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"Law of Attraction"? and perception as reality? in Buddhism
I've seen that movie "The Secret" and it cracked me up, probably the cheesiest documentary I've ever seen lmao.
But the Law of Attraction is really interesting..
I mean, there are people out there who (I think) are really smart, who endorse it and that makes me wonder..
It goes like:
Thoughts attract reality, the inner changes the outer. Perception is the ultimate reality. You get the picture.
I get this on the level that someone who constantly thought positive about themself would have high confidence and persue things, and have success, giving the illusion that it was "attracted" through their thoughts by changing reality.
But the actual theory of it does make sense to me, I mean your contiousness is the ultimate reality.. so if you changed it.. would the world change? or would you go insane? I guess you wouldnt be able to know.
haha.
But the Law of Attraction is really interesting..
I mean, there are people out there who (I think) are really smart, who endorse it and that makes me wonder..
It goes like:
Thoughts attract reality, the inner changes the outer. Perception is the ultimate reality. You get the picture.
I get this on the level that someone who constantly thought positive about themself would have high confidence and persue things, and have success, giving the illusion that it was "attracted" through their thoughts by changing reality.
But the actual theory of it does make sense to me, I mean your contiousness is the ultimate reality.. so if you changed it.. would the world change? or would you go insane? I guess you wouldnt be able to know.
haha.
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Comments
what i mean is that you can't disprove that 'everything is in the mind'.
"pretty relative", is paradoxal.. ? is it?
but what i mean is that everything is in the mind, everything is relative.
i have anxiety so i can be impulsive, sorry bro.
Nor can you prove it, for the same reason.
I have an anxiety disorder too, so I know how that is.
not only a part, the whole world is illusory
That would be nihilism, which buddhism is not. From my understanding.
but on the other hand the mind can be disfunctional so.. it would make sense that we would mispercieve something, but it would necessarily be an "illusion" would it? i'd just leave it at a misperception. if that makes sense .
"The outside world can be manipulated by contiousness"
or i could put it
"The outter can by manipulated by the inner"
Reality or Insanity?
I'd say reality, and based on my understanding about buddhism it certainly makes sense or at least is plausible. I'm still new, though.
Concepts like this send one spinning off on an erroneous "ah-ha" moment when the mind makes the connection between the so called law of attraction and the misperception of karma. They are not connected. People's fortune or misfortune are not tuned up by thinking positive thoughts in order to gain some goal, spiritual, physical or otherwise - the only fortune is liberation and action - not craving power over what is perceived as the outside world. Our karma is not our just deserts - rather our action in the here and now - our intention in the here and now. If karma is influenced by previous action in previous lives it is beyond knowing or understanding in this moment and best left to itself. The law of attraction is a travesty and should be regarded as a plaything that only serves as momentary distraction or amusement - it is not reality.
karma helps to shape your reality, no? And there's such a thing as present karma, correct? Present karma is directly involved with intention and consciousness, so if present karma effects the world as much as past karma how can you say that it's insane to think that the inner has an effect on the outer?
But is there anything outside your contiousness and perception?
All of reality is in contiousness, and if you change the way you think doesnt it only make sense that the reality would change?
Insanity is the common label given by society, but society is within your contiousness too.
Regardless, I'm feelin pretty good keepin my reality, cuz boundries are kinda needed, or else anything can be anything, and that wud leave you no logic, plus.. I kind of instinctively think the idea is insane.
http://www.mindfire.ca/Transcendental%20Experience%20in%20Relation%20to%20Religion%20&%20Psychoses.htm
Similarly, I don't refer to clinical insanity - just the insistance of the egoic mind on an explanation for what seems logical.
Nothing is really as it seems - everything is changing - that's reality - we don't change it - it changes us - we don't live our lives - life is living us....
If consciousness (mind) is all - and we are able to watch mind calmly and know mind wisely - how does this change reality other than watching or knowing what was there to begin with that was not seen? Consciousness may practice awareness and effect a change that results in mental peace or mental disharmony and confusion but reality (dharma) streams on, around and through us. Seeing it for what it is - letting go of misunderstanding is liberation - sanity...
And of course, if I am honest then I must admit that I am insane too.....not straight jacket insane - just generally, humanly insane - and convinced (despite my own insanity) that we each have the power to change our consciousness by acknowledging the awareness that is beyond thought (mental chatter) - but that just aligns us with the dharma (if we are open to it) - the law of inherent reality which is constant (though ever changing) and that is something no one may change....
