Different definitions in various traditions of Smṛti

~ Smṛti means: “that which is remembered”. Smrti is a Sanskrit word, from the root Smara, which means “remembrance, reminiscence, thinking of or upon, calling to mind”, or simply “memory”. The word is found in ancient Vedic literature, such as in section 7.13 of the Chandogya Upanishad. In later and modern scholarly usage, the term refers to tradition, memory, as well as a vast post-Vedic canon of “tradition that is remembered”. 

~ In Nārāyaṇa, Smṛti means “mindfulness, memory”: One of the twenty-four emanations of Lakṣmī accompanying Nārāyaṇa.

~ In school of philosophy Nyāya, Smṛti means “remembrance” and it is refers to one of two types of Buddhi (cognition) according to Annaṃbhaṭṭa in the Tarkasaṃgraha. According to Annaṃbhaṭṭa, buddhi is of two kinds: 1) smṛti (remembrance) and 2) anubhava (apprehension).

Yoga definition of Smṛti

Smṛti is one of the five kinds of thoughts or vrittis (mentioned in the yogasutras), there are five kinds of movements in the mind-field and one of them is smriti (yogasutra 1.6)

Smṛti as Mindfulness

When you want to observer smriti as it is used in the five-fold path of the yogasutra 1.20, you first understand how it relates to the other concepts of the five-fold path. It starts with shraddha; which means to stand firm on the faith you have in the path you are walking and its goal. Maybe you do know exactly where it is going but you know enough to pursue it, you ‘believe’ that what you are doing is bringing you closer to what you want. This faith is not merely blind faith, that you took on because others told you so, but is based on direct experiences that happened in the past plus it is guided by your own intuition coming from within, together they form the faith (shraddha) to pursue the path. Virya is the energy you put into your practice, into your walking on the path, your determination. Thus if there is faith, it can be made stronger when you put your energy behind it. This energy or virya will be the strength and power that makes you walk the path; to pursue your beliefs. This energy or power can be made stronger if it works together with smriti. Thus smriti is mentioned third, it stands on shraddha and virya. To cultivate smriti means that you want to become aware of every moment and use it mindfully so that it benefits your path; it means to cultivate constant awareness of the goal and the practice of smriti will bring mindfulness to each moment. How do you observe smriti, by doing it! Every time you think of being mindful is a moment in which you are mindful, use it wisely!