I have always been afraid of forgetting. More than actually forgetting something important, I was afraid of my mind being messed up. Fear of being so forgetful, that I am basically considered insane.
You know the feeling, when you forget something and you scratch your head so hard, that you become annoyed or even angry when you just cannot remember?
For me, when I forgot, the same old fear always kicked in - is anything wrong with my head?
Now I try to delight in letting go of trying to remember. I cherish forgetting, just as I cherish remembering. I cherish not clinging to these processes. I let go.
Not that I'm saying training your mind to be better at not forgetting is futile or useless. It makes path to knowledge and search for truth all that much easier.
All I'm trying to say is that forgetting is necessary, healing and protective. It's a way of getting rid of mental defilements (rubbish!) and well, sometimes even potentially useful stuff. It's just as important as remembering.
There are cases of pathological forgetting, such as mild to severe cases of dementia. The process of extreme forgetting may lead to absolute and terrifying disorientation resulting to depression, anxiety or even aggression.
If I was assured that system of taking care of patients with dementia was of decent quality, I would be less concerned about extreme forgetting, because I know I would be taken care of in times of suffering. So, some of my fears are certainly valid.
Anyways, let's get back to the pleasant side of forgettery. It's possible to make the process of forgetting smoother, softer and funkier. A heyday of oblivion. Breathe-in, forget, breathe-out and repeat! Let's scratch our heads a little less when we forget, because art of forgetting is basically art of letting go.