I think it's important to realize that Buddhism is a man-made concept. While it's not considered to be a religion, it is a belief system as are all religions.

Buddha didn't create Buddhism in the same way Jesus didn't write the bible - they were created by people who may or may not have understood the teachings and thus, cannot be fully trusted or relied upon for accurate information. So while I love what Buddha and Jesus taught I have zero interest in Buddhism or Christianity. That said: if these tools to understanding help you, please continue using them...

As is common with all belief systems, the law of attraction (LOA) has different people interpreting it in different ways, based on their understanding and/or their perspective and what they want to achieve by disseminating knowledge of it. Yes, the LOA is an immutable universal law, but reaching the point of knowing this beyond mere belief, normally requires belief to open the door to it. In other words, belief is the catalyst that primes the awareness and absolute knowledge that it's an immutable law.

Does the law of attraction conflict with buddhist/spiritual principles?

Again, it's important to realize that Buddhist and spiritual (in the sense you mean) principles are man-made. So my reply is "As long as LOA is serving me by bringing more happiness and understanding into my life, who cares?" And if that reply offends someone in any way, they might want to ask: "what in me is offended?" and look at that.

Is it “right” to manifest?

I suggest examining the whole concept of right and wrong. Once you've understood for yourself that right and wrong are relative terms, this question will not arise. Think of it this way: if I answer the question in the positive or negative you still don't know the answer, you only know my answer and, unless you're gullible, you'll generate another question: why should I believe him?

Buddhism and the Law of Attraction both teach that thoughts can become reality....

Actually, they both state that thoughts do create or become reality.

Studying the LOA will lead you to the understanding that we live in a vibrational universe of attraction. Further study will lead you to the understanding that we can't help but use the LOA be it consciously or unconsciously, it just is as it is and our world is created through vibrational attraction - there's no escape and resistance is futile. Yes, I love Star Trek 8-)

Well, I say Buddhism is as much as a religion as Psychology in that they are both science of the mind. Being that I have been studying it for 15 years I would say that my natural path led me to LOA. Now, that Buddhism says that attachment leads to suffering, in no way is manifesting a process of attachment. You can of course be attached to an idea of "lack" and then in turn will lead to suffering. Many Buddhists say that there is nothing wrong with having but at the same time that if that of what you have leaves you then you should be ok with that also. The impermanence of "things" sates that many can not deal with the inevitable loss of that which they "cling" to.

But with LOA, we understand that there is no lack and that in order to attract, we must already feel abundance in order to bring likeness to likeness.

I think that what we can take away most from understanding Buddhism and LOA is that those who do not understand LOA or Buddhism, will in fact have more "suffering" due to the fact they believe in LACK. And that Suffering does come from attachment as shown that those that do believe that there is not enough for everybody and abundance is not worthy of their reach.

Much love.

twinklestar, Your question makes lot of sense to me. I would like to respond to this part

Recently, I manifested the outcome of something that I wanted SO dearly… That experience left me with a different feeling, something I am trying to understand… Yes, I have the power to create reality. I know the full power of thought. I’ve lived it, and experienced it. But now I wonder, am I using the universal principle as intended? Is there any karmic significance for my actions? Do I even know what would make me happy? Well actually, I do know that inner peace is something that would make me happy and joyful… Soooo maybe I should spend my efforts manifesting inner peace? Hmm.

You have realized that a higher law should not be used for lower needs but for higher purpose. Using power of thought for personal petty selfish gain is like using black magic, yes it may work if your power of concentration is developed, or if you have a good karmic bank balance, but it will have consequences. It will attract karma. If you use power of thought to harm someone, it will backfire sooner or later. You get what you send out, multiplied many times. You reap what you sow.

Desires are endless. If you cultivate and fuel desires for manifestation, you will be trapped in your own creation. The beautiful palace that you manifest will become your prison. Which is okay for you are here to create and you can create what you like, nothing that you can create will last forever and eventually your creation will dissolve, that is a great relief. You can then choose to create more (more experience with more suffering) or you can choose to surrender your desires.

