Chapter 24 Imagination will lead to experimentation
Chapter 24 Imagination will lead to experimentation
第二十四章 想像力將會引導你做新的嘗試
第二十四章 想像力將會引導你做新的嘗試
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24. Imagination will lead to experimentation
24. Imagination will lead to experimentation
We are told that the disintegrating state of our mind and of our school system, for that matter, is because we lack imagination. Even further: this innate creativity is decaying because of the age we are living in, the Internet Age. “Has modern society really extinguished the creative spark among our youth? Experts say creativity is innate, so it can't really be lost. But it needs to be nurtured. … The current focus on testing in schools, and the idea that there is only one right answer to a question, may be hampering development and creativity among kids, … But the situation is not hopeless, … In fact, there's evidence to suggest that, worldwide, youngsters are very creative, particularly with their use of digital media, … And a recent study found that, at least in their playtime, kids are becoming more imaginative. Experts agree changes can be made in the classroom to cultivate creativity.”1
We are told that the disintegrating state of our mind and of our school system, for that matter, is because we lack imagination. Even further: this innate creativity is decaying because of the age we are living in, the Internet Age. “Has modern society really extinguished the creative spark among our youth? Experts say creativity is innate, so it can't really be lost. But it needs to be nurtured. … The current focus on testing in schools, and the idea that there is only one right answer to a question, may be hampering development and creativity among kids, … But the situation is not hopeless, … In fact, there's evidence to suggest that, worldwide, youngsters are very creative, particularly with their use of digital media, … And a recent study found that, at least in their playtime, kids are becoming more imaginative. Experts agree changes can be made in the classroom to cultivate creativity.”1
One of my favorite educators, Dr. Ken Robertson often speaks of the need to nurture that “treasure” that exists in each of us. “All children start their school careers with sparkling imaginations, fertile minds, and a willingness to take risks with what they think. … I believe this passionately: that we don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, we get educated out of it. … We live in worlds that we have forged and composed. It's much more true than any of the species that you see. I mean, it seems to me that one of the most distinctive features of human intelligence is the capacity to imagine, to project out of our own immediate circumstances and to bring to mind things that aren't present here and now.”2 Thus we are presented with a conundrum, are we not? You cannot kill my creativity: it is innate. But, how do I manifest this imagination? If the contemporary school system will not allow me to mature, I must uncover myself: I must obviously experiment.
One of my favorite educators, Dr. Ken Robertson often speaks of the need to nurture that “treasure” that exists in each of us. “All children start their school careers with sparkling imaginations, fertile minds, and a willingness to take risks with what they think. … I believe this passionately: that we don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, we get educated out of it. … We live in worlds that we have forged and composed. It's much more true than any of the species that you see. I mean, it seems to me that one of the most distinctive features of human intelligence is the capacity to imagine, to project out of our own immediate circumstances and to bring to mind things that aren't present here and now.”2 Thus we are presented with a conundrum, are we not? You cannot kill my creativity: it is innate. But, how do I manifest this imagination? If the contemporary school system will not allow me to mature, I must uncover myself: I must obviously experiment.
Now exposing yourself to a new “world” and new experiences obviously comes with danger when experimenting with mind-altering substances. The American inspired War on Drugs has been an approach to limit the usage of “illegal substances” in the population, excluding probably the most lethal: alcohol. Virtually all segments of society consider it a politically driven failure.3 Our approach to any kind of mind altering material has been historically quite confusing and many times ephemeral. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis was heavily addicted to cocaine, of all things. In An Anatomy of Addiction,4 Dr. Howard Markel writes, “On April 21, 1884, a 28-year-old researcher in the field now called neuroscience sat down at the cluttered desk of his cramped room in Vienna General Hospital and composed a letter to his fiancée, Martha Bernays, telling her of his recent studies: ‘I have been reading about cocaine, the effective ingredient of coca leaves,’ Sigmund Freud wrote, ‘which some Indian tribes chew in order to make themselves resistant to privation and fatigue.’ As Freud wrote almost three decades later: ‘the study on coca was an -- allotrion’ -- an idle pursuit that distracts from serious responsibilities -- ‘which I was eager to conclude.’” In that period of time Freud became so seriously addicted to cocaine that he almost ruined his career. There can be no enlightenment through an artificial stimulant.
