A Master of Memory Credits Meditation for Brainy Feats

Munishri Ajitchandrasagarji, a Jain monk captivates audiences with his ability to memorize hundreds of random items in sequence.

But even by Jain standards, the young monk — Munishri Ajitchandrasagarji, 24 — is something special. His guru, P. P. Acharya Nayachandrasagarji, said no other monk in many years had come close to his ability. “Munishri’s mind is like a computer during the download process,” the guru said during an interview in a temple in central Mumbai on Monday. “Many processes can happen in his mind at one time.”, “Like when I forgot No. 81,” Munishri chimed in. “The rest of the processes continued, and then, later, that one process began and I remembered it. It takes no effort. I’m simply able to extract it from my subconscious, where I have stored it.”

The monk does not see himself as specially endowed, or some kind of rare genius. “I have sacrificed everything, and that is why I can do this,” he said. “Anyone can do this, it is not a miracle. My message is this: When you know your own capacity, when you get rid of your distractions, the power of your mind is immense.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/world/asia/prodigy-in-india-credits-feats-of-memory-to-meditation-and-jainism.html

Looks like his disciple is doing really well also, doing the 'Shatavdhan' (Miracle of Meditation through Power of Soul) in English at 16 years of age;

An audience of around 3,000 people witnessed the marvel of memory at an interesting spectacle Sunday. Sixteen-year-old Jain monk Chandraprabh Chandra Sagarji Maharaj Saheb performed the 'Shatavdhan' test before a public gathering at Shanmukhananda Hall.

'Shatavdhan' is a feat which requires extreme application of memory. The audience poses 100 questions to the challenger who must recall the questions and answer them, first in ascending then in descending order. When a spectator speaks a particular number, the expert must be able to recall the question against that number. Complicated questions on the subject of mathematics as well as history are asked during this session. The audience is given a pen and a book of questions for reference.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Teenage-monk-leaves-spectators-agape-with-memory-show/articleshow/42645108.cms
http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/16-year-old-jain-munishri-chandraprabh-chandra-sagarji-will-perform-fi/40678

The monk does not see himself as specially endowed, or some kind of rare genius. “I have sacrificed everything, and that is why I can do this,” he said. “Anyone can do this, it is not a miracle. My message is this: When you know your own capacity, when you get rid of your distractions, the power of your mind is immense.”

I'm not impressed with the feat so much as the message.

the power of your mind is immense

No disrespect intended.