The Master Key System Chapter 8 Explained
The Master Key System Chapter 8 begins by explaining the consistent laws of the universe.
“It is the Law which makes the Universe one grand paean of Harmony. If it were not for law, the Universe would be a Chaos instead of a Cosmos.”
—Charles Haanel
Universal Laws are what allowed Isaac Newton to discover the principles behind motion and gravity.
If things happened randomly there would be no order to derive fundamental equations from.
If apples fell to the sky on Monday but then decided to fall on the ground on Tuesday, we would all be stuck.
It is the principle of cause and effect which allows us to discern patterns.
Just as there are clear cause and effect relationships in the physical world.
Haanel explains that the same occurs in the mental plane,
“Any line of thought persisted in cannot fail to produce its result in the character, health, and circumstances of the individual.”
When you look at successful entrepreneur, athletes or other high performers you will discover very few things in common.
Some are tall, some short.
Some have high IQs others are more average.
Some are men other women, White, Black, Asian and many other differences can be observed.
What is common between all successful people is the hidden realm of thought.
Every high performer believed in their ability to succeed despite efforts of humility.
If they didn’t believe they could do it they would never have entered the arena.
Belief and constructive thought is the backbone of every success.
Many people will argue that they think constructively.
They have visualized what they want to no avail.
These people do not understand the Law.
It’s not ‘what you think once in a while when you are in church, or have just read a good book, but your predominant mental attitude is what counts.’
You need to be persistent in holding your ideal if you wish to change your reality.
The importance of imagination
“A builder cannot build a structure of any kind until he has first received the plans from the architect, and the architect must get them from his imagination.”
Thought is the first principle of creation.
Imagination is simply mental construction using thoughts.
Thoughts are the building blocks of imagination.
Before anything can be made in the physical it first needs to be created in the world of imagination.
This is the secret of every great inventor or businessman.
They spend a lot of their time using their imagination to create opportunities.
“Do not confuse Imagination with Fancy, or that form of day dreaming in which some people like to indulge…Constructive imagination means mental labor.”
Most people do not use their imagination but instead daydream.
Daydreaming is a subconscious activity which happens when the mind wonders.
It’s often enjoyable and passive.
Imagination is more like a waking dream.
You use your conscious mind in concert with the subconscious to create worlds.
The cousin of imagination is lucid dreaming which is what happens when you become aware you are dreaming within a dream.
In a lucid dream you use your awareness to change the dream environment and defy the laws of physics.
Imagination is not as immersive but is an easier skill to cultivate.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
— Albert Einstein
Learn how Einstein used his subconscious mind.
Imagination requires mental effort and is best done in a silent room where you can remove outside influences.
“If you have been faithful to your ideal, you will hear the call when circumstances are ready to materialize your plans and results will correspond in the exact ratio of your fidelity to your ideal.”
The call of the right circumstance or what is often called The Bridge of Incidents will appear.
Opportunities will seemingly come out of nowhere to help you realize your goal.
You simply need to take action when the door opens.
The Master Key System Chapter 8 Exercise
Last week you created a mental image — you brought it from the invisible into the visible. This week I want you to take an object and follow it back to its origination, see of what it really consists. If you do this you will develop imagination, insight, perception, and sagacity. These come not by the superficial observation of the multitude, but by a keen analytical observation which sees below the surface…
Haanel gives the example of the battleship.
Tracing it’s creation from it’s current state as an ‘grim monster floating on the surface of the water… as large and as heavy as a twenty-story skyscraper’ all the way back to the first principles of it’s creation.
In the case of the battleship for it to float the idea of buoyancy needed to be uncovered.
The origins of the battleship would take you bake to Archimedes in his bathtub.
The point of the exercise is to strengthen your imagination.
Imagination is strengthened through your ability to see cause and effect relationships in the mental world.
It was imagination which helped Einstein develop his ‘Thought Experiments’ which he could not conduct in the physical world.
The results of these experiments helped him gain profound insights which helped him develop his revolutionary theories.
The more you get in the habit of seeing what’s under the surface the more groundbreaking insights you will receive when chasing your ideal.
Haanel’s example is a complex one with many moving pieces.
It would be wise to begin this exercise with a simple househould object such as a pencil.
Imagine how such a thing is created.
Where the trees are cut.
What machines are used and how the wood is transported.
Imagine the types of machines which will be used to shape the pencil.
The process for obtaining the lead and so on.
When you are done watch a video on the creation of the object and see how your imagination compared to the formal process.
Perhaps you will find a better process for creating, adorning or marketing the product.
Do this and I promise you will be one step closer to living and dying well.