The Law of Attraction is Dangerous

[@BeyandEstrella]

I think another danger of the Secret is that it is, literally, practicing greed and desire. It is a meditation on what we desire and amplifying it. That seems like it might be a dangerous spiritual practice if we understand the 4 noble truths?

[@langreeves6419]

Not just noble truth but virtually every religion

[@ARandomGuy-us9ko]

I had a friend who was into this kind of stuff. He was/is really good at this kind of stuff (lucid dreaming, getting into altered states of consciousness through meditation etc.). He was also convinced he could tilt reality his way by meditating on sigils and conducting rituals. It was really scary how often the wildest coincidences happened and tipped things in his favor. I guess the problem is that nobody really knows what is truly good for them and reality is actually something that keeps us in check. In the end, he rose the career ladder absurdly quick (also because he was very good at his job of course), slept with a lot of women (not an achievement, but definitely a goal of his...) and...generally got too much of everything. He got exactly what he envisioned and it turned out that his vision was very flawed. Now he needs psychiatric attention because of burnout and other unresolved issues relating to his expectations of himself and his surroundings.

[@sarakajira]

We have wealth generating practices in Vajrayana. But the prerequisite is the understanding that the purposes of wealth is to remove obstacles from your path so that you can be a better Bodhisattva, as well as have the resources to help others. It's not just so you can be like, "Oh look at me! Now I can buy another yacht."

[@DavidDistracto]

What's the old saying, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.

[@chilldragon4752]

So glad you're talking about this. I'm doing my masters degree in religious studies with a concentration in Asian Religions. After I complete the degree I've been really thinking about writing a book on things like the law of attraction, and how enlightenment as well as meditation has been made into something to be marketed and sold. I thought about calling the book "Enlightenment for Sell" or something like that lol. Great video Brad.

[@mojoeye]

Ergo, 'Enlightenment of the Self' which contradicts Egolessness, which in English probably makes more sense. Just food for thought. Good Luck!

[@baizhanghuaihai2298]

Have you ever seen the docuseries “The Century of the Self”, produced by Adam Curtis? The series is free on KZbin. While I don’t necessarily concur with Curtis’s implicit political ideology, I do greatly appreciate his elucidation and presentation of processes which have deeply shaped the modern western psyche.

[@chilldragon4752]

​@@baizhanghuaihai2298Sounds pretty cool, I'll check it out. Thanks 👍

[@fancee_shmancee]

Enlightenment Inc.

[@MrBreadisawesome]

Something that I’ve noticed is that one of the main themes behind books like ‘The Secret’ and ‘Think and Grow Rich’ is this idea of cultivating a burning desire. At the start of my practice around 5 years ago now I kind of fell into this trap. At first it seems like you are really tapping into something. You visualize, you cultivate a new identity that is congruent with where you want to be, the work to get there happens, and its achieved. What is harder to notice for some people is that in order to make these things work on that level, you are literally cultivating desire. You are cultivating a stronger sense of identity. You are gaining a false sense of control and power. This is why people trying to separate “mindfulness” from Buddhism and other practices are missing the whole point. Mindfulness can be used for bad. Without the ethical frame work and a teacher/community, things can go off the deep end very very quickly.

[@lauriea7305]

Excellent topic.

[@BeyandEstrella]

Oh, I just said the same thing! Didn't read your comment before posting mine. But yes, I agree!

[@carmelaloperena8972]

Since mindfulness basically means to be aware of something , I can not see how awareness of what is going on in the body and mind, within and around could be a cause to damage to anyone. A different thing is a selling making up about what mindfulness is about.

[@carmelaloperena8972]

Using the word "mindfulness " for covering up something else, it won't do the trick. Whoever will be experiencing damage by claiming it came out of mindfulness practice will be lying.

[@MrBreadisawesome]

Mindfulness is a practice because it is hard. The self identity sneaks its way back in through various situations. Mindfulness simply by itself can and does in many cases lead to the inflation of ones ego and desire. Life happens and the water gets murky. Just because someone is trying to practice mindfulness doesnt mean they will magically have some sort of benevolent judgement of action.

