Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
I love this book. It has allowed me to find a place in myself to go to where I can keep my stillness, inner peace…regardless of my circumstances.
I have learned to keep silent and enjoy what God has given me in each moment. You know, Be Still and Know that I am God. Can only experience the truth in that through meditation.
I always keep a copy of this book nearby.
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Hi Bonnie,
Hi Bonnie,
Girl, don't lose hope. Maybe there will be someone in those two merged churches, there just might be someone there who catches your eye, eh? Stay hopeful.
Sending love to ANYONE will make YOU feel better. It is not about condoning the actions of someone who is clearly bent on destruction, or the terrorists in the Boston bombing or anyone who would take away life or liberty of others. I wonder if any
I love Deepak and have read and heard lots of his work…When I was fifteen the church we attended gave us the Spiritual Seven laws of Success, and they do work..thanks for sharing his work as it is so helpful on the journey of knowing how to live ones life in balance.
I just mentioned in above thread that I’ve been reading a lot of self help books. Used to think they were bunk, but when you’re grasping at straws trying to make sense of your life, I’m now finding threads of light. I’ve put this one on my wish list also. I love listening to Chopra. He’s got a program on Sirius radio I catch once in a blue moon. Seems like it’s on early evening which isn’t a time I listen, because I’m usually not in my car then.
I’ve wanted to pick up books by him before but my “limited” Christian background somehow didn’t think it was ok to read other spiritual teachings. I’m always torn by that. I guess I consider myself a seeker. I feel guilty straying away from Christianity. I’m not sure why I feel guilt about this. I let other people sway my thinking also. For example, a very good friend of mine would be horrified if I read anything other than Christian. Damned to hell attitude she has. I know however I’m a big girl and can do/read whatever I want.
Thank you for posting this….will check it out.
Enjoyed your response, reminded me of when I was deep into religion, I once purchased a gook on astrology and was to “concerned” to look into it but it was worth 25.00 and I got it for 25 cent, couldn’t turn down a bargain(smile) 2 years later when I “left the church of 35 years I open the book and realized why the church wasn’t keen on us reading such books , I found a wealth of good information,that explain a lot of things that made sense in the Bible which is what a lot o the teaching is based on.
Even the Bible says line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.
Truth is found in many places…Now I read what ever I feel I want to and God gave me the mind to discern right from wrong.
lovemylife, I think I know just how you feel… It took me a very long time to get rid of that guilty feeling that i am wrong for seeking to ‘broaden my horizons’… my mother was just like your friend, my father still is. I finally got the courage the other day to actually tell mom some of the things i now believe which differ from my old beliefs. much of the ‘Christian’ teaching is very narrow and fear-based and would keep you separated from others and from God= this provides a way of controlling you. I have recognized deep down for years that many churches are more about politics and control than they are about helping or letting you grow spiritually. there are many wonderful spiritual teachers around us, God spreads gifts and love around liberally!
AND this is not to say ALL Christian churches are bad, many are wonderful caring loving groups of people, -but many many more are fear-based and see evil under every rock. One wonderful thing I have found is that God has many names in many places and is just as loving in ALL of them! IMO, of course!!
and I totally agree with Fay “Truth is found in many places” — this site is one of them! things I read here have made me think, reevaluate, reconsider, really look at my attitudes and beliefs. I sift others statements, try to understand what they are saying, and decide if i agree or disagree, and either way I come away enriched.
so from one seeker to another, yes, you ARE a big girl, and “there are no wrong answers.” (Wayne Dyer “Balance” )
Carolyne,
I love your response to Lovemylife. I too was brought up in the church… but… left after I began reading more and more on my own and questioning… why God always seem to be looking at all the wrongs we were doing and the good works we did, never seem to be enough… as you say, it seem to be very narrow in scope and fear based… that everyone who had a different belief system was going to hell… for me… the contradiction was too strong and confusing.
