Miss Mango

Do you know what the secret is!?! Have you heard of this secret?

Well there is a new movie going around that is kind of like a motivational feel good movie about life.. I bought a copy and I love it changed the way I think and feel.. but here is 20 mins of it and a short video on inspiration.. EnJoY



Inspiration:



This may not reach everyone.. but if you feel it.. GREAT

~peace

pornclerk

Yes, I listened to the whole book on CD. It is pretty interesting. I suppose it could really work if you wanted it to. It made me think a lot about the power of the mind though. If you are one of those people who can easily think some things are hokey, then you may not find it so interesting.

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Who wants a twig when you can have the whole tree?

Baraka_Guru

Don't get me started on The Secret....


If you get me started, don't say I didn't warn you.

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Plan9

Baraka...

C'mon.

Do it.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

greyeyes

This seems interesting, Thanks for it.

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I'm kind of jealous of the life I'm supposedly leading.
- Zach Braff

Baraka_Guru

Dude... don't go there....



You have no idea what you're doing. Don't poke the bear.

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Redlemon

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I can't read your signature. Sorry.

tecoyah

The basic premis of "The secret" plays off positive mental attitudes that actually (in my owm experience), do work amazingly well. The fascinating part of this concept is the opposite side of it, in that those who immediately scoff at the Idea are usually the ones that most need to change the way they think if they wish to be happier in life. Part of the reason I disliked the promise was the focus on financial success vs. looking more deeply into the benefits of this technique in the deeper parts of fulfillment.
I use the ability of my mind to change how I feel on a daily basis, an honestly believe it has changed the way I look at the world for the better. I have become a better person, and enjoy my life far more deeply because of my own mindset. Personally I discovered this Idea ten years ago or more....and have incorporated it into who I am.
Much like every other so called "new age" concepts, many people will blow it off as granola crunching bullshit and thats just fine, as it does not change the personal reality others will feel. It does seem a pity though, that the very people who truly need to explore their own self...choose to turn away from something very cool.

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Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

DaveOrion

Ya Baraka, go ahead. I'll take the opposing viewpoint, of course.......

This is a fantastic read, if you're even remotely interested in the unlimited power of the human mind & improving your health, relationships, prosperity & happiness. If you're content with your life & have no interest in the ability to achieve your dreams, then theres really no need, just pass this one by....

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Syriana...have you ever tried liquid MDMA?....Liquid MDMA? No....Arash, when you wanna do this?.....After prayer...

Plan9

Motherfucker JUST poked the bear.

(goes to Barakastan, heads into Gurusalem, petitions the Off-White House)

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

Baraka_Guru

First off: LOL, guys. You're awesome.

Okay, someone poked the bear. Don't say I didn't warn you.



Let me start off by declaring that I'm a book editor who has worked on new age books. Let me also declare that I haven't actually read The Secret (though I have read several reviews, both favourable and negative). I don't think I really need to, as I think it can be summed up as follows: Ask. Believe. Receive. This is called the Law of Attraction, and is related to other ideas, such as: What you think about expands.

On the surface, this is fine. It can be interpreted as a positive way to influence your life. You can go ahead and ask something of yourself, believe in it, and be prepared to welcome it. In many ways, this is related to something I am familiar with, which is Buddhism. But this core idea can apply to many other ideas as well--most notably: the power of positive thinking.

This is where I start to have a problem. I get the feeling that the Law of Attraction ignores a very basic (an unavoidable) law: the Law of Causation. This is where The Secret and Buddhism part ways. Buddhism, despite being considered a religion to many, and mystical to others, is actually quite grounded in the idea of cause and effect. It understands that your actions have consequences, your words have an impact, your thoughts affect how you see things. This is not as apparent in The Secret.

My understanding is that The Secret is a way of using thoughts to directly affect your life and the things in it. If you think positive things, positive things will happen, and if you think negative things, negative things will happen. This is too simplistic and open to misinterpretation, which is dangerous. Does this mean that impoverished nations are only so because of negative thoughts? Do people die violent deaths because they were afraid of violence?

Those who think The Secret really works should consider another thing that might be at play: coincidence. Or perhaps it is what Buddhists base their lives on: causation. Either way, you cannot get something from nothing. You cannot will things to happen with positive thoughts without taking action. You cannot get rich by thinking about money. There is no direct link there. It only works through coincidence and causation.

There. If I'm off base, I am open to your interpretation of The Secret or your criticism of my view. I am willing to learn. My view of it is based on reviews and articles and the cursory glance I've had at the book. It is also based on what others have said about it.

And just for the record: I'd sooner read (or watch) the Da Vinci Code than I would The Secret. At least the Code has some intrigue, whereas The Secret appears to be a hasty (if not sloppy) re-hashing of new-agey ideas that don't really work.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

flstf

From the SNL Oprah show. It's just your negative outlook that's hurting you

Baraka_Guru

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

SecretMethod70

I came in here all ready to respond, but Baraka_Guru has said it all for me already.

