~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~

The most interesting thing to me about this hollywood-style presentation is that it recruited and featured many of the same people who were in the What the Bleep Do We Know movie. In that feature I dare say that their credibility was kept at a pretty high standard. Explaining invisible science in our daily lives remained the purpose of the film. The impact of belief and perception on our reality was well demonstrated.

In that film science remained the primary theme and I became quite a fan of the ideas. I like to think of myself as a person whose head is in the clouds while his feet remain on the ground. I have a lot of faith in what we can't see but I recoil at what I perceive to be superstition or exploitation. This whole quantum physics idea is intriguing. Intuitively I feel I have experienced much of that which is explained. It's compatible with my life experience and philosophy. I remain interested.

This film was soon followed by an expanded sequel, Down the Rabbit Hole. Here things became deeper, more profound and even more interesting. It was accompanied as well by many additional interviews with the "experts." I do not know if Rhonda Byrne had anything to do with these first productions. But she certainly recruited and "borrowed" for her movie, The Secret.

Enter the Dark Side

It apparently didn't take too long for "some" of these "magic of science and thought" gurus to figure out that the viral success of all of these movies represented a huge mass of people who were primed to be handed the next key to personal happiness and wealth, people who would give them money to know more, have more, wish more. The genie is truly out of the bottle. And it now is cloaked within an MLM marketing scheme.

Principles be damned. This series of presentations had evolved, in my observation, from a wholistic explanation of much of our inner life mysteries to a universal mail order catalog where any "wish is my command." In fact the amoral nature of the secret is emphasized in the formula. You can have anything you wish for, as long as YOU believe it is possible. More on that in a minute, but first, the whole idea that the universe is suddenly your personal wish book discounts a few other "laws," that also attract, resist and have an impact on one's life. Frankly, in my opinion, this exploitation of a truth is obscene and an insult to the innocent.

Now, Google Search and Adsense ADs like this are showing up everywhere, perhaps even on this page. A little effort at doing a survey of these links, ADs, other new related web sites and BLOGs, and you'll discover that there is tension in the ranks, which is another law of attraction, called a feeding frenzy in the shark world. Former "Secret" gurus are now lining up in various opinion camps. Either they are in on the new pyramid plan of wealth building or they have some slightly dissenting opinions they want to share, or they are disclaiming some of their involvement in the first place, one announcing that most of his legitimate presentation was edited out. For example, here's some interesting reading:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17314883/site/newsweek/

The Secret Behind the Secret with the Sedona Method.

http://www.themastersofthesecret.com/letter/

http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2007/02/the_secret.html

http://www.reason.com/news/show/119132.html

~~~~~~~~

Do I Get What I Want or Do I Learn To Want What I Get. If happiness is my goal, what's the difference?

In a way, The Secret movie declares its own awareness of limitation and effectiveness while still placing a dizzying emphasis on self gratification. For example, it will declare that size is not important to the universe. Wishing for a million dollars requires no more effort than wishing for twenty dollars. But if you listen, Bob Proctor does include this little phrase every time, "It has to be believable to you."

A quotation referred to in the movie as well is, "What the mind can conceive, it can achieve." The mind, eh, not the universe? I determine the success? Is THIS the real secret?

Here again, a truth behind the truth is admitted, perhaps for future dissenters (lawsuits?), perhaps because they know that THIS is the crux of the matter. On one hand this is the way out of explaining failure later. When wish fulfillment doesn't manifest, it can be explained that YOU just didn't believe enough. Responsibility remains with you. Warning: Don't ever think otherwise.

This idea, however, does warrant some expansion, I believe, for to me this is a failing of the whole secret hustle. Here's a simplistic overview:

Our universe is replete with invisible forces. External and invisible forces. As people these forces can appear in our lives as political and social forces. We find ourselves being carried along within them. Wishing for a personal improvement can be influenced by these external forces. Still a good idea.

War is a force that overrides all individual force. So is prison, disease, a handicap, etc. Wishful thinking, complete with passion and visualization, may not bring the change you desire. It becomes a contest of forces. Having a major disease presents this competition. There are examples of individuals who find freedom from these chains, but they are the exception. One must be responsible and sober about expectations when deciding to express your "intentions" within a current that is carrying you and everyone around you in another direction. MIND is sometimes collective, perhaps even in being attracted to this MLM opportunity. I love it when the spokesperson says, "I am looking for leaders, who will follow me and do what I say!" Join now! YOU will be rich.

Ever watch a flock of birds fly in perfect unison? Who's in charge? A single bird flying out of formation is considered an outcast, unnatural. Now we're getting into issues of culture, nurturing and belief, and their power.

Anyone who has worked with a hypnotist becomes aware that a human is governed primarily by a mind he doesn't perceive. Perhaps as much as 70% of our mental and emotional activity is unconscious, giving us fits as we grow older and we discover how little we still control. Trauma, and other experiences, from our past, remain in the director's chair of our life. We "look out from a sphere of reality" we do not perceive. This sphere is filled with fears, beliefs, silent opinions, expectations, etc. Most importantly, it determines our sense of self worth. So, when Bob Proctor says, "Make a wish, as long as YOU believe it," he is simultaneously giving you a wonderful piece of news about self improvement, and he knows full well that without momentous internal shifting, he is giving you nothing. For you can't do otherwise. This might be considered a secret.

My objection to this new MLM marketing plan is this pied piper approach to a very serious subject, self improvement. The path we're all on, regardless of our use of this or any other program of thought. Other laws remain in affect, preventing this world from becoming a mental shopping mall with no regard for the common good.

I am content with the phenomena of intent, a focus of the mind. To me the "law of attraction," shed of its magic genie qualities, really does work and really does bring opportunity. The simplest example I know is the sudden appearance of red cars on the street right after I bought a red car. Yes, they were always there, I just didn't see them before. Now, I'm interested. I'm focused. Applying this simplicity of focused intention on any possibility, even getting out of a wheel chair, will surely bring into your reality opportuities of choice and faith that may actually create the fulfillment of a wish, with limits set only by you. But this is no secret.

JHT