On the one hand, we are taught to love God with all of our hearts and on the other… we are taught to fear Him… for me, this was causing to much personal conflict in my mind on a daily basis, especially, when I tried to the best of my ability, to do the right thing. So… I left the church about 15-20 years ago… taking with me, honest concern… understanding… compassion and love, for all of humanity… where color… economics… sex and where a person lives or works… play no role in how I inter-act with others. When I left the church… I left behind all that stuff about we are better, than those who believe differently.
I have come to believe…
it’s not religion that frees us… in many cases… it takes our freedoms away…
It’s compassion… understanding… knowledge… and education we obtain about our
world and the many different cultures who lives in it… that affers us real freedom.
“ I have recognized deep down for years that many churches are more about politics and control than they are about helping or letting you grow spiritually. there are many wonderful spiritual teachers around us, God spreads gifts and love around liberally” I love this statement from you and agree 100%. Much love & peace. Jo
thank you, jo. our paths and ideas are very similar if not the same! I am finding that so many of us believe much the same, and sometimes all you need to do is change the ‘labels’… ♥
I know people like your friend. I think that they have no right to judge. I really work to keep that in mind for my personal self. What works for you may/may not be right for them, but no judgement please.
On my FB profile, I describe myself as a ‘solitary feminist eclectic seeker’ My philosophy is that we are all traveling to the same place, we each take different roads to get there.
It’s a great book and a great way to live. In my experience, it’s also a terrific doorway to Buddhism . And Buddhism, especially Zen, has brought me to a place of peace, compassion and self-knowledge. I’m by no means ’finished’ but my life has become so much richer and realer since I’ve embarked on this spiritual journey. To all those who seek – - keep going!
Is this a continuing thread? I feel like I entered a room filled with “my own kind.” I was not raised in a church, although I attended services with my Grandma when I was little (Pentacostal!) Not being a church member worked against me in the small town where I grew up, because I didn’t go to Sunday School, weekly youth classes, church events, etc. When I was in high school, although I had the highest gpa in my class, I was told I could not attend Girls State because I was not a member of a church! I never really questioned that decision, but now I realize that I could have insisted on going. Why should religion be a requirement to attend an educational event? But that was back in the 1960s, and things have changed a lot. I have read a little about several non-Christian faiths and basically all the major ones have the same tenets of loving one another, being a caring person, respecting you elders, don’t steal or murder, etc. Isn’t that the way we all should live anyway? What”s this about only Baptists, or only Jehovah’s Witnesses, or only Catholics…. going to Heaven? Anyone care to keep talking?
I was raised a Methodist, which I pretty much rejected it as I grew into adulthood. What I don’t like about organized religion is that each sect or (whatever you want to call them) seems to feel every one else is wrong and if you don’t believe what they believe you are going to rot in hell. Is it because they have doubts and would only feel comfortable if everyone else felt the same as they do? I feel that religion is a very personal thing. ”God enters by a private door into each individual.” Ralph Waldo Emerson. Heaven?….I’m not sure it exists…..
My dad’s family were strict pentecostal, loving, kind people. I grew up grateful that I was ‘born into’ the right religion and other’s were all sadly being mislead. My mom, however, truly loving unconditionally, (despite raising her siblings and having no mom of her own), taught me that we 8 children were entirely different from one another and that required different parenting with each child. We did not all respond the same to her love or her discipline. Therefore, different religions are necessary in order for God to reach each one of us. They each have merit, and they can all bring us closer to our creator. God then gave us children to experience that unconditional love he has for us, his children. Organized religion has not one thing to do with a relationship with our heavenly father, our creator. It simply regulates, rules and judges.
what a wonderful way to look at it. ihad always thought upon that, and came to the conclusion that religions were formed somewhat like the ‘Blind Men and the Elephant’ story. I figured that God being God, ahd millions of facets much llke a diamond- and that each religion was looking at one particular quality that it used as the basis for the belief system. I think I like your mom’s explanation better!