So, I shall simply say 1) I agree with him (and I also admit to not having read the book, but having flipped through it and read a number of reviews) and 2) Boston Legal had an awesome episode in which they made fun of The Secret in that way only Boston Legal could.

EDIT: Very funny Oprah parody

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

Cynthetiq

I can say that the Secret won't help me get the Porsche Carerra GT I was looking at last night. It doesn't matter how much positive thinking I have in my life, the reality isn't going to change the fact that I don't have the ability to attract a few million dollars.

If it was true, then all those starving people around the world would be attracting food.

I'd rather follow the idea:

If I want something, I can dream it. If I can dream it, I can achieve it. That is more responsible, honest, and genuine to myself.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Baraka_Guru

One of the most influential business instructors I had in college once told me the difference between a dream and a goal.

A dream is something you think about, maybe over and over again as you fantasize about things, thinking what if? or, wouldn't it be nice?

A goal, on the other hand, is something you write down; you plan your life around goals and you strive to reach them. They are measurable and achievable.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Plan9

"We are what we do."

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

Baraka_Guru

QED

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Redlemon

/pokes DaveMatrix with stick

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I can't read your signature. Sorry.

DaveOrion

Hey, I didn't read the book either, I just wanted to poke the bear.

I do think its pretty funny that most people in this thread didn't even read the book, only reviews, and thats somehow good enough to form a qualifying opinion, myself included. I believe many prejudged this book, based simply on their like or dislike for self help.

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Syriana...have you ever tried liquid MDMA?....Liquid MDMA? No....Arash, when you wanna do this?.....After prayer...

SecretMethod70

I bothered to watch the preview posted in the opening post. It makes The Secret look more like quackery than any review I read.

Ultimately, I think this is why there are people who think The Secret has done wonderful things for their life. In the end, when it works, it's a new name for setting goals. It's much more fun to think about how we're "controlling the universe with our mind" than it is to think about how we're conceiving of a goal, focusing on it, figuring out what needs to be done to achieve that goal, and then doing what is necessary. This is the best explanation I can come up with for why people are attracted to this concept when, really, it's just a less responsible and less realistic way of looking at goals. (That is, when it is working.)

(btw Miss Mango...I know it can be frustrating to create a thread about something you think is cool, only for it to be filled with detractors. Don't let it get to you...our low opinion of The Secret doesn't translate into a low opinion of you )

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

DaveOrion

I think thats true. I also think to from a proper opinion one should first read the book. If you go into the reading thinking that all self help is BS, then your opinion afterwards would certainly denote that. On the other hand, approaching it with an open mind might well change your life for the better.

In all fairness, after reading the book wouldn't you then need to try a practical application of the material presented to properly judge it???

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Syriana...have you ever tried liquid MDMA?....Liquid MDMA? No....Arash, when you wanna do this?.....After prayer...

Redlemon

My current boss believes in this. For instance, she was telling me how, when she moved into a new location, she really wanted to put in new rugs, but couldn't afford them. So, she asked the Universe, and then there was an equipment failure in the room above hers resulting in a water leak, and the property manager had to replace her rugs.

I'm still too much of a scientist to believe in this sort of thing, but there's a little part of me who wonders nonetheless. So, I'm looking forward to hearing from the believers, even though I'm pretty sure I'm a nonbeliever.

Do I have to get another stick?

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I can't read your signature. Sorry.

SecretMethod70

Who ever said that all self-help is BS? Buddhism (the philosophy, not the religion) may not typically be referred to as self-help, but that's ultimately what it is, just to use one example of something already mentioned in this thread. Or, a book focusing on how to effectively set and maintain goals: good self-help.

As for needing to read the book...the movie is written and produced by the author of the book. I see no reason not to assume it's a fair representation.

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

smorency

I tried to read the book. I went through half. Wont go further.
In fact 10 pages is enough. All others are repetition of the first ten.
The book has a Readers digest taste to it. The writer probably wanted to ''attract'' money and succeeded. Baraka is absolutly right. That was the goal. I'm a believer of if you want, you can and you will. But don't expect a check in you mail box through law of attraction.

Zezilia

I won't tell you my opinion of The Secret until next week, when I've seen the movie.

It's nothing new or revolutionary, but it's obvious most people aren't familiar with the way their mind or the world works.

But without a doubt the following sound familiar to almost everyone:

Like begets like.
You'll be treated the same way you treat others. Therefore treat them like you yourself would like to be treated.
Smile and a few smiles will come your way too.
Curse and you will be cursed.
For everything you do, you are really doing unto yourself. :-) Reject, and you'll get rejected.

Like begets like. Maybe that's why hungry people aren't attracting food. The fearful attracts the things he is afraid of, more so than what he desires.
The rich people get richer and the poor poorer as money finds money...

If you want something bad enough, you'll get it...

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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
- Helen Keller

hotzot

They're making a movie about The Secret and they won't make one about Red Dwarf?!?! SON OF A BITCH!!!! Please forgive me for this outbreak.

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