The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success
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Yes, I experienced it, I really did; the intense feeling of true happiness and success. Not just temporarily, but extensively for an uninterrupted period of several months. This was simply the most significant ‘achievement’ of mine: finding clarity, peace and happiness in a hectic and high-demanding life. This phase took the entire first half of 2007 and I came out the other end with much insight and understanding about myself and my purpose.
I have never felt so complete and content as I did during this period. With the most rewarding being the absolute stillness I felt within myself and the understanding that we can be truly and absolutely happy with living a simple life with very little material possession. Now, if this is your first visit here, this may sound a little mystical and hand-wavy. No, I am not a hippy, nor am I religious. I am just a girl, going through life, seeking that which we are all seeking: happiness.
What is my secret to happiness and success?
The Inspirations
The catalysts which pushed me into this phase were four books, for which I am extremely grateful. These books are:
- The Power of Now, By Eckhart Tolle
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, By Deepak Chopra
- Ways of the Peaceful Warrior, By Dan Millman
- Guaranteed Solutions, By Swami Nithyananda
I have gained so much wisdom through these books and each time I read them, it wasn’t the words which I was reading, but rather the message. The words from these pages brought me to a higher level of conscious awareness.
The Lifestyle
During the 6 months, I habituated several practices which helped me move into newer levels of understanding. My daily practices included:
- Meditation – Sitting in silent and calming my mind. 20-30 minutes a sitting. Twice a day.
- Listening to Meditative Music – Music have the power to shift our moods and calm our minds. I was particularly fond of Stan Richardson’s Japanese Flutes. Everyone who I’ve played it for love its calming effects.
- Vegetarianism – I was a raw vegan. You can read about Steve Pavlina’s current experiment with a raw diet. I loved the new gained energy I had. I did eat cooked food when dining out, but I refrained from eating meat.
- Mindfulness – I made a conscious effort to put my full awareness into anything that I was doing. Walking to work, preparing meals, eating, drinking water, listening to others talk.
- Being Inspired – I spent an hour a day reading or listening to something inspirational. I even hosted a weekly Eckhart Tolle meet-up group where we watched Tolle DVDs, meditated and connected with other people. This turned out to be a deeply enriching experience.
- Self Dates – I spent a lot of time with myself by myself. I overcame the need to be with other people and the fear of being alone.
- Daily Focus – From “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success“, I broke the seven laws for each day of the week and focused on one each day. (more details below)
- Creative Expressions – photography, drawing or writing.
- Slowed Down – I stopped rushing from place to place, task to task, and started enjoying the miracles of Life; one moment at a time.
This may sound a little extreme, and I was indeed extreme. But I felt a compelling desire to do so, I felt a strong pull towards these practices, in order to satisfy a yearning from deep inside for peace, clarity and understanding.
What Is Success?
“Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness
and the progressive realization of worthy goals.
Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease.”
– Deepak Chopra
Success is a topic I’ve spent many hours pondering and I’ve come to realize that it is so much more than just material wealth. Material wealth is only a small portion of your collective success potential. It is an experience as part of our journey as spiritual beings and yes, material wealth may make this journey more comfortable, but let’s not neglect the other dimensions of success: the success of sound physical health, fulfilling relationships, meaningful friendships, joy of self-expression, freedom from fear, the capacity to understand people and self-mastery.
Living The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
In Deepak Chopra’s book, “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success“, he gives us a spiritual look at success. You can have an extensive look at each law in his book, which goes into extensive detail. Here are the seven laws along with an example application found in the book:
1. The Law of Pure Potentiality
“The source of all creation is pure
consciousness… pure potentiality seeking expression from
the unmanifest to the manifest.
And when we realize that our
true Self is one of pure potentiality,
we align with the power that manifests everything in the universe.“
Example Application:
- ‘I will practice non-judgment. I will begin my day with the statement, “Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs,” and throughout the day I will remind myself not to judge.’
2. The Law of Giving
“The universe operates through dynamic exchange…
giving and receiving are different aspects of
the flow of energy in the universe.
And in our willingness to give that which we seek,
we keep the abundance of
the universe circulating in our lives.“
Example Application:
- ‘Wherever I go, and whoever I encounter, I will bring them a gift. The gift may be a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. Today, I will give something to everyone I come into contact with, and so I will begin the process of circulating joy, wealth and affluence in my life and in the lives of others.’
- ‘I will make a commitment to keep wealth circulating in my life by giving and receiving life’s most precious gifts: the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love. Each time I meet someone, I will silently wish them happiness, joy, and laughter.’
