I can’t remember where I put the car keys

Does this happen to you? Of course it does. It does not mean you have the “old timer’s disease” or Alzheimer’s disease or a brain tumor or a stroke. It does not mean you are dumb. It means you have a decrease in mental clarity. The Buddha teaches us to cultivate mental clarity in order to find enlightenment. Mental clarity is cultivated by improving sila (Pali for ethics and morality), as well as working on meditation and mindfulness. This also has the added benefit of improving memory functioning. Furthermore, you may find that conciously entering into a meditative state, accompanied by retracing your physical and mental steps in the day, will help you to remember simple things like where the car keys are. Also, you will remember long forgotten memories. They will spontaneously arise. You do not have to make an effort. That is important. Much of this is done with great planning, but minimal effort.