The seven spiritual laws of success

¶ … Spiritual Laws of Success" by Deepak Chopra M.D.: A Synopsis

There are several aspects to a successful life, and different people have different views of success. In his book, "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success," Dr. Deepak Chopra M.D. shares what his ideas are regarding how to attract a fulfilling life, love and success. From his point-of-view, material wealth is only one of several facets of success. In order to even be able to enjoy the fruits and benefits of material success, Chopra suggests that we must cater to the divinity inside of us. He makes reference to "gods and goddesses" in an undeveloped form that have yet to be fully realized. Through the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, we are able to create and attract wealth and happiness in new, more effortless, ways.

The Law of Pure Potentiality

The Law of Pure Potentiality states that we all have some unfulfilled purpose in life. Chopra suggests that human beings are full of consciousness, or pure potentiality, that only has to be expressed and manifested. . The essential nature of pure potentiality is one of pure joy, a plethora of possibilities, endless and pure knowledge, balance and invincibility. Chopra suggests that the only way to connect with the pure potentiality inside of us is to spend time in silence and non-judgment. During this time, we are better able to align ourselves with our inside power, the power of pure potentiality. Chopra also suggests that spending time connecting with nature is another way to gain access to the pure potentiality within us.

This is an interesting concept, that people are put onto earth with a variety of possibilities. Chopra's suggestion that people are full of potential yet to be realized may serve as good motivation for those who need a little push in the right direction.

Section 2: The Law of Giving

Chopra says that the universe operates entirely through the receipt and exchange of things, including services, emotions and items. Life is the manifestation of this idea, as life flows from one thing to another as forces and elements interact with one another through a series of receipt and giving. Chopra compares disrupting this law to stopping the flow of blood in the body, and suggests that a person's willingness to put into the universe what they seek to gain is the best way to go about gaining it. He also stresses that the force behind becoming an active participant in this giving and receiving in life should be the realization and creation of happiness and love. If you want something in life, put it out there. This goes for love, as well. If you want love, put love into the universe and it will come back to you with more ease. The Law of Giving is a good foreshadowing of the next law, which is the Law of Karma.

With so many takers in the world, Chopra's idea that the world is about giving and receiving love and the basic needs of life from one another. While it is a bit unrealistic to think that people will base their lives totally on giving, the premise that this is based on is only bound to create more good things in the universe.

Section 3: The Law of Karma

The Law of Karma, also called the Law of Cause and Effect, is one of the more well-known of Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. According to the Law of Karma, everything that is happening to a person in their life is the result of a choice that they made sometime in the past. This choice may have been a conscious or unconscious choice, and it almost always makes an indirect effect on everything that follows. Chopra suggests that when people are aware that their choices shape the outcome of their lives, they will make choices more consciously and with more intention. More intention in decision-making results in the formation of better decisions, which can only lead to a happier, more successful life.

Chopra suggests that the Law of Karma can be used to create power and wealth, if used properly. The key to employing the Law of Karma is accepting the fact that your life, as is, is the result of the decisions that you made in the past. The more your decisions become a real part of your awareness, the more good decisions you will make, and the less effort it will take to attract happiness through good decisions. Chopra also stresses that good karma is wanting happiness and success for others, as well. How possible this is remains to be seen and is up to the individual, but believing that wanting happiness and goodness for others will help bring happiness and goodness to oneself is a theory that many people may find worth testing.

Section 4: The Law of Least Effort

The Law of Least Effort is based on the fact that the most beautiful, seemingly complicated things in life happen with no effort. The sun doesn't try to rise in the morning. Flowers don't try to come into full bloom. Birds don't try to fly. All of these things just happen. "Least effort is expended when our actions are motivated by love, harmony and joy," says Chopra. He suggests that people can learn the Law of Least Effort from nature, and that people can have more by doing less. Over time, continuously operating under this law more affluence and prosperity can come to you without you having to do anything to get it.

The Law of Least Effort suggests that people are bound to do three things if they want to fulfill this Spiritual Law of Success. First, we must accept everything and every person and every situation as it is. Operate under the knowledge that everything in the universe is actually as it should be during that exact moment in time.

Secondly, the Law of Least Effort requires that people take responsibility, and not place blame on other people, other situations or even themselves for what is happening in life. Again, everything in the universe is as it should be and is the result of a conscious or unconscious decision made in the past.

The third component is defenselessness. This means that people should give up their need to defend themselves and convince others as to their point-of-view of things. Giving up the need to persuade people frees up large amounts of energy.

The Law of Least Energy operates under the premise that people can realize more of what they need in life if they stop chasing it. The energy used to chase money, success and the love of another can be used for something more pure in life. The rest will come, according to Chopra.

The Law of Least Energy is a difficult one to recommend, because to many people it requires giving up. Chopra suggests that this law is what allows miracles to occur, but in that sense, what would be the point of cancer research?

Section 5: The Law of Intention and Desire

The Law of Intention and Desire is based on the premise that energy exists in everything in nature. A flower, a person, a bee -- they can all be broken down into two essential parts: energy and information. The entire universe is made up of energy and information, and the only thing that separates you from a plant is the type of energy and the type of information stored in your body. According to this law, making a conscious decision to change the energy in your body will change the sequence of events in your life. Living with intention will attract any of a number of events to your world. "Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment," says Chopra. "When we introduce an intention in our pure potentiality, we put this finite organizing power to work for us."

Section 6: The Law of Detachment

The law of detachment is simple: if you want something in life, you must give up your attachment to it. Chopra suggests that attachments are based on need and insecurity, which works against the universe. The ability to detach implies a faith in the natural outcome of things and in truth, attachment does no good in the end. Chopra suggests that much of what we want in life can be attracted through detachment. While this does not mean to give up intention and desire, it does allow the body and soul the freedom to manifest and create.