3. The Law of Cause and Effect
“Every action generates a force of energy
that returns to us in like kind . .
what we sow is what we reap.
And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others,
the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.”
Example Application:
- ‘Whenever I make a choice, I will ask myself two questions: “What are the consequences of this choice that I’m making?” and “Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?”‘
4. The Law of Least Effort
“Nature’s intelligence functions with effortless ease . . .
with carefreeness, harmony, and love.
And when we harness the forces of harmony, joy, and love,
we create success and good fortune with effortless ease.“
Example Application:
- ‘I will practice acceptance. Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances, and events as they occur. I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. I will not struggle against the whole universe by struggling against this moment. My acceptance is total and complete. I accept things as they are this moment, not as I wish they were.’
- ‘Today my awareness will remain established in Defenselessness. I will relinquish the need to defend my point of view. I will feel no need to convince or persuade others to accept my point of view. I will remain open to all points of view and not be rigidly attached to any one of them.’
5. The Law of Intention and Desire
“Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment . . .
Intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality
have infinite organizing power.
And when we introduce an intention in
the fertile ground of pure potentiality,
we put this infinite organizing power to work for us.“
Example Application:
- “I will make a list of all my desires. I will carry this list with me wherever I go. I will look at this list before I go into my silence and meditation. I will look at it before I go to sleep at night. I will look at it when I wake up in the morning.”
6. The Law of Detachment
“In detachment lies the wisdom of uncertainty . . .
in the wisdom of uncertainty list the freedom
from our past, from the known,
which is the prison of past conditioning.
And in our willingness to step into the
unknown, the field of all possibilities,
we surrender ourselves to the creative mind
that orchestrates the dance of the universe.“
Example Application:
- “Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detachment involvement.”
7. The Law of Purpose in Life
“Everyone has a purpose in life . . . a unique
gift or special talent to give to others.
And when we blend this unique talent with service to others,
we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit,
which is the ultimate goal of all goals.“
Example Application:
- ‘I will make a list of my unique talents. Then I will list all the things that I love to do while expressing my unique talents. When I express my unique talents and use them in the service of humanity, I lose track of time and create abundance in my life as well in the lives of others.’
- ‘I will ask myself daily, “How can I serve?” and “How can I help?” The answers to these questions will allow me to help and serve my fellow human beings with love.’
How to Live the Seven Spiritual Laws?
Since there are seven principles, I focussed on a different law for each day of the week. Each morning, after waking up, I would read the law for that day and go over the three applications suggested. I would go about my day with these applications in mind.
I’ve found the applications to be a powerful exercise and served as an excellent reminder for where I wanted to be. In doing so, I felt a level of calmness that cannot be expressed in words.
I used seven index cards, and wrote a law on each one, and the respective applications on the back of each card.
Download: For your conveniences, I’ve created this set of cards in digital format for you to print out and try out for yourself.
(Download DOC Format) (Download PDF Format)
Book: I highly recommend getting a copy of the book. I bought mine as a used copy from Amazon for about 50 cents.
What is your definition of Success? What has brought you the most happiness from your experience? Talk to us in the comments, we’d love to hear from you. See you there.
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Tina, I am glad that you wrote this post, even though you are a little tentative :-)
It is so important for people to discover the power that waits for them in meditation and the other avenues of practice and thought that you describe.
There is such calm acceptance, understanding, and happiness inside each of us. It simply awaits our discipline to discover it and to allow to to emerge. I have used Chi Gung and Meditation as tools to explore life, for over 20 years. It has been a journey of immense power and discovery, albeit with traps and dangerous crossings. But to me, it is the only path to unconditional happiness of such intensity and depth.
I want to also say that straying off the path is often a difficult and painful, but necessary part of the journey (been there big-time). If that describes anyone out there, don’t be too hard on yourself, but have faith that you can get right back on track. It’s all there waiting for you.
John
Aloha Y’all,
I found Tina’s article through digg.com. Tina, you’re describing a state which I also called Well Being. My experience in Well Being lasted for 6 weeks from December 1984 into January 1985.
In 1995 I created a website describing my experience from start to finish. I wanted to find others who had similar experiences so I advertised the site in various talk forums.
In the website I defined Well Being to include a number of traits. The only required trait was the first:
When you ask yourself, “Who am I?” The response you feel from within yourself elicits the following words:
“I am the peace that passes all understanding and I am the love that passes all understanding.”
