Is "the Secret"/Law of attraction type thinking misusing eastern religious ideas?

Question

The idea that the universe and everything in it is just one energy, or vibration, or whatever you want to call it I THINK was popularized first by Eastern religions. And this is the type of idea that the LOA camp claims is why "the Secret" works (if it does).

But don't Eastern religions stress LACK of attachment to particular outcomes? Don't they stress being happy in the moment, no matter what the circumstances, over trying to make this or that occur?

Not that I think eastern religions teach passivity, as Ghandi was hardly passive for example. But assuming (for the sake of argument) that this Law of Attraction stuff works, isn't it saying that it's important to control your circumstances, whereas eastern religions tend to minimize the importance of circumstances?

Answer 1

I was a Buddhist monk for five years and I also have learned about the law of attraction. In my opinion- yes it was already taught in eastern religions and spiritual traditions. It´s closet relation to a particular teaching is Buddhist Tantra. Because the secret states that energy attracts like energy, and if you imagine that it´s already so, it will eventually manifest. In Buddhist Tantra we say that the mind creates our universe, or that everything is like a dream in that it manifested out of awareness. And that if you imagine strongly that you are already enlightened then you will cause those potentials to manifest from within (creation stage yoga), and by following through with energy control practices & meditations you will compliment this process and cause results to manifest quickly (completion stage yoga). Is the secret abuse of this knowlege? No, because it´s using the priciples of mind creating reality for ordinary goals. But that´s Ok. And the fact that more people are understanding the use of their minds, imaginations, and energy´s in creating their reality- the more wise they actually are. In the secret they say that you need to shift your energy by starting with gratitude. This is that ´non attachment´ that you were talking about. It makes you feel like you already are very rich when you think about everything you have, and you are no longer focused on what you don´t want because you content. But by not focusing on what you don´t want you are actually preventing what you don´t want from manifesting itself into your life. Thus this contentment leads to more happiness, and I think over time your goals will be more spiritual in nature. At first people superficially want more money etc. but when it manifests they have no choice but to look for some deeper form of happiness. As far as ´the secret´ working or not. It´s really just about realizing that nothing is by chance, and if you have this positive energy radiating from within, a mind that already feels that it has what it wants- then causality will begin to attract more circumstances that are in accord with how your feeling within. Like people, like opportunity´s etc. I experiences this phenomena many times when I was a monk, but I gave the credit to positive karma. But ´the secret´ recognizes a more fluid act of the link between cause and effect- on an energy level. But in fact, karma is not so black and white. I recieved private advice from many old monks that is exactely in accordance with the things they said in ´the secret´.

Answer 2

Not so sure that it is "mis-using" eastern religions. It is simply doing what Americans do with all ideas. We take what we like and discard the rest. This is not a value statement one way or the other, just an observation of how Americans treat ideas. Also, eastern religion's focus on not valuing circumstances probably is a result of the history despotism and poverty in such cultures. When this was prevalent in western cultures, our religions also tried to devalue circumstances.

Answer 3

Ideas are not owned by anyone, in the sense that anyone can take from any source, and then improve upon them. Being a strong, proactive character can be a very desirable characteristic, if combined with good morality. Like does attract like, so self improvement is vey important. I believe exercise, diet, meditation/prayer are important, along with an open mind to the best ideas, whatever the source.

Answer 4

Not sure if "the Secret" borrows from eastern religions but I would not be suprise. This sort of hoax apears every so often, generally a few years after sales have dropped of and people have forgotten it.

Answer 5

It is hard to even think of that a book can assist individuals to change their destinies but } countless guys and women, people that they have actually benefitted in a huge

Answer 6

While the idea of the LOA is ONE aspect of common magical/energy practices in many folk magic systems, it is not the only one.

Now, The idea of their being a universal energy is not simply an Eastern idea either.

Okay, so, if we accept (for sake of argument) that there is a universal binding energy, then we must understand that there might be different ways to apply it besides your Eastern model of not being attached to outcomes. That is a moral spin on what might otherwise be considered a neutral phenomenon.

If we look at the two schools of thought - many westerners view the eastern idea of not being attached to outcomes as being not attached to doing. This is not entirely so, and if you look at the Tao Te Ching (perhaps one of the MOST 'detatched' philosphies) they will tell a person that it is natural to DO your work, then step back from the outcome. There is still an attachment to seeing the work done in the first place.

Looking at many magical systems (where the LOA is really a part of) you never really change things from one thing to another - rather, you look at the scope of all things (as much as possible) and weave your intentions within the natural flow of things. THere is no going against the natural current of life, there is only shaping your will into the existent possibilities.

Answer 7

imo, no most religions have a variation of- what you put out you get back. What comes around goes around, do onto others as..., karmic retribution,

Answer 8

the law of attraction works trust me