Best Of

I believe the definition of imagination boils down to simply playing with mental formations.

@how 's comment in the previous thread is most agreeable to me. I think in the empty and infinite canvas, imagination is like any other formation and nothing more. It's a building block of this existence, usable but not given purpose by itself. The hindrance which takes hold defines its purpose.

A middle path reminds me to use it wisely, to not become attached. I'm hoping, like most other things, if examined honestly using the 8FP it will reveal how it is to be interacted with. Through practice I hope to use it more effectively vs it running the show with my hindrances most of the time.

I'm not good enough at staying mindful constantly yet so one of my practices is to "PowerPoint slide transition" my daydreams when I realize I'm lost in imagination or notice mental formations effecting my emotions. This usually instantly brings me back to present moment where I have an opportunity to hang out again before getting lost in thought a bit later on. My favorite is the broken glass screen that falls away to reveal the one behind it. Except in my case it falls my daydream away to real life!

As for mindfulness coupling with creativity, I have a few opinions on that. Meditation builds up elements that allow us to 100% something vs whatever autopilot percentage we were doing before. If we point that 100% at creativity, sky's the limit. If we point it at catastrophizing, we can drive ourselves sick with worry.

IDK, the same argument could be used for fire, or sharp objects, or lots of things. Should we get rid of fire because it can be used to destroy?

I honestly haven't really thought about it or looked into the topic. My initial reaction is that I think equanimity might be more like being at the eye of a storm rather than the lack of a storm, not that there has to be a storm per se. Like a great martial artist could be calm and focused in the middle of a fight, maintaining equanimity while in action.

I'd also worry about developing a sense of dullness rather than equanimity.

The psychology podcaster I listen to researches differing aspects of intelligence, I think primarily creativity and his latest book was on transcendence. Its a more western form of spirituality but at least from his point of view they aren't mutually exclusive.

Here's a scientific meta study into the topic I didn't want to read through if you're interested.

...Much literature suggests that the nature of the mindfulness-creativity relationship is positive and promising—in that mindfulness can enhance creativity. Research demonstrates that mindfulness improves a person’s ability to concentrate (Sedlmeier et al., 2012), decreases the fear of being judged, and enhances open-minded thinking while reducing aversive self-conscious thinking (Brown, Ryan, & Creswell, 2007)...
...Many aspects of ‘trait mindfulness,’ or skills that are facilitated by mindfulness training, increase creativity. For example, mindfulness is associated with the ability to change perspectives by expanding empathy and open-mindedness (Carson & Langer, 2006). It also increases a person’s capacity to respond to situations in a non-habitual fashion—which is at the crux of creativity (Moore & Malinowski, 2009)...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7395604/

Then I will gladly move to Monte Carlo or somewhere in the south of France.
It has nothing to do with it but since I am going to be a Buddha I would like to be one while looking at the Mediterranean.

@David said:
Thay often said the next Buddha could be a community.

Makes sense @David.
Once in an awakened state, we may experience everyone on their awake/real state. This is a known experience for those breaking the veil of ignorances matrix.