SuttaCentral
Good day guys, I hope you’re doing fine.
I’d like to ask something: how can we improve our memorization to remember specific suttas or passages?
In college, it’s a common advice not to memorize something exactly as it is in order to do x assignment. But, in the EBT it’s the opposite; Venerable Ananda, for example, has an amazing memory, and he’s able to teach the dhamma exactly as he heard it. How could he do that?!
I’d like to hear from you guys.
Blessings!
I don’t have a great memory but if I were to take up this practice I would search up on Moonwalking with Einstein : The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Foer, Joshua; or Harry Lorayne who was once called The Yoda of Memory Training; or books written by actors who have to memorize lines for a living.
Good question 
In much of today’s world, there’s little appreciation for precise memorization of texts. But it’s an incredibly valuable skill. One thing that I’ve found quite useful and also heard recommended before is: Build strong familiarity with the material first.
This is really helpful. If you want to memorize the first chapter of the Dhammapada for example, read it many times, think about the meaning, reflect on it as relevant to your practice. Not just reading it over and over in one session, but ideally over a period of at least weeks, even if some of that overlaps with your memorization time. Recite it out loud. Read it silently. Listen to it. Get all kinds of different forms of exposure to the text over a period of time.
You build up a kind of natural memory when you do this, especially if you consciously pay attention to precise wording of things. You don’t have to force anything, but just be attentive and let it build some over time. You get to know the general structure, flow, ideas and words. So memorizing the precise passage doesn’t feel like a string of alien syllables, but more like taking a walk along an old path a bit covered over.
Also keep in mind that getting something in memory is one thing. You also need to maintain it in memory by practice and recitation. Ideally, have a chanting practice once or twice a day for example. Cycle through different things you’ve memorized regularly there, or if you only have a smaller series memorized, do it regularly. Reflect on it and make it alive. Give yourself breaks too, so that it can sink in and you have to recall it from a bit “further away.” That helps reinforce memory, and it also helps new aspects of the material come alive to you when it feels very familiar.
Pick something inspiring and meaningful, and have fun! Don’t judge yourself or bear yourself up if it’s difficult. It’s also an act of good kamma to intentionally apply yourself to memorize Dhamma for your practice, and recall the benefits it can have for others as well if you can recite it or share it for them. It should also get easier over time, as memorizing things becomes a kind of skill you build.
I also wrote a response to a previous inquiry on memorization: [Here]
And Bhante Sujato gave some advice [Here]
All the best!
Some other previous threads you can find via search:
Related search query would be for Anki flash cards, such as: Bhikkhu Pātimokkha Anki Chanting deck
AN5.193 Saṅgārava is on point.
Other suttas about memorization from the CIPS.
<ah, deleted because didn’t realise SN 46.55 was parallel and the same as AN5.193 sutta in prior comment mentioned as ‘on point’>