Amen sista! organized religion has not one thing to do with the breadth and scope of the Divine. How could God be limited to a mental construct. I was raised catholic and very young couldn’t get around this obvious thing that God had to be encompass everyone and was not a person abiding by a set of rules. I wanted to know something from direct experience, some real peace, some real depth and soon turned to the east that offers a non denominational method to become still enough to have some direct experience of compassion, and unconditional love inclusively, not exclusively. Only makes common sense too huh?
You Kathyisha touch my own feelings of the Divine…at 21 yrs. old I found out that when a minister who had the patience of a” city doctor” suggested that if I was feeling sorry for myself that may be why GOD was not healing me sooner, as I nearly died from an unknown affliction of he muscles and nervous system after child birth. I took things in my own hands and turn my face to at the wall and cried out to GOD and that is where I found the Divine ..inside reaching to the Divine outside and was gently rocked to sleep and as I had asked to be healed or killed…I felt I could not learn any more than I had in that helpless and humiliating position , plus I had two babies an a husband who was working and going to school…..My prayer was answered which had given me a whole new perspective of putting any one between me and GOD.
I agree totally–our relationship to our god is one-on-one. Too often, others’ interpretation of God’s intent is just that–their interpretation. Who can truly know another’s situation. As the Native America aphorism says: “Walk a mile in another man’s moccasins before you criticize him.”
I have a poem about “Have You Been to the Shoe Store Lately?…and I agree experiencing another person situation gives you some prospective of what a person may be going through, but we can never feel their pain nor they ours ..and to me criticism usually comes from self denial of the same weakness found in others.,,denied in ourselves
Hmmm, now trying to think what I criticize in others. Answer: nothing. I must be perfect!
i have a funny story to share about how subtle I realized my judging can be. Not sure if I can get it all down in this short space.
One sunday morning, I was heading to a meditation service that I attended regularly, of course non denominational, a wonderful opportunity for direct experience of some deep peace and stillness.
I was driving down a main road and saw a couple walking along the side, it was a pretty populated area, but it was early. I saw that he was wearing an open shirt with a chain around his neck and she had an off the shoulder blouse, carrying her shoes and kinda wild blonde hair. I had the quickest most subtle thought, “oh they must had a late wild Saturday night and are walking home now.” I went along my merry way, went into the meditation service and closed my eyes for the blissful sweet hour of peace and when I opened my eyes at the end, They were sitting right next to me !!
I was so surprised and laughed at myself for the snap judgement I had made.
haha
What a lovely experience you have shared FayetteSIPP. A favorite bible verse that I learned young has helped me make many decisions. “Ask and it will be answered to you, Seek and you shall find, Knock and it will be opened to you.” We should never forget to seek God’s power in our lives first….he longs to be needed by his children. When we are needy, we are more teachable, and we also learn that it was only him that came to our rescue and heard our cries.
It was an experience that took me to where I needed to be in GOD’s time…
I too love that scripture also ….and our prayers are answered.
The part of your post that kept drawing me back is….”in God’s time”. So I have to share this. I wrote an ‘angel experience’ story 20 yrs ago, mine was never printed but my brother’s was several times. Then my children lost their dad 20 yrs later, and within one week after his death, I received a certified letter to give permission for my story to be printed. It had sat for 20 yrs in a file cabinet, we still lived at the same address. The editor felt that this was the week to print that particular story….she in VA, we in Maine, had no contact for those 20 yrs. I guess I got the answer to why my story had to wait….either their dad met the ‘guardian angel’ in heaven and asked where the story went…or God was holding it for just that week….when we needed it most. My brother, the pastor, says “There are no calendars in heaven”…..so your “in God’s time” is so important for us to remember.
Thank you Weezy ..You just don’t know how important it was for me to come on this post today after a conversation I had with my son about my finding out that for the last two years I had to SIT OUT and wait for the final way to my purpose of helping my community, and GOD’s time is timeless and it may be the next second or the next 20 years …like in your case..
Soon I will be ale to fully explain how much this post mean to me.
