TVSquad

"The Secret" is a book that tells readers they can get everything they want from life through positive thinking and "manifesting" their desires -- the exact same advice that appears in the works of Wayne Dyer and a hundred other self-help authors.

But the real secret is how this particular guest with nothing new to say got herself onto the "Oprah" show, the world's fastest road to riches and best-sellerdom. That's advice that we could actually use.

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To answer your question I haven't but then I'm not in the US so I'm spared Oprah and all her promotional ramblings.

I'm just surprised you forgot Dale was also the VP on 24 and the NCIS Director on ..well NCIS. ;)
Kidding, you're not going to list his IMBD profile but he's more these two characters than the ones you listed to me. That's all.

Aaaaaand I'm rambling. Sorry.

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I saw the documentary/movie/whatever it was, and I agree with you. The 'law of attraction' doesn't take into account marginalization, and it feeds into victim-blaming. Plus, the ever-damaging "if you work hard enough, you can do anything." The "Secret" means that anyone who has experienced oppression was asking for it.

/skepticism

Still, positive thinking isn't a bad habit to get into. It doesn't have a 100% success rate at preventing bad things from happening, but it makes living life a lot more tolerable.

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wtf??? oprah's still on TV??

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The real secret... how can I get Oprah to market my crap? Erm, I mean...

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I really liked what Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith had to say on the show.

A lot of the new agers out there are full of crap. But this guy was really different and was the first spiritual guy that made sense to me.

I'd like to know more about him and see him on the show more often.

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A lot of people are getting into this. The book is flying off the shelves at the bookstore that I work at, and the publishers can't press DVDs fast enough. This never happens (in our store, at least) for Oprah's Book Club titles (though it did happen for You: the Owner's Manual a few months back).

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So the "Secret" is a combination of Karma and positive thinking? Gee, the cat's out of the bag now! I'm sure hobos and bums all over North America are rejoicing because all it takes is some postive thinking to get them off the streets!

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I watched their little movie a few months ago. So not worth the five bucks. It's 90 minutes of your life you'll wish you had back.

The best part was the old guy that compared the law of attraction to electricity:

"How does it work? Nobody knows. Just like nobody knows how electricity works. I don't, do you?"

Well, yes I do! A lot of people do. Third graders know how electricity works.

I believe in the power of positive thinking, but as a way to motivate ones self, not as a force of the universe. Wrapping it in pseudo-science just smacks of hucksterism.

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I guess they're saving the lesbian "secret" for May sweeps.

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Right, this information IS NOT A SECRET as each person with common sense knows this information. Your first grade teacher told you can be anything you want to be, if you put your mind to it...Just read "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.

Instead of scamming people out of their money, this incredulous Rhonda Byrne should be giving this information away for FREE and she loses all credibility for stealing someone else's work (Taken from a 1940's book) and marketing it as her own discovery. I don't have a problem with the ORIGINAL author's theory, my problem with this Rhonda Byrne trying to profit from it...

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Consciously or subconsciously we all knew the secret & we have been living with it for all our lives. However what Rhonda & her team have done is that, they have made all of us aware of this fact. I don’t know if the secret will help me achieve all the things that I desire but yes since I have watched the movie I am feeling good & it seems like everything happening around me is great & it will be so for the rest of my life.

I work with a non-profit organization Blog The Bible, where we discuss all the things which can make you happy & also relate to Jesus & Bible at the same time. I think if The Secret can generate the same happiness within all of us then there is no harm in believing the Law of Attraction.

We all have experienced it, whenever we feel good & happy we think of god, we think of Jesus, we think of Bible. So I would say that no matter what everybody thinks but this DVD has surely brought me close Jesus, Bible & at last Happiness.

Sydney Jones
http://www.blogthebible.com

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I actually have no problem with the teachings of "The Secret." We all know that "the secret" is really nothing and new and has been known or taught for 1000s of years. I agree that the real coup or "secret" is how the whole thing has been marketed. That is a case study all unto itself and I think the next book should be on the marketing of "The Secret." Beyond that my main concern that at no point is "God" mentioned (or Allah or Buddha or whomever). It's all Universe, Universe, Universe. I do not seek a relationship with the "Universe." In my particular tradition, I seek a relationship with God. In a society falling apart because of a lack of moral compass (look at the Hollywood starlets out of control), there are times when you need more than just the "Universe" to help you, you need God. I'm concerned that despite the popularity of the DVD and the book, people will still find something lacking in their lives and this "Universe" thing just takes them farther away from the real source. Just my opinion. www.theuncertainentrepreneur.com

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fantastic, two great australian sisters that have been brave enought to get up and say what we all know deep down inside, thank you fantastic Oprah for getting behind these girls, the world could all use a shake up and we can all do with thinking in a more positive way, we have to believe to acheive. from another ausie girl.

