essential for working with both learning and trauma.