Now exposing yourself to a new “world” and new experiences obviously comes with danger when experimenting with mind-altering substances. The American inspired War on Drugs has been an approach to limit the usage of “illegal substances” in the population, excluding probably the most lethal: alcohol. Virtually all segments of society consider it a politically driven failure.3 Our approach to any kind of mind altering material has been historically quite confusing and many times ephemeral. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis was heavily addicted to cocaine, of all things. In An Anatomy of Addiction,4 Dr. Howard Markel writes, “On April 21, 1884, a 28-year-old researcher in the field now called neuroscience sat down at the cluttered desk of his cramped room in Vienna General Hospital and composed a letter to his fiancée, Martha Bernays, telling her of his recent studies: ‘I have been reading about cocaine, the effective ingredient of coca leaves,’ Sigmund Freud wrote, ‘which some Indian tribes chew in order to make themselves resistant to privation and fatigue.’ As Freud wrote almost three decades later: ‘the study on coca was an -- allotrion’ -- an idle pursuit that distracts from serious responsibilities -- ‘which I was eager to conclude.’” In that period of time Freud became so seriously addicted to cocaine that he almost ruined his career. There can be no enlightenment through an artificial stimulant.
On a personal note, I had a friend in school, George Maige. We thought he was “too cool for school,” as the saying goes.5 He was good looking, with a car and, of course, a girlfriend: he was our idol, our icon, everyone wanted to emulate his lifestyle. He tried LSD.6 This drug had only been made illegal in 1968: I was born in 1956, for example. Upon ingestion, it causes an “animated sensory experience of senses, emotions, memories, time, and awareness for six to fourteen hours.” All fake and created by the mind: I see the world through my five senses to paraphrase Sadhguru.
On a personal note, I had a friend in school, George Maige. We thought he was “too cool for school,” as the saying goes.5 He was good looking, with a car and, of course, a girlfriend: he was our idol, our icon, everyone wanted to emulate his lifestyle. He tried LSD.6 This drug had only been made illegal in 1968: I was born in 1956, for example. Upon ingestion, it causes an “animated sensory experience of senses, emotions, memories, time, and awareness for six to fourteen hours.” All fake and created by the mind: I see the world through my five senses to paraphrase Sadhguru.
George took the drug and had a “bad trip” -- a period of mental breakdown. He caused quite “a stir” in our small town. He crawled up a tree and began to howl and grunt like a monkey. You know the corollary: the neighbors came, then the police came, and finally the volunteer medical staff came -- followed by a real-life doctor. George was placed in our local hospital and eventually moved to a “big city” mental institution. A friend and I went to visit him. If you have watched “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”7 you will know what effect it had on me as a young man. He was never the same again – never! The academic and mystic, Ram Dass8 has a thought: “Love is the most transformative medicine for love slowly transforms you into what psychedelics only get you to glimpse.”
George took the drug and had a “bad trip” -- a period of mental breakdown. He caused quite “a stir” in our small town. He crawled up a tree and began to howl and grunt like a monkey. You know the corollary: the neighbors came, then the police came, and finally the volunteer medical staff came -- followed by a real-life doctor. George was placed in our local hospital and eventually moved to a “big city” mental institution. A friend and I went to visit him. If you have watched “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”7 you will know what effect it had on me as a young man. He was never the same again – never! The academic and mystic, Ram Dass8 has a thought: “Love is the most transformative medicine for love slowly transforms you into what psychedelics only get you to glimpse.”
You eventually come to a point in life that you realize “the big five” (alcohol, drugs, sex, money and power) will not help you achieve enlightenment – your oneness with the universe – only you can do that. The other diversions will not, ultimately, help. Only meditation, prayer and thoughtfulness can give you an understanding of life.
You eventually come to a point in life that you realize “the big five” (alcohol, drugs, sex, money and power) will not help you achieve enlightenment – your oneness with the universe – only you can do that. The other diversions will not, ultimately, help. Only meditation, prayer and thoughtfulness can give you an understanding of life.
