Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

Lesson 2

HOW TO STUDY AND REMEMBER

"Study to slew thyself approved unto God." (2 Tim. 2:15) Many times Jehovah admonishes his servants to study. This lesson aims to aid in ways of studying and remembering. To study is to set the mind upon a subject to learn it for future use. It means diligent mental application, mental absorption, profound thought; it means to ponder, to meditate, to dwell upon. It is the weighing of new ideas against old ones. Such leads to the rejection of the erroneous and the acceptance of the true.

Study piles up information in the mind; but some of it slips out. Learning is valuable only if remembered. The mind is the seat of memory, a remarkable storehouse of countless impressions, associations, colorful pictures, vivid imaginations, brilliant ideas, beautiful meditations, pleasant tastes, fragrant odors, lovely touches, in fact, recollections good and bad as faithfully relayed to the brain by the five senses. Messages are received through the senses of smell, touch, sight, hearing, and taste, and the mind draws its conclusions and ideas therefrom. How may they be retained and made available for use when needed?

A child first learns by pictures and imitation, requiring use of the several senses (it always wants to touch things and put them in its mouth). Likewise adults learn most readily by illustration and visual aids. Everyone can recall vivid childhood memories. One can visualize the incidents as though they had occurred only yesterday. Therefore the secret is to get a clear mental picture of the subject, that the impression nay be vivid. Authors try to aid in this connection by descriptive, picture-forming language.

Much of the Bible comprises historical scenes, prophetic pictures, parables and illustrations. Therefore, when applying one's mind to a study of the Scriptures, use imagination and the several senses to vividly picture the subject. Even exaggerate the picture in the mind's eye, so that it will be

vivid and strong. For example, consider the scene of Jehu's meeting with Jonadab (2 Ki. 10:15,16). Do not just read words, but visualize! See Jehu driving furiously, legs spread and braced, the reins wound around his hands. See the fast steeds as they approach and slide to a sudden stop in a cloud of dust. Taste the dust? Smell the sweating horses? Touch their heaving sides as you overhear Jehu's conversation with Jonadab, just as a moment before you heard the rumble of the chariot wheels and the pounding horses' hoofs. See the facial expressions, the extended hand, Jonadab springing up, the lurching start, and the trail of dust raised in the wake of the disappearing chariot. Hear the noise dying away in the distance? Thus one has responded emotionally. One has seen more than a pantomime. And the picture has more than sound effects. The senses of touching and smelling and tasting have contributed their part. One has lived the scene. The vision will stick. And if one ties it in with events preceding and following, a chain of events is formed and much history remembered. Stories or narratives (which are easily remembered) are nothing but the association of a series of visualized scenes or events, one leading to the next. And this leads us into the next memory aid —association.

Lectures are remembered better when illustrated. Hearing is backed by seeing, and the points are established in the mind by two witnesses. The Lord's people made use of this in the photodrama. To a lesser degree they make use of it today by speech gestures. Add to hearing and seeing the factor of association, and one has a third witness to fix the points. A point of argument is difficult to visualize, but it can be remembered by association, and the lesson on outlining the body of a talk advises this. Note not only the association of points in new material, but also the association they might have with information already in the mind. Tie new ideas to old ones. When the easily-remembered old one is recalled, it brings forth the new one with it. Everyone knows how thinking of or seeing one thing

oftentimes makes him remember other things. For example, the sight of a lion might make one think of a king, justice, the "Lion of the tribe of Juda", Samson's exploits, Daniel's peril, etc. That is the result of association.

In studying do not memorize words, but grasp ideas. Memorizing is laborious and artificial. Whenever it becomes necessary to reproduce a previous thought, one should not be burdened with recalling exact words, but should recall the thought or idea through association and mental pictures made at the time of learning it. Then put it in words suitable to the occasion. In memorizing one links one word to another and has to recall many words to reproduce one complete thought. Rather, get the idea in the mental grasp and let the linking and the association together be of thought units rather than of words. Thus more is remembered, and more easily.

For effective reading sit down comfortably and relax. Dismiss outside thoughts and focus the mind upon the one subject. Be keenly interested. Visualize as you read. Let the unfolding subject form a chain of thought by linking the main points and thus holding the development of the central theme in mind. Associate previous thoughts and ideas with those under consideration. Grapple with ideas, not individual words. One might underscore the principal point in each paragraph, if the publication is his own. Upon completion of the whole chapter see whether you can reconstruct the whole argument from the points underscored. As one progresses in reading he should pause occasionally and ask himself questions to see whether he has grasped the full thought. Let the mind toy with the new thought and become used to it. Then it will stick.

Review and more review is another vital requirement. One can review in ways other than just study at a desk (though this should be done). When alone and at leisure let the mind recall and dwell upon recently learned truths. Review by discussing things with others. God's Word stresses the need of repetition: "To repeat ... is the safe course

for you." (Phil. 3:1, Twentieth Century) "I seek to revive in your sincere minds certain memories, so that you may recall the words spoken beforehand." "You are filled with knowledge. . . . Still, by way of refreshing your memory, I have written to you." (2 Pet. 3:1,2, Weymouth; Rom. 15:14,15, Moffatt) The imperfect human creature is prone to forget; to be, as it were, a 'leaky vessel'. Hence things must be reviewed, lest they slip from mind. (Heb. 2:1) That is why these lessons have reviews.

Study is a great joy but it is also a weariness of the flesh. For many concentration is a battle. Break periods of concentrated study by some physical chore or a short walk in the fresh air. The mind thus relaxed and refreshed, it will work with renewed energy, vigor and efficiency. A tense mind, like tense muscles, does not work well. The relaxed mind is the thinking and remembering mind.

Hence, as you add to your mental storehouse file away new thought treasures by mental pictures, well visualized, recorded by as many of the five senses as possible. Strengthen them by review. Group them with associated subjects. Though our minds be leaky vessels, having studied as above suggested and thus done our best, the Lord through his spirit will make up for our feeble memories. —John 14:26.