The Law of Vibration and the Law of Attraction

The law of attraction in my opinion is simply based on a misunderstanding of Karma.

There are many versions of what the so-called law of attraction is, and criticism on whether it works or not. The most popular version of the law of attraction, that what you think you will get, is not true according to Buddhism.

Wishing for something to happen is not enough to make it happen. There are causes and conditions needed for fruits (results) to bear. Lots of people dream of winning the lottery, but most never win – because they lack the karmic conditions of generosity done in the past to nurture the seed of wealth to grow and manifest this way. Likewise, those people who don't want to die just yet, will die when it is karmically time - when the causes and conditions for that result come together.

Hi Graham, thanks for your wise questions as above. Please find my responses below: -

Why are there universal laws arising in the dependent nature?

It is purely because of the emptiness arising. Emptiness represents a quality i.e. a characteristic property. Emptiness is generally understood as absence in the static entity and devoid of inherent existence for all created objects or things. In fact, emptiness is a universal quality that corresponds to the dependent arising and the inherent existence concurrently in a place called nature.

So let us dwell on a bit into nature. Nature is originally referred to essential qualities or innate disposition; related to the intrinsic characteristics that plants, animals, and other features of the world develop of their own accord. These essential qualities of the nature can be divided into two categories i.e. inherence and dependence. Both of these qualities as observed by the mind would exist concurrently in a harmonious orientation. Therefore, it is imperative for one to understand that the nature is sufficiently universal and infinite in its original disposition and is governed by the universal laws. In other words, there are two aspects of the nature - the dependence and the inherence. These two aspects would exist concurrently and can be illustrated in a mathematical equation as below: -

Two Facets of the Nature

Facet 1 --> ...(-2+2) + (-16+16) + (-832+832) + (-133+133) + (0) + (-54+54) + ...., etc. = 0 <-- Facet 2

References: -

Facet 1
= dependent arising.
= the existence of mind - that conjures up perceptions, conceptions, labels,
names, descriptions, shapes, values, languages, etc.
= the existence of rising and falling phenomena.
= the existence of beginning and ending processes.
= all subjects and objects are created i.e. inherent existence is devoid.
= the emptiness could be realised in various stages.

Facet 2
= inherent existence.
= the absence of mind to conjure up perceptions, conceptions, labels,
names, descriptions, shapes, values, languages, etc.
= the absence of beginning and ending processes.
= the absence of conditional phenomena.
= nothing has ever been created or changed.
= the Buddha nature.

Zero (0) = intermediation = absence = emptiness but not nothingness.
= a mathematical value intermediate between positive and negative values.
= the absence of any or all units under consideration.

...(-2+2) + ... + (-133+133) ... = values of fluxes that are dependent arising.

... + (-2+2) + (-54+54) + ... = this arises, that arises.

... + (0) + ... = this ceases, that ceases = the stage of enlightenment.
= all dependent arising are completely blown-off or extinguished.
= a stage of perfect intermediation = a stage of absence = a complete realisation of emptiness.

(....) = the Law of Karma = the universal law of balancing.

-2+2 or -133+133 = the Law of Attraction.

Note : Anything that inherently exists would not involve change and created objects cannot inherently exist since that would involve change.


What regulates these universal laws?

From the above mathematical equation, one could see that nature would orientate towards a state of balance, intermediation or absence at all times. Every existence (sentient, non-sentient, or any material things) consists of energy and matter that would orientate towards a balance condition and in accordance with the equilibrium law of nature. In other words, all things would only exist in perpetual conditions when there is a balance circumstance. Balance is generally defined as a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc; a condition of being steady; a state of equilibrium or parity characterised by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces; a harmonious or satisfying arrangement or proportion of parts or elements, as in a design.

Thus when things run off-balance or when one stirs up in any phenomena of existence under volitional or non-volitional term, the law of nature would take its course to balance it in one way or another across time and plane of existence. This law of the nature is also known as the law of balancing. In the Buddhist context, the law of balancing can also be classified as the Law of Kamma that exists across time and plane of existence. Law of Kamma is a natural phenomenon law that is not shaped by someone else; no one owns it; neither Buddhism. It is merely a law of balancing for all things in order to achieve the circumstance of equilibrium in the nature.