As gregory indicated these experiences usually occur in phases. I left Well Being because I was unable to resolve a situation where a person was very afraid of me when I showed and felt only good will toward him. After I returned to “normal” I felt like I had lost the most incredible lover I had ever known. I decided I would never allow myself to enter Well Being again unless I knew I would never leave Well Being.
Then in the summer of 1996 I discovered I could choose to enter that state of grounded euphoria for just a few minutes at a time. Since 1996 I’ve been in that state thousands of times. By choice I don’t go there much anymore. This past year I’ve entered that state unintentionally while describing it.
Of the four books Tina mentioned in the beginning I’ve read all but “Guaranteed Solutions”. Let me add one to the top of her list:
“The Endorphin Effect” by William Bloom.
Bloom’s book provides simple easy to do techniques available to virtually everyone. His techniques enable a person to enter the “grounded euphoria” state within a minute of deciding to do so.
I have lived “The Lifestyle” Tina describes. I’m not very interested in “success”. Over time I’ve found Deepak’s “laws” to be aspects of ourselves. Spiritually, I’m only interested in principles which apply to daily life.
Finally, a brief note on “The Power of Now” and Eckhart Tolle. After I read his book I googled him. I found a statement by him which highlighted the primordial flaw in the book and his perspective. He said that after he has been on the road for quite a while giving talks and workshops, he will feel himself lapsing back and realize he needs to go home and return to hermit mode to replenish himself.
Eckhart needs to read “The Endorphin Effect” then he would not require “hermit” mode. From the description on page 1 of “The Power of Now” he entered the state through grace. In the rest of the book he tried to explain the state and how to get to it. Understanding is impossible because understanding is a function of thought. Knowledge is a function of experience. You can know what you think, but you cannot think what you know.
The sole value of his book, for me, is to read the experiences of yet another person who has spend a good deal of time in a state of grace. You could spend a lifetime following his suggestions in “The Power of Now” and never get to that state of grace.
Or you can spend an hour reading Bloom’s book or talking with someone like me and get there today. This isn’t an advertisement for Bloom or me. I don’t do anything for money except breath. It’s an advertisement for you to quickly experience the “grounded euphoria” already resident within yourself.
Im sorry but I dont believe this works. I think you just end-up isolating yourself from others and turns you into a non-action person. I had this lifestyle for many years and I got fed-up. This is not compatible with the western lifestyle where you have to pretty much stay proactive.
cheers!
Interesting article – not sure i agree with it all though as in with the whole karma aspect – Horrible things still happen to good people regardless. Still well written though – seems to be a reoccurring pattern I many of the books I have read on this subject.
Tina, thank you so much for the service for humanity, Your teachings will make our world a better place to live in, thank you so much once again for the excellent guidance to a successful life, Peace and security.
Very nice post, Tina. You very succinctly explained Deepak’s book.
Hey Tina, an absolutely inspiring post.
I’ve just gone to get Deepak’s book out of my library for another look, ta for reminding me of it and I’m printing out the pdf as well.
What first grabbed me was your mention of Eckhart Tolle’s POWER OF NOW. That book was a huge eureka in my life. You know when you think you know it all and really you know nothing? That book did that for me. I’d seen it on the bestseller’s lists for sometime but the title seemed simple and easy, and when I finally read it was in a daze for weeks. It was the next step I needed to take but had been resisting it. Others that did that were Seth Speaks by Jane Roberts and How to Heal Your Life by Louise Hay.
Anyways Tina, your post gave a great insight into your practice and your experience, I just love that, thank you so much for your wonderful warm personal posts and I loved reading about your life and what you’re doing, its an inspiration (Amazon, oh the miles of books!) and I have to say I adore your little Tommy the pom, he is such a darling so squeezable!
Warm grateful wishes from Oz
Lise x
In a single word MASTERFUL!
The one that struck me the most is the Principle of Detachment, your statement here really wakes me up =)
“I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems.”
I’m coordinating a church library right now, and few times, I find myself as a very rigid, I don’t want to see as being indecisive, hence I’m trying to impose my idea very much even when it’s illogical. I guess, looking at the big picture will help, not to be too rigid with life.
Learn to detach from our ego!
Thanks Tina, great post as usual!
Robert
Well, this is a long article. I must admit I did not read every line :-) Did everybody read everyline? I just skimmed it thru. Honestly, what is being said here is nothing new.
I have read many self improvement or relationship or happiness books. It’s all easier said than done. If you’re in the pain, you will never know what pain is. So-called laws of this or that just don’t exist in actual life. If so, life is really complicated and theoretical. It’s supposed to be simple! Being metaphysical just drives people away from being in touch with reality..
