Secret Encore
Stuart Davis has writen a post on "The Secret". If you haven't had enough of this subject, please have a look at his reflections. link
NOTE: while I agree with most arguments given by Stuart and Julian on their blogs, I believe there's an even more fundamental point to be made - namely, the "secret" - that is, the law of attraction, however acceptably interpreted - was never really secret in any meaningful way. In various forms, "the secret" was the prevailing worldview of premodern civilisations. There are the exoteric lineages of (1) magical belief, according to which thoughts and intentions indeed produce tangible results - hence curses and blessings - and of (2) mythical belief, according to which thoughts and desires are rewarded and punished according to the Law. Now, the modern rational belief limits the power of thoughts and desires/intentions, recognizing their power to influence one's own actions and reinforce one's beliefs. Furthermore, the discovery of the unconscious (first half of 20th century) plus structuralist and constructivist findings (second half of 20th century) make all these beliefs simple and partial, not to say illusory and absurd. In addition, there are lineages of authentic mysticism, past and present, according to which, generally speaking, your own separate self-sense is just a thought anyway. The real mystery being the Source of your self, because that is the Source of the whole world as well. In short, the secret was never a simple secret to begin with, the title itself being dangerously misleading. Again, what is presented as an arcane mystery is nothing of sorts, and moreover, even that is presented in a distorted fashion, so as to make the whole subject ridiculous. And ridiculous it would be, if it didn't capture so much attention coupled with uncritical acceptance.
The trick question for Buddhists: given that all statements in "The Secret" are thin ice, how do you interpret the famous dictum of Dhammapada, "All things are preceded by the mind, led by the mind, created by the mind"? Beware, what you interpret becomes your reality!
NOTE: while I agree with most arguments given by Stuart and Julian on their blogs, I believe there's an even more fundamental point to be made - namely, the "secret" - that is, the law of attraction, however acceptably interpreted - was never really secret in any meaningful way. In various forms, "the secret" was the prevailing worldview of premodern civilisations. There are the exoteric lineages of (1) magical belief, according to which thoughts and intentions indeed produce tangible results - hence curses and blessings - and of (2) mythical belief, according to which thoughts and desires are rewarded and punished according to the Law. Now, the modern rational belief limits the power of thoughts and desires/intentions, recognizing their power to influence one's own actions and reinforce one's beliefs. Furthermore, the discovery of the unconscious (first half of 20th century) plus structuralist and constructivist findings (second half of 20th century) make all these beliefs simple and partial, not to say illusory and absurd. In addition, there are lineages of authentic mysticism, past and present, according to which, generally speaking, your own separate self-sense is just a thought anyway. The real mystery being the Source of your self, because that is the Source of the whole world as well. In short, the secret was never a simple secret to begin with, the title itself being dangerously misleading. Again, what is presented as an arcane mystery is nothing of sorts, and moreover, even that is presented in a distorted fashion, so as to make the whole subject ridiculous. And ridiculous it would be, if it didn't capture so much attention coupled with uncritical acceptance.
The trick question for Buddhists: given that all statements in "The Secret" are thin ice, how do you interpret the famous dictum of Dhammapada, "All things are preceded by the mind, led by the mind, created by the mind"? Beware, what you interpret becomes your reality!
Labels: narcissism, secret, spirituality