[@fraktaalimuoto]

Hmm... As a teenager I dreamed of becoming a space scientist. Now I have a PhD and I have been working as full time space scientist more than a decade. 🤔

[@doubtboy]

And...

[@m16-uu3lj]

Is it because of loa or hard work?

[@OldSchopenhauer]

If you want to veer someone away from the law of attraction it would be better not to describe your first success in detail, and then be vague about the failures.

[@HardcoreZen]

Yeah. Sorry.

[@mattrkelly]

generating merit I think is certainly part of buddhism... creating better circumstances for you to be able to do your practice... but, you have to understand the good circumstances arent lasting... and fundamentally empty...

[@t.c.bramblett617]

I get this completely. Through the words It's a thing that needs to be said.. glad you are saying it Brad, I hope more people get it.

[@OldSchopenhauer]

I don’t get it. He was too vague.

[@oldgrahammare]

This was not the take I was expecting. I appreciate it! I know a couple of people deeply in to the law of attraction as well. My issue with it was that it places the individual in the centre of the universe. Whatever you're 'manifesting' (or whatever the lingo is) affects others. While you're manifesting rain for your crops, your neighbour may be wanting sunny weather for their wedding.

[@saralawlor780]

Fascinating. Thank you. I’d like to hear more about this especially your experience of wanting more and it backfiring.

[@jamesboswell9324]

That made perfect sense and I think it's probably the most interesting upload of yours that I've watched so far. The idea that reality is dreamlike but also more real than any dream is really, really interesting and helps me to better understand some of my own personal experiences. Would love to hear more of this subject.

[@joeg3950]

I get what you’re talking about. Also, I can relate to the difficulty in talking about this topic. It happened a few times, but I took it like it was a weird deja vu thing or whatever - because not everything can be explained, only grappled with. I enjoyed the music video - good jam! Viva Ziggy!

[@noself7889]

Zazen worked great for about 15 years till I hit a plateau. I had to add breath work, and a number of Taoist practices like Nei Gong, Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Qi Gong, And TaiChi. I also do mantra meditation. These practices have definitely taken my meditation, physical, and mental health to a higher level. In a way I have become more of a Taoist then Buddhist. ☯️☸️☯️

[@jasonleachman933]

Whoa.. this is an important subject. I've been around people that wholely believe(d) in this kind of new age thinking where you get whatever you want just by imagination and intention. I won't say much, but I see how this has led people to live a more self centered life, miss out on the present moment constantly, and turn their backs on others as well as reject information that isn't congruent with what they so selfishly "want to believe". Very dangerous in my bias

[@thenightwatchman1598]

yet you are just as guilty. you just aren't as self aware as you think you are. sometimes no self can be its own illusion. wrap your head around that one. yours truly. a gnostic.

[@maxchiuk783]

Strange that only a couple nights ago I watched the movie “3000 Years of Longing”, which is about a protagonist unwittingly unleashing a Djinn who offers her 3 wishes. The protagonist is an expert in narrative and thus is obstinate to make any wish as she knows that every wishing story is a cautionary tale. I’ve since thought about how wishing stories are mythological in nature and that philosophers like Joseph Campbell have asserted that there are truths in mythological stories about the nature of the Universe. I also thought about Shunryu Suzuki saying that eventually bad things turn good and good things turn bad (even though it may take a while). I.e. a newborn baby becomes elderly and then a decaying corpse, but then if rebirth is real then this is necessary for another newborn body. It seems the endless cycle of opposites is the nature of form, so I do think intentionally wishing and praying for things is useless. Sri Neem Karoli Baba, said (paraphrasing) that if you have real faith that you shouldn’t ask the One/God/Universe for anything. That feels right to me. I don’t think we know what’s good for us in the long run. Btw, I think Sri Nisargadatta had a sitting practice in which he focused all his attention on (what I take to be) the feeling of ‘Me’ or the feeling of existing. I think he did it hours daily up until his enlightenment. I’m not 100% sure about this but don’t feel like researching.