Right now, one may put up with some intriguing questions such as, 'Why are we here - breathing, thinking and talking, right now? Why is there the beginning and then the ending? Why something, why not nothing? Why the Law of Karma?, etc.' For one to see into the ultimate truth, one has to unwind everything back to the moment of the origin. We do know things and happenings exist because it can be known and felt by our senses. And our mind interprets event or happening as a condition that one has to go through, to persevere with, to soldier on with, to carry on with or to undertake with, inevitably. In other words, what exists is defined as that which can be known. If it cannot be known by the mind, then it does not exist and things can exist as in fallacy or in reality. Since things and happenings existed long before we have the slightest opportunity to recognise and understand it well, we are bound to suffer ignorantly. However, as human beings, we have the wisdom to make identification or recognition on the entire cycle of events or happenings.

In the dependent nature, we do know one thing that is consistently constant i.e. becoming. This becoming process is the main reason for all things or happenings that we observe right here, right now, then or later. When there is a becoming process, there is a change process. When there is a change process, there is a circumstance that shapes up some sort of abilities in this dependent nature. This ability of sorts is also known as 'energy' in the scientific terminology. As such, we are clear now that energy is something that has always existed and remained constant - as the Law of Conservation of Energy that says energy in a system can neither be created nor destroyed and the sum of all energies is a constant or never changes.

When we deal with the subject of energy, indirectly we also touch on the subject of matter. This is because energy and matter are simply two aspects of the same thing - both reflected in different forms only (as in Einstein's formula, E = mc2). Just like cause and effect are the same things - both reflected in a different time of events. As a summary, we could conclude that energy is a fundamental element in this dependent nature because every single thing or happening would involve energy aggregates. Even the so-called souls, spirits, ghosts - are all part of the energy aggregates because they can be detected by electromagnetic devices.

So when we mention that the sum of all energies in a system is a constant or never changes, it means that there is a need for a balancing act in the dependent nature. Otherwise, a constant factor could not be achieved at all and the natural bounding law that dictates this circumstance of equilibrium in the dependent nature is called the Law of Kamma. In other words, the Law of Kamma is simply a natural bounding law of balancing. And only when there is a balance circumstance, there is a chance for a formation activity to take place i.e. under a balance phenomenon, one could witness shapes or forms arised; under an imbalance phenomenon, one could see no shapes or forms arised - and the cycle of conditional phenomena continues repeatedly.

Right now, let us take a look at the other angle of the nature that is the non-dependent nature. What constitutes a non-dependent nature? A non-dependent nature is also known as an inherent nature of existence. Anything that inherently exists would not involve change and created objects cannot inherently exist since that would involve change. Therefore, we could conclude that all things or happenings in the dependent nature cannot inherently exist because the process of becoming or change is the key element of it.

So how could we identify the ultimate truth in the nature? Rightfully, we could mention that the nature is ultimately universal and encompassed with both the inherent and the dependent qualities. The inherent quality of nature can be known as the deepest fact about things. It exists beyond mind, beyond concepts and words and it bears with the characteristics of beginning-less and end-less. Our mind is capable of perceiving this reality of nature and Buddhism is all about transformation from an ignorant state of mind into a realised state of mind. And an enlightened mind is able to discern the deepest fact about things in crystal clear and without hesitation after getting rid of the wave of dependent phenomenon.


What initiates thoughts?

Let us ponder into the cycle of dependent origination as below: -

Balance leads to stability. Stability leads to aggregation. Aggregation leads to agitation. Agitation leads to information. Information leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to representation. Representation leads to memory. Memory leads to compulsion. Compulsion leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to blindness. Blindness leads to disorientation. Disorientation leads to confusion. Confusion leads to irrationality. Irrationality leads to impulse. Impulse leads to sparkle. Sparkle leads to inkling. Inkling leads to volition. Volition leads to awareness. Awareness leads to consciousness. Consciousness leads to manas. Manas leads to mind and body. Mind and body lead to sensation. Sensation leads to six sense bases. Six sense bases lead to conductivity. Conductivity leads to contact. Contact leads to stimulation. Stimulation leads to feeling. Feeling leads to experience. Experience leads to craving. Craving leads to grasping. Grasping leads to clinging. Clinging leads to unsettling. Unsettling leads to becoming. Becoming leads to creation. Creation leads to birth. Birth leads to energising. Energising leads to mobility. Mobility leads to hauling. Hauling leads to aging. Aging leads to draining. Draining leads to death. Death leads to fragility. Fragility leads to segregation. Segregation leads to diffusion. Diffusion leads to imbalance. Imbalance leads to adjustment. Adjustment leads to alignment. Alignment leads to new balance.

