Many old people can remember a lot of things happening a long time
ago, and even on their deathbed, they can still pass the teachings and wisdom on to their descendants. If we do a survey of their family, we can see those old people, most of the time, lived with a strong sense of gratitude to others. And what is gratitude? It means to appreciate the kindness and favors of the past.
MEMORY
The great-grandma Mành pointed her finger to the street and talked with Hưng:
"Do you see that man in the suit, holding the briefcase?"
Hưng said:
"Is that man walking beside a beautiful woman?"
"Correct. Twenty years ago, he was complicit in the robbery-murder case in the next village, then he ran away without a trace. Now, he returns with a disguise. Many people have forgotten him, many people have died, but I can remember him very clearly, even though his face has been changed or altered. I wonder what plot he's doing this time."
"The law says that if we know but don't notify the police of the murderer, we are committing a crime as well. I'll call the police right away."
Two days later, three officers came to visit great-grandma Mành. They told her:
"That guy called Đọi is preparing to commit a major crime after 20 years of being on the run. He believes his accomplice's family is still hiding a large sum of money, so he comes back to demand it. Luckily, you recognized him and notified us immediately. We could arrest the wanted criminal and at the same time, prevent him from causing another case. On behalf of our office, thank you so much."
"By the way, we'd like to ask if you have any secret for still keeping your memory very well, even at 90 years of age."
The great-grandma slowly chewed the betel leaves, spit into a can, then said:
"I don't have any secret at all. Because of my old age, I don't have to work, I have time to recall my old stories. If someone treats me badly, I'll forgive them. If someone treats me well, I'm grateful to them. Then I ask my grandchildren to pay them visits and show my gratitude to them. Now, it's difficult to find them. At that time there was no phone or email. When people moved away, we couldn't keep in touch. If we can find our benefactors and return their favor, I'll feel relief. If not, I'll have a heavy heart forever."
"It's very kind of you to live like that. We really need to learn from your good character. Maybe it's part of the Karma Law. Whoever tries to remember the favors received in life will have a good memory."
Whoever easily forgets these favors will have bad memory. I'm not sure though."
The old can easily get Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. These two kinds of diseases create brain damage. Hand tremor consumes a lot of body energy and stresses the brain which prevents the person from getting enough sleep. Insomnia will damage the brain even faster. Brain damage decreases memory step by step.
Memory is an important factor of thinking. If there is no memory, there is no database for thinking. If memory is gone, there is no source for the activity of brainpower. Except spies in fiction movies who still operate well, even when their memory is gone; most of us become disabled when we lose our memory.
Many people train their memory in some technique to keep it healthy and strong, but when their brain cells reduce in number as they get old, they can do nothing to get their memory back. Memory is something that remains an unknown issue. Nobody can decode it so that people can own their memory.
However, the officer is very smart to realize the secret of how to own memory from the great-grandma's story. This secret belongs to the moral category. Whoever lives gratefully to their helpers and supporters can maintain their memory well into old age. On the contrary, whoever lives ungratefully can easily get Alzheimer's disease.
Many old people can remember a lot of things happening a long time ago, and even on their deathbed, they can still pass the teachings and wisdom on to their descendants. If we do a survey of their family, we can see those old people, most of the time, lived with a strong sense of gratitude to others. And what is gratitude? It means to appreciate the kindness and favors of the past.
Written by:
Janna
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