July 23, 2008

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

The visual complement to his 1994 book of the same name, Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success provides adherents with the same kind of inspiration and advice that have made the New Delhi-born doctor and writer's work so popular. Whether it will sway those who consider Chopra more charlatan than guru, however, is another matter. To be sure, there's much to be said for the virtues of cultivating one's consciousness, which Chopra describes as "a faculty more powerful and reliable than the five senses." In fact, much is said about it here, often by some familiar faces, including singer Olivia Newton-John (who also provided much of the music for the DVD), actor-director Bill Duke, musician Dave Stewart of the band Eurythmics, and professional golfer Tina Mickelson. Their testimonials, while varying in specifics, all have the same essential theme: only after they'd reached their lowest ebb (breast cancer for Newton-John, a car accident for Stewart, drug problems for Duke) were they able to "tap into the power of their inner beings" and realize their full potential. That's where the Seven Spiritual Laws come in. Some contain considerable wisdom; the fourth (called "The Law of Least Effort") recommends acceptance and responsibility as alternatives to blaming others, while the sixth ("The Law of Detachment") suggests that relinquishing one's obsession with a particular goal will make it more likely to happen. Others are frustratingly vague; learning to "efficiently, effortlessly co-create with the universe" or to be "grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty" is all well and good, but in the absence of practical steps it comes off as vapid New Age speak. Overall, the DVD is well-produced, mixing interviews with the principals (Chopra included) with some lovely cinematography and several sequences that combine live action (mostly featuring Newton-John) with imaginative, computer-generated landscapes and interiors. The package contains a 16-page "study guide" along with the DVD. –Sam Graham

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Enjoy remembering…!!!
…God give you some ways to remember who you are…!!! Now you have one here…!Just with this film……..!!!Enjoy……..!!!

5 Stars Stop, look and listen.
Deepak Chopra is the real deal. Follow his advice for a more meaningful life and see how the world around you quicklychanges. Find the path you've been looking for and the light appears. Breath easier when you discover your real place and your destiny in this twisted world. The light is near and peace glows.

5 Stars Read the Book Review, Watch This, Then Read the Book
I will not repeat my detailed review of the book. I strongly recommend read my review of the book, then watch the DVD which you can rent from Blockbuster, and only then read the book.

I understand how some viewers may have reacted negatively to some of the "exemplar" individuals, but the bottom line for me, after listening to the DVD on background while paying bills, was that I realized I needed to give it my full attention. The DVD and the book gave me closure as I change paths, and that is a priceless gift.

Robert's Book Review at the Book's Page:

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams (One Hour of Wisdom)

Other cool DVDs with spiritual and reality mixed:

Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion

The Snow Walker

Peace One Day

5 Stars Blown Away!
Wow! What a visual feast! And the book is such easy reading. After watching it twice w/ my wife, we followed along for a third time with the book and handy study guide (included w/ DVD). Dr. Chopra has hit this one out of the ballpark and I'm hoping to see more visual adaptations of his teachings. I hear How To Know God is even better and I can't wait to get my copy!

Thanks Deepak!

5 Stars Amazing
Very inspirational and thought provoking. I really enjoyed this DVD and loved the music by Olivia Newton John. This is a life changing movie!