Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Beyond Human The Secret

hartreefoch,

Right on.

I agree completely. Note the high costs of many "self-help" methods.

It's kinda funny that it's called self-help, anyway. If you go to technology forums (programming and linux forums) and it looks like you haven't done your homework, you get "RTFM," which translates to Read The F'ing Manual.

Rude, but that's real self-help right there, and it doesn't cost a dime. And if you have the gumption, you'll benefit a lot from it.

A lot of people are willing to pay to be told what to think because its comforting.

I have watched the secret over the internet and I loved it. I even bought the DVD. It is inexpensive compare to what it brings to the table and it has help me finalize a lot of things I been trying to do.

I agree with Neozon. In my opinion, The Secret is a well rounded presentation of the principle of the law of attraction. And only one chapter specifically focuses on money as a topic (yes, most of the presenters have money issues as a part of their work, but within the context of creating the life you want to live - including health, relationships, etc.). The Secret is about how your thoughts and feelings attract ALL experiences into your life - and how you cannot create in the experience of another.

I was only a bit disappointed that the historical references highlighted in the original trailer weren't examined in the movie - just what is the Emerald Tablet anyway?

But that said, what is so great about this inexpensive DVD (it's only $20) is that you can share it with people who have no idea about such ideas. So many people are focused on the mundane experiences of what appears to be reality, that they cannot for a second believe that they have anything to do with its creation. I am lending this movie to a co-worker who complains daily about the ills of the world and this robbery and that murder...and on and on. But the reality is that these things are not happening to her - they are not her experiences. Who knows why someone creates what they do, good or bad? By reading or listening to the mass-market News you only get a report of what happened, not how or why the situation was created - not the inner reasons, and so that sort of info is useless and ultimately destructive because it just causes a vicious cycle of fear and powerlessness. What about the great things that happen to people all day, day in and day out - where are these reported? You can only understand what you are creating, not the experience of any other.

For those two who feel it's all about greed, you might want to look at how you view the world. Honestly, you can do more to help other people/animals/theplanet if you have some extra to give - time or money. Personally, I think this film, and many of the presenter's books and programs, help people, and not rip them off. If you believe everyone's out to rip you off, then yes, you're bound to get scammed or ripped off - or feel you have. You will attract the perception of it.

You might consider reading Seth Speaks, followed by The Nature of Personal Reality: A Seth Book, and Seth: The Early Sessions Vol 1, all by Jane Roberts. The Early Sessions Vol 1 is particularly complimentary with Robert Scheinfeld's excellent book The 11th Element, and if read together can greatly expand your perception of reality. In my opinion, there is no clearer entry into metaphysics than Seth. The reason I mention this is that it doesn't appear that you are looking beyond the mundane circumstances of life. The Secret is the perfect presentation for those who haven't ever questioned the mass trance that the majority of western culture lives in. The Secret is also a great reminder to those who are awakening more and more to the true nature of reality. It is really a primer on how you attract your experiences, and how important your feelings are in the whole equation. And c'mon, Esther Hicks and Joe Vitale are pretty fabulous in it.

Hi Levitateme:

You said:

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I was only a bit disappointed that the historical references highlighted in the original trailer weren't examined in the movie - just what is the Emerald Tablet anyway?

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A translation for The Emerald Tablet of Hermes can be found here. I studied with this group (B.O.T.A.) back in the 1980's for 8 years, along about the same time that I was devouring the Seth books. You'll actually find the Seth material is helpful in giving you some ideas on the more recondite meanings in the passages in the first paragraph, although to really get the proper meaning from the second paragraph, a good study of Qaballah and esoteric Tarot are in order. There is much of meaning, way beyond the few words used.

I ordered "The Secret" last week - looking forward to viewing it, and hopefully getting some of my friends and family to watch as well.

Cheers!
Unis

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Originally posted by hartreefoch:
Personally, I am less than impressed with The Secret, and similar efforts. The hyping of abundance philosophies undermines the real path to enlightenment. I'm saddened that people prey on others by appealing to their greed. The Secret is no secret at all, and why it is lining the pockets of merely clever marketers truly disturbs me.

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Well said! In fact, a couple of years back, I had a "new age humor" website. The abundance pages guaranteed absolute millions for the reader. The technique? Just go to all the high-powered, well-known abundance sites on the web, jot down how much the programs and/or seminars cost, then don't buy into them. Add up all the savings.

Very tongue in cheek, and all in good fun, but I did get some hate mail.

I'm afraid I agree with Hartreefoch and Jeanne and by the way THIS IS NOT A NEGATIVE MESSAGE!! For the record, my reason for taking part in any or all of these forums is to help cultivate healing and deep connection - not to promote negativity. The art of criticism often gets a bad press but it does not necessarily mean outright "negativity" - rather being honest enough to highlight something that is "not" for you can actually represent a positive and honest approach. Surely diversity and difference is good?