You cannot manifest inner peace using LOA. It is like trying to produce silence using a musical instrument in a room full of noise. LOA is your musical instrument. Your restless mind is producing the noise. You can use LOA to channel you restless noise producing energies to produce a kind of musical note that you like. You can become an expert at LOA and create beautiful music that brings joy to you and to all that behold your creation, but you cannot produce silence using the LOA musical instrument. For that you have to stop. When you stop, peace is. What is it that is obscuring the peace that always is present in the background of your awareness ? Is is the restlessness caused by desires that obscures the peace that is already your true nature. That is why Buddha taught that desire is the root of suffering.

Hope this helps, Love and Peace.

In the Christian Bible it says,

Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

So, if your focus is in right thinking (positive thoughts) and treating other people the way you want to be treated, etc... then God will provide you with all that you need. And it says,

Psalm 37:1Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I know you didn't ask about Christianity, but here is anyway.

I think all things considered, energy is energy, its uses may not particularly matter. Obtaining material items- wealth etc. is not necessarily a negative thing- especially if it helps you be your best self to provide your service to others. A person living their highest good sometimes need that support- even if materialistically. Someone could also manifest material items and just not be happy- so its all about energy and what you do with it. Some person could be in utter poverty and loving life so you never know. Its not about materialism, its more about how it makes you feel. There are some rich people that are absolutely changing the world right now- i.e. bill gates with malaria treatments. And of course, there are that aren't. But you could be in poverty and absolutely making the world worse (i.e. stealing, murder, starving your children or worse) or you could be in poverty and volunteering, working with kids, or fulfilling other personal desires and being the best you can be in the world with the level you can be at also... So its all a matter of choice of what it means to manifest for your own happiness- as that will affect others if it is their choice to see your example and change their feelings. Your only responsibility when it comes down to it is to stay in a happy place. That attention alone will raise others vibrations if you act as a model. Other than that you should have no other obligations in a manifesting sense... Everyone has that responsibility for themselves. I'm not saying to be greedy and inconsiderate- but do know that others vibrations is not necessarily in your direct control- as everyone has a choice on what they focus their energy and attention on..

We are meant to be happy creatures- because that's when the best things come. If you feel a 'moral obligation' to give to others- be aware that it is out of your own desires, for you to feel good. For those that suffer, we are not responsible for their vibrations, because ultimately we each have the individual choice to be happy every minute, regardless of what is happening. While I'm not saying to disregard the suffering of the world- do know that you getting sick will not necessarily make others healthy. However your being healthy will be a good model for those who are sick- but its up to them to get into that energetic holding pattern, and its in your best interest to stay in a positive and high energetic holding pattern- just for the goodness of all. Hope this helps!

This is the difference I see with the Law of Attraction verses Praying. When we pray it is in God's will so it is for the highest good and harms no-one. But the Law of Attraction has no such "Safe-Guards." So this means for example that you attract wealth to you using the Law of Attraction it just so happens that your uncle has you in his will and you stand to inherit a good deal of wealth in his death. To God this would be unacceptable to you, knowing this would bring you wealth but as well bring you great sadness! To the Law of Attraction one place is as good as the next, you want wealth this will achieve that purpose.

What a great question. You said: "Recently, I manifested the outcome of something that I wanted SO dearly... That experience left me with a different feeling, something I am trying to understand... Yes, I have the power to create reality. I know the full power of thought. I've lived it, and experienced it. But now I wonder, am I using the universal principle as intended? Is there any karmic significance for my actions? Do I even know what would make me happy? Well actually, I do know that inner peace is something that would make me happy and joyful... Soooo maybe I should spend my efforts manifesting inner peace? Hmm."

Abraham tells us that if we are feeling negative emotion it is because we are not thinking about things in a way that is in alignment with our Inner Being. After your manifestation you were feeling doubtful and unsure of the "rightness" of your actions - negative emotions. Your Inner Being, however was celebrating your achievement of something desired. Your thoughts were not in alignment with the celebration of your Inner Being leading to the negative emotions of guilt, fear, doubt and unworthiness to have what you manifested.

Abraham also tells us that we can't get it wrong. Every manifestation leads us to more questions and desires.

Be easy on yourself. Your thoughts about negative karma are creating negative karma, it's not your manifestation that is creating that.

And, yes, I believe that you can use LOA to manifest inner peace. Focus on the feeling of inner peace and you will create more and more of it.

Best to you.