One look at the reality that you find yourself in and you realize that we, as a society, are being assailed by forces that are hidden and dangerous. Am I just this piece of flesh that carries around my mind or am I transcendent– more unique than my limited form? Life itself tells us that something bigger is at hand, something more sui generis. Whether that is true or not is directly related to your imagination. If you imagine that your life is filled with an endless stream of possibilities, it is. Conversely, if you feel that consciousness is but drudgery and await its termination, it also is. Your reality exists behind your eyes (my words), to paraphrase Sadhguru.
Imagination and its soothsayer, critical thinking, are imperiled in the Digital Age. Though they are innate, much like the “natural athlete,” they must still be trained. The “devices” remove the necessity for this form of exercise. When, in your hands, you hold everything you could possibly conceive of, why bother? But concern yourself you must or intellectual, and ultimately, spiritual destruction will result. Certainly the lack of understanding, violence and pain that exists in the world at the beginning of the 21st century is not because we possess, en masse, thoughtful and exciting creative powers. The good news is that this can quickly be altered: change is just behind any door or in all situations. Several of my students have just been to a recent car-chase movie. The next time you get in your car, create your own car pursuit scenario: Speeding down the highway, the spy was desperately trying to evade the secret police: all was lost, however, because he was being tracked by the monitor in his car. “Excuse me sir. Why were you speeding down the highway?” Your response: “Fast and Furious Nine!” In Western culture, we have to thank the character Walter Mitty, created by James Thurber (1), for giving us the apogee of day dreaming: fanciful creativity as an art.
From the New Yorker on March 18th, 1939:
“We’re going through!” The Commander’s voice was like thin ice breaking. He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye. “We can’t make it, sir. It’s spoiling for a hurricane, if you ask me.” “I’m not asking you, Lieutenant Berg,” said the Commander. “Throw on the power lights! Rev her up to 8,500! We’re going through!” The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa. The Commander stared at the ice forming on the pilot window. He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials. “Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!” he shouted. “Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!” repeated Lieutenant Berg. “Full strength in No. 3 turret!” shouted the Commander. “Full strength in No. 3 turret!” The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned. “The Old Man’ll get us through,” they said to one another. “The Old Man ain’t afraid of Hell!”
“Not so fast! You’re driving too fast!” said Mrs. Mitty. “What are you driving so fast for?”
“Hmm?” said Walter Mitty. He looked at his wife, in the seat beside him, with shocked astonishment. She seemed grossly unfamiliar, like a strange woman who had yelled at him in a crowd. “You were up to fifty-five,” she said. “You know I don’t like to go more than forty. You were up to fifty-five.” Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind. “You’re tensed up again,” said Mrs. Mitty. “It’s one of your days. I wish you’d let Dr. Renshaw look you over.”
Now could it get better? It is but a small step to then mentally move our present situation to something more grand and inviting. This does not mean, in spite of this, that I am naïve or mentally slothful. Life is work — good work, but still work. To return to my analogy of the athlete: no one succeeds without training. This is especially true of the human mind. I must train for, and in, my career. Would you go and see a doctor who was not conversant with the latest medical breakthroughs and information? I think not. The secret: put down the device. Better still, turn it off. Close your eyes and take yourself to that mental place that you belong: you, the beautiful you. There is a direct correlation between the ennui we see in the youth of our society and the information stream that we receive every single day: virtually none of it good or kind or caring or thoughtful. John Lennon (1940-1980), the philosopher, poet and musician leaves us with his song Imagine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wsYM1GgQLU.
A closing thought: The other day, I was stopped at a major traffic signal – red light, intense movement, hawkers and all. An older woman of around seventy was rather aggressively trying to sell flowers: each costing (NT) $50. I was struck by her sales’ technique — sophisticated and compelling — and a large number bought. Many years ago, my wife sold houses for (NT) $50,000,000. Her sales’ technique mirrored the first woman’s. In fact, they almost looked the same. My spouse was much, much older than me (that is a joke). The only difference between these two women was their imagination: the one selling blossoms for a pittance and the other selling homes for obscene money. Interesting: is it not?
An amusing occurrence: In my younger years, I still aspired for some “sartorial success.” In short, I liked to try and dress well. This was a problem because funds were not always as plentiful as they subsequently became. One particular day, I was passing a rather fashionable haberdasher’s when I noticed a really good-looking jacket. Next to it was a sign: “On Sale.” I went in, the value being incredible, and purchased the item. On the weekend I attended an event wearing the newest addition to my wardrobe: my new coat. Everyone I spoke with commented on how elegantly I was attired and “such value!” This was curious because, of course, you would always want to leave the impression that it was expensive and you could afford it because you were “doing so well.” When I got home that evening, as I carefully hung up the clothing, I noticed that I had failed to remove the price tag and its additional colored sticker — with the discounted price.
This week, please consider how imagination is such a part of your life.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: Why is it that we can always perceive of a tender and compassionate peace but never of a violent and destructive war?
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