The conscious aggregates within the sentient beings would initiate thoughts or acts that are devoid of inherent existence. For every rising force of thoughts or acts, a new equal opposing force would arise as well across the time stream (past, present and future) and plane of existence. Continuous rising and falling of thoughts or acts would shape the wheel of life.


Why are thoughts more powerful than other vibrations?

It is because of the mind arising. For general understanding, awareness is a ground condition that 'supports' consciousness. The nature of awareness is effulgence and it is in a not-knowing state before the appearance of object. Pure nature of awareness is also known as the Buddha nature. Consciousness, on the other hand, is appearance of objects in the mind. When awareness touches on objects, consciousness would arise simultaneously. Consciousness is naturally looking outward to objects and it is flitting all the time. In addition, consciousness is synergy i.e. energy that expands through cooperation. Synergy is a key to the geometric expansion of consciousness and thus the arising of its two terms i.e. prevailing consciousness and subtle consciousness. On the contrary, mind is a pattern of consciousness which is born from awareness. In fact, mind is known as consciousness in individuality. Therefore, the origin of individuality is the same as the origin of the mind. Mind is something more objective and involves clear discrimination - differentiates and understands the characteristics of objects. One utilises mind to understand things because mind understands the manipulation of consciousness. Thus the delusion of self entity arises among the sentient beings in the dependent nature.

In addition, no duality or multiplicity would arise in the non-existence of the mind. This is because there is no subject to ponder on the object or matter. When there is no mind arising, no phenomenon would arise. When there is no phenomenon arising, no dependent nature would arise. When there is no dependent nature, there would be no perception, no conception, no label, no boundary, no name, no activity, no shape, no relation, no description, no stereotyping, no beginning, no ending, etc. An ultimate reality is a truth that exists beyond mind and beyond concepts and words in the sense that it is beyond our usual ways of perceiving things. Language and conception only imply that things exist in distinct manners i.e. wise person, dumb person, saint, devil, etc. - in such well-defined and independent categories. Perceiving ultimate reality is seeing that things do not exist in these fantasised, impossible ways, in black and white categories.

In the absence of the mind, things would appear as in the deepest facts per se i.e. no label, no boundary, no name, no activity, no shape, no description, etc. This is because there is no existence in relative to each other as appearances. The ultimate truth does not require any labels for its revelations and therefore, one has to let go and blow away the mindset that is associated with the '-ism' or '-ology' for these are the systems of stereotyping or pre-conditioning. Liberation is the only right potion to the ultimate truth discovery. In other words, an ultimate reality is such label-less, bound-less, stereotype-less, colour-less, beginning-less, end-less and for the ease of our expression, we could summarise it as the 'deepest fact about things'. An enlightened mind is able to discern the deepest fact about things in crystal clear and without hesitation after getting rid of the wave of dependent phenomenon.


Why does magnetism exist?

It is due to the workings of the law of balancing in the dependent nature. As mentioned earlier, nature is a system of constant with a factor of intermediation or absence. If one stirs up in any phenomena of existence under volitional or non-volitional term, the law of nature would take its course to balance it in one way or another across time and plane of existence. Otherwise, a constant factor cannot be achieved at all in the nature.


How did you come to know this?

It is all from my direct experiences and insights on the nature and its orientation with some co-inputs from the general science and Buddhism. I have deep interest in the teachings of the Buddha but nowadays, what I could see is only the rising of a popular culture known as 'stamped' Buddhism. Perhaps, Gautama Buddha was visionary in seeing the rising of Dhamma-Ending Age (the rare attaining of Enlightenment Age) after 1,500 years of his passing into Parinibbana.