Imagination is Greater than Knowledge, according to Albert Einstein.  Since Einstein is widely considered to be one of the most intelligent people to ever live, we should give serious attention to what he says.

What is imagination?  In poetry, imagination occurs at several definite levels.  Poetic imagination begins with the ability to observe very carefully and notice every detail that the average person overlooks.  This includes the ability to see, hear, touch, taste and smell, when the average person might only use their eyes to see.

Beyond the Senses

The imagination can conceive beyond what the senses can observe.  Poetic imagination is the power to see love in a sunset, hear music in a painting, or taste peace in a symphony.  The lively imagination goes further than the sense organs themselves.

The Power of Potential

The most powerful level of imagination is seeing the potential of what could exist.  This includes sensing the potential of sunshine during a dark thunderstorm.  The imagination can conceive of a smile, even during great loss.  A strong imagination knows the potential for peace, even while war is raging.  Imagination is not limited by what seems to be real, but is empowered to recognize the potential within all things.  This is the basis of writing poetry.

Practical Applications of the Imagination

These levels of imagination are very important for teachers, students, poets, heads of state, and in all walks of life.  For teachers, it means seeing the gift within each student.  This leads to the teachers’ effort to develop all levels of the students’ potential, without being limited by present obstacles.  Assignments are set to challenge the students’ potential ability.  They are encouraged to reach their potential, rather than scolded for making mistakes.

 For the student, deep imagination needs to be practiced at every step of life.  Unfortunately, most students spend most of their time outside of class BLOCKING the imagination by filling it with images from music videos, films, soap operas and game shows.  With all of this visual input, the students’ imagination becomes lazy.  They sit back and let pictures and sounds be delivered to them like unhealthy junk food.

It’s not that people lack imagination, but they allow the imagination to become very lazy, overweight, and bored by the routine activity of each day.  It’s time to change this terribly unhealthy way of life. 

Video Diet

Here’s a big challenge to your imagination.  Beginning today, go on a video diet!  That is, reduce the amount of video, film, and TV that you watch by 25%.  If you presently watch TV four hours per day, cut back to just three hours per day.  For those who watch two hours of drama every night, cut back to just an hour and a half per night.

One week from now cut back another 25%.  If you used to watch four hours of sports per day, cut it back to only two hours per day.  For those who formerly watched a two-hour movie every night, reduce it to one movie every two nights.

Turn it Off!

The above challenge is a nice, gradual way to change lifestyle.  The truth is, nobody will do it.  So, the new instruction is much stronger.  That is, beginning today, reduce the time that you fill your day with sports shows, nature documentaries and nightly news by 100%!  Just like a cigarette smoker or an alcoholic, the video addiction is extremely difficult to stop.  The only way is to go “cold turkey.”  That means, stop, TODAY, 100%, and overcome your addiction.

Reach your Potential

Can you imagine doing this?  You’ve already imagined the possibility of removing video from your mind, just by reading the above challenge. Now, fulfil your potential.  Imagine the new things you have time to do.  Start a list of new activities that you do, and add to the list some new thing every day.  Overcoming the addiction means filling your life with new activities. This is called having a poetic life.

Is Imagination Greater than Knowledge?

As you overcome your addiction, keep notes on how your life is changing.  Be aware of changes in your family relations, your reading ability, your success in education, your physical health, and your knowledge of the world.