How To Live Life And Love It
	Imagination And Intuition <  Previous Contents Next  >

MASTER: Today we shall discuss that great power we call imagination.

PUPIL: May I ask just what imagination is. I have heard you often speak of it as our "spiritual aeroplane," and say that "it wings us." But just what is it?

MASTER: No mortal can possibly answer that question. With all of our scientific research no one has found any rational clue as to the source of this great power, outside of God or Spirit. Nor has anyone been able to determine how far the use of imagination is able to carry one. It is Infinite. It is the mystery of mysteries; and it might be compared to electricity in this respect. Yet we know it does exist and that its power for good is inconceivable, if used constructively, correctly. What we should do is to inquire into its usefulness to us. Every normal person is equipped with it to some degree; and like the will the imagination can be developed. If rightly understood and correctly used it will perform seeming miracles.

PUPIL: But why do you call imagination the "spiritual aeroplane?"

MASTER: Because imagination, correctly used, can and will lift one, as if on wings, above and beyond all limitation, above one's low, narrow views of life, into a cloudless domain of true perspective. Imagination gives one clear vision of possibilities in your life which you have never been able to see before. Then while you realize that it takes determination and effort to achieve success; you also know that you can, with the imagination, tap the source of unlimited possibilities and Intelligent Energy. In a flash that mysterious, winged thing called imagination shows you where all the riches of Life are to be found.

PUPIL: Suppose one feels weak, obscure, poor, that you know your ideas are good but that you lack the money or health to carry them into effect. What can imagination do about these things?

MASTER: Imagination will reveal that strength and power and means are to be found within your Divine self and that a better and better acquaintance with, and a more frequent use of, the God-powers within is certain to lead to success on any line.

PUPIL: Can imagination lift one to great spiritual heights? Or does it pertain more to material success?

MASTER: Jesus, the Nazarene, lifted himself to the exalted Christhood through understanding and using his powers of imagination. Is that not reaching the heights spiritually?

PUPIL: Is it the imagination that opens the door for limitless good to enter?

MASTER: No, not correctly speaking. It is intuition, a feminine, or soul, quality which first captures an idea from the Infinite and passes it on to the imagination. Imagination raises one to a place in consciousness where all things are not only possible but are present, spiritual facts. Look all about at the ones who have risen above every conceivable handicap to very great success. Let us take Louis Pasteur, for example. He did not have any better mentality, or more strength, or more money, than any other ordinary Frenchman; and he was just as obscure as the lowest of them. His mental tools, by nature, were no sharper than yours are. But that strange and mysterious thing called imagination was very active in him and soared far beyond his scant equipment and early hardships into new realms of wisdom.

Many times he was not sure; but he imagined; and because he imagined he discovered; and because he discovered he wrought miraculous cures and to this day his wisdom prevents disease and death in countless millions. Truly Pasteur was a saint. The same is true of Paracelsus. People said he was lucky. Envious and lazy people always say this of anyone that succeeds. But the cures of Paracelsus were not luck; they were the result of his imagination and industry. Jesus intimately acquainted himself with God through the use of his fertile imagination; and through use of the same mystic power he was able to enter into other lives. His success easily can be attributed to his ability to see God (which is Perfection) in every person he contacted, however tragic, lonely, hopeless or vicious that one seemed. Through his recognition of God in all men he helped men to see God in themselves. This was the source of his great power!

PUPIL: Then imagination is a veritable dynamo and not just a means of trivial, idle day-dreaming?

MASTER: Yes. Recognize your imagination as a dynamo of limitless power. Use all of it that you possess whenever you need it. Understanding of it, and experience in using it, will readily prove it to be the most powerful force in your mental equipment. Used correctly it will carry your light up among the brightest stars of highest heaven. It is not enough to dream and idly desire, not any more than it is enough to start an aeroplane's motor just to watch the propeller go round and round. You must fuel your imagination with knowledge and purpose. You must take your bearings and hold your course. Risks, hardships, will be only still greater opportunities to use your imagination in your journey through the clouds.

PUPIL: All of this sounds very interesting and inspiring. But when I look about me and see the people who are succeeding, and who have so much more in life than I have, it is confusing. They do not seem to know, or care, a thing about God. How about that?

MASTER: If I were you I would try attending to my own knitting and start at once to develop my own power; also I would stop envying others their success.

PUPIL: Oh I am not envying anybody anything. I simply do not understand.

MASTER: It would help if you would try to avoid a tailspin of self-pity. As soon as you observe someone who is getting on better than you are you must project yourself into his life critically. Try doing this same thing constructively. Explore his tactics, his tastes, his imagination and industry; and then ask yourself if you might not get along better and faster if you adopted some of the means he employs.

PUPIL: How can I know how another does his work to succeed? And I did not realize that I have been feeling sorry for myself. How would it be to try to see myself as others see me?

MASTER: It would help very much if you will turn your imagination on yourself without any excuses or alibis. Your imagination will show you your true self if you have the courage to use it and trust it. And let you intuition help you also.