I was raised in the Catholic Church, and as a child I was taught by the nuns that only Catholics go to Heaven because Catholicism was the one true faith. In those days, this was an accepted teraching. Even at a very young age, I found it hard to understand. My next door neighbors were Jewish and their true devotion to their faith far exceeded my own family’s – my parents saw their religion as a duty rather than a way of life. My neighbots were such good, loving, kind people — I found it hard to grasp that God would exclude them.
As I grew olderr, I rejected this teaching (and many other teachings of the church as well). I realized how harmful and divisive it was. When I was in my 20′s, I went with a friend to a service at an Episcopal church. Whn I asked the priest if I would be permitted to recieve communion, he smiled and said, “We are all God’s children.” This is a stark contrast to Catholic practice.
I was widowed in my late 30′s and later remarried a wonderful man. However, since he had been divorced 15 years earlier (at age 23), he was “excommunicated” (forbidden to recieve communion) and so was I when I married him.
I know I’m rambling on, but I guess my point is that I feel that religions need to be inclusive, welcoming and free from the kind of dogma that creates rifts among people. I’ve never forgotten what that priest told me so many years ago: We are all God’s children.
Because I was not raised in any particular church, but had a smattering of so many different ones, I saw each one as basically having the same teaching and tenets as the others. It confused me that they could be so similar, and yet representatives of many churches believe theirs is THE only one. I just don’t get it, but maybe if people are “raised” in a particular church, they never know the similarities. You say that you got to know a Jewish family, so you had an example that caused you to question your faith’s teaching. It strikes me that everyone would benefit from attending other services, but that might open some eyes and lead to some doubts.
As I studied world history and international relations throughout college, I learned of cruelties practiced by people in the name of religion throughout the world. We see that in the justification of terrorism or suppression in the present. To me religion, i.e. spiritual life, is about acceptance of others’ faith, compassion for ALL people not just people in your own church/and or socio-economic “class,” and living each day being mindful and and caring. I could go on but you get the idea.
This is a great forum. I hope we can continue the dialogue.
I am going to heaven because i know i am a good person and do not hurt others. If I can i will only help. If i see injustice i speak about it with a very loud mouth even if it brings resentment from others. Although i am a Catholic it has nothing to do with my religion, it is the life i chose to live. I believe that our Lord wanted us to get involved, to be good people and eventually we will be rewarded. But please don’t do this if you do not feel it in your heart. I do it because i do.
I also love animals specially dogs like if they were people. I know, it may not be normal for some but for me, it is. They bring me lots of happiness and having had many animals in my life i learned to know them and they are sometimes, better than people.
This is a point that I was trying to make, albeit clumsily. If a person lives a good life according to the 10 commandments or whatever guidelines one’s religion states, s/he will go on to some variety of an ideal afterlife. I feel much better thinking that the afterlife has a multicultural mix of inhabitants with whom to associate, all of whom are caring, loving, thoughtful people who only wish the best for each other and do their best to help others be the best they can be. That’s my idea of “Heaven.”
Some of you may have read what happened to me in a Baptist church (31 years): http://www.churchabusepoetrytherapy.com…..voted out of membership, with my name up on a big screen which said, “Conduct Unbecoming a Child of God.”
I got a divorce after 31 years of abuse and fought the spiritually abusive system…boy did I learn a LOT.
I consider myself a believer now and don’t go to any church; too painful.
I’m certain Jesus did not have membership requirements for his followers. He was a teacher and a healer who walked and travelled to gather those who witnessed his acts of kindness and his miracles. He did not belong to an organized religion. The bible does say, “ wherever you are gathered two or more, there in the midst will I be.” Many small informal home ministries have arisen due to rules and requirements of organized religion. Entire devoted congregations have trusted and were mislead and hurt deeply by rules and those in charge who broke them.
