Sept. 22, 2024
Imagination Is a Power of Formation
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter III Imagination, pg. 26 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/09/19/imagination-is-a-power-of-formation/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:05,520
Most people tend to respond to
life circumstances and
2
00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:10,840
opportunities based on past
experience, training, education,
3
00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,360
and any guidelines or rules they
have imbibed from their past,
4
00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,520
All combined with their basic
outlook on their lives, their
5
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,000
desires, their needs and their
circumstances.
6
00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,360
We can say that they are focused
primarily on the past and the
7
00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,280
present.
They do not attempt to develop
8
00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:35,040
the power of imagination to any
degree as they do not see how it
9
00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,760
fits their day-to-day lives.
They tend to repeat habitual
10
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,240
patterns and live their lives
and carry out their responses
11
00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,040
along predetermined and highly
predictable lines.
12
00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,000
There are others, however, who
value and utilize the power of
13
00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,840
imagination.
Imagination can take several
14
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,680
forms.
It can be inventive to develop
15
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,920
advancements, progress, or
otherwise potentially
16
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,120
foreseeable steps forward in a
progression.
17
00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,600
In that instance, it is more an
extension of the use of reason
18
00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:17,960
and the logical intellect to
assess what next steps may
19
00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:21,680
result from a present that is
based on a sequential series of
20
00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,680
past steps.
Progress in this case is based
21
00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,800
on incremental development, and
the use of imagination is
22
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,960
focused on trying to understand
the trajectory and line of
23
00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:38,560
development.
Another type of imagination is
24
00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,440
essentially a process of
visualization of what we would
25
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,960
like to see as a result of some
activity.
26
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,040
Thus, runners are asked to
visualize the running of their
27
00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,800
race so that when the actual
event takes place, they already
28
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,640
have a formation in their minds.
This type of imagination also
29
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,360
has a role in healing.
The placebo effect is very much
30
00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,720
based on the imagination of the
individual anticipating they are
31
00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,039
getting real medical support for
a condition from which they are
32
00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:16,000
suffering, and that imagination
actually sets processes going in
33
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,920
the mind and body to undertake
the necessary healing.
34
00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,200
It is claimed that the placebo
effect accounts for as much as
35
00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:29,280
30% of the results in studies
that utilize a placebo.
36
00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,920
Yet we can also speculate that
even for those who get the
37
00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:39,160
active drug, a considerable
amount of the actual healing is
38
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,760
due to the same effect working
in conjunction with the drug's
39
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,600
specific action.
When we refer to imagination,
40
00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,040
however, we primarily refer to
the ability to envision
41
00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,640
something that does not exist
and is not simply a next step in
42
00:02:56,640 --> 00:03:00,200
a sequence, but something new
and unexpected.
43
00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,200
People have watched birds fly
and dreamed of flying.
44
00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,880
They work to understand the
principles of aerodynamics, air
45
00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,800
currents, lift and gravity and
forward momentum, et cetera.
46
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,960
Eventually, this led to the
development of numerous forms of
47
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:24,520
machinery you we use for flying
airplanes, dirigibles, rocket
48
00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:29,800
ships, helicopters, and even
personal jet packs, with further
49
00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:35,000
advancements sure to follow.
Similarly, someone envisioned
50
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:39,240
landing on the moon at a time
when there were no technological
51
00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,720
capabilities that would support
that idea.
52
00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,880
Eventually, however, that
imagination led to the
53
00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,720
development of a space program
and the moon landings that have
54
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,800
occurred.
Imagination may be a fanciful
55
00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,600
recombining of elements that
ordinarily do not belong
56
00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,920
together.
It may be a vision that an
57
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,200
individual has that leads to
some creative result.
58
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,320
Nikola Tesla described how he
saw the vision of the
59
00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,480
alternating current motor and
later was able to realize that
60
00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,640
in a practical form.
He similarly was able to
61
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,120
envision wireless communication,
wireless transmission of energy,
62
00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:27,640
protective Shields, et cetera,
that clearly represented and
63
00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:32,640
advanced use of imagination.
