Law of Attraction vs Buddhism

I find this very good article about the difference between the teaching of LoW and Buddhism. This has always been what I understand about traditional Buddhism. I initially want to post the link to this article in the comment section of the Facebook article I mentioned in my previous blog but decided against. Some newagers and feel-gooders can be very sensitive to dissenting voices. Don't want to disturb their feel good and positive vibe. :P

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34035.asp

Is the Law of Attraction Buddhist?

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
- Buddha, in the Dhammapada (Shambhala Pocket Edition)

These first lines of the Dhammapada have often been quoted by teachers of the 'Law of Attraction' as proof that all the world's great spiritual teachers have taught this idea in some form. For those not yet familiar with it, the Law of Attraction (or LOA for short) is the general theory that our thoughts - conscious and unconscious - attract people, events, and situations into our lives. In essence, LOA asserts that we are the creators of our own reality. Or, as Bob Proctor, one of the teachers featured in the bestseller The Secret, puts it: "Everything that's coming into your life, you are attracting into your life. And it's attracted to you by virtue of the images you are holding in your mind. It's what you are thinking. Whatever is going on in your mind, you are attracting to you."

On the surface, this statement seems remarkably similar to the start of the Dhammapada, and many people have drawn parallels between LOA and Buddhist teachings on karma. In the Nibbedhika Sutra, the Buddha expands on this, saying, "Intention (cetana), monks, is karma...Having willed, one acts through body, speech and mind." The Buddha makes clear that our thoughts and intention, not just our actions, shape our karma and determine our current state, including the general situation of our life.

However, differences arise between Buddhism and Law of Attraction teachings when it comes to the application of this knowledge. Although there are variations in Law of Attraction teachings, in general, the message is 'change your thoughts and you can change your life.' Whereas the Buddha's message might be summarized as 'free yourself of identifying with your thoughts and you will free yourself from suffering.' LOA teachings emphasize getting what you want in life by directing or aligning your thoughts with those things, while the Buddha emphasizes observing and analyzing your thoughts, in order to free yourself from the desires and aversions implicit in them.

In this regard, Buddhism is about getting beyond desire, while Law of Attraction teachings seem to reinforce our desires. In terms of daily 'practice', Law of Attraction teaching emphasize positive thinking, and creating systems around us (visualization boards, etc.) that will help us to manifest the lives we want. By contrast, Buddhist teachings emphasize mindfulness and acceptance of what is, instead of a constant focus on outcome, so that we can be free of suffering right now, not at some future point when we have the life we want. In fact, the Buddha's life story as it has come down to us demonstrates the futility of ever attaining lasting happiness through the fulfillment of desire. Growing up, the Buddha's every desire was fulfilled by his father, in the hopes that his spiritual nature would never awaken. But this didn't lead to happiness for Buddha - only when he left home, engaged in extreme renunciation, and then gave that up too and found 'the middle way', did he attain enlightenment.

Of course, both Buddhism and Law of Attraction teachings have many variations, and there are LOA teachers that profess it is more of a spiritual law, best applied to helping us manifest greater peace, not material abundance or the perfect mate. And Buddhism also has many variations, including Vajrayana Buddhism, which emphasizes connecting with representations of enlightenment through meditation on mandalas, deities, and Buddhas. Connecting to these representations is believed to speed a practitioner's progress by shifting his or her own awareness into these states. In a way, this is similar to Law of Attraction teachings - that by connecting with enlightenment, you will shift your own awareness to a level better able to 'attract' that itself.

Lisa Erickson
BellaOnline's Buddhism Editor

Law of Attraction + Four Noble Truths

Recently subscribed to an application called Buddha Blessing in Facaebook. It will post Buddha's teaching and uplifting messages periodically. Recently see this messages. Very unusual take on the Four Noble Truth. Very new age and different from the traditional interpretation.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=177786926412

What the Buddha Taught

2600 years ago the Buddha taught many truths that still hold truth to this day. Often times throughout history attempts have been made to stifle these teachings. Here is one of the most important, which I will attempt to put into such a language as to be understood by any and all readers.

The 4 Noble Truths:

1. "The noble truth that there is suffering"
2. "The noble truth that there is a cause of suffering"
3. "The noble truth that is there can be an end of suffering"
4. "The noble truth that is the way leading to the end of suffering"

Now lets look deeper so we can really understand what the Buddha meant by this.

The 1st truth is that there is suffering in our world. The Buddha is not referring to the physical, but the mental and spiritual suffering of man. The purpose of life is to seek happiness. Anything else falls short and causes suffering.

The 2nd truth talks of the causes of suffering. Suffering comes from not being in alignment with our true selves. Until we seek and understand who we are and then align with that frequency, we will feel emotional stress. There are times in our life when we are aligned, this is when we feel fantastic. The misalignment is caused by the constant contrast in our world, and our inability to understand and handle this contrast.

The 3rd truth is the end of suffering. When we understand the cause of suffering we can take measures to eliminate it. This is a slow process as there are many different things and situations that can lead to suffering. Here knowledge is power.

The 4th Truthis the cause(s) that end the suffering. These are the causes or steps we take each and every day to end the suffer we bring upon ourselves. By examining the causes, we develop solutions, that in turn will bring us joy and happiness. It also helps us to handle the day to day situations that once caused suffering but no longer do. we discover that suffering is a choice.

To get on the path to ending suffering we need to employ the Law of Attraction and realize we will always get more of what we focus on. If we focus on what is wrong in our lives we will get more of it. If we focus and the way we want our lives to be, using the gift of imagination we will get that also, dependent on how clearly we see the outcome. The Law of Attraction states that we live in a universe of inclusion, what we thing most about comes into our reality. In order for this to happen we must change our beliefs, and belief is not truth, only habitual thought.

No matter what happens to you today find good in it! If you have a fantastic day realize it is because you are in alignment and created this day. Also think about making this great day or experience even better. If you are sad or angry focus on feeling just a little bit better. You will then increase your vibration and good things will manifest in your life.

Plato once said that thoughts were more real and powerful than the things that they manifest. This is the absolute truth. Also remember we are spiritual beings having a physical experience, and that absolute well being is our nature.

Socrates once said that the "Unexamined life is not worth living." Use the power of thought and imagination (thought) to create the world you desire. Believe and you will succeed!

The traditional explanation of the Four Noble Truth as I understand it is

1. The noble truth that there is suffering

- Life is suffering because human has to endure birth, aging, sickness and death.

2. The noble truth that there is cause of suffering

- The cause of suffering is attachment. Life is impermanent. Nothing is permanent. Having attachment to things will cause suffering.

3. The noble truth that is there can be an end of suffering

- The end of suffering is attaining Nirvana, release from the wheel of reincarnation.

4. The noble truth that is the way leading to the end of suffering.

- The way to ending suffering of following the 8 fold path. Mostly, it's about ending attachment and waking the middle road (i.e. did things in moderation).

But, the writer now combines The Four Noble Truth with Law of Attraction. So, now you only need to constantly think of/focus on what makes you happy and what you want. But, you need to think and feel in such a way as if you already has the life you want (while in truth you haven't attain that yet). Because you constantly feel like that, you life will move towards that path.