[@hoogreg]

Nisargadatta says in his book that he sat for hours every day with I Am.

[@jonber9411]

I have lived the law of attraction. To a certain degree. But i lived it to change my inner landscape. An aspect of the law of attraction that is seldomly spoken about is that dreams and visions, differ from physical reality. When we dream/visualize, the dream is flawless and does not contain the follow up consequences of the dream. When the dream happens in physical reality, the dream have shadows or weight in the world. Your lived dream will affect more than your inner landscape and the extent of your best wishes. So it will come with other results that is hard for the individual to estimate. 'Be careful what you wish for' Is just that, take care.

[@TheOkazakiGuy]

Very good talk, Brad. I have had the same feeling. Growing up in Indiana, and somehow ending up in Japan for nearly 20 years now. Yet I knew I wanted to get here, I dreamed of working here in the land of samurai and haiku, and somehow did that. How? It has always felt vaguely *law of attraction-ie* to me and kind of strange how that happened. Anyway, you absolutely should write about that in a book. I, for one, would be very interested. I ordered that book you mentioned. If you ever make it to Okazaki Japan, or even nearby like to Nagoya, be sure to announce it well in advance so I don't miss hearing it - I'd love to come. (PS my son adores Ultraman. He's only 10, but he seems to know all of them and is always telling me things like Ultraman Taro is the strongest and Ultraseven was Leo's master, and things like that. He seems to like the older ones best. Maybe because the intro songs were more catchy)

[@thatdude_93]

I think the old stories about wishes turning bad are warning us about this. Be careful what you wish for, it might come true

[@HardcoreZen]

Yeah! I was thinking of that old movie Bedazzled in that regard. It was made in the 60s with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Raquel Welch and then remade in the 90s (I think).

[@hoogreg]

@@HardcoreZen Great movie! "I seem to have broken my pool cue."

[@HardcoreZen]

@@hoogreg I don't remember that line. I'll have to watch it again.

[@pertinaciousD]

I've sometimes had the same sense that you describe, as if in some sense I know where I'm going, and recognise waypoints so to speak. On the other hand, as you notice, there's an element of what we might call a 'be careful what you wish for' aspect to it. There's usually been some sort of cost every time I've tried to force the issue, so none of it is free.

[@KitCalder]

No free lunch, as they say.

[@revdrjon]

You can get what you want, but if you don't even realize what the cost is... I'm reminded of the Lesson of the Fox: "The enlightened man is one with the law of causation".

[@baizhanghuaihai2298]

Baizhang said: Not blind to cause and effect. Then the fox was freed from his blindness.

[@dokuza_]

Happy to hear someone talking about a process I realy expirienced in a very similar way...

[@locandro1]

Lao Tzu is at least one person credited with saying, "Be careful of what you wish for." I wonder if this might be one of those aspects that zen took from taoism. If so, it would make this talk more related to zen than might appear.

[@Nalber3]

There's Swami Sarvapriyananda, arguably one of the best Advaita Vedanta speakers alive today. He's all over KZbin, and seems quite grounded, in my opinion.

[@1213141516171897]

A chapter on this "things starting to go your way" would be awesome. Reminds me of we-wei.

[@Being_Joe]

I remember watching my brain freaking out, and was like, oh look, it's freaking out.

[@Awperan]

😂 same

[@pajamawilliams9847]

Good video. Also that 'danger' is why (i assume) Wiccans have the 4-fold retribution rule.

[@walterforsyth1414]

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him

[@nicholasvoytowich2804]

I’d like to know more about ways (practices) on how to cultivate balance. Perhaps it’s a bit of a tall order, but does anyone have any suggestions?

