Bill Maher tonight had Deepak and they discussed 'The Secret"

[rumpel]

I think they will repeat the show over the weekend again.

Consensus - bad review on the book "The Secret"

I do not have the book - I had the impression the book was more like an afterthought project by the creators of the film, but one of the guests David Kuo (?) said something interesting in a few words; " It is like spiritualizing greed".

Who wrote the book? Is it a collaborative work of the people n the film?

[SeattleGirl]

1. Collaborative effort, put together by Rhonda Byrnes, who did the film.

I think there are two things going on here:

1. People seem to be focusing almost solely on the financial prosperity aspect of The Secret, and ignoring the parts about relationships, health, etc.

2. There is always the inevitable backlash against something when it hits "pop culture" status.

If someone is living in poverty, if someone is in a painful relationship, if someone is having health challenges, they don't want to hear that they have a responsibility in that. They don't want to hear that THEY can get themselves out of it. They feel threatened, scared.

I think it's a normal reaction. Some people will never accept the concepts of The Secret; others will, some sooner rather than later. And that's cool. There are many paths one can take; The Secret is but one of them.

[rumpel]

2. the discussion almost sounded like

the book was entirely about obtaining material wealth...so I'm curious one day to read the book why it gives that impression to so many. Or have they even read the book?

wonder if it is a collective negativity...

I think, why deny, before you try - ha it even rhymed, silly me.

[SeattleGirl]

7. Ha! rumpel's poet and didn't even know it!

Joking aside, I find it interesting that people who disparage or denounce The Secret are almost solely focused on the financial aspect of it, leaving out relationships, health, a good life in general. People seem to have a very hard time accepting that the spiritual can also include the financial. It's as if they think that if one says one is spiritual, one must wear ash and sackcloth and live in a cave or something.

And there is a lot of anger out there against people who have financial wealth. Look at how folks in GD jumped all over John Edwards because of the house he's building, or went screaming over the size of Al Gore's energy bill. These folks think that you aren't a true liberal or progressive if you have money, which is ridiculous, IMHO.

While I admit that I experience feelings of envy toward people who have more than I do right now, I don't hate them. I don't think they should burn all their money and retire to the aforementioned cave. What I think is that when people start screaming and yelling about how much money someone else has, what they'd really like is to have that much money themselves. But instead of taking the time to do something, be it following The Secret, or whatever, they sit on their arses and lash out at those who have more.

[Why Syzygy]

3. What was the bad review?

Is it all about the money? Is THAT the big complaint? This is beginning to remind me of an NLP demonstration. Imagine the issue being a pin point. Now imagine it getting larger and larger until it is finally larger than the entire universe. How does that issue feel now? Maybe you had to see it.

Deepak Chopra was featured at a wellness expo here in February. Joe Vitale was one of the speakers as well. That doesn't prove a connection. Surely Deepak doesn't claim that his lessons are all about spiritualism? He is heavy on the diet and lifestyle angle. He has tons of money. He certainly is not opposed to riches.

Joe Vitale used the method to restore his health and lose weight. Jack Canfield wrote many best selling Soup for the Soul books, which have no doubt brought comfort to readers. Esther Hicks contributions are obvious. All of the people appearing in the show have improved the lives of others in some way.

The detractors are drawing so much attention to the money angle, it is really helping me move beyond any resistance I had on that front. They have made it larger than the universe.

ps. What does David Kuo suggest rather than:
personal responsibility and seeking self improvement, which in turn betters the entire planet?

edit: It occurs to me that people who use this line of debate do, in fact, have a limited view of the Universe/Spirit/God/Master Mind. They are perpetuating the notion that there is a finite amount of health and wealth and that if 'you' take some someone else will have to go without. That is the fallacy of their reasoning. Spirit is Infinite. All matter is created via Spirit. We can all have abundance.

[mother earth]

4. Interesting this critique should come from Deepok Chopra.

Is he writing another book? As for Bill Maher...I think he should stick to political irony. I agree with one thing, they are making money on the book, the DVD, and maybe in other ways, but isn't that our way of life? IMHO, you will take the principles of The Secret to apply to whatever is important to you and your life. Happiness does not equal wealth, it never has, it never will. The arguments against practicing the Secret just don't understand there is more to it...they are lame.

I would love to see Deepok talk to anyone from The Secret. Wouldn't you? How do you basically claim there is more to health than medicine (which is one of Chopra's claims) and not be able to embrace the universal laws. I'm sorry...there's yet ANOTHER Chopra topic, universal laws. Is there a book in this for Deepok?

[lildreamer316]

5. Oh no no...I DIED LAUGHING. Here's why:

(and I don't have the recording up in front of me atm; so I'm going from last night's memory): Deepak used the Secret to discredit the Secret!!!
Towards the end of the discussion, he says something to the effect of "why are you giving it attention?"; basically saying that if Bill gave it his attention it would get bigger.
I fell off the couch.
If you watch it closely, after the initial intro of the book, all you hear coming out of his mouth is the Secret.
Friggin' hilarious.

[SeattleGirl]

6. I had the SAME thought, lildreamer!

As soon as he said that (why are you giving it attention), I thought, you just proved The Secret, Deepak!