When you are challenged to memorize a quotation from the Writings in a Ruhí study circle, are you someone who says, "I can't remember!"

Researchers say that "the average adult cannot remember 50% of what he or she has just read." They go on to note that 24 hours later the average adult remembers only 20%." You read this and you think, "that person is doing pretty well because I can't remember anything! Nothing. Nada! So, I guess that makes me less than 'the average adult.'" Would you feel any better to learn that most people - that's us -- forget 99% of the phone numbers we've needed or 90% of the names of people we've met.

Bahá'ís are encouraged to memorize selections from the Writings. The Báb tells us "...and every breast which committeth His Words to memory, God shall cause, if it were that of a believer, to be filled with His love..." (Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 99 cited in Ruhí book 7 p. 98) The Báb wasn't addressing only a particular group of villagers in South America who would someday start Ruhí study circles.

Bahá'u'lláh has pointed out that upon the Word of God "must depend the gathering together and spiritual resurrection of all men", that "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame", and that were man to "taste the sweetness of the words which the lips of the All-Merciful have willed to utter, he would, though the treasures of the earth be in his possession, renounce them one and all, that he might vindicate the truth of even one of His commandments". It is because of such considerations that the Five Year Plan [1975] calls for the friends to memorize selections from the Writings. If a believer finds it difficult to memorize, he may be encouraged to make for his own use a selection of extracts, however brief, which he could reread and enjoy at his own leisure, to satisfy his inner soul.(Universal House of Justice, 1975, cited in Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 36)

We're grateful to Jennifer Deslaurier, a school teacher and Ruhí facilitator in the Annapolis Valley, for passing on an excerpt from a book by Gloria Frender entitled Learning to Learn: Strengthening Study Skills and Brain Power.The particular excerpt is about developing our ability to memorize. Ms;. Frender writes:

"Your mind is built to remember. It never forgets or loses anything throughout your entire life. We say we "forget" when actually we have lack of recall due to memory blocks or the misplacement of information. It is a natural tendency to remember only those things or concepts with which we agree or deem important. We simply pay more attention to the ideas and information we intend to remember or relate to our own priorities."

OK. The only time there is a 100% guarantee that I can't remember a quotation is when I have never learned it in the first place. I can't lose something I never had. Gloria Frender is saying that we just don't pay attention to those things we don't intend to remember. What about our intention to remember? If we are convinced that we "can't remember" how can we honestly say that we intend to remember. She goes on to say,

"There are many techniques, strategies, mnemonics and tricks which can enable you to memorize and recall almost anything. First, you must intend to remember and learn the information and then set a realistic goal. Like most any aspect of your life, if you focus your concentration and intent upon remembering, you will succeed. Realize that you can improve your memory. Don't waste time making excuses or blaming yourself. Use that time to your own advantage."(Frender, Gloria, Learning to Learn: Strengthening Study Skills and Brain Power, Incentive Publications, Inc., Nashville, TN, 1990. p.150.)

When it comes to the Writings we want long-term memory mastery. Some of the factors important in developing long-term memory are the intention to remember and the meaningfulness of the information. If we do have the intention, we need to actualize it, through practice. According to Frender, it "takes 15 to 25 minutes of practice over several days to successfully memorize and retain information." Several days. One day is not enough. Do you become discouraged when you find that you cannot recall something you memorized yesterday? Did you know that's something to be expected? "We forget new information rapidly at first (if not rehearsed and practiced). Then rate of forgetfulness 'levels off' over time."

We memorize those things that have more meaning for us. The Writings should have meaning for us. Isn't this one of the aims of the Ruhí program and of the exercises in the books?

Another factor in developing long-term memory skills is the "integration of the five senses." We will memorize the Writings better if we see the words, hear the words and feel the words. How do we "feel" the words? Writing them out in our own handwriting is one way. Marching or stepping them out is another. So study circle participants beat out a rhythm with their hands as they recite the words aloud. The more senses we use when learning the quotations, the better chance we have of retaining it later.

When we memorize by reading the words over and over, we are using only one of our senses, that of sight. When we read the words aloud over and over, we are using our sight and our hearing. When we write the words and say them aloud as we write, we incorporate the senses of sight, hearing and touch) What senses are we using when we sing the words?

Study Circle Methods for Memorization

Eraser Method (use blackboard or dry erase white board)

The facilitator or someone with good handwriting writes the quotation on the board. Each participant takes a turn in reading the quotation aloud. Then the first participant is asked which word he/she would like to have erased and who he would like to read the board with the word missing. If the person reads it correctly, he/she is allowed to have a word erased and to select another person to read the board. This continues until all or almost all of the words are erased and the participants have had a degree of success in memorizing the quotation. Caution: don't spend so much time on this exercise that the participants lose interest or are tired by it.

Round of Repetitions (good for shorter quotations)

The tutor begins by saying the first part of the quotation, "Let God be your fear". Each person in the group takes a turn saying, "let God be your fear". The tutor then expands it by saying "Let God be your fear, O people." Again each person takes a turn in repeating the phrase. Now the tutor says, "Let God be your fear, O people, and be ye of them." Again a round of the participants taking turns repeating the phrase. One more time by the tutor who says, "Let God be your fear, O people, and be ye of them that tread the path of righteousness." Another round and everyone should have memorized the sentence.

Another Variation on a Circle of Repetitions

Go around the circle with each participant saying one word of the quotation. The first person would say, "Let". The second "God", the third "be" and so on until the quotation is completed. Do this several times, each time choosing a different person to be the starting point. Then do several rounds asking each participant to say two or three words until the quotation is completed, again varying the starting person.

The following memorization techniques are from the Gateway/Hugh Chance Consolidated Regional Training Institute which serves the American midwestern states. If you are looking for other study circle ideas, visit their web site at http://www.hughchancerti.org/ and check out their "tutor tips".

Rosewater

"This Tutor Tip comes from a study circle in Olathe, Kansas, from Barbara McAtee and Lynda Metzler. It involves improving memorization skills by connecting with multiple senses. Begin by placing a drop of rosewater on the wrist of each participant, while a quotation is read out loud. You might even wish to have each participant take turns reading as they receive a drop of rosewater so it is read multiple times. Next, provide the participants with several large index cards, and ask them to write out the quotation. They can write the quotation entirely on one card, or use several cards with a phrase or two on each card. You can provide copies of it and the participants can cut and paste the phrases if they wish. On the reverse side, ask the participants to artistically depict something to remind them of that phrase. Supply materials such as magazine photos, stickers, washable markers, crayons, glitter, and sequins. The point is not to make great art-it is to engage the imagination and make visual connections. This enjoyable activity engages four of the five senses-sight, smell, touch and hearing! If you want to get that last sense involved, serve refreshments while the participants work on their cards. This process will really reinforce the quotation and help to put it in long-term memory!

Physical movement

Here is a technique that works well with all ages because it uses physical movement to reinforce the memory work. Using a nice sized font, print out quotations and then cut them into strips, line by line. Then, take the strips and cut them into one, two or three word sections. Ask the participants to see how quickly they can put this puzzle back together. You can add other reinforcements as well, such as playing quiet music. If everyone is working on the same quotation, you can also have the participants take turns saying the quotation out loud while people work. Another fun way to use this is to take several quotations-such as those in the first section of Ruhi Book 1-and mix them all up together to make a Super Challenge. You might even offer a little prize for the team who can get that one finished first. Hint: have some baggies handy to store the quotations so you can use them another time.