[@williamvittitow3896]

I like this! Good analysis: Earnestness at remerbering what needs to be remerbered is a practerice but zazin is a safer practice.

[@vanzeidt]

Back in the day I was very into LaVeyan Satanism(edge teenage days). In it, there was a magic system that worked kinda like the Law of Attraction. But there was also a concept called the Balance Factor. The way it would work is by not just stopping people from willing things that are above their pay grade so to speak, but also by outright punishing anyone trying to bite more than they can chew. Kind of interesting that you've essentially stumbled upon the same concept. Which is admittedly not a very unique one, considering how ubiquitous the legend of Faust is in the Western culture...

[@drgo9278]

Thank you. Hard to talk about what cannot be talked about!

[@brookestabler3477]

Very cool. Yes, we can make magic, but it's got to be selfless.

[@sunlovinsnowflake]

This has been my personal experience as well. 🙏🏼✨💛

[@saralawlor780]

Appreciate the great music too 👏

[@gojuglen]

Hi Brad, have you ever visited Liverpool? its only 30mins on the train from Manchester i think. As a Beetles fan you might find it an interesting place!

[@FirstmaninRome]

I remember ultramarine, one of my earliest memories. I more wanted to work for hbo though, I didn't really get close lol. Kensho is another failed gold 😢, but the is hope, I had flashes, got me through college with Optomism. I so many scarcely used zabatans.

[@ggates5371]

The Law of Attraction isn't about money and possessions alone. That's only what the casual observer sees. The Law of Attraction can be utilized under any circumstances for anything. I'd imagine Brad had a desire to write. He took that desire and put his efforts towards it. He had a vision for what he wanted to accomplish, then he did it. Brad Warner becoming a well-known Buddhist author proves that the LOA exists and works.

[@papillon7319]

I didn't really get your point. Since we live in the world, we will have goals, right? Get a goob job, write that book, raise a family, buy a house, whatever. Even if you practice Zen that is still how (most) people go around in life, except you let go and just sees what happens. Truth is probably in the middle. So? If you have goals, whats the difference in pushing around rocks v.s pushing around mental pictures, if you know what i mean? Whats the difference between actually pursuing things in a regular way v.s. helping them with the law of attraction?

[@HardcoreZen]

You can't actually use the Law of Attraction to help you reach your goals. Karma is not negotiable. It just is exactly what it is. To an extent, you can sort of get what you want. But this will not alter your karma. It just puts something else in the way. It won't make things better, but it might make things different. The things you (seem to) achieve that way create more entanglement.

[@papillon7319]

@@HardcoreZen Thanks for your reply. I understand your argument, but isn't that the same thing for pursuing in a regular way? When you buy a house, that does not change your karma. It does not make things better. It just changes them. Which I personally do not believe, I just follow your argumentation here (even though I think Zen is good for wellbeing, characterdevelopment and peace among people). So: Buy a house, "manifest" a house. Both doesn't change the reality of "being". Still, both doable, both understandable, both human. Why is the second "wrong"?

[@HardcoreZen]

@@papillon7319 Try it and see.

[@papillon7319]

@@HardcoreZen love it

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

​@@papillon7319I'm somewhere in between about this... maybe he's coming from the point of non attachment?... there's the inner and outer world, defining yourself by the outer world would damage your inner world. However if your outer world, the world of manifestation is lacking, I don't see the problem with this action. I think some people can NATURALLY manifest their reality, because of head starts, or good parenting. If you have had a tricky time growing up or haven't been taught these skills unconsciously, I don't see the problem with trying it. I don't think it messes with your karma, it MIGHT mess with your head if you want trivial things, but we all deserve to have fulfilment, if manifestation gives you that, then fine. I have a problem with karma if it means feeling that suffering is acceptable and part of the lesson you have to learn, It just seems close to tbe Indian caste system, wich is even worse than the British class system I grew up in.

[@sugarfree1894]

Tricky topic - where practice veers into magic. Perhaps the Old Wives had it when they said; be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. I know a practice that has never failed, in conjunction with a clear wish, to deliver that wish. I don't use it. Not all the time, in any case....

