[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Kanzeon

No, that is a fundamental misunderstanding of Christian doctrine. Generally, the world is not as God wishes it, because of the Fall.

What you mean to say is that in your opinion, that is a fundamental misunderstanding of Christian doctrine. I will simply offer you some food for thought, with this extract:

Free will in theology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In Christian theology, God is described as omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent; a notion which some people, Christians and non-Christians alike, believe implies that not only has God always known what choices individuals will make tomorrow, but has actually determined those choices. That is, they believe, by virtue of his foreknowledge he knows what will influence individual choices, and by virtue of his omnipotence he controls those factors."

Buddhism has nothing in particular against material possessions, but is clear about the craving for them:

Right. Similarly, Abraham Hicks does not dictate what you should manifest to be, do or have; but explains that your attachment to your desires is not a good thing. In the Abraham terminology, detachment is referred to as the art of allowing.

In other LOA texts, eg Deepak Chopra's writings on LOA, detachment is simply referred to as detachment.

The problem of wealth is attachment, certainly.

And what is wealth?

Wealth is your opinion. In Tony Tone Tone's case, you have equated a BMW 650i convertible to "wealth". Somewhere else, someone might equate a BMW 650i convertible to "being poor". Somewhere else, someone might equate a bicycle to "wealth".

Let's go over it again: the Buddha is not going to give you a BMW because you want a BMW, and manifest it.

I actually agree with that, although not for the reasons you think.

Such visualization would be the purest form of attachment.

That's incorrect.

Here is a simple illustration. A man visualises for a BMW. He then detaches. He no longer thinks or cares or frets or worries or feels in any particular way about having or not having a BMW.

Paradoxical, yet no different from the goal of attaining spiritual enlightenment. Every monk seeks that. But I think you know enough to know the old sayings about how the desire for enlightenment is an obstacle to enlightenment itself.

Whether it is a BMW or it is spiritual enlightenment, the key therefore is the same or similar. You intend for it, without attachment.

Mind always takes precedence over matter, such that mental energy predictably can manipulate events;

[YOUR mind is the only one that matters, in that the universe gives what YOU want, regardless of what others want;

People receive misfortune in their lives because of their own manifestations in this life. [/quote]

As I said, they are all different descriptions of the same thing. You may prefer some descriptions, you may prefer others, but they are all descriptions of the same thing.

Examples:

"Mind always takes precedence over matter" ---> Jesus: ".... for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."

"People receive misfortune in their lives because of their own manifestations in this life." -----> This is known as "karma" in Buddha terminology, dear Kanzeon. Buddha: "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him."


"YOUR mind is the only one that matters, in that the universe gives what YOU want, regardless of what others want". ----> Buddha: "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

Jesus ---> "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For whoever asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door is opened."

In order to accept LOA, you accept a world view that the world revolves around you, and that the universe responds to your whims

Or that karma is a perfect law ... All your thoughts, words and deeds have consequences etc etc.