I agree with your response. I have read "The Secret", since watched the DVD as well (I recommend this highly) and have actually found that the two books compliment each other to some degree. The concept of what you put out into the universe is exactly what you will get........with the concept of the ego and how you it can control you, hold you captive. When you dissidentify from the egoic state and maintain the present time you become more aware of your true identity. I suppose the more authentic we are as human beings, the more positive energy we can put back into this world thereby making our universe a better place for all. PEACE!

I 'm not sure that "The Secret" conflicts with "A New Earth," but I believe A new Earth goes much deeper, and there is something comercial and lacking in The Secret. With reading and understanding, absorbing what Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, Gary Zukav and Deepak Chopra, (and of course many others I haven't come upon yet) are saying we come closer to what we hope to get out of The Secret, which is ultimately freedom, fullfillment, purpose and real joy, at least that is what it is to me. By understanding and trying to live what these truly amzing people say I can see how the Secret is related. We are all entitled to all the great things in life, and they will come, but first there is a level of awareness that we have to reach. By acknowledge our Spirit, our worth, and our connection, and dissolving all the negativity and pain within ourselves, we make ourselves ready to recieve what we desire out of this life. But I think that The Secret focuses on material things, whereas these Authors, "Prophets" help us to realize that true happiness; fulfillment, joy, purpose, and contribution comes in embracing each moment, being grateful and connecting, dissolving pain, and sharing our gifts with the world. And all joy we think we can attain through material things pale in comparision to this ultimate joy. And through connecting and sharing our gifts with the world what we may desire in material things will follow, but they won't be the ultimate focus or reward.

I had to ponder that one too. I like the way you explained your thoughts about it. You write well.

Reading "Manifest your Destiny" by Wayne Dyer helped me answer this question. It makes sense to me when I look at it like this: When you rid yourself of the ego and you are left with your true self... that true self is limitless... it is not limited by the boundaries of the physical world. It is complete with all of the wealth and joy you could ever imagine. You have inside of you everything you could ever want or need already, and applying the secret helps you use that energy to manifest what you already have (in spirit) into the physical world. When applying the secret, you are not supposed to concentrate on your thoughts and images, per se. You are supposed to use those thoughts and images to produce feelings (remember that the mind is a tool that you use to navigate through and experience life). To manifest, you are supposed to focus on those feelings of hapiness, security, contentment or whatever feeling you are having at the time you are visualizing, not necessarily the thought or image itsself. When you do this, you are unknowingly vibrating at a higher frequency, and therefore will attract the wonderful things in life that you want, which are also vibrating at a high frequency. It is a matter of energy.. However, you cannot manifest from the egoic state of being. I think this is the mistake people make when they can't get it to "work".

Thank you to all of you who replied to my post. It makes much more sense now!

I too struggled with the the confusion between the two, but I think that what you really want is not part of the ego what you really want is truth and when you can see the diference you stop wanting continuosly just for the sake of wanting.

Making your ego more transparent will make manifestation MUCH easier.

And you end up having Divine Desires which comes from an inner fullness rather than an inner emptiness.

Try the Abraham-Hicks books...Ask & It is Given is a good one. Supposedly, these teachings are what inspired Wayne Dwyer to much of his writing, and also the inspiration for The Secret.

I don't think A New Earth conflicts with The Secret. In fact I noticed, inthe book The Secret, under the acknowledgments Eckhart Tolle is mentioned for his inspirational teachings.. I do believe it's all connected. I would loveto hear what Eckhart Tolle has to say on this subject to give us guidence on how to integrate the teachings.