If someone is positive, then everything that happens in their life, whether good or bad, they'll see it positively. Even the bad experiences, they'll gain something from. Perhaps a new way of seeing things, etc.
They'll be more willing to get out there, because they only expect good. They receive more goodness because their eyes are adapted to SEE the good things.
On the other hand, a negative person will be blind to the good things that are there. Blind to any opportunities that might be hidden in the situation. And quick to find negativity in the slightest occurance.
I don't know how it relates to the Buddhist point of view- I have much more to learn- but from personal experience, your perception and understanding (whether it is a misconception or not), greatly influences your experience. Because it isn't the events themselves, but your perception of the events.
Like that saying- "You only hear what you want to hear."
Perfect example:
A man and a woman in a relationship. Everything is fine. The woman becomes insecure and starts doubting her partners feelings, etc-
Even if this hadn't been the case, and he did feel strongly for her- her doubts will cause her to start behaving in ways that would cause him to pull away.
Her doubts influencing her behavior and eventually manifesting themselves in her reality.
Your dominating thoughts and beliefs always seem to find a way to manifest themselves...
If someone doesn't believe they can be loved, they'll subconciously act in ways that cause others to withdraw.
If someone believes they are awesome and a pleasure to around, they'll subconciouslly behave in ways that draw others to them.
Self-defeating or self-empowering beliefs result in self-defeating or self-empowering behavior, which in turn affects what you 'get.'
So I don't think it's necessarily that your thoughts influence the universe, but that your perception of the universe influences your behavior, and your behavior brings about certain situations. Cause and effect.
These are just personal observations.
I get what your saying completely,
But how do you achieve self-empowering beliefs?
I just don't know what its like, because I've had anxiety my whole life, and have always assumed the worst in general.
Are there certain meditations that can change your thought process?
I'm still learning a lot: The teachings of Buddha and of Epictectus both seem to be extremely positive and constructive as far as conditioning the way you see your 'self' and the world around you.
What has been the biggest help so far in helping me initially break the cycle is a text I actually originally linked to through this forum:
Becoming Your Own Therapist: Introduction to the Buddhist Way of Thought
http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/A%20-%20Tibetan%20Buddhism/Authors/Lama%20Yeshe/Becoming%20Your%20Own%20Therapist.pdf/becoming1.pdf
It has been immensely helpful.
One thing that has made the biggest difference than anything I've EVER been taught- is that when a certain thought or emotion arises- pause. Notice it. Sit down and examine it. Understand it's source. Understand the nature of your mind and control naturally follows.
And it is so very true.
When I first started reading the text, I had an extreme problem with attachment to a certain person. And as I read, I immediately felt my understanding beginning to shift.
I recognized my problem- attachment. I examined it and the reason behind it- which was my own idealized perceptions. And just doing that and understanding the REASON for the attachment, lessened it immensely.
Awareness/Recognition followed by Examination/Understanding leads to Clarity/Control
It was a peaceful feeling. But not long after, I felt certain emotions arising once again. It's inevitable- your emotions are in constant flux. But this time I took a time out. I didn't ignore it. I didn't distract myself. I didn't repress it.
I paused. I acknowledged the emotion. Examined it. What has triggered this? Why am I feeling this way? Behaving this way, etc? What is the true source? And oddly enough, just learning to examine your own mind in this way, automatically clears away so much of the internal conflict I was experiencing.
This is my method of meditation. By doing my best to remain in constant awareness of my mind, my thoughts, my emotions, my behavior- in everything I do and say, in every moment.
Awareness/Recognition followed by Examination/Understanding leads to Clarity/Control
That alone has helped me to cease many of my impulsive actions by basically helping me to dissolve the negative/anxious thoughts away before they even have a chance to manifest themselves in my behavior.
This is the first time in my life that I've actually had a true sense of peace which actually resonates within my core.
I mean I still have a long way to go- I've had to do a lot of soul-searching to actually understand the root of many of my problems and am still a work in progress lol, so am not exactly one in the position to impart advice-
But just from my own small personal breakthroughs, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to recommend the above mentioned text to anyone.
That text as well as an adaptation of the teachings of Epictetus by Sharon Lebell:
The Art of Living: The Classic Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness
will always be staples in my personal library just in the lessons contained with in them to making the first steps to clearing the clouds away.
And only now that my mind is no longer agitated and disorientiend, can I begin gaining true wisdom and understanding.