Sept. 25, 2024
The Action of Imagination in the Manifestation of Thought into External Circumstances
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter III Imagination, pp. 29-30 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/09/21/the-action-of-imagination-in-the-manifestation-of-thought-into-external-circumstances/
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
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,880
There are several points worth
considering with respect to
2
00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:08,560
utilizing imagination and some
of the unanticipated issues that
3
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,880
are based primarily in the lag
between formulation and
4
00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,320
accomplishment of the imagined
form.
5
00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,680
Visualization and use of the
imagination can act to turn a
6
00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,040
vague idea or sense into
something that can realize
7
00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,200
itself in action.
Every thought form moves out
8
00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,880
into the world and tries to
effectuate itself.
9
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,640
If it is weak and transient, the
impact may be slight.
10
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,640
But if an individual has worked
to organize the thoughts,
11
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,840
visualize their effectuation,
harness the will and the
12
00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,280
emotions in support of this
process, the likelihood of
13
00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,760
eventual success is much higher.
With the proviso, of course,
14
00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,440
that there are cross currents in
the world that can distort,
15
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,480
delay, or otherwise prevent
effectuation.
16
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:09,280
Sri Aurobindo in his epic poem
Savitri, a legend and a symbol,
17
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:15,960
states quote.
A moment sees the ages, toil to
18
00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:18,320
express.
End Quote.
19
00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,920
This puts the imagined and
visualized thought into a
20
00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,240
context of time and
circumstance.
21
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,040
Depending on the strength of the
organized thought form, the will
22
00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,240
attached to it, and the
situation in the world which may
23
00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,480
at the time of its release be
opposed or even defiant to that
24
00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,920
formation, it may take a
considerable time and persistent
25
00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,120
effort to bring it to full
fruition.
26
00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,400
Some of the more significant and
vision changes could take
27
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,000
hundreds of years to manifest
fully.
28
00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,920
For most people who are not
necessarily working on major
29
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,840
structural changes, the time of
manifestation may be much
30
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,600
shorter and the result may be
much more aligned with the
31
00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,280
formation.
Yet, given the variability of
32
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,880
focus and mind, many people may
not attribute the result when it
33
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:18,120
comes to the formation when it
was shaped and loosed into the
34
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,520
world.
Further, many people may
35
00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:26,360
actually not want the originally
desired result when it actually
36
00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:31,120
shows up as they have changed
their circumstance, situation or
37
00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,560
focus in the meantime.
This comes under the proverb, be
38
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,760
careful what you wish for
because you may get it.
39
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,000
The mother writes.
Quote how many times you sit and
40
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,120
become aware that the thought is
beginning to form images for
41
00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:52,080
itself, to tell itself a story.
And so when you have become a
42
00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:57,160
little expert at it, not only do
you see unfolding before you the
43
00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,920
history of what you would like
to happen in life, in your own
44
00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:06,360
life, but you can take something
away, add a detail, perfect your
45
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,280
work, make a really fine story
in which everything conforms
46
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:15,320
with your highest aspiration.
And once you have made a
47
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,160
complete harmonious
construction, as perfect as you
48
00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,880
can make it, then you open your
hands and let the bird fly away.
49
00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,280
If it is well made, it always
realizes itself in the end, and
50
00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,360
that is what 1 doesn't know.
But The thing is realized in the
51
00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:39,120
course of time, sometimes long
afterwards, when you have
52
00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,120
forgotten your story, can no
longer remember having told it
53
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,440
to yourself.
You have changed much, are
54
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,440
thinking about other things,
making other stories, and the
55
00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,360
first one no longer interests
you.
56
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,640
And if you are not very
attentive, when the result of
57
00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,880
the first story comes, you are
already very far away from it
58
00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,960
and no longer remember it all,
that this is the result of your
59
00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,960
own story.
And that is why it is so
60
00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,240
important to control yourself.
For if within you there are
61
00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:17,800
multiple and contradictory
wills, not only wills but
62
00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:23,600
tendencies, orientations, levels
of life, all this causes battles
63
00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,440
in your life.
For example, at your highest
64
00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,160
level you have fashioned a
beautiful story which you send
65
00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,200
out into the world.
But then perhaps the next day,
66
00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:39,560
perhaps on the very same day,
perhaps a little later, you have
67
00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,040
come down to a much more
material level.
68
00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,160
And these things from above seem
to you a little fairy like
69
00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,320
unreal.
And you begin to make very
70
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,320
concrete, very utilitarian
formations which are not always
71
00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,520
very pretty.
And these two go out.