Churches are imperfect, and ie religion, because people are imperfect….To be a Christian, or anything else for that matter works best if first, is based on a personal relationship with God and then not based only on blind trust, and devotion to the leaders…Churches should be for our gathering together, with like minded, to worship, praise and learn more about God….There are many of us that don’t or can’t agree with behaviors and teachings at some churches, that is why it is good there are so many…;) Myself, as a Christian, chose to attend one that follows the Bible, book by book and scripture by scripture. It is conservative but also forward moving….(my Mother can’t handle the “modern” music….) But, I am also wise enough to understand that I probably will not agree with everyone and everything….even some interpretations of what the Bible says…I go to God in prayer for understanding. =]
Jesus did belong to an organized religion. He was a practicing Jew. What is now considered to be the Christian religion did not develop until after his death.
I do know that Jesus threw the moneychangers out of the house of worship (remembered from my sunday school stories). Church was not to be used as a means of making money, although of course they do have bills and overhead to operate. As Easter approaches, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus becomes more prevalent. I assume the development of Christianity must have been a direct result of the resurrection, as it was not a religion until after his death ? Sorry, not all of those bible stories stuck well….thank you for the correction. Did Jesus attend synagogue ? My memories of the bible stories on the flannel board were of his travel by foot to teach his followers. I view all religions with respect and merit as they lead us to our creator, who loves without condition, and only wants our love and repect as well.
In the time of Jesus there were no synagogues because “The Temple” was still there. Jews at that time made pilgrimages to the temple a few times a year. At that time animal sacrifices were still being made. The animals could have included doves, goats, bulls, etc and when people came to the temple they had to buy or pay for the sacrifices, hence the so called money changers. This was all part of the common, every day occurance of that time period. Jesus, as a practicing Jew, would have been very familiar with these practices.
I really lost a lot of respect for Deepak Chopar after the death of Michael Jackson. As Michael’s spiritual adviser and guide I thought everything would have been confidential. But Deepak seen to bask in thelimelight of spilling everything he ever knew or will ever know about his relation with Michael. A man who will sell confidential conversations for money, media and publicity is not the person I want to seek spiritual guidance. So very sad when everything comes down to the almighty dollar!
well, you did say you “thought” which is far different from you “know.” and maybe he didn’t reveal certain things that were agreed upon as confidential. and could it be that Chopra felt compelled out of love and kindness to come to MJ’s defense regarding so many bad allegations and stories about him? do you know for a fact that he was paid to talk about Michael? (i can’t see where he wrote a book about it anyway.)
“Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” maybe Chopra was coming from this angle and said yes!! food for thought….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/a-tribute-to-my-friend-mi_b_221268.html
I agree with your assessment about what you hear in the media can ruin a person and it is not always fact.
I read the link and did not find anything so horrible in Chopra sharing his experience with MJ..but What I would like to add is that many times people give out great advice and are failures at what they “teach”…but if a person is giving you good advice would you not take that good advice because that person did something that you consider immoral?
I have learn to accept Truth and good advice where I “find” it we ask for help ad then question where it comes from…I don’t try to live Chopra life , but I surly enjoy and love the information he puts out to make being human more humane and an enlighten being,.
I try hard to live by is it true? is it kind? and is it necessary? theory,,,Thanks
Thanks Fayette for reading the link as well as responding. We probably are all “failures at what we teach” at times. That’s probably where the old cliche “Do as I say, not as I do” comes from. The proverbial “voice of experience” type thing vs. “excuse my hypocritical behavior.”
I’m not saying this particular cliche applies to Chopra re:MJ (I’m still not convinced he did any breach of any kind.) but just wanted to let you know your words resonated with me. I too try to always remember the “Is it True? Is it Kind? Is it Necessary?” creed as well. It’s a great one!
Also, Fayette, I’d like to take this moment to let you know directly that I always make sure I read your posts here as I find them full of compassion and calming wisdom and I thank you for that. XO
Thank you and I could not rest until I had time to come back and let you know I understood what you were saying, I say I Love Deepak , because I Love people in general . there was a time I could not understand his speech clearly , and what he was trying to teach and then one day I listen and his voice became clear and his words meant so much …he did not necessarily change …I did… and I am so grateful I have I have his words in my ear many nights before I go to sleep..I Love his teaching on synchronicity and intentions.
THere are great women on this blog site and for that I am grateful