2004-09-24-A Lesson on Imagination

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Facilitators

Session 1

September 24, 2004

Lesson

Let us for a moment discuss the word imagination, and what it entails. It is a most wonderful tool everyone is gifted with to varying degrees. It is a tool, which has brought great progress to the planet in science, art, crafts, music and more. However, it has also been used to retard progress on the planet, especially in regard to the human propensity to make war. Mankind cannot be said to have moved out of the cave of barbarism as long as war is being waged. Also, imagination has been used very negatively in the area of religion. It has enslaved the minds of man, women and children by inciting fear and damnation to the point of paralysis. This has brought no end of misery to the hearts of the innocent. This planet is threatening to sink into an abyss of fear, as even your news media is ‘pointing’ you in this direction.

Enough of negativity! Now we will switch and talk about the positive side of imagination. Your text (The Urantia Book) relates the story of the childhood of the boy, Joshua Ben Joseph, better known as Jesus; a most imaginative lad, who developed a wide array of skills in painting, sculpting, music, and more. He was most prolific until he drew a picture of his teacher, the chazan, in the sand of the classroom floor. The chazan was most perturbed by the performance of the young lad, so the elders of the synagogue decided that something ought to be done about the boy. They went to his parents, and therewith officially forbade the lad to engage in any kind of art, as he was breaking the commandment of the law, never to make graven images.

It was one of the great trials in his young life to be so stifled in his creative imagination. So too has mankind labored under old, worn-out laws of do’s and don’ts, with as a result that creative imagination has been stifled under fear of damnation. God has bestowed upon each human mind a creative ability to think with imagination. Time has arrived that this faculty be put to greater use to make this world a better and safer place to live. Do not let fear of the future stifle you any longer. Your potential capabilities are far greater than has heretofore been imagined. Cut loose from worries and fear, and teach your souls to soar with wings of hope and trust on the winds of faith, because with God, all things are possible.

You can turn things around by changing your mind. Nothing is carved in stone. Put head and heart together in creative imagination. Dare to dream of great and wonderful things, which will benefit all of mankind. Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind. Roll up the ‘blinds’ in your minds, and let the Light of God come in.

Session 2

September 25, 2004

Lesson

Today’s topic will also be on imagination -- the richness of imagination as well as the dangers of imagination. First of all, it needs to be said that mortals are far more capable of imagination for good than what is used at present. Most of what has been ‘imagined into existence’ so far -- and yes, what the mind can conceive it can also achieve – has brought forth much good. It has also turned this ability towards the dark side, and for the negative, rather than to the light and positive outcomes. The point I am endeavoring to make here is that as soon as there is a new discovery with a possibility for mankind to progress, there is also the possibility to regress. The propensity to develop weapons and machinery for mass destruction is a blatant example of this.

This is a great misuse of the God-given bequest of imagination. Likewise is this true of all discoveries with chemicals and with their negative side-effects, which ‘they’ dare to call medicine, knowing full well the disastrous side-effects on the delicate human system in order to slowly destroy it, lulling the majority of humankind into thinking that all these things are good for them. Through their well-thought-out publicity campaigns and pronouncements in the media, which the gullible, uninformed and trusting public accept as gospel, so they run out and spend their hard-earned money on these so-called remedies which ultimately destroy not only their bodies but also their minds, while the ability to think clearly, is jeopardized, and the soul languishes in darkness as the result of being under-nourished, and withers and dies.

Another point I need to raise here is that the imagination can run awry too in over-imagination especially when it is stressed, or under-imagination, in which case it gets dulled. There is a great need for each and everyone to take the time to commune in the Stillness. Take time and remove yourself from your own thoughts and imaginings. Learn to still the mind. Although this is a most difficult art to master, it is not impossible. Turn off all the mechanical noises outside yourself. Find a place where you will not be disturbed. Learn to filter out ordinary outside noises and persevere, at first for short periods at a time. Over-doing anything is never beneficial to the human system.

There is in each one a ‘still point’, a ‘Point of Stillness’, where the body and mind regenerate and rejuvenate, and where the soul gets nourished. Find this Point. It is your private connection to the All That Is. Train yourself in this most beneficial self-discipline, which becomes the point of self-regeneration. It is the Point where things, which are ‘muddy’ in your mind, become clearer. This is the Point where you learn about unconditional Love, where you will feel totally accepted just the way you are. This is the Point from which you can go forth to do yet another day’s battle in your mortal existence. Allow this truth and fact to sink into your imagination, so your soul can fly on the wings of hope and faith before the throne of Almighty God, to sing your songs of thanksgiving to the Creator, who in His Imagination gifted you with a tiny part of Himself, and included the freedom to choose for the positive or the negative. Which will you choose from moment to moment?