The Tibetan Buddhist tradition
64
00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,880
makes considerable use of
imagination through training of
65
00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:40,960
practices in visualization that
aid the practitioner in the
66
00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,880
achievement of the spiritual
intention in their own lives and
67
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,560
experience.
When we envision a world of
68
00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:55,680
peace, a world of harmony, A
world of sharing and caring, we
69
00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,680
are practising another form of
imagination that differs from
70
00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,360
the reality of the external
world as most human beings
71
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,200
experience it.
As more people undertake this
72
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:12,480
form of imagination, it gains
power of effectuation, so that
73
00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:17,280
at some point in the future we
shall have overcome the forces
74
00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:22,360
of darkness and division that
destroy, pollute, breed
75
00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:27,720
separation and hatred and create
thereby massive suffering, wars,
76
00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:32,320
mass migrations and terrible
painful diseases and deaths due
77
00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,640
to pollution and other
mismanagement of our lives
78
00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:41,240
collectively on this planet, the
mother writes quote.
79
00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,600
Imagination is a power of
formation.
80
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,440
In fact, people who have no
imagination are not formative
81
00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,200
from the mental point of view.
They cannot give a concrete
82
00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:57,400
power to their thought.
Imagination is a very powerful
83
00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,400
means of action.
For instance, if you have a pain
84
00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,960
somewhere, and if you imagine
that you are making the pain
85
00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,560
disappear or are removing it or
destroying it, all kinds of
86
00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:13,240
images like that, well, you
succeed perfectly.
87
00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,080
There's a story of a person who
was losing her hair at a
88
00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,360
fantastic rate, enough to become
bald within a few weeks.
89
00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:26,280
And then someone told her, when
you brush your hair, imagine
90
00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:29,040
that it is growing and will grow
very fast.
91
00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:34,040
And always while brushing her
hair, she said, oh, my hair is
92
00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,200
growing.
Oh, it will grow very fast.
93
00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,280
And it happened.
But what people usually do is
94
00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,160
tell themselves, ah, all my hair
is falling again and I shall
95
00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:46,600
become bald.
That's certain.
96
00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,920
It's going to happen and of
course it happens.
97
00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,320
End Quote reference three are
open to and the mother powers
98
00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:01,440
within Chapter 3 Imagination
page 26.
00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:05,520
Most people tend to respond to
life circumstances and
2
00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:10,840
opportunities based on past
experience, training, education,
3
00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,360
and any guidelines or rules they
have imbibed from their past,
4
00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,520
All combined with their basic
outlook on their lives, their
5
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,000
desires, their needs and their
circumstances.
6
00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,360
We can say that they are focused
primarily on the past and the
7
00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,280
present.
They do not attempt to develop
8
00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:35,040
the power of imagination to any
degree as they do not see how it
9
00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,760
fits their day-to-day lives.
They tend to repeat habitual
10
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,240
patterns and live their lives
and carry out their responses
11
00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,040
along predetermined and highly
predictable lines.
12
00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,000
There are others, however, who
value and utilize the power of
13
00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,840
imagination.
Imagination can take several
14
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,680
forms.
It can be inventive to develop
15
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,920
advancements, progress, or
otherwise potentially
16
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,120
foreseeable steps forward in a
progression.
17
00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,600
In that instance, it is more an
extension of the use of reason
18
00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:17,960
and the logical intellect to
assess what next steps may
19
00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:21,680
result from a present that is
based on a sequential series of
20
00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,680
past steps.
Progress in this case is based
21
00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,800
on incremental development, and
the use of imagination is
22
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,960
focused on trying to understand
the trajectory and line of
23
00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:38,560
development.
Another type of imagination is
24
00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,440
essentially a process of
visualization of what we would
25
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,960
like to see as a result of some
activity.
26
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,040
Thus, runners are asked to
visualize the running of their
27
00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,800
race so that when the actual
event takes place, they already
28
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,640
have a formation in their minds.
This type of imagination also
29
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,360
has a role in healing.
The placebo effect is very much
30
00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,720
based on the imagination of the
individual anticipating they are
31
00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,039
getting real medical support for
a condition from which they are
32
00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:16,000
suffering, and that imagination
actually sets processes going in
33
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,920
the mind and body to undertake
the necessary healing.
