Self-Realization vs Law of Attraction!
Many have asked me what I think about the book or movie ‘The Secret’ and The Law of Attraction.
For those of you unfamiliar what this is, it is the notion that it is our birthright to have abundantly
whatever we desire in regards to relationship, career, money, health, and spirituality. The concept
is that ‘like energy’ attracts ‘like energy’, so our positive and negative thoughts attract positive and
negative things to us.
From my perspective, in the Dream, there are many levels of understanding Reality. There is
nothing wrong with thinking positively and using the concepts of the ‘Law of Attraction’ to create
what you desire to have and be. Whether we are the ones controlling our lives is altogether
another topic, which I have written about in other articles. The thing I wish to share at this time,
from the view point of the Infinite Living Teachings, is this: if what you desire above all else is Self
Realization, than the concepts of The Secret and The Law of Attraction will not take you very far,
because where the search ultimately leads to is Reality beyond physical manifestation.
The Law of Attraction supports the notion that the ego/mind is who we are and it is all-powerful
controlling our life. This conceptual level of Reality sees the Universe as a giant replicator, which
can make all your dreams come true if only you can keep your mind focused on what you want. As
I stated, there is nothing wrong with this perspective (or any perspective for that matter), except that
it will leave you empty if your hunger is for True Knowledge of Self. The path to Self Realization,
from my perspective, is about ‘waking-up’ and realizing that the individual self is a Dream. It is not
about living in a Disneyland world where we receive everything we want, although, that would be a
lot of fun! Awakened Knowledge brings True freedom. Good and bad to the Self-Realized Being is
all relative. The ego of a Self-Realized Being, along with the ego’s attachments and desires, has
been diminished, so only True Self is present. A sage lives in mental stillness and does not have
unconscious thoughts nor does a sage see his thoughts to be powerful. Thoughts are seen to be
unreal and part of the dream. The sage has no great drive to become somebody special for it is
understood they already are All That Is and there is no other Reality than this.
Ramana Maharshi is thought to be one of the world's greatest sages of the past 100 years. His
Advaitic teachings influenced and sparked many great teachers and thinkers worldwide, even still
to this day. Seeing the illusion of this world, Ramana was content to wear the traditional diaper
and live in a cave. Ramana decided to retreat from the world and live in the meditative state of
samadhi for several years. When he changed his mind and decided to come out of Samadhi
earlier than planed, the person, who was to watch over his body during that time sued him for
breech of agreement! Ramana died from cancer when he was seventy-one without fighting the
disease. His beautiful life was completely contrary to what some people would purport as
masterful. But, to those who could see him with their inner sight, he was total awakened
Consciousness in form. There are many misconceptions as to what enlightenment is, but one
thing I can assuredly say is it is not about controlling and creating your individual reality because to
be enlightened means the individual identity becomes diminished.
From my perception, each soul is given what it needs emotionally and materially. This includes
difficult challenges, as well as the good stuff in order for the soul to have the experiences
necessary for growth and evolution. There are no mistakes in life. On the spiritual path, if we stay
focused on Consciousness and practice living an awakened life, till we reach our personal
ascension, then what is to be ours in fulfillment and feeling complete with life will automatically be
given to us. In other words, when the soul reaches its zenith, (the desired level it wishes to evolve
to), the material manifestation of its arrival soon appears. It effortlessly comes, rather than us
having to work to make it happen. The work has been accomplished on a soul level and this is all
we need to do for the rest to come. This is opposite of how we are taught to have worldly success.
In ascension, the unseen evolution of the soul precedes the material manifestation of its arrival. In
a sense you could say it is The Law of Attraction operating at a much deeper level than understood
by the intellect.
From my perception, if there is such a thing as The Law of Attraction, it is a very complex and
naturally occurring phenomenon driven by Consciousness (GOD), which is way beyond our simple
intellectual approach and understanding of it. If we were in control of this great force don’t you
think our lives would look much different than they do today?
Sheilan 5/07
For those of you unfamiliar what this is, it is the notion that it is our birthright to have abundantly
whatever we desire in regards to relationship, career, money, health, and spirituality. The concept
is that ‘like energy’ attracts ‘like energy’, so our positive and negative thoughts attract positive and
negative things to us.