[@rhobot75]

Re Manchester.. ouch! I'm sure or want to be Rebecca and Paddy and Janet and Sammy and Tracy and Ross and Co from HB might be able to add something?? But I know it is not close. I just... half if them work in health or social care and I wonder if something can be arranged tangential to their work. Good luck on this xx : )

[@esmanmusic2204]

In a weird way, I’m grateful for the Secret, Law of Attraction and the New Age spiritual movements, because it brought me to Buddhism. Once I read more into Buddhism that’s when I realized unfortunately they repackaged eastern philosophy as a capitalist commodity. Especially the Secret (and now that I think about I should probably get rid of all those books lol).

[@miked4076]

Inspired !

[@deepfocusinside4685]

In Germany there was a very successful author of the LOA, who could apparently manifest a lot of stuff easily, she called the way of doing this "hoppen", a name which was inspired by the hawaiian Ho’oponopono. Sadly she was not able to cure her cancer disease with this technique. Maybe this was a kind of consequence of her not very respectful actions in this regard, I don't know and I am not the kind of person to think of this disease as a just punishment but these events did leave me a little bit wondering about people who are much focused on their egoic wellbeing and material wealthyness without feeling any limits what they want to get in their earthly lifespan. Gratefulness is another thing which is important here in my opinion. I met Brother David Steindl Rast a few times here in Vienna and was very moved by his teachings about gratefulness.

[@mikeland495]

Thank you

[@photomukund]

How and Why are you looking younger?

[@HardcoreZen]

Genetics, probably. My dad always looked young too.

[@charliecrome207]

Do you think you'll ever do an event or retreat in London or south England?

[@HardcoreZen]

If someone arranged it, I would do it. The person who used to arrange events for me in London doesn't want to arrange them anymore.

[@jorghaltehreffkyan4190]

Okay, you said it would backfire, but you didn't provide any examples how it would backfire. Can you please give example for how it would backfire? I'm really curious 😮

[@t.c.bramblett617]

It's an existential backfire. In that it keeps you back in the cycle that is making you miserable, even as you try to tap into the power of your insight.

[@OldSchopenhauer]

I was wondering the same thing.

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

Personally, I think he meant you become trapped in the world of I see, I want, I get.... but the reality is its a natural thing, some people do it automatically, like Brad has obviously been able to manifest his reality multiple times... being in a band, getting a record deal and releasing vinyl albums, working in Japan, bring a author... so maybe that's his Karma, and it's not someone else's, but you can also have a extremely poor or weak upbringing that can limit your manifestation, and NO, in NO way should you accept that that is now your 'KARMA'... if you want to try manifestation by being taught it from a book instead of your parents.... then I don't see the difference UNLESS it becomes misused. I've failed to manifest at most things to do with my creativity and lost the desire to do it because other things were manifestated in line with my upbringing, I worked hard to be a good artist, a good musician, because my upbringing was weak and I was left to find my own way in life my energy went into just trying to SURVIVE and live a meaningful life despite my limintations. I could not manifest these important parts of who I was, you shouldn't be warned off these techniques by someone who clearly does it naturally, just because your 'meddling', you sound like you are obviously asking pertinent questions, that would indicate you are not.

[@thenightwatchman1598]

i would like to hear your thoughts on gnosticism given it takes its similar view on the farcical nature of this world and our need to escape it.

[@ryancagerbaker]

I think you have hair or dust on your camera lens. If you look at the top left corner on the video it looks a piece white hair (maybe a loose strand of Ziggy fur) wafting about in front of the lens.

[@notpub]

Ah, the beauty of random aesthetics in art. Don't change it, Brad!! Luxuriate in imperfection.

[@ryancagerbaker]

@@notpub Totes! Ziggy’s blessings! Every time I see Ziggy I think shisa or luck dragon. Brad have you considered a video of the effects of Buddhist practices on pets?

