Deepak Chopra’s new DVD, "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success,” shares some interesting insights on how to gain inner peace.
Based on the book that spent two years on the New York Times Best-Seller list, "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" takes the viewer step by step through what those laws are and how to generally apply them to life. It is rather like a visual Cliff Notes of the book, with individuals who have found success through Chopra’s program discussing how it changed their lives. For those not familiar with Chopra, his philosophy and programs focus on meditation, calming walks through labyrinths, karma (every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind), and dharma (life purpose). Nature and the force of the universe support us when we are in tune with them. Problems arise when we fight against the universe. Many of his ideas sound familiarly like ‘The Secret,’ and many sound like Jesus’ teachings in a free form.
Olivia Newton-John, a huge proponent of Chopra and also the main participant in this DVD, does bring the God word into the mix. But she also admits that some mornings she is not sure where her inspiration comes from. Her closing song, “Let Go Let God” would seem to give credit where credit is due, but the DVD in general skirts around anything that hints of Christianity or organized religion.
Maybe that’s not such a bad thing, to some extent. The word “God” does not have positive meaning for those who were brought up to fear judgment day and hellfire from that horrible father-figure of the Old Testament who will punish those who disobey him. I remember spending many hours talking with a young mother who wanted to learn more about the teachings of Christian Science but could not fathom a God of pure love. She did finally come to understand it as she experienced healing through divine Love, but it was a difficult path to overcome the indoctrination of her youth. Calling this divine power simply the force of the universe may free people from those mental barricades—allowing them to trust that something larger than themselves is in control without fearing this force.
Briefly, the laws of the universe that Chopra says will lead to spiritual success are: 1. Law of Pure Potential 2. Law of Giving and Receiving 3. Law of Karma 4. Law of Least Effort 5. Law of Intention and Desire 6. Law of Detachment 7. Law of Dharma It brought a smile to my face to listen to Chopra’s description of how to know if a decision is in line with these laws—a good karmic choice. He says that you will feel a peace and calmness deep within that will let you know you are in harmony.
That’s the same advice that I gave to my husband just a week ago as he struggled with whether or not to take a new job. There were issues of money and location that he was uncomfortable with, and he did not want to make this change unless it was a right move according to God’s plan for our lives.
As we prayed to see clearly what the right decision was, my husband felt impelled to take a walk with our dog—and leave his ipod at home (which he never does). In the mental quiet of that walk he suddenly found that he was at peace, wanted to take the job, and everything that seemed a problem just faded away. Chopra would call it good karma. I just feel that God sends us an answer of peace, as the Bible promises.
Clearly, I don’t agree with all of Chopra’s teachings, but there are some wonderful ideas presented in this DVD that will be very appealing to those who are seeking to find peace and harmony in life. There’s nothing wrong with opening up thought to find oneness with the source of the universe. I even walked away from the film thinking that prayer, as I understand it, is much more like meditation than what is practiced in much of Christianity, where repetition of words is stressed. True prayer is understanding our oneness with God. It is feeling the kingdom of heaven here and now. It is getting in touch with the power of the universe.
As with many philosophies that have so much good to them, where I end up short in the end is that Chopra also says that bad things happen to bless us and have their source in this same universal, powerful creator. I can never buy into that.
He also stays shy of saying that any of these laws can be used to overcome sickness. He talks about healing, but it is more of the psyche than of the body—though that should be a logical next step for him in a teaching where matter has no real existence and we create the world we live in with our thoughts.
All in all, it is an interesting DVD and worth renting. A press release from Fox Home Entertainment says that these seven spiritual laws form, “the basis for a more natural and organic lifestyle, allowing personal well-being and enthusiasm for life to govern prosperity and success.” That’s certainly better than the current trend to visualize material gain in order to receive it. It also promises to empower followers to, “gain control of their lives through a deep and meditative understanding of their own spiritual connections to the world.” Nothing wrong with that goal.
Imagine a world where everyone was aware of their own spiritual oneness with the creator of the universe. Anything that can help us get there deserves some attention.
Chopra’s ‘Seven Spiritual Law of Success’ releases directly to DVD on May 8, 2007.
Meg Welch Dendler is an avid movie-goer, always on the lookout for a uplifting, spiritual message. She’ll tell you when she’s successful and warn you when to save your money. You can reach Meg to comment on this piece or suggest a movie for review in this column at
