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2008 Spirit & Festival
EXPLORING IMAGINATION:
A GATEWAY TO WONDER AND THE UNKNOWNS
The 2008 Spirit & Place Festival theme: “Exploring Imagination”
is truly thought provoking. As I see it, the theme invites and celebrates
our efforts and resolve in transforming ordinary and extraordinary,
imagined and perceived ideas, and cherished hopes and dreams into
visions of reality.
First, we must define and understand imagination, its significance,
and important place in human affairs. It is in exploring that we
set forth new markers in human advancement and test the power and
limits of our imagination, skills, experience, and great ideas.
Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, a former President of India, reminds
us, “ideas move the world, and thought precedes action.”
Someone else made another brilliant call: “great ideas are
wonderful but something has to be done about them.”
SEEING IMAGINATION AS A LIVING PRISM
As living-breathing and thinking beings, we carry special hopes,
dreams, and expectations that best reflect our times, interests,
talents, and commitments to improve our personal and collective
human condition. We wonder, examine, and interpret the meaning,
intricate mysteries and interrelationships, and the boundless promise
of life. We see life as a colorful and complex tapestry of thoughts,
emotions, ideas, and raw images of dreams and possibilities. We
see life as a many-faceted living prism, teeming with and unfolding
many ideas and images that dazzle our mind and attention. Our study,
meditations, and reflections inspire us to give shape to ideas that
capture our imagination.
In this journey, culture, creativity, time and circumstances, and
unexpected challenges daily interface with elements of our complex
universe, constantly stretching our imagination from mundane to
the unfathomable reaches of our spirit and humanity, connecting
us at many unimagined crossroads, and leaping across others along
the way. Our imagination is an unmistakable call and adventure into
our “can do better” spirit, leading us on a tireless
search to further ideas that may make a difference to our individual
and shared worlds, not just for ourselves but also for generations
that follow, and finding the best answers and directions to the
critical concerns and opportunities of our times.
Man instinctively knows that great ideas are critical to enhancing
human promise. Imagination is our passport that leads us to discovery
of new fascinating possibilities and destinations; a uniquely-human
attribute and emotion that charges our senses to plunge into the
uncharted regions and realms to satisfy human curiosity, fulfill
some urgent need, or simply to indulge in a daring rendezvous to
test the nature and character of our fascination. Imagination is
about carrying an intuitive understanding that impossible it may
be, but impossible it is not when we set our spirit on fire in our
pursuits.
CULTIVATING THE POWER OF IMAGINATION
Our ability to dream big, imagine in living color, and think in
grand terms; our passion to overcome past limitations and boundaries;
human ingenuity and innovation to fulfill cherished ambitions and
awesome fantasies; and deep urge to unravel the great mysteries
of life are the among the greatest gift from the Divine. Imagination
represents a powerful live-force that adds an intriguing and motivational
dimension to human happiness, prosperity and advancement, since
it forms the intellectual, emotional, and creative framework to
our ideas and visions. Imagination translates the human fascination
with adventure into acts and expressions of greatness, constantly
revealing and expanding the already myriad dimensions of the universe
that surrounds us, and inspiring our stake and rightful place in
this mysterious puzzle and drama that gives definition and character
to our ideas and civilization.
Human imagination is an awesome adventure not just of the mind and
sight but also of our spirit and humanity, taking us into realms
far beyond the easy and familiar into areas that on first thought
may seem impossible and a formidable climb. Given the time, energy,
right preparations and investments, surprising results may shatter
thresholds that often hold us back. No task is too great for the
spirit, since it originates deep within our soul and carries an
innate knowledge that the untried and unrealized frontiers and thresholds
of yesterday can be the new reality of tomorrow under the right
circumstances and directions. Mr. Fauja Singh, the 98-year old distinguished
Sikh marathoner form U.K., reminds us: “Impossible is Nothing.”
We all admire the American icon, Dr. Helen Keller, an awe-inspiring
and shining example of triumph over her struggle against incredible
odds, and the power of imagination, exemplary determination, and
uncommon courage of her teacher that made the unlocking of Helen’s
spirit and brilliance a reassuring lasting testimony for all humanity.
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND SPIRIT
Freedom of thought and spirit are essential for human imagination
to flourish, for new discoveries to take place, for human civilization
to make forward leaps. Each of us has that power to make great things
happen, to attempt and harness the uncommon and unimagined. Pursuit
of great ideas has led us to intercontinental travel, exploration
of space, landing on the moon and a glimpse of the heavens teaming
with billions of stars and galaxies; incredible scientific, industrial-technological,
and medical advancements; exploding internet, information, and telecommunication
revolution; achievements in the arts, architecture, and engineering;
and countless humanitarian global initiatives to solve human problems.
It all begins with someone sensing a need and dreaming up an idea;
someone defining the challenge, stepping forward with a sound plan
and assembling critical talents; and someone daring to face the
unknowns, go against the unfriendly winds, and bring about the celebrated
outcomes.
