The “Law of Attraction” (which I understand is the “secret” of “The Secret”) apparently states that our thoughts/actions/intentions “attract” corresponding experiences into our lives. While rational Westerners might dismiss this as mere “magical” thinking, the world we experience is not simply “given” to us, either.
Our thoughts play a powerful role in constructing/mediating our experience (which is one thing that meditation practice is designed to help reveal). Change your worldview, for example, and you will experience a different world. Think and act in selfish ways and you “attract” experiences of suffering. Think and act in selfless ways and you “attract” experiences of joy. As we sow, so shall we reap. This is just the Law of Karma, of course.
But it seems that the Law of Attraction says something quite a bit different, namely, that particular intentions and thoughts will attract the object of our intention and manifest it in our lives. Now, that may or may not be true. But, in any case, the deeper Law of Karma still holds, namely, the more our intentions and actions are self-centered, the more we will suffer.
So, regardless of whether or not the Law of Attraction is true or works, if you practice it with self-centered motives, then you’ll end up suffering even if you “attract” what you wanted. If you practice it with selfless motives, on the other hand, then you’ll end up joyful no matter what. That’s the deeper secret, the more fundamental law.
True Nature 
ggw_bach
18 January 2009
consciousness creates everything. It is the beginning. The Prime Mover. The sooner we recognise this, the sooner we will progress as a species. matter and the physical world is a consequence, secondary. Time to move beyond that 🙂
Kim Sequoia
15 February 2010
Excellent, thank you. You struck right into the heart of what is lacking in the mainstream ‘lure’ of the Secret.
Sumana
29 September 2010
Interesting article! The law of karma may have more to do with not being self-centered which may not be the same as being ’selfless’. Selflessness is hard to define or rather recognize. It is as complicated as ‘consciousness’. We think we are selfless when we give and not expect anything in return. But most of the time we give (our time or money) because we have more of it. In doing so, we are sharing our happiness with the not-so-fortunate ones. But giving something that we do not need or anything that we can afford to give cannot be called ‘selflessness’ just because it gives joy. The motive is itself not completely self-centered but it is not selfless either. (CEOs of large companies derive great joy donating millions to charitable organizations while at the same time laying-off their employees). When one gives joy to another and in return takes hardship or experiences pain just so that the other person is happy, that person’s motive could aptly be termed as ‘selfless’. In other words, a selfless person sacrifices his/her own needs (time or money) in order to help another. Selfless people derive happiness from self-imposed pain as in the case of perfect love.
Sumana
30 September 2010
according to the law of karma we will reap the rewards of our good deeds irrespective of whether our actions are selfless or not. So long as our actions are not self- centered, we will derive happiness and the law of karma will hold good.