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 we attract everything to us with our positive and negative thoughts.
From my perspective, 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
if this be your destiny. This may be your lifetime to explore such concepts. The thing I wish to
share at this time is this: if you seek Self Realization, than the concepts of The Secret and The
Law of Attraction will not take you very far and you will stay lost in the Dream. The path of Self
Realization ultimately leads to a diminishing of the ego in order to Realize all physicality is
illusionary. The ego’s desire to have and control leads to more desire rather than egolessness
in order to Realize Self.
The Law of Attraction supports the notion that the ego/mind is who we are and has the power to
control life. This level of Reality sees the Universe as a giant replicator like in Star Trek, which
can make all your desires come true if 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 you hunger for Knowledge of True Self. The path to Self Realization
is about ‘waking-up’ and realizing that the individual self is a Dream. It is not about living in a
Heaven where we receive everything we want via our thoughts, although that would be a lot of
fun! Knowledge brings True freedom. Good and bad to the Self-Realized Being is relative. For
a Self-Realized being, the ego and its desires and attachments have been diminished, so only
True Self is seen. A sage lives in mental stillness and does not have unconscious thoughts nor
give much power to thoughts. The sage does not have goals or desires towards success. The
drive to become somebody special is not there for it is understood they already are Source.
Ramana Maharshi is known to be one of the world's greatest sages. His Advaitic teachings
influenced and sparked many great teachers and thinkers. Seeing the illusion of this world,
Ramana was content to wear only the traditional Indian diaper and live in a cave. Ramana
retreated from the world to 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 giving the disease a fight. His beautiful life was
completely contrary to what many people would purport as masterful. But, to those who could
see him with their inner sight, saw awakened Consciousness. There are many misconceptions
as to what enlightenment is, but one thing I can assuredly say is this: it is not about mastering
and controlling your thoughts and manifesting your desires. Enlightened or awakened means
the ego, desires and attachmens have been diminished along with goals and notions of
success or non success.
From my perception, each soul is given exactly what it needs emotionally and materially to
evolve. The difficult challenges, as well as the so-called easy stuff is all destined and
necessary for the soul to have the experiences for growth. There are no mistakes in life. If we
practice moment-to-moment awareness and grow through the lessons we are given we will
become more and more fulfilled from the inside and will no longer look for fulfillment outside of
us. We will be given what is ours to have materially and emotionally when it is our time to have
it. Life is a very unique path for each soul.
Sheilan 2007
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 we attract everything to us with our positive and negative thoughts.
From my perspective, 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
if this be your destiny. This may be your lifetime to explore such concepts. The thing I wish to
share at this time is this: if you seek Self Realization, than the concepts of The Secret and The
Law of Attraction will not take you very far and you will stay lost in the Dream. The path of Self
Realization ultimately leads to a diminishing of the ego in order to Realize all physicality is
illusionary. The ego’s desire to have and control leads to more desire rather than egolessness
in order to Realize Self.
The Law of Attraction supports the notion that the ego/mind is who we are and has the power to
control life. This level of Reality sees the Universe as a giant replicator like in Star Trek, which
can make all your desires come true if 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 you hunger for Knowledge of True Self. The path to Self Realization
is about ‘waking-up’ and realizing that the individual self is a Dream. It is not about living in a
Heaven where we receive everything we want via our thoughts, although that would be a lot of
fun! Knowledge brings True freedom. Good and bad to the Self-Realized Being is relative. For
a Self-Realized being, the ego and its desires and attachments have been diminished, so only
True Self is seen. A sage lives in mental stillness and does not have unconscious thoughts nor
give much power to thoughts. The sage does not have goals or desires towards success. The
drive to become somebody special is not there for it is understood they already are Source.
Ramana Maharshi is known to be one of the world's greatest sages. His Advaitic teachings
influenced and sparked many great teachers and thinkers. Seeing the illusion of this world,
Ramana was content to wear only the traditional Indian diaper and live in a cave. Ramana
retreated from the world to 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 giving the disease a fight. His beautiful life was
completely contrary to what many people would purport as masterful. But, to those who could
see him with their inner sight, saw awakened Consciousness. There are many misconceptions
as to what enlightenment is, but one thing I can assuredly say is this: it is not about mastering
and controlling your thoughts and manifesting your desires. Enlightened or awakened means
the ego, desires and attachmens have been diminished along with goals and notions of
success or non success.
From my perception, each soul is given exactly what it needs emotionally and materially to
evolve. The difficult challenges, as well as the so-called easy stuff is all destined and
necessary for the soul to have the experiences for growth. There are no mistakes in life. If we
practice moment-to-moment awareness and grow through the lessons we are given we will
become more and more fulfilled from the inside and will no longer look for fulfillment outside of
us. We will be given what is ours to have materially and emotionally when it is our time to have
it. Life is a very unique path for each soul.
Sheilan 2007
Copyright © 2004-2009 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