INTERFACING IMAGINED WITH DETERMINED STRIVING
Pursuing new dreams and distinctions and finding answers to human
yearnings has been a primordial second nature to man. As a civilization
we would not be where we are today without our pioneering spirit
in search of new thresholds and dreams. To set new markers along
the human journey, we have called upon the best of the human will
and willingness, often an entire village with new and ancient wisdoms
working together, deep faith and sustained passions, and a whole
lot of inner strength to defy the odds. In time, our persistence
has prevailed, unlocking our alternatives and successful answers.
Each such event is simply another beginning for the conquest of
our next formidable challenge. With a fertile imagination, with
eyes on the prize, man has embarked upon the conquest of the unreachable
from the beginning of time. Led by this passion, man has set his
sights on the hardest and highest, the mysterious and dangerous,
and by refusing to surrender has opened up, conquered new frontiers
and proudly trail-blazed into some truly memorable and spectacular
triumphs of the human spirit.
SEEING LIGHT BEYOND THE DARKNESS
Even in the midst of intense darkness and devastating experiences,
our imagination has offered us a lifeline to ride out the uncertain
prospects and our temporary defeats. In the midst of our brightest
moments, our imagination has called upon us to go higher and farther
where we have never been before. Our imagination, with its constant
dance of images, awaiting possibilities and dazzling testimony of
others before us, has served as a brilliant teacher and motivator
beckoning us to yet unexplored brave new worlds. Time, innovation,
determination, and patience alone have certified the reality and
prospects of success beyond the frequent setbacks experienced along
the journey.
For us, just imagining, achieving wonderful dreams or significant
breakthroughs is not enough. Man’s true calling is seeking
answers to tough problems, resolving conflicts, uplifting human
spirit and condition, pursuit of happiness, and going beyond the
mandate of his endeavors and imagination of the moment. Imagination
is never static; our urge to explore is inherently natural and intensely
personal.
In life, we will all have our share of struggles, interrupted dreams,
unexpected failures, and unjust and unfair rewards of our efforts.
We need to look past the moment for new signs, always remembering
that, in time, our tireless striving will lead us through new gateways
and preordained outcomes.
SIGNS AND TESTIMONY OF INSPIRATIONS
Scriptures proclaim that God places all ideas and thoughts in our
mind, hoping that we are listening and make His planned lessons
for us a reality. Faith testimonials affirm that God often guides
our efforts and prayers to conquer the impossible and overcome the
unimagined. As a Benevolent Presence, God blesses us a kindred network
- parents, teachers, friends, strangers arriving as angels, faith,
hope, resilience, and unexplained miracles to carry out His Will.
We need to listen to our inner commands and take courageous steps
forward to our appointment with destiny. Suddenly we may see in
front of us, not anything that we have achieved but a testimony
of higher trust, generosity, love, and moments of Grace personified.
We may witness that many hearts and angelic spirits pray for us,
lead us across the thresholds of uncertainty and impossible, and
rejoice in our triumphs and achievements.
TRIBUTE TO LIFE AND THE DIVINE: A PERSONAL FOOTNOTE
Such thoughts and lessons keep me grounded and grateful, serve as
an anchor in my journey, and fill my spirit with renewed faith and
creative passion. Each of us have our own inner sanctum from where
we draw our strength, let our spirit embark on journeys and renaissance
to make our ever-changing human universe a better place in which
we may all dwell and prosper in peace and happiness. We need to
learn about each other; the manifestations of culture, freedoms,
and opportunity that surround us. Exploring our uncommon common
connections, making timely investments to accomplish big visions,
trailblazing uncharted spaces and interests with the best and brightest
ideas, with initiatives and intentions that celebrate and honor
our shared and sacred humanity above all else, and putting our entrusted
gifts and spirit to greater good are all amazingly liberating, our
gift to Life and the Divine.
LEARNING AND CELEBRATION OF SPIRIT AND PLACE
It all begins by open and imaginative community conversations, programs,
and performances where we stretch our hands across the real or unfounded
fences, explore ideas, weigh divergent responses, and answers to
our common visions. The Festival places the arts, cultures, matters
of spirit and our faiths as universal anchors and civic language
at community crossroads. The Partners showcase their unique and
colorful gifts. The Participants listen and learn with their heart,
and in faith, about the rich diversity that surrounds us, and the
need to dispel ignorance, prejudice, and unfounded stereotype. Together
we strengthen community interrelationships to maximize our collective
future promise.
With expanding audiences, interest, and momentum, the Spirit &
Place Festival offers carefully selected programs based on a fascinating
theme (‘01: Crossing Boundaries; ‘02: Building &
Belonging; ‘07: Living Generously) that advances understanding
across traditional attitudes and unfamiliarities. Each group is
required to work with and embrace new Festival partners with the
hope of making new friends, building new bridges, teaching and learning,
and brightening the cultural and spiritual landscape of our City.
Over the last ten years, the Hoosier Sikhs have collaborated with
The Tibetan Buddhist, Methodist, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist,
and The Asian American Alliance as Festival Partners, in a proud
affirmation of the spirit and noble mission of this unique Festival.
The Spirit & Place Festival is sponsored and coordinated by
The Polis Center of Indiana University. For details of The 2008
Festival, visit: www.spiritandplace.org
Kanwal Prakash Singh
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
August 14, 2008
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