24. 想像力將會引導你做新的嘗試
24. 想像力將會引導你做新的嘗試
有人說，由於缺乏想像力，我們的心靈和學校系統處於崩壞的狀態。更進一步說，由於我們活在網際網路的時代，與生俱來的創意正在消退。「現代社會真的澆熄了我們年輕人的創造力嗎？專家說，創造力是天生的，因此它不會真的消失。但創意是需要栽培的。……目前學校教育以考試為導向，每個問題都只有一個正確答案，這樣的狀況恐將妨礙孩子們的發展和創造力，……好在情況並非陷入了絕望，……事實上，有證據顯示，全世界的年輕人都非常有創意，特別是因為他們可以使用數位媒體。最近的一項研究發現，至少在他們的遊戲期間，孩子們變得更具想像力。專家認為可以透過課程上的改變來培養學生的創造力。」1
有人說，由於缺乏想像力，我們的心靈和學校系統處於崩壞的狀態。更進一步說，由於我們活在網際網路的時代，與生俱來的創意正在消退。「現代社會真的澆熄了我們年輕人的創造力嗎？專家說，創造力是天生的，因此它不會真的消失。但創意是需要栽培的。……目前學校教育以考試為導向，每個問題都只有一個正確答案，這樣的狀況恐將妨礙孩子們的發展和創造力，……好在情況並非陷入了絕望，……事實上，有證據顯示，全世界的年輕人都非常有創意，特別是因為他們可以使用數位媒體。最近的一項研究發現，至少在他們的遊戲期間，孩子們變得更具想像力。專家認為可以透過課程上的改變來培養學生的創造力。」1
肯尼‧羅賓森博士是我最喜歡的教育工作者之一，他經常談到，我們必須培養存在於我們每個人之中的「寶藏。」「所有的孩子一開始接受教育時已展現豐富的想像力與創意的潛力，並且在思考時願意冒險。我們不是在成長中發展出創意，而是會從原本就俱有的創意中成長，我對此深信不疑。或者說，我們從創意中學習成長。……我們人類生活在一個由我們自己創造的世界裡，這點比你所見的其他物種都來得真實。我的意思是，在我看來，人類智慧最顯著的特徵之一就是我們擁有想像力。我們能藉由當前的情況去想像未來發生的事情，並且想起此時此刻沒有出現在眼前的事物。」2我們因而面臨了一項難題，不是嗎？你無法消滅我的創造力，因為那是與生俱來的。但是，我該如何將它展現出來呢？如果當前的教育體制無法讓我在這方面成長，我就應該要開發自己，很明顯地，我必須要去做新的嘗試。
肯尼‧羅賓森博士是我最喜歡的教育工作者之一，他經常談到，我們必須培養存在於我們每個人之中的「寶藏。」「所有的孩子一開始接受教育時已展現豐富的想像力與創意的潛力，並且在思考時願意冒險。我們不是在成長中發展出創意，而是會從原本就俱有的創意中成長，我對此深信不疑。或者說，我們從創意中學習成長。……我們人類生活在一個由我們自己創造的世界裡，這點比你所見的其他物種都來得真實。我的意思是，在我看來，人類智慧最顯著的特徵之一就是我們擁有想像力。我們能藉由當前的情況去想像未來發生的事情，並且想起此時此刻沒有出現在眼前的事物。」2我們因而面臨了一項難題，不是嗎？你無法消滅我的創造力，因為那是與生俱來的。但是，我該如何將它展現出來呢？如果當前的教育體制無法讓我在這方面成長，我就應該要開發自己，很明顯地，我必須要去做新的嘗試。
當你接觸全新的「世界」和全新的體驗時，明顯地會帶來危險，若你是嘗試服用會產生幻覺的毒品。美國人發動打擊毒品的戰爭所用的方法就是限制人們使用「非法毒品」，儘管其中最致命的酒精卻沒有包含在其中。事實上，社會各階層都認為這是一個失敗的政策。3 我們過去管理迷幻藥物的方法很混亂，而且很多次執行的時間都很短。精神分析之父西格蒙德‧弗洛伊德曾經有嚴重的海洛因毒癮。在《成癮的分析》4一書中，作者豪霍華‧馬可博士曾表示：「1884年4月21日，一名現在稱之為「神經科學」的28歲研究員，在他維也納綜合醫院狹窄的房間中，坐在雜亂的辦公桌前寫信給他的未婚妻瑪莎･伯奈斯，告訴她最近的研究心得。『我一直在讀古柯葉具有藥效的成分─古柯鹼，』弗洛伊德寫道，『一些印第安部落為了抵抗飢餓和疲勞會咀嚼古柯葉。』正如弗洛伊德在三十年後所寫的那樣：『我很急切的結束古柯葉這個奇怪的研究，』這個沒有什麼作用的研究讓他從嚴肅的計畫中分神了。』」在那段時間裡，弗洛伊德對古柯鹼上癮，幾乎毀了他的職業生涯。任何人造的刺激物質都無法帶來任何心靈上的領悟。
