“The person who has no imagination has no wings” Mohammed Ali.
In the spiritual life, imagination has two meanings. First, it is the part of us that navigates into images, symbols, myths, and stories. Secondly, it is the capacity we all have for innovative thinking and creative expression.
There’s a Zen koan that goes like this: “Imagine a woman puts a goose egg in a bottle and that she raises it carefully until it is a full-grown goose. She wanted to free it but it had no room. How can she get the goose out without hurting it or killing it or breaking the bottle?” Apparently, this riddle has been driving monks batty for the years.
The solution is actually simple. , “The goose is out!”
If you imagined the egg in, you can imagine the goose out.
Imagination is an inner reality, a boundless realm not defined by our senses or reason. The practice of imagination and creative visualization encourages us to use this faculty and enables us to explore the realm.
I remember reading Napoleon hill when I was about 18 years and his famous line:
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
Hill is most known for a book called, Think and Grow Rich and the author of the Science of Success, His teacher, Andrew Carnegie said, “All success begins with definiteness of purpose, with a clear picture in your mind of what you want from life.”
That left a great impact on Hill. But it was what Carnegie said straight after that changed his life:
“Everyone comes to the earth plane blessed with the privilege of controlling their mind, directing it to whatever ends they may choose. The next part is even more important:
Everyone brings at birth, the equivalent of two sealed envelopes, one is clearly labeled, ‘The riches you may enjoy if you take possession of your own mind and direct it to ends of your own choice.’ And the other, ‘The penalties you must pay if you neglect to take possession and direct your mind.
And now, the contents of those two sealed envelopes are these lists;
Riches Envelope
1) Sound health.
2) Peace of mind.
3) A labor of love of your own choice.
4) Freedom from fear and worry.
5) A positive mental attitude.
6) Material riches of your own choice and quantity.
In the sealed envelope labeled penalties is this list of the prices one must pay for neglecting to take possession of his own mind.
Penalties
1) Ill health,
2) Fear and worry,
3) Indecision and doubt,
4) Frustration throughout life,
5) Poverty and want
6) And a whole flock of evils consisting of endless greed, jealousy, anger, hatred and superstition.
The starting point from which you may take off is to write a clear description of your major desire in life. The one circumstance or position or thing that you’d be willing to accept as your idea of success.
And remember before you begin writing that your only limitations are those which you set up in your own mind or allow others to setup for you.
Additionally, write down a clear statement of what you precisely intend to give in return for what you desire from life. Then start in right where you are.
And three, memorize both of your statements, what you desire and what you intend to give in return for it. Repeat them at least a dozen times daily.
Remember to always end your statements with this expression of gratitude for the blessings for which you were gifted at birth.
Ask for nothing more, except perhaps, more wisdom with which to accept or use wisely the riches I received at birth in the form of the power and control to direct my mind to whatever ends I desire.
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Albert Einstein. He goes on to say:
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Imagination is the language of the soul.
Pay attention to your imagination and you will discover all you need to be fulfilled.”
And so it is.