Role of Imagination in formal Unveilings from Ibn Sina Perspective

The role of imagination in many of philosophical and mystical treatments cannot be denied. The use of Imagination in ontological and epistemological discussions of mysticism always received much attention of the authorities of the related sciences. For it can play a crucial part in realization as well as justification of many a unveiling for mystics. According to Ibn Sina imagination can take effects in two ways: to begin with, it can lead wayfarer to conjunction with existential realities through perception and thus pleasure of perfection forms. Secondly, when the mystic begins to enter practical journey in order to reach the Real he experiences sorts of spiritual and formal unveilings. The latter constitutes the forms that are primarily immaterial and intellectual but become corporealized so that they can be perceived in vision and awakening states by soul.