當你接觸全新的「世界」和全新的體驗時，明顯地會帶來危險，若你是嘗試服用會產生幻覺的毒品。美國人發動打擊毒品的戰爭所用的方法就是限制人們使用「非法毒品」，儘管其中最致命的酒精卻沒有包含在其中。事實上，社會各階層都認為這是一個失敗的政策。3 我們過去管理迷幻藥物的方法很混亂，而且很多次執行的時間都很短。精神分析之父西格蒙德‧弗洛伊德曾經有嚴重的海洛因毒癮。在《成癮的分析》4一書中，作者豪霍華‧馬可博士曾表示：「1884年4月21日，一名現在稱之為「神經科學」的28歲研究員，在他維也納綜合醫院狹窄的房間中，坐在雜亂的辦公桌前寫信給他的未婚妻瑪莎･伯奈斯，告訴她最近的研究心得。『我一直在讀古柯葉具有藥效的成分─古柯鹼，』弗洛伊德寫道，『一些印第安部落為了抵抗飢餓和疲勞會咀嚼古柯葉。』正如弗洛伊德在三十年後所寫的那樣：『我很急切的結束古柯葉這個奇怪的研究，』這個沒有什麼作用的研究讓他從嚴肅的計畫中分神了。』」在那段時間裡，弗洛伊德對古柯鹼上癮，幾乎毀了他的職業生涯。任何人造的刺激物質都無法帶來任何心靈上的領悟。
舉我個人的例子，我在學校時有一位名叫喬治･麥奇的朋友。如同俗話所說的，他認為他太酷了，不適合上學。5他長得很好看，有車子，當然也有女朋友。他是我們的偶像，我們的榜樣，每個人都想模仿他的生活方式。他試過LSD6。這種藥物在1968年才被認定為非法，而我出生於1956年。在注射LSD之後，它會產生「感官、情緒、記憶、時間和意識等生動的體驗，持續長達6到14個小時。」所有的幻象都是由心靈創造出來的。用薩古魯的話來說，我透過五官來感受這世界。
舉我個人的例子，我在學校時有一位名叫喬治･麥奇的朋友。如同俗話所說的，他認為他太酷了，不適合上學。5他長得很好看，有車子，當然也有女朋友。他是我們的偶像，我們的榜樣，每個人都想模仿他的生活方式。他試過LSD6。這種藥物在1968年才被認定為非法，而我出生於1956年。在注射LSD之後，它會產生「感官、情緒、記憶、時間和意識等生動的體驗，持續長達6到14個小時。」所有的幻象都是由心靈創造出來的。用薩古魯的話來說，我透過五官來感受這世界。
喬治使用了這種藥物，並經歷了一段「糟糕的旅程」，一段精神崩潰的時期。他在我們的小鎮引起了很大的騷動。他曾爬上樹，像猴子一樣吱吱叫。你知道這必然產生的後果是，鄰居來了，接著警察來了，然後是醫療志工來了，最後來了位真正的醫生。喬治起先被安置在我們當地的醫院，後來轉到了大城市裡的精神病院。有一回，我和一位朋友去找他。如果你看過《飛越杜鵑窩》7這部電影的話，你就會知道這部電影對我這個年輕人的影響。他再也不是當時的那個喬治･麥奇了，永遠都不可能是了！學者兼神秘主義者雷姆‧達斯8曾說過：「愛是最具轉變能力的藥物，因為愛能慢慢地轉化你，讓你得到迷幻藥只能給你短暫感受。」
喬治使用了這種藥物，並經歷了一段「糟糕的旅程」，一段精神崩潰的時期。他在我們的小鎮引起了很大的騷動。他曾爬上樹，像猴子一樣吱吱叫。你知道這必然產生的後果是，鄰居來了，接著警察來了，然後是醫療志工來了，最後來了位真正的醫生。喬治起先被安置在我們當地的醫院，後來轉到了大城市裡的精神病院。有一回，我和一位朋友去找他。如果你看過《飛越杜鵑窩》7這部電影的話，你就會知道這部電影對我這個年輕人的影響。他再也不是當時的那個喬治･麥奇了，永遠都不可能是了！學者兼神秘主義者雷姆‧達斯8曾說過：「愛是最具轉變能力的藥物，因為愛能慢慢地轉化你，讓你得到迷幻藥只能給你短暫感受。」
你生命中到達某個階段後，將會了解到酒精、毒品、性、金錢和權力這「五大類」對你的心靈不能有所啟發，天人合一這件事只有你自己能做到。其他的旁門走道最後都不會有幫助。只有透過冥想、禱告和思考，才能讓你體認到生命的真諦。
你生命中到達某個階段後，將會了解到酒精、毒品、性、金錢和權力這「五大類」對你的心靈不能有所啟發，天人合一這件事只有你自己能做到。其他的旁門走道最後都不會有幫助。只有透過冥想、禱告和思考，才能讓你體認到生命的真諦。
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