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This is just another form of humanism that the humans naturally love. Tell me what I can do to connect to the world and become one with the world - and I will achieve whatever I set my mind and body to. Although there are some helpful principles involved it, it is neither Biblical nor Christian. Even the principles of forgiveness are framed in self fulfillment and self centered motivations. Paul emphasized human weakness and sin - not human potential. He emphasized forgiveness by the grace of God in Christ. Read Romans 8. But, those of you who of course hate Paul and the Bible can eat this stuff up and be falsely filled with yourself. These books never seem to do much good for those who have no earthly "potential" because of physical limitations of disease. Salvation in Christ does - regardless of your physical impairments and temporal success factor.

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I purchased "The Secret Dvd" after seeing Oprah's show. I watched it with apprehension, wondering if somehow all this was tied into Satan somehow. I sure didn't get a godly feeling from it. Especially, when God wasn't mentioned but one time and he was only used as a comparision. I didn't care for it when they spoke about thanking the "Universe upon awakening" instead of thanking "Our God". They also stated that we attract and ask for negative to come to us. Even a car accident that is not our fault we deserve in other words. I don't beleive that. Of course people have their own opinions and this is mine. I think I wasted my money.

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There is only the unknow or, if you like the Unknown. There is no god (God) or son of god...or we are all sons of god...yes, I get it - or daughters.

So relax & enjoy...

Salvatore

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This is even more stupid than the "power chanting" that Tina Turner did...

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Beloved - The Secret is being taught by many great teachers and featured on Oprah; Larry King; The Today Show; Good Morning Amercia and all major news and radio shows.

Tonight I attended a Free lecture by James Ray on this subject and he spoke of the Emerald Tablet; Dark Matter and the other Seven (7) secrets besides the Law of Attraction.

That being said, I'm sure many more sequels of The Secret will be teaching these laws.

Beloved all these Laws and teachings can also be found within my favorite book The Bible. Yes our Beloved Christ Jesus taught in parables and was the way-shower to these Laws which were created by God.

I will admit I did not know much about the Emerald Tablet until I researched it, and after this explanation, I will show you how The Bible teaches the same.

It is sad to me that the modern church hurt and wounded so many of us, that we had to search different paths and turn from what our heart knew was true.

I'm here to tell you that is The Secret resonates within you, but deep inside you want to also know it's within God's kingdom, it is and I will gladly show you.

The Emerald Tablet


An introduction to Hermetic Philosophy
The text of the Emerald tablet is brief- only thirteen lines- but it is the cornerstone of the Hermetic movement. The origin of this mysterious text is shrouded in antiquity, and even its name is a mystery, yet is has been an inspiration for alchemists and magicians for hundreds of years. The well known Hermetic axiom, “As above, so below” is derived directly from the Emerald Tablet. It may be the oldest Hermetic text known, predating both the Corpus Hermeticum and the Christian religion.

The Tablet languished in relative obscurity until the middle ages, when it began to circulate throughout the alchemical community through contact with Muslim mystics. Scholars believe the original was written in Greek, but the oldest surviving copies are Arabic translations. Despite its mysterious origin, many have imputed great significance to the text- its famous translators include Roger Bacon, Isaac Newton, and even HP Blavatsky.

The philosophical ideas contained within are profound- influencing medieval alchemists, Jewish kabbalists, Masons, and ritual magicians alike.

Without lie, certain and most true:
What is below is is like what is above, and what is above is like what is below, to accomplish the miracle of the One thing.
The introductory stanza introduces the now well known concept of the macrocosm, or world of divinity, and its relationship to the microcosm, the world of matter and of man, and the union between them, as described by mystics throughout history.

In truth, and without Lie, And just as all things have been from the one, so also they are born from this one thing by adaptation.
This line describes a very kabbalistic world view: that of emanation. In Kabbalistic cosmology, all of creation emanates in ever expanding layers of complexity, yet all are at the same time part of an unknowable, limitless power. The nature of God is considered impenatrable, for every attempt to describe or name something imposes limits upon it, and seperates that thing further from divinty. There is also an eerie parallel to the current scientific cosmological model- beyond the veils of exitence and before the first emanation is the no-thing- the limitless light, or ain sof, which contracted into an infinite point to effect the creation of the universe.

