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Showing reviews 1-5 of 215
 Simple but powerful book of principles to live by July 6, 2010
Alain B. Burrese (Missoula, MT)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success: A Practical Guide To The Fulfillment Of Your Dreams" by Deepak Chopra is a short and simple book, but also one that is also profound and enjoyable as a guide filled with timeless wisdom and practical steps you can apply to create more success in all areas of your life. It is based on his longer book, "Creating Affluence."
Chopra begins by saying these are also the laws of life, and that they are the same principles that nature uses to create everything in material existence. He then defines success as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals. He says success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease. He then briefly describes the concept of laws. After these definitions, he proceeds to go over the seven spiritual laws of success and how you can apply them in our lives.
Each of the chapters begins with a couple of sentences regarding the law. Then there is a quote related to the concept. Then there are a number of pages explaining the law. Finally, each chapter ends with some steps for applying the law.
The first law is of pure potentiality and is based on pure consciousness, which is found through practicing silence, meditation, and non-judgment. The second law is the law of giving. He notes that it could also be called the law of giving and receiving, because the two complete a dynamic exchange, and the more you give, the more you receive. You practice by giving and being grateful for all you receive. The third is the law of Karma, or cause and effect. This refers to action and the consequence of that action. You learn to make choices and recognize the consequences of the choices you make. The fourth law is of least effort, and as Chopra explains, the law is based on the fact that nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease and abandoned carefreeness. To practice this law you practice acceptance, responsibility, and defenselessness. Law five is that of intention and desire. This chapter helps you understand your desires and relinquish your attachment to the outcome. The sixth law is of detachment. According to Chopra, to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. The seventh, and final, law is that of Dharma or purpose in life. This chapter focuses on our unique talents and how we express it. It's about our true self, our unique talents, and service to humanity. The book then has a short conclusion that brings everything together.
Even though the book deals with complex topics, it is written in a very easy to understand manner. The book is short and can be read quickly, but will have a more profound impact if savored slowly. One should take some time to understand how the laws can be applied to one's life through the suggestions at the end of each chapter.
This simple book really does share some powerful principles to live by and help you create a more satisfying life. I've just read it again for a reminder of what's important, and to help ground me toward living at a congruent level.
Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.
A Modern Classic of Perennial Wisdom June 13, 2010
Bodhi Gaia (Escazu, Costa Rica)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is a tour de force, a spiritual masterpiece. It is not, however, for everybody. Do not let its slimness or big print fool you: this is a deep, profound book. It requires an informed reader, someone capable of grasping such pearls of wisdom. I see that there are numerous reviews giving it only one star, and the authors of most of them seem to have an axe to grind against Mr. Chopra, as though he were the subject of the "review" and not the book itself. I am reading this book now for the third time, and working my way through it. For this really is a workbook, a book to be slowly read, meditated on, and its methods PRACTICED. If one simply reads it like any other book, like a mystery novel, say, then it will be just so many good ideas - in one ear, out the other, utterly useless. Or, in the case of the many uninformed readers, or readers who do not have sufficient spiritual knowledge to appreciate this book, one will just see it as jibberish. ANY book, from great classics such as Tolstoy's War and Peace to Marx's Kapital, will be found by SOME readers to be worthless, silly, etc. This is not because the book IS those qualities but because certain readers simply lack the proper preparation for the book. It is like a kindergartener trying to understand theoretical physics. Nonetheless, this book can be read and understood best by someone with an understanding of Eastern philosophy, as well as someone who has read books on pop psychology such as the classic, Psycho-Cybernetics. This book is easily understandable by someone with a high school education and some basic background in spiritual/metaphysical studies. But do yourself a favor: read this book with a journal. Read a chapter per day and consciously try to put into practice the advice. Record the results in your journal. Live this book, or it is just so much intellectual decoration.
Puts immaterial into words May 10, 2010
Lily Bhattacharya (Encinitas, CA)
The heart is holistic, contextual and intuitive, Chopra MD argues. He is right. Intention is transformation of energy and information. His unique way of expressing the Seven Laws was informative and easy to use. Seven laws include : Potentiality, Giving, Karma (Cause and Effect), Least effort, Intention and Desire, Detachment, and Dharma (True purpose).
I believe the book is worth the money. At the time is was written, his ideas and these conceptions were cutting edge in Self awareness/Universalist (someone who believes in all paths and respects the differences in others) movement. This is an ideal I follow and I realize it is tough as it asks you to accept all and judge noone including yourself. I recommend this to spiritual people and people desiring to see how they can work with Energy/thought and affirmation to create desired outcomes.
The Brilliance of the Seven Spiritual Laws: One Cell- One Universe April 1, 2010
Marcielle Y Brandler (California, USA)
The Brilliance of the Seven Spiritual Laws: One Cell- One Universe
By Marcielle Brandler
"If you look at any cell in the human body, you will see through its functioning the expression of these [seven spiritual] laws. ... DNA is a perfect example of pure potentiality." -The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra 105. Deepak shows us scientifically the quantum physics of the spiritual laws of the universe that gurus, saints, and simple people have employed throughout history to improve life on this planet, thus improving their own lives and their own value as Spirit. By giving, a person like a cell receives. The cell is part of a larger whole and cannot harm another cell without harming itself. So, we follow that same plan. We are bodies in the larger body- like it or not.
Our lives must be about preserving Community, which is our larger societal Universe. Cooperation and harmony (not force) are necessary to preserve Community. A piece by Martin Luther King, "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence," denounces force and promotes nonviolent protest. It supports the Laws of which Deepak speaks. King uses Gandhi's model and says that the goal of this kind of resistance is to shame the abuser into realizing that Community must be served, and that if we use violence, we oppose Community, thus we cannot succeed. The idea of a cell in the body, a group in the larger body of humanity, and a being in the greater universe, and of the spirit inside the larger Spirit is very powerful and has convinced me that my former idea of using force to fight an oppressor was incorrect.
Deepak also says, "If you want something, help others get it." Many of us have seen this in action. When we serve others, we provide for them, thus they are willing to pay for our services or we just add to who we are. John Rohn calls this, "becoming more valuable." - The Art of Exceptional Living. Deepak discussed how meditation works. "The spaces between your thoughts is the link to infinite power. Rational thought does not do this. Every cell in your body has this computing ability." You know when something is a wrong decision, because you feel discomfort. You know when it is right, because you feel pleasure. It is built into us. And, remember that confusion is discomfort, so we cannot rationalize our way out of making an incorrect choice when we make a decision based on confusion.
Karma is not a tit for tat payback system. If I give to Mary and expect her to give me the equivalent in return, I am not giving unconditionally. My "reward' may be in the act of being able to give, having the ability to give to one who cannot give, by virtue of her position in society, or even her emotional or psychological ability to give. My "reward" may come from some other quadrant and at some other time altogether. By giving, we receive. We become strong and we become "more giving," that is, our capacity to give is expanded, thus making us bigger people. Is not our purpose on this planet to grow? All things grow or wither. Those who withhold their love and bounty, wither. Those who give, expand.
Marcielle Brandler is a prize-winning poet and author of The Breathing House. Her TV show streams live on the web and her website is [...]
. She can be reached at [...]
 This Is Nonsense March 30, 2010
Voyager255 (New York City)
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
This stuff is useless. The man is a con artist. It is wonderful to be positive. But this book is trash. A lot of self improvement books are actually self DESTRUCTION books. If you are having spiritual problems, this will not help. Read real psychology books, such as textbooks. Freud himself is much better than this.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 215
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