"The Secret"

Chica's picture

has anyone seen that movie "The Secret" ? what did you think about it and about what it presents ? i hear/read so many mixed opinions about it... and i still have to see it :)

Coralina's picture

secret's popularity reminds me of celestine prophecy ...

Great comments ...and I agree that too many think in terms of material wealth instead of spiritual wealth ...when searching for the keys to happiness ..to me its missing the fundamental concepts of spirituality ~
  
All your comments regarding "The Secret" reminds me of another controversial best selling book ...and later made into a movie ....the "Celestine Prophecy". In many ways its is similar to the Secret not so much in concept...but in the way it has caught the public's attention ...having many critics as well as supporters ~ Anyone remember it and have any thoughts on its spiritual concepts?
Here is an article about the book "Celestine Prophecy" from Wikipedia to refresh your memory regarding this story of the spiritual quest to philosophical higher truths ...
"Celestine Prophecy is a 1993 novel by James Redfield. As of May 2005, it had sold over 20 million copies worldwide and had been translated into 34 languages. A movie of the same title, based on the book, was released in 2006.
In the novel, the Maya civilization had ruins in Peru where the book's alleged manuscript was found and that the Incas took up residence in the abandoned Maya cities after the Maya had reached an "energy vibration level" which made them cross over into a completely spiritual reality. Though there is no archaeological evidence that the Maya truely existed in Peru, the novel is meant as a fictional story, to explain the concepts of the nine insights.

THE FIRST INSIGHT . . . A CRITICAL MASS A new spiritual awakening is occurring in human culture, an awakening brought about by a critical mass of individuals who experience their lives as a spiritual unfolding, a journey in which we are led forward by mysterious coincidences.

THE SECOND INSIGHT . . . THE LONGER NOW This awakening represents the creation of a new, more complete worldview, which replaces a five-hundred-year-old preoccupation with secular survival and comfort. While this technological preoccupation was an important step, our awakening to life's coincidences is opening us up to the real purpose of human life on this planet, and the real nature of our universe.

THE THIRD INSIGHT . . . A MATTER OF ENERGY We now experience that we live not in a material universe, but in a universe of dynamic energy. Everything extant is a field of sacred energy that we can sense and intuit. Moreover, we humans can project our energy by focusing our attention in the desired direction...where attention goes, energy flows...influencing other energy systems and increasing the pace of coincidences in our lives.

THE FOURTH INSIGHT . . . THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER Too often humans cut themselves off from the greater source of this energy and so feel weak and insecure. To gain energy we tend to manipulate or force others to give us attention and thus energy. When we successfully dominate others in this way, we feel more powerful, but they are left weakened and often fight back. Competition for scarce, human energy is the cause of all conflict between people.

THE FIFTH INSIGHT . . . THE MESSAGE OF THE MYSTICS Insecurity and violence ends when we experience an inner connection with divine energy within, a connection described by mystics of all traditions. A sense of lightness--buoyancy--along with the constant sensation of love are measures of this connection. If these measures are present, the connection is real. If not, it is only pretended.

THE SIXTH INSIGHT . . . CLEARING THE PAST The more we stay connected, the more we are acutely aware of those times when we lose connection, usually when we are under stress. In these times, we can see our own particular way of stealing energy from others. Once our manipulations are brought to personal awareness, our connection becomes more constant and we can discover our own growth path in life, and our spiritual mission--the personal way we can contribute to the world.

THE SEVENTH INSIGHT . . . ENGAGING THE FLOW Knowing our personal mission further enhances the flow of mysterious coincidences as we are guided toward our destinies. First we have a question; then dreams, daydreams, and intuitions lead us towards the answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being.

THE EIGHTH INSIGHT . . . THE INTERPERSONAL ETHIC We can increase the frequency of guiding coincidences by uplifting every person that comes into our lives. Care must be taken not to lose our inner connection in romantic relationships. Uplifting others is especially effective in groups where each member can feel energy of all the others. With children it is extremely important for their early security and growth. By seeing the beauty in every face, we lift others into their wisest self, and increase the chances of hearing a synchronistic message.