Its father is the sun, its mother the moon. The wind has borne it, its nurse is the earth. This one thing is the father of all things in the universe.

This reflects another kabbalistic formula. “It” in this case refers to the perfected or reborn psyche. The Mother moon is Yesod, the ego, the sphere of reflection and illusion. The Sun is tiphareth, the 'Higher self,' which can be likened to the 'first face' in Buddhism. It is the immortal spirit. The wind is the divine breath, the spiritual life force. The earth that nurses it is the material body, the id, our animal nature.

Its power is perfect, after it has been united with the earth.
This refers to the experience of Divine Union spoken of in mystic tractates the world over. This union is achieved by uniting the divine essence with the physical body. It is the aim of Yoga, the goal of Ritual magick, and the essence of Satori.

Separate earth from fire, the subtle from the dense, with gentle heat and much devotion.
One must learn to diferentiate between the things of matter and things of the spirit, between the yearnings of the soul and the desires of the ego- the gross appetites and vanities must be sifted out to reveal the true self beneath.

In great measure, it ascends from earth to heaven, descends again toward earth, and recieves the force of the things above and below.
Thus you will possess the glory of the world, all obscurity shall flee away from thee.

The physical body is now integrated with the immortal soul, and the aspirant is awakened to the purpose of his existence.

This is the force of all force, it will overcome everything subtle, and penetrate everything solid.
In this manner, the world was created, but the map of this road is hidden.

This describes the personal nature of spiritual knowledge, which can only be gained through personal experience- it cannot be described accurately to one who has not yet exerienced it. Each aspirant must find the path on their own.

For this reason I am called “Hiram Telat Machasot”- one in essence, but three in aspect. In this trinity is the wisdom of the whole world.
This curious phrase is Chaldean in origin, and has been suspected as the true identity of the Hiram Abiff of Masonic legend. Chiram means 'universal,' and contains the root letter of the elements of air, water, and fire, a play on words that echoes the Hebrew tetragrammaton, the four letter name of God which also incorporates the element,s and forms the basis for all kabbalistic doctrine.

The tablet closes:

And so I have been called: Hermes thrice greatest, having the three parts of the philosophy of the world.

The “three parts” refer to the mystery traditions of the three cultures represented by the Roman Mercury, the Greek Hermes, and the Egyptian Thoth, the composite deity Hermes Trismegistus (Thrice Great) to whom the authorship of many texts is attributed, hence “Hermetic” writings.

Beloved how wonderful is the phrase “three parts”? I know at once you can think of many biblical references, may I share mine?

“All things are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.” 1 Corinthians 3
Here we have three beings, ourselves, Christ and God; and we are Christ's and Christ's is God's. The human is the offshoot of the divine, the divine is an offshoot of the Absolute Itself. Humanity is what we see, Christ is the divine man, God is the Father of all.

The body has a life in matter, the soul a life in mind and mind has a life in the Spirit. The principle ascend from the external to the highest internal and descends from the highest innermost to the lowest outermost. This teaching is as old as time.


Dark Matter - This seemed to be one of the newest subject matters mentioned by James Arthur Ray. In fact, he said that this was only the second time he has ever taught on this subject.

It was fascinating and exciting. Once again it comes directly from a teaching in the Bible. There are many gifts but one Spirit; many operations but one Operator! This teaching is self evident. There is a perfect Unit behind everything. This original One is the cause of all that follows. The outer is the result of the inner. The inner is One, the outer is many - in order that the One may be expressed.

The problem of philosophy is to reconcile the necessary unti to its multipled effects. We live in a world of things, time, happenings, and passing events. All this takes place within the One. Let us consider the element of time. Time is the measure of an event: it is a sequence of events in that which is unitary whole. God is timeless, that is, He exists from eternity to eternity. Things come and go. God, the Timeless, enters time in order that Hemay be expressed. Without time there could be no expression of the Timeless, therefore, time is as necessary to God as to man.

We will now consider matter. All material forms come from one original substance which is the stuff of every diversified form. One substance but many forms. Unless this one substance were broken into many forms. Unless this one substance were broken into many forms, the formless could not be expressed; and as it is the nature of Being to be expressed, there must be different forms; many operations but one Operator.

Now where did I find the above in the Bible? 1 Corinthians 12:

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrators, but the same Lord. And there are diversities ofoperations but it is the same God which worketh in all. But the manifestations of the Spirit is given to every man to proftit withal. For one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as one body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we bond or free; And have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

Beloved - Let not your heart be troubled. I'll continue to share with you the Truth of the Bible. The original Secret.

Love, Light and Blessings
Darren Meade

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