[@OldSchopenhauer]

So, if I get far along in my meditation that I can, I don’t know, heal my knee or some other problem, am I supposed to not do that for fear it will monkey paw back at me or something?

[@HardcoreZen]

I wasn't thinking of things like that.

[@OldSchopenhauer]

I’m legitimately curious as to what the negative effects of manifesting desires are. This seems like potentially vital information.

[@HardcoreZen]

@@OldSchopenhauer It's basically the who "Monkey's Paw" thing. No matter how carefully you make your wish, the devil will make it turn out badly.

[@dr.jeffreyzacko-smith324]

But … which part of the book is the FIRST quote from?

[@HardcoreZen]

Same book, "I Am That." Chapter 72.

[@rafaelecattonar1506]

Is it wrong to think about having your house, your family, maybe some animals, your car and the job that you wanted to? Is it wrong to use "the law of attraction" to have this things?

[@mixedmattaphors]

I don't think he came about it, naturally. He had been told a practice, from what I've heard, on Buddha at the Gas Pump, I think, it was, to keep his attention centered on his core essence, or Something like that.

[@macdougdoug]

I am not projecting/experiencing actual reality. The I is merely part of the projection. So what is it that wants to attract what it wants?

[@HardcoreZen]

I don't know.

[@jonwesick2844]

Life with Malamutes is out of Manchester.

[@matthewfiles4584]

It appears that Niz is a part of your Karass.....

[@wladddkn1517]

:)) it is not Martian, it's Marathi (English: /məˈrɑːti/;[6] Marāṭhī, मराठी Marathi: [məˈɾaːʈʰiː] (listen)) is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by Marathi people in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the official language of Maharashtra, and additional official language in the state of Goa.

[@EvanBerry.]

I thought Plan 9 got its name from the movie Plan 9 from Outer Space. I like your idea better.

[@HardcoreZen]

They did.

[@callummilburn8204]

I wish I was back in Manchester,my place of origin. In another country now. Enjoy.

[@Mac-ku3xu]

Be careful what you wish for.

[@fhoniemcphonsen8987]

Monkey's Paw anyone?

[@notpub]

Pass the blunt.

[@fhoniemcphonsen8987]

@@notpub ? I was referring to the short story by w.w. Jacobs

[@FirstmaninRome]

Doesn't everybody know new thought is garbage? I have sometimes prayed to kwannon, but that's most superstitious practice I've done.

[@hoogreg]

I've had a couple of very specific dreams about things that might be goals. One about going on a 10-day hiking trip, which we did. I've never been able to decide if the dream was just my subconscious figuring out some sense of the trip in advance, or if it was recognizing something that was in some way destined to happen.

[@tomdebevoise]

Thanks for the word salad! Don't crush that Dwarf hand me the pliers. So the important take away is not just don't do the secret, don't do it right. Now how do I get back from Orlando?

[@martinolsen5040]

What you need is soul vaccination! It's just one of those things. Don't need no dizzy games.

[@Mac-ku3xu]

But is it safe and effective?

[@Spudcore]

People keep saying it's a simulation, and I keep replying it's the real thing.

[@johncarroll6367]

YOU ARE STONED!!! What, in Heaven's name, makes you think that you should teach Dharma, anyway?

[@jorghaltehreffkyan4190]

What a rude comment

[@chilldragon4752]

You okay?

[@MrBreadisawesome]

Why is he stoned? For talking about this at all or for saying its bad?

[@jefffedorkiw1619]

i know what you mean! he’s not out there looking for a real job with that unruly hair, is he? on a thursday afternoon? asking us to contemplate “stepping out of time” but then suddenly august 19, 20 are so important 😆 can’t find his chapter, something about making monster movies as the height of achievement, then asking for money to make more videos that “make no sense whatsoever” 😆 someone is definitely stoned somewhere

[@lauriea7305]

Excellent topic. We know you're not stoned