The Secret Behind the Secret

The Vedic Viewpoint and Other Spiritual Perspectives

So many people including the Hollywood stars are into The Secret. For those of you who haven't heard of The Secret, it is pertaining to the" law of attraction." The idea is whatever your thoughts are or mind meditates on you will attract that to you. You just have to desire it fully and picture yourself having it and feel yourself enjoying it fully and it will come to you. Though this idea sounds very attractive (no pun intended) there are a few major glitches in the idea of The Secret.

According to the Vedas, this idea is partially true depending on the time, place and circumstance and of course ones karma. (Reaction to one previous activity) The result also depends if one is working with the material energy or the spiritual energy of The Creator.

It is a bit childish to think that all one has to do is think of something they want and eventually it will manifest. Chances are that if one wants something bad enough, they will do what is necessary to attract that to them. There are also chances that one may not have to do much of anything and that thing or person will also manifest. But there is just as much of a chance that nothing will come of it at all. It is really all up providence and karma if one is to receive something. That is why this process works for many, but it also doesn't work for many. Those whom it does work for will just tell the ones that it did not work for that they didn't focus properly or hard enough or long enough or fully feel themselves having that thing. The fact is it could be lifetimes until you are qualified to get that thing which you desire so deeply for. Don't be fooled by this Childs play of The Secret.

Don't get me wrong, it does have its truthful points. Such as; if you think negative thoughts you could draw negative things towards you or visa versa. So yes, it is best to think positive and not worry, fear or lament about situations- that is great advice.

If you think you are going to get a million dollars because you desire it and you think about it day and night and poof it will come to you, is really no different than wishing at the casino to win at craps. As they say it's a craps shoot- some get lucky and some do not.

Everyone is trying to attain either wealth, fame, beauty, or a great spouse or good children, and if it where up to them they would all have that. But this world which is called Maya or Illusion is temporary and always ends in misery or death. That is the nature of this world. Everyone is hankering after some kind of illusory enjoyment or lamenting the loss of someone or something. The fact is, the more material assets one has the more one wants and hankers for, which is an endless cycle and increases ones desire for more and more. No one is ever satiated or satisfied on this path. Besides it is not the goal of life to get, get, get, because what is due to you will come and nothing more. You can work hard like a jackass or hardly work at all and what is due to you will come automatically. That doesn't mean be a lazy no good person; it means don't over endeavor for mundane things. Just do your duty and your part and you will be taken care of.

The actual secret behind The Secret is to give up all desire for material things and even if one has some desire, they should pray- "Only if it is for my greatest good and highest joy and dear God if it is Your will for me to receive this, then only am I interested in it." If one eventually gets their desire fulfilled, they should use it in the service of God (also known as Krishna, Jehovah, Allah, Vishnu, Jaway etc.); otherwise one will have to get their karmic reaction and have to suffer in one way or another. The goal of life is to focus the mind on the names, forms, qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Lord and at the end of life one will attain the Supreme Spiritual Abode. If one is looking for real happiness they should follow this simple instruction and be satisfied. This is the Vedic Viewpoint.

By Jayasri Radha

For more info on Karma, the purpose of human life and more, read Bhagavad Gita As it is, by Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada (a great saint and spiritual master who brought this ancient Vedic knowledge to the Western world from India in 1965.)