ever the consequences." Mind and memory reinvoke past experiences
of pain and pleasure and equate them to the present situation, however
inappropriate. Whereas intelligence makes creative comparisons, mind
makes destructive ones, destructive in the sense that they fix us in a rut,
an imprisoning pattern.
Memory is useful if it helps to prepare you for the future, to know
whether or not you are moving forward. Use it to develop. Memory is
useless if it brings about a repetition of the past. Repetition means to
live in memory. If repetition is taking place, then memory retards the
path of evolution. Do not live in memory. Memory is only the means
to know whether we are fully aware and evolving. Never think of yes
terday. Only go back if you feel that you are doing something wrong.
Use yesterday's experience as a springboard. Living in the past or
longing to repeat previous experience will only stagnate intelligence.
But what of the memory of the body? Does that also, like its con
scious counterpart in mind have the capacity to enslave us or set us
free? It does, and here again the awakening of intelligence is critical.
Consciousness is potentially in every cell of our body, but most of us
are comatose. The nervous system reaches everywhere. Where nerves
are, mind must be. Where mind is, so is memory. Any repetitive skillful
action depends on that memory. The potter's memory is in his hands.
When we drive a familiar, winding road, we know instinctively how to
take the bends. We do not think consciously at all. In a new stranger's
house, we can never find the light switches. In our own, our hand goes
to them automatically. Scents and tastes recall scenes of childhood to
us without the intervention of mind.
The cellular memory also provokes negatives. "I don't want to do
that. It's too much trouble." "I don't like him. He looks like my boss."
Again, it is practice that brings the light of intelligence to our cells and
roots out negativity. I said in chapter 2 that stretching brings the con
duits of the nervous system from the center to the periphery, strength-
II K .\ I Y 1·. N l, All