Sorry I have said something that may seem a bit negative, but I guess life is full of positive and negative. That’s why it’s called life.
Hi Tina,
You mention in this article that you’re “seeking happiness.” I’m grateful that you choose to share phases in this personal journey on this blog. You clearly enjoy exploring source of meaning in your existence. Blog readers benefit from your energetic and uplifting outlook.
As for me, I have evolved to think happiness isn’t something that can be pursued, sought or found outside myself. Its more of a feeling of contentment I can tap into whenever I choose, regardless of my external conditions or, what I’m experiencing and learning otherwise. I don’t have to be meditating, in a suspended state of animation or visiting a particular place. I don’t have to be eating a specific food or spending time with another physical person. Happiness is just innate.
Inspiring post.
I think you alluded to one of the most important aspects of success “enjoy”.
At Success Making Machine there is a simple rule for enjoying more:
Do more of what you like and less of what you don’t.
You are truly on the path to enlightenment. The higher you raise your vibrational level the more of the same you will attract into your life.
This was a great article that touched on all aspects of your life, and creates a nice outline for others to follow.
Thanks
Nice post. A couple of thoughts that struck me as I saw a few things:
“Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease.“
– Deepak Chopra
This really strongly contrasts with John Wooden’s definition of success:
“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”
Personally, I think the effortless ease part is shallow nonsense. I acknowledge that we too often needlessly complicate our lives, our relationships, and many other things … but things that are worth having are not easy. Anyone over the age of 35 who has done some hard thinking in life can attest to that. And in fact in your case it took a fairly intense study series and commitment of time, energy, and focus.
. . .
. . .
One thing that I wonder about:
“Part of writing this post serves as a reminder to myself, of what’s most important: my wellbeing. … and how I need to create the time to work on me. Only when I’m well, can I be of service and help to others.”
I’m glad you added the second sentence. But what’s most important is very often NOT my own wellbeing, but the wellbeing of others or doing what is right, not just what is best for me. That’s the hard part about doing the right thing … it’s not always in your own immediate best interest.
The funny thing is that doing what is right, and putting others first at least part of the time is much more likely to result in wellbeing for yourself than an internal “me” focus.
That’s the “secret” of success … it’s a byproduct, not a goal in itself.
Hi Tina – I like your description of the book. It has inspired me to read it.
As for success, it’s quite difficult to define. It’s often our small successes that we remember the most isn’t it? And it’s often the small things we do for others that mean the most too.
I don’t think any of us really know what our purpose is on earth, if we even have one at all, which makes it more difficult to achieve our full potential. So, we can only really guess what we’re here for, set our goals accordingly and hope we get it right.
Hello Tina:
I must say you have an incredible way of communicating your emotional experiences with others and its really a treasure to indulge in every word of your expressive style. I’ve recently started a blog of my own and I have been looking at other blogs to see how they induce and share the feeling that they hold inside when writing and sharing their experiences to others and you by far have humbled any of the others I have seen ( I’ve read alot of them). You give an almost carbon copy experience of the entire moment in your descriptions and it comes quite easily apparently when you speak ( that is how I read, I see the speaker (or writer per se) and subscribe to their emotional feed) and you have done an exemplary job of relaying what you feel through words. I commend what you’ve done here and I congratulate your success. Keep up the fantastic work and I will keep on reading.
Hi Tina,
I read your article on Problogger.net and stopped by to visit and subscribe to your feed – ask and ye shall receive! Given your wild success and following, I am putting it out on the Internet waves that I welcome and appreciate your help in spreading the word about my website and blog, The Modern Woman’s Divorce Guide – http://themodernwomansdivorceguide.com – which is a free online resource for women in divorce.
All visitors are welcome.
Namaste,
Helene
Tina – Nice writeup!
I haven’t read Deepak’s books, but I heard him in an interview once. I remembering him saying something along the lines of he can tell whether somebody is going to “make it” regarding cancer or heart-disease by asking them two questions:
1. what’s their purpose?
2. how happy are they with their job?
It made me seriously rethink how important it is to either love what you do, or do what you love.
I loved this post. My hat is off to you in the way you wrote the article, how you offered a tool for us to use too. That was brilliant and gave me an idea for my own blog.
I will be looking for the books you named. I have been reading alot of inspirational material and its great to have recommendations of others to read. I just finished Buddha by Deepak Chopra. I have bookmarked you too. So I can follow along on your interesting post.
Thanks
Nick