34
00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,200
It is claimed that the placebo
effect accounts for as much as
35
00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:29,280
30% of the results in studies
that utilize a placebo.
36
00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,920
Yet we can also speculate that
even for those who get the
37
00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:39,160
active drug, a considerable
amount of the actual healing is
38
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,760
due to the same effect working
in conjunction with the drug's
39
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,600
specific action.
When we refer to imagination,
40
00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,040
however, we primarily refer to
the ability to envision
41
00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,640
something that does not exist
and is not simply a next step in
42
00:02:56,640 --> 00:03:00,200
a sequence, but something new
and unexpected.
43
00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,200
People have watched birds fly
and dreamed of flying.
44
00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,880
They work to understand the
principles of aerodynamics, air
45
00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,800
currents, lift and gravity and
forward momentum, et cetera.
46
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,960
Eventually, this led to the
development of numerous forms of
47
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:24,520
machinery you we use for flying
airplanes, dirigibles, rocket
48
00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:29,800
ships, helicopters, and even
personal jet packs, with further
49
00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:35,000
advancements sure to follow.
Similarly, someone envisioned
50
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:39,240
landing on the moon at a time
when there were no technological
51
00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,720
capabilities that would support
that idea.
52
00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,880
Eventually, however, that
imagination led to the
53
00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,720
development of a space program
and the moon landings that have
54
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,800
occurred.
Imagination may be a fanciful
55
00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,600
recombining of elements that
ordinarily do not belong
56
00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,920
together.
It may be a vision that an
57
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,200
individual has that leads to
some creative result.
58
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,320
Nikola Tesla described how he
saw the vision of the
59
00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,480
alternating current motor and
later was able to realize that
60
00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,640
in a practical form.
He similarly was able to
61
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,120
envision wireless communication,
wireless transmission of energy,
62
00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:27,640
protective Shields, et cetera,
that clearly represented and
63
00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:32,640
advanced use of imagination.
The Tibetan Buddhist tradition
64
00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,880
makes considerable use of
imagination through training of
65
00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:40,960
practices in visualization that
aid the practitioner in the
66
00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,880
achievement of the spiritual
intention in their own lives and
67
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,560
experience.
When we envision a world of
68
00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:55,680
peace, a world of harmony, A
world of sharing and caring, we
69
00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,680
are practising another form of
imagination that differs from
70
00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,360
the reality of the external
world as most human beings
71
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,200
experience it.
As more people undertake this
72
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:12,480
form of imagination, it gains
power of effectuation, so that
73
00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:17,280
at some point in the future we
shall have overcome the forces
74
00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:22,360
of darkness and division that
destroy, pollute, breed
75
00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:27,720
separation and hatred and create
thereby massive suffering, wars,
76
00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:32,320
mass migrations and terrible
painful diseases and deaths due
77
00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,640
to pollution and other
mismanagement of our lives
78
00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:41,240
collectively on this planet, the
mother writes quote.
79
00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,600
Imagination is a power of
formation.
80
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,440
In fact, people who have no
imagination are not formative
81
00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,200
from the mental point of view.
They cannot give a concrete
82
00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:57,400
power to their thought.
Imagination is a very powerful
83
00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,400
means of action.
For instance, if you have a pain
84
00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,960
somewhere, and if you imagine
that you are making the pain
85
00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,560
disappear or are removing it or
destroying it, all kinds of
86
00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:13,240
images like that, well, you
succeed perfectly.
87
00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,080
There's a story of a person who
was losing her hair at a
88
00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,360
fantastic rate, enough to become
bald within a few weeks.
89
00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:26,280
And then someone told her, when
you brush your hair, imagine
90
00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:29,040
that it is growing and will grow
very fast.
91
00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:34,040
And always while brushing her
hair, she said, oh, my hair is
92
00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,200
growing.
Oh, it will grow very fast.
93
00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,280
And it happened.
But what people usually do is
94
00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,160
tell themselves, ah, all my hair
is falling again and I shall
95
00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:46,600
become bald.
That's certain.
96
00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,920
It's going to happen and of
course it happens.
97
00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,320
End Quote reference three are
open to and the mother powers
98
00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:01,440
within Chapter 3 Imagination
page 26.