72
00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:02,160
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
73
00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:08,520
Mother powers within chapter 3.
Imagination, pages 29 to 30.
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,880
There are several points worth
considering with respect to
2
00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:08,560
utilizing imagination and some
of the unanticipated issues that
3
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,880
are based primarily in the lag
between formulation and
4
00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,320
accomplishment of the imagined
form.
5
00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,680
Visualization and use of the
imagination can act to turn a
6
00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,040
vague idea or sense into
something that can realize
7
00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,200
itself in action.
Every thought form moves out
8
00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,880
into the world and tries to
effectuate itself.
9
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,640
If it is weak and transient, the
impact may be slight.
10
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,640
But if an individual has worked
to organize the thoughts,
11
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,840
visualize their effectuation,
harness the will and the
12
00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,280
emotions in support of this
process, the likelihood of
13
00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,760
eventual success is much higher.
With the proviso, of course,
14
00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,440
that there are cross currents in
the world that can distort,
15
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,480
delay, or otherwise prevent
effectuation.
16
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:09,280
Sri Aurobindo in his epic poem
Savitri, a legend and a symbol,
17
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:15,960
states quote.
A moment sees the ages, toil to
18
00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:18,320
express.
End Quote.
19
00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,920
This puts the imagined and
visualized thought into a
20
00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,240
context of time and
circumstance.
21
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,040
Depending on the strength of the
organized thought form, the will
22
00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,240
attached to it, and the
situation in the world which may
23
00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,480
at the time of its release be
opposed or even defiant to that
24
00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,920
formation, it may take a
considerable time and persistent
25
00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,120
effort to bring it to full
fruition.
26
00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,400
Some of the more significant and
vision changes could take
27
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,000
hundreds of years to manifest
fully.
28
00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,920
For most people who are not
necessarily working on major
29
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,840
structural changes, the time of
manifestation may be much
30
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,600
shorter and the result may be
much more aligned with the
31
00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,280
formation.
Yet, given the variability of
32
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,880
focus and mind, many people may
not attribute the result when it
33
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:18,120
comes to the formation when it
was shaped and loosed into the
34
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,520
world.
Further, many people may
35
00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:26,360
actually not want the originally
desired result when it actually
36
00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:31,120
shows up as they have changed
their circumstance, situation or
37
00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,560
focus in the meantime.
This comes under the proverb, be
38
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,760
careful what you wish for
because you may get it.
39
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,000
The mother writes.
Quote how many times you sit and
40
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,120
become aware that the thought is
beginning to form images for
41
00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:52,080
itself, to tell itself a story.
And so when you have become a
42
00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:57,160
little expert at it, not only do
you see unfolding before you the
43
00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,920
history of what you would like
to happen in life, in your own
44
00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:06,360
life, but you can take something
away, add a detail, perfect your
45
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,280
work, make a really fine story
in which everything conforms
46
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:15,320
with your highest aspiration.
And once you have made a
47
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,160
complete harmonious
construction, as perfect as you
48
00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,880
can make it, then you open your
hands and let the bird fly away.
49
00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,280
If it is well made, it always
realizes itself in the end, and
50
00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,360
that is what 1 doesn't know.
But The thing is realized in the
51
00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:39,120
course of time, sometimes long
afterwards, when you have
52
00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,120
forgotten your story, can no
longer remember having told it
53
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,440
to yourself.
You have changed much, are
54
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,440
thinking about other things,
making other stories, and the
55
00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,360
first one no longer interests
you.
56
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,640
And if you are not very
attentive, when the result of
57
00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,880
the first story comes, you are
already very far away from it
58
00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,960
and no longer remember it all,
that this is the result of your
59
00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,960
own story.
And that is why it is so
60
00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,240
important to control yourself.
For if within you there are
61
00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:17,800
multiple and contradictory
wills, not only wills but
62
00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:23,600
tendencies, orientations, levels
of life, all this causes battles
63
00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,440
in your life.
For example, at your highest
64
00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,160
level you have fashioned a
beautiful story which you send
65
00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,200
out into the world.
But then perhaps the next day,
66
00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:39,560
perhaps on the very same day,
perhaps a little later, you have
67
00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,040
come down to a much more
material level.
68
00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,160
And these things from above seem
to you a little fairy like
69
00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,320
unreal.
And you begin to make very
70
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,320
concrete, very utilitarian
formations which are not always
71
00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,520
very pretty.
And these two go out.
72
00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:02,160
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
73
00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:08,520
Mother powers within chapter 3.
Imagination, pages 29 to 30.