From my perspective, in the Dream, there are many levels of understanding Reality. There is
nothing wrong with thinking positively and using the concepts of the ‘Law of Attraction’ to create
what you desire to have and be. Whether we are the ones controlling our lives is altogether
another topic, which I have written about in other articles. The thing I wish to share at this time,
from the view point of the Infinite Living Teachings, is this: if what you desire above all else is Self
Realization, than the concepts of The Secret and The Law of Attraction will not take you very far,
because where the search ultimately leads to is Reality beyond physical manifestation.
The Law of Attraction supports the notion that the ego/mind is who we are and it is all-powerful
controlling our life. This conceptual level of Reality sees the Universe as a giant replicator, which
can make all your dreams come true if only you can keep your mind focused on what you want. As
I stated, there is nothing wrong with this perspective (or any perspective for that matter), except that
it will leave you empty if your hunger is for True Knowledge of Self. The path to Self Realization,
from my perspective, is about ‘waking-up’ and realizing that the individual self is a Dream. It is not
about living in a Disneyland world where we receive everything we want, although, that would be a
lot of fun! Awakened Knowledge brings True freedom. Good and bad to the Self-Realized Being is
all relative. The ego of a Self-Realized Being, along with the ego’s attachments and desires, has
been diminished, so only True Self is present. A sage lives in mental stillness and does not have
unconscious thoughts nor does a sage see his thoughts to be powerful. Thoughts are seen to be
unreal and part of the dream. The sage has no great drive to become somebody special for it is
understood they already are All That Is and there is no other Reality than this.
Ramana Maharshi is thought to be one of the world's greatest sages of the past 100 years. His
Advaitic teachings influenced and sparked many great teachers and thinkers worldwide, even still
to this day. Seeing the illusion of this world, Ramana was content to wear the traditional diaper
and live in a cave. Ramana decided to retreat from the world and live in the meditative state of
samadhi for several years. When he changed his mind and decided to come out of Samadhi
earlier than planed, the person, who was to watch over his body during that time sued him for
breech of agreement! Ramana died from cancer when he was seventy-one without fighting the
disease. His beautiful life was completely contrary to what some people would purport as
masterful. But, to those who could see him with their inner sight, he was total awakened
Consciousness in form. There are many misconceptions as to what enlightenment is, but one
thing I can assuredly say is it is not about controlling and creating your individual reality because to
be enlightened means the individual identity becomes diminished.
From my perception, each soul is given what it needs emotionally and materially. This includes
difficult challenges, as well as the good stuff in order for the soul to have the experiences
necessary for growth and evolution. There are no mistakes in life. On the spiritual path, if we stay
focused on Consciousness and practice living an awakened life, till we reach our personal
ascension, then what is to be ours in fulfillment and feeling complete with life will automatically be
given to us. In other words, when the soul reaches its zenith, (the desired level it wishes to evolve
to), the material manifestation of its arrival soon appears. It effortlessly comes, rather than us
having to work to make it happen. The work has been accomplished on a soul level and this is all
we need to do for the rest to come. This is opposite of how we are taught to have worldly success.
In ascension, the unseen evolution of the soul precedes the material manifestation of its arrival. In
a sense you could say it is The Law of Attraction operating at a much deeper level than understood
by the intellect.
From my perception, if there is such a thing as The Law of Attraction, it is a very complex and
naturally occurring phenomenon driven by Consciousness (GOD), which is way beyond our simple
intellectual approach and understanding of it. If we were in control of this great force don’t you
think our lives would look much different than they do today?
Sheilan 5/07
Copyright © 2004-2008 SHEILAN / Infinite Living
| Sri Ramana Maharshi |
"...Willpower should be
understood to be the strength
of the mind, which makes it
capable of meeting success
or failure with equanimity. It is
not synonymous with certain
success. Why should one's
attempts always be attended
by success? Success breeds
arrogance and man's spiritual
progress is thus arrested.
Failure, on the other hand, is
beneficial, inasmuch as it
opens his eyes to his
limitations and prepares him
to surrender himself. Self
surrender is synonymous
with eternal happiness."
-Ramana Maharshi
understood to be the strength
of the mind, which makes it
capable of meeting success
or failure with equanimity. It is
not synonymous with certain
success. Why should one's
attempts always be attended
by success? Success breeds
arrogance and man's spiritual
progress is thus arrested.
Failure, on the other hand, is
beneficial, inasmuch as it
opens his eyes to his
limitations and prepares him
to surrender himself. Self
surrender is synonymous
with eternal happiness."
-Ramana Maharshi