Material Wealth Alone Cannot Be Defined As Abundance, Says Anand Krishna

Karma and the Law of Attraction, that is the title of an article by Paul Warren. I am sure many of us have been familiar with the terms. But, let me present excerpts of the article for us to better understand about how karma and law of attraction work.

The teachings of the law, Warren wrote, tell us that no matter what, the universe is with us and for us, waiting to be used to our advantage. To truly harness the power of the law we need to believe that we will have more in the future—happiness, more money, etc. Whatever true desire of yours is in life you must focus on believing it will come true. If you focus hard enough, and truly believe according to the law, you will see a change and will experience the true joy of the law of attraction working on your life.

Karma fits to this equation, that we reap what we sow. It is basically the manifestation of what we think, create and conduct. What we send out to the world come back to us. If we send to the world thoughts of happiness or hatred, anger, greed, unhappiness, misery, they shall come back to us.

The law of attraction owes a lot to the Hindu concept of karma and dharma. Karma implies a cause and effect. We ourselves reap the results of our own conducts. Good conduct breeds good results. Dharma is relevant to the law as it means purpose in life. Each of us has a purpose in life.

Both Hinduism and the law of attraction posit the concept of spiritual unity. And, spiritual unity points to mental integrity. It defines the end as something abstract. It is the success of one’s will, fortitude, and perseverance. It does not refer to monetary success or a gain of power. The success is a state of mind, a sense of fulfillment, a sense of satisfaction and completeness. This is what is referred to as abundance.

Commenting Warren, Anand Krishna says material wealth alone cannot be defined as abundance. Without inner satisfaction, no matter how rich a man, he remains a pauper.

Is Krishna exaggerating things? He is not.

I do agree with Krishna. I see his points through the facts of life in Indonesia. A man is filthy rich.  He owns real estates and big businesses. However, all seem to be inadequate, not suffice his living and life.

He wants more and is in dire need of more and more—as if he drank salted water which would never ever mollify his thirst. He enters into politics. Luck comes his way where he can be in the position to direct the course of the nation’s fate and destiny.

Is he satisfied with this achievement? No! The lofty ideal of politics is corrupted. Politics are no longer means to put dharma into practice, serving fellow country men and women but becoming a business. The more worldly things he gains, the more he becomes poor. An ugly paradox!

As the law of attraction teaches to have a strong will, belief and hard focus, the man and many other do gain what they desire. Nature conspires to help them achieve their desires—remember Paul Coelho! Are they happy with all their achievements? No!

Their wealth is meaningless. Many are in the prison, restless and unhappy albeit all the needs that world provides are fulfilled. Their mind, soul and heart are burnt in hellfire. I am reminded of Jesus that says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and loses his own soul” (Mark 8:36). This is what happens when we act our karma or deed without dharma or righteousness.

Dharma is true quality of being. It is synonymous to humanity, to love. Dharma is within “Self”. To get to dharma there is no other way but within. It is the way within which is utterly narrow and fitted only for individual to pass. At this point, Jesus becomes very clear, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

Going within or taking the Inner Journey, such is my comprehension of Jesus injunction. Kingdom of God is a state bliss, love and compassion in the deep recesses of one’s being. To take the journey within is meditation and yoga. Indeed, Meditation and Yoga are the Way Within.

This very comprehension of mine comes much later, since my first encounter with Anand Krishna’s book back in July 1999, “Sabda Pencerahan” or Divine Words of Enlightenment. Published by Gramedia, the most prominent Indonesian publisher, the book is of Krishna’s spiritual delving on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as recorded by Matthew 5-7. To be honest, the first time in my life as a Christian I came to understand the implicit meaning of, for instance, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Anand Krishna is an Indonesian spiritual humanist and a prolific writer. He has authored more than 170 books (in Indonesian and English) on Self Empowerment, Meditation and Yoga. He is the founder of Anand Ashram (affiliated with United Nations since 2006), center for meditation and self empowerment.

Back to Paul Warren’s article where Anand Krishna advocates further on Law of Attraction and Abundance. That abundance is much more than having money. Abundance is a true wealth, something that is never ever decreased. It grows and grows.
Abundance is the feeling of joy that comes from inner satisfaction. Abundance is beauty, abundance is love. Abundance is only felt when you access your true self, your inner being and such access can only be gained through meditation. Abundance is the way to living meditatively.

To live abundantly is to live meditatively, and to live meditatively is to live fully, to allow all faculties within you develop to their fullest

https://attractionbeyondlaws.blogspot.com/