THE NINTH INSIGHT . . . THE EMERGING CULTURE As we all evolve toward the best completion of our spiritual missions, the technological means of survival will be fully automated as humans focus instead on synchronistic growth. Such growth will move humans into higher energy states, ultimately transforming our bodies into spiritual form and uniting this dimension of existence with the after-life dimension, ending the cycle of birth and death.

The Celestine Prophecy was originally self-published by Redfield, who sold 100,000 copies out of the trunk of his Honda before Warner Books agreed to publish him." 

Chica's picture

...curios..

Now you made me curios.. I will have to find the movie and watch it; and I still have to see The Secret one of these days…I feel kind of reluctant about it… but I guess it will not be able to form my own opinion on it until I see it for myself, and how I will feel about all the points express in the movie...

alfalfasprout's picture

" The Secret"

I have seen it and have watched Oprah spew endlessly over how incredibly profound a discovery it is. Really, in a nut shell it is no different than the idea of karmic energy transferring from one form of matter to another. Positive thoughts and energy will create good luck and will give you positive energy. You get out of the world what you put in. As we all know, this isn't a new concept. They have just packaged this ancient idea into something that can be pedalled almost like a spiritual infomercial. I believe that positive thinking helps people make good and constructive choices in their lives and this brings them success, wealth and happiness. I can't help but feel that there is something contrived about this movement. I guess we'll wait and see. If it provides something positive for people to believe in I guess there in lies its worth. But that's just my opinion. What do you think?

Yannaki's picture

Materialistic Greed.....

Ey Chica n' YummyYummy!!

What an interesting topic to discuss about! - I have heard news circulating around on da net about this new movie -- and saw da trailer once or twice --

What fascinates me is the theme of the movie - although i have not seen it yet.....I do have thoughts about the movie and relating it to the current condition of our society......"The Secret" theme based on the concept of posiive thinking to improve our lives.....also known as the "Law of Attraction" in New Age philosophy -

As yummy shares with us, it is not a new idea, or something to go "WOWW OMG!!" -- it is a basic principle...Good thoughts and actions tend to create positive outlooks and bad ones create trouble......the problem is that certain individuals who see this movie for the first time might have a misconstrued view of the concept......There are those who unfortunately take the idea and merely use it for their own selfish desires and goals.......to attain materialistic pleasures and success (livin' da high life....KA-CHING!) -- and focusing on such things to meet their satisfaction.......in other words......the persuit of happiness via external means.......Greed sets in.....egos get in the way.......they get all cocky.....that whole thing......and begin to spiral downward from there ~ This defeats the whole purpose ~

It can be a double-edged sword......it can work good for you.....or against you.......what determines the outcome is the purity of the heart and inner light...... from the heart comes our inner emotions....if it's impure and not in the right place......what comes out won't be right either......Once the heart is pure and let go of the ego, our priorities in life change......and instead of seeking superficial junk.......use the power of positive thinking to seek true joy ~ the inner joy ~ to move us in the right direction.......helping others....and to do good things in the world we live in........

~ Peace, Love, Joy ~

alfalfasprout's picture

The secret

Hey Yannaki:

I agree. To everything the hand of intention brings the end. If we consciously process the intentions of our thoughts we can navigate through our existence with honesty and integrity. AS with everything we can take something positive from this "New" idea and if our intention is pure it can bear positive fruit for us and all those around us. I am always leary of those pedalling the materialism of spirituality regardless of the wrapping it is presented in. A great book regarding this topic is Spiritual Materialism by Trungpa Rimpoche. It brings to mind the adage that if you" see the buddha on the road - kill him" If we package and bring the idea of spirituality into discursive thought then it becomes who is right and if you aren't living by this code then you are not a "good" or a successful person". Then we have imprisoned our spirituality in concept. What a great discussion. I am always wondering what you will make me think about next. Thank - you sevara for bringing all our minds together.