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Originally Posted by Angela  well, I think you and I might think of desire differently, Cantando.
I like how the Hicks's describe pure desire: fresh, eager anticipation, like a child's. This is a heavenly state.
I think many people think of desire as a stressful thing -- like something's wrong or lacking and must be fixed before satisfaction can be present. Constant craving with no gratitude or sense fulfillment; no allowing. I'm with you that that is hell! |
Hi Angela.
Eager anticipation in the present moment, in the expectation that the next moment will be joyful, is a valid spiritual teaching which has been around for thousands of years - from Buddhism, throught to Christianity and through many other belief systems.
It this is your principle understanding of LoA, then that's fine. I have no problem with that.
Part of the problem with LoA, however, is that it re-packages the word 'desire' for its own use. Desire just means wanting something.
The classic case is a child on Christmas Eve, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Santa with his presents. But, what came before the anticipation?
The child, previously, saw a toy in a shop window and wanted it. There are numerous reasons why he might have wanted it - selfish, altruistic, who knows?
On Christmas morning, there are numerous factors involved in how that child might react to receiving the present:
He may accept it with gratitude.
He may see his brother with a 'better' present and want that one instead.
The present may not meet his expectations - again, he may accept it or reject it.
He may not receive a present - how does he react to that?
His house may burn down during the night.
If we throw a general blanket over all thes factors and possibilities, and say, 'Well, it's all LoA acting in one way or another', then it ultimately becomes meaningless.
It's a bit like saying, 'God is everything - physical and non-physical, including everything we conceive in duality: good, bad, right, or wrong', and ...? It just doesn't really mean anything.
We can't possibly analyse all the factors, and combinations of factors, involved. To simply believe that every person attracts whatever comes, or can manifest whatever they want, is, in my opinion, somewhat facile.