Do "I" create my abundance - do I create my life? No - the "I" we are talking about here and which, unfortunately I think this type of commercialised approach can encourage (at least in my case) - is merely an extension of ego; a greedy, fearful, needy false "self". To be honest, if we want to really wake up to abundance and truth in our lives, we need to park our "selves" at the door and open up to the unknown - to the real abundance, which isn't owned, marketed, sold or easily packaged. I'm not affiliated to any particular religion but it's the stuff that is bigger than ourselves - the essence that is beyond us and our self-absorbed concerns - that is what creates life - and what creates abundance. And it still remains a mystery to our limited minds and concepts.

So please don't read this as a negative trashing of an evident attempt to help people to cultivate positivity in their lives. If it really works for some people, great! It's just that to "me", an ego that unfortunately responds well to the potential trappings of material wealth, this particular method or path or tool, simply reinforces the very "self" that I am trying to park by the door. Hence the suspicion on my part.

That said, this of course doesn't mean that this particular tool won't work for others. It's just not for "me". And in the end does any of this really matter anyway in the grand scheme of things? Does "me" really matter anyway?

Thank God (pardon the pun) for the Unknown...

lots of love

Ingrid :0)

In a book I recently read and have mentioend in a couple of other posts (You are Therefore I am - A Declaration of Dependence) there was a passage describing a meeting with Gandhi, where Gandhi was drinking from a glass of water and, becoming lost in conversation, realised suddenly that he had finished drinking all of the water in the glass. This distressed him and he could barely believe that he had drunk the entire glass. Puzzled, his host reassured him that there was more than enough water available and that it was fine that he had drunk the whole glass full. Gandhi responded that this may indeed be the case, but that he, Gandhi did not need to have drunk the entire glass - a smaller amount would have been more than enough for his needs.
I find this a touching reminder of the power of mindfulness, balance and humility. Wouldn't the world be abundant for everyone if we were less "needy"?
lots of love
Ingrid :0)

Ingrid--great posts, both of them!

As for the negativity comments--was the honest little boy being negative when he truthfully pointed out that the emperor had no clothes?

The thing about abundance--or at least for me--is that the kind of abundance that is fulfilling is best attracted through the heartfelt (meaning it comes from deep, deep within) spirit of giving, or even of sharing. It's been my experience, in hindsight, that the more I give (again, from the heart), the more the Universe opens up for me. Not just money, which is nice of course, but abundance of many categories.

Thanks Jeanne. I also feel deeply that a heart of compassion is the most important ingredient for an abundant life. At the end of the day, true abundance must surely arise when we realise that we are not alone or isolated - but rather that we are truly connected. As you say, the best way of realising this is to share and to give. Reaching out in this way to each other will help remind us that although we are each individual waves - fundamentally we are all the ocean... Giving/receiving - is there really a difference?
lots of love
Ingrid :0)

Hi Jeanne and Ingrid, I wonder what part of the Secret did you dislike? Is it the law of attraction material in general? Is it the $5 rental fee, or the $20 purchase price?

Just curious because it sounds to me that you are upset that people are charging $ for programs that in some way link spirituality to money issues. If everything is energy, then money is just another form of energy exchange. I really don't think money is the issue, though. It is about having a fullfilled life. More than that it is about feeling you are in control of your life, and can do the things you want. Maybe you want more time to meditate or money to help a cause you believe in - maybe you have a great idea and need the time to write a book - honestly, whatever it is, it is the freedom to follow your path.

But the law of attraction isn't all about money. Perhaps you choose to be a caretaker, and you need to attract your next housesit in a timely manner, it's about anything, material or not. There's a great chapter in "Autobiography of a Yogi," where a youthful Yogananda goes with a friend to a city with no money for food or return fare and just knows they will be taken care of - his positive expectation is unfailing. And they are magically taken care of at every turn. Those synchronicity's happen because of belief. Just as $ is the root of all evil is a belief. The great and terrible thing about beliefs is that they will always prove to you that they are true.

I think the Secret is not unlike What the Bleep - it has the potential to wake a lot of people up to how their thoughts and beliefs are creating their reality, or their response to reality, or however you care to look at it.

Now I do find that some programs out there seem either quite flimsy or just an attempt to make money, obviously. But that doesn't mean everyone is out to do this, and I don't find the Secret, or its presenter's, to be of this ilk. Sometimes you just find one thing in a book or course that is productive or leads to something else that's uncommonly worthwhile.

As well, if I can digress from the Secret for a moment, I really don't understand this railing against the ego arguement. I do think that the inner self concious ego (inner self) and the conscious ego are too divided for most of us. Seth explains (in Early Sessions Vol 1) that there in no other species of consciousness where the physical and non-physical have been so divorced as in our reality, which is not healthy. But that doesn't mean you should despise and try to rid yourself of the ego, how could you? I think by acknowledging the inner self, and attempting to connect with it consciously, either through meditation or a practice such as the 11th Element, you do receive direction and guidance from this greater portion of who you are. This strengthens both the ego and it's connection to source.

Anyway, I hope you are having a fullfiling life and wish you the best. Be easy on yourself and others, it's a long short ride.