Rhonda Byrne's self-help book The Secret is all the rage these days. The idea is that you create your own reality by your thoughts, or what is scientifically known as the "law of attraction". The book does not pretend to have invented this concept; it cites several historical figures and religions that used it in their teachings. Take The Dhammapada, for example - a collection of sayings from the Buddha (translated by Thomas Byrom), which sum up The Secret in a few simple lines:
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our
thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the
world.
Speak or act with a pure mind
And happiness will follow you
As your shadow, unshakable.
Happiness is the reward the Buddha promises. It is the result of a pure mind. One follows the other naturally. A pure mind seems to suggest one that is free from attachments of any kind. What's disappointing about The Secret is its concentration on acquiring things - especially money. It's taken ancient teachings meant to liberate and awaken dormant minds to the truth of the universe, and twisted it into a get-rich-quick scheme. If you want to be wealthy, it says, think wealthy. Wealth is mentioned as early as page 6 and it is the first subject of concentration in the book.
So now we've got millions of people who are thinking about their thinking, and the goal is to get something: money, relationships, health - all having the glint of a new diamond ring. Even happiness in this context has become material, not the natural product of a pure mind divorced from any attachments whatsoever. And, of course, Ms. Byrne has practiced what she preached: the book has sold nearly 4 million copies to date.* I suppose the only way to describe that is, well, very American.
*Source: Nielsen Bookscan (12/08)
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our
thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the
world.
Speak or act with a pure mind
And happiness will follow you
As your shadow, unshakable.
Happiness is the reward the Buddha promises. It is the result of a pure mind. One follows the other naturally. A pure mind seems to suggest one that is free from attachments of any kind. What's disappointing about The Secret is its concentration on acquiring things - especially money. It's taken ancient teachings meant to liberate and awaken dormant minds to the truth of the universe, and twisted it into a get-rich-quick scheme. If you want to be wealthy, it says, think wealthy. Wealth is mentioned as early as page 6 and it is the first subject of concentration in the book.
So now we've got millions of people who are thinking about their thinking, and the goal is to get something: money, relationships, health - all having the glint of a new diamond ring. Even happiness in this context has become material, not the natural product of a pure mind divorced from any attachments whatsoever. And, of course, Ms. Byrne has practiced what she preached: the book has sold nearly 4 million copies to date.* I suppose the only way to describe that is, well, very American.
*Source: Nielsen Bookscan (12/08)
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