Control the universe with your mind?? Or just the tri-county area? Let’s clear up a few things about The Secret…
by Bill HarrisNovember 9th, 2007
Several of you have asked about The Secret, and why, since I was in it, I’m sometimes critical of it. So what’s wrong with me? Why am I such a wet blanket?
First of all, The Secret used just a small bit of what I said when they recorded what I had to say about using the mind to create what you want in the world. They had a certain point of view they wanted to present, and I quite frankly didn’t know precisely what it was when I was being interviewed. Now, I see that their point of view was primarily a magical one, in the sense that The Secret seems to be saying that all you need to do is wish, hope, or “put it out to the universe” in order to get something. This point of view was presented despite the fact that very few of the teachers featured in The Secret (and I know almost all of them) actually believe that.
If you want to give “putting it out to the universe” a try, go for it. I’ll just caution you that I know a lot of very successful people, and none of them (and I really do mean zero, none, nada, zip, goose egg) became successful using that method.
Yes, every successful person I know did use their mind, and did focus on the outcome they wanted. Focusing your attention on what you want IS necessary. However, it’s just the first step. and you certainly don’t do it because it creates some sort of magic tractor-beam that sucks what you want into your waiting arms.
Here’s what happens when you focus your mind on the outcome you want: 1) it generates ideas you can use to get it, 2) it alerts you to resources you can use but might not see otherwise, 3) it creates the motivation to act, and 4) it helps you develop necessary personal qualities you might need, such as imagination, courage, persistence, or enthusiasm.
Next, though, you need to act, you need to do something. And, if you want something in return, the action you take needs to be of value in some way. It can’t be just any action. Running around in your underwear in Times Square is an action, but it might not get you the outcome you want.
The idea that thinking or hoping by itself will get you what you want is first-class magical thinking. It’s preconventional (see previous posts for what I mean by that). Yes, if you wish for something, every now and then it might happen. This is called a coincidence. A stopped clock is right twice a day, but that won’t help you know what time it is. If Aunt Sally sends you a check right when you need money and after you “put it out to the universe” to “attract some money”, it’s a coincidence, not your mind magically pulling Aunt Sally’s arms toward her checkbook and making her write a check and stick it in an envelope addressed to you. Try using your mind to get Aunt Sally to send a check every week and see what happens.
“Every now and then” is enough reinforcement for someone at a preconventional level, though. Sadly, those who think this way struggle to make life work, because preconventional ways of being in the world work only in a preconventional society (and even then they don’t work that well). As a way of navigating the world, they are very primitive, which is why preconventional societies have always been poor, and have offered life spans of about 40 years at the most, with few creature comforts. (And, for those of you who romanticize such cultures, remember that they generally involved slavery, human sacrifices, murder rates MUCH higher than modern society, treatment of women as possessions, and had no democracy or freedom of choice–all this from the latest anthropological studies.)
But back to The Secret. What is more, both controlling things with your mind (other than yourself, which is what you should use it for) and the hope of getting something for nothing are self-centered, egocentric, narcissistic points of view. Yes, until we learn to be in charge of ourselves and our immediate environment we do tend to think mostly of ourselves, but that doesn’t make it resourceful or desirable.
I find that those who wish for magical powers like this do so because they feel powerless in the world. They don’t see a way out of their situation (though there is one) and this idea that there is a magic way to get what they want sounds very appealing.
Telling those who are having trouble making life work, “just wish for what you want,” and that no action is required, is nothing short of cruel. There are very concrete, workable ways to create what you want in this world, and they can be learned (I teach exactly how to do this, step by step, in my Life Principles Integration process online courses). Wishing and “putting it out to the universe,” though, are not on the list of ways to create what you want.
Many people who saw The Secret assumed that of course you need to take action (this is obvious to anyone past the preconventional level), and they supplied that piece even though it was barely mentioned in the film. These people quite likely benefited from seeing The Secret because they were inspired and reminded of something that is true–that all success BEGINS with how you focus your mind.
Those who didn’t supply this extra piece, and were left with the idea that they can just wish for what they want, didn’t benefit from The Secret, and in fact were, in my opinion, harmed.
And don’t even get me started on the idea that people in Africa are starving because they are thinking the wrong thoughts.
What you focus on does create your reality, but there’s no magic involved. Many–most– people don’t know that this is true. Until you can observe your thoughts and be aware of how you focus your attention–which comes at a certain level of development–you cannot intentionally focus your mind. Before that point your mind still focuses on something, but it is done automatically, unconsciously. When you are immersed in your mental processes, these processes (what I have called your Internal Map of Reality) will create your life without any intentional direction from you.
Once you develop to the point where you can observe your thinking process, rather than being it, you can direct your mind, and in doing so begin to take charge of your life.
So, my friends, keep Holosyncing, because Holosync creates such awareness. And with this awareness, keep stepping back in an effort to observe whatever it is that you are immersed in. In this way, you can transcend it. More on that later.
Finally, before I go, let me comment on a few posts responding to what I said about Yogananda. I love Yogananda, but that doesn’t change the fact that a belief in miracles that still surrounds him is preconventional, magical thinking. No evidence whatsoever exists that people can dematerialize, for instance, or that any of the other sorts of magic described in that tradition can actually happen. If those of you who believe in this stuff have some evidence–not stories, but actual evidence, that any reasonable person would accept–put it on the table.
And, I have to say that one of my pet peeves is people who use quantum physics to “prove” that magic exists. Quantum physics represents a deeper level of understanding how the universe works. It does not, however, prove the silly New Age magical events it’s often trotted out to prove. If you really think there is some actual evidence for magic or for the suspension of the laws of physics, show me. Not stories, not anecdotes, not that someone else you respect thinks so, but proof.
And make no mistake, anyone who wants to believe in this stuff is welcome to do so. I wasn’t trying to demonize it, and I’m not trying to talk you out of it. By its nature, magical thinking requires no proof, so I’m not surprised that several people have posted comments in which they pledge allegience to various types of magical thinking, but without any attempt to offer proof.
All I’m doing is pointing out where such thinking fits developmentally, and further making the point that people who live from this point of view have a hard time functioning well in the world. Magic is an explanation offered when rational, or transrational, explanations are not available.
Yogananda, for instance, was very highly functioning, but it wasn’t because he relied on magical powers. It was because in other areas of his life he was developmentally well beyond that approach to life. If he wanted to create a certain result, he focused his attention on how to do it, then took action. I don’t recall a single situation where he relied on some sort of magic to get things done.
Someone asked the Dalai Lama what would happen if modern science disproved some of what Buddhists believe (which it has, in several cases). “Then that belief will have to go,” he said. This is why the Dalai Lama is not a preconventional thinker.
Again, thank you for reading.
Be well.
Bill
PS: By the way, I have another recommendation for you. Please check out Integral Institute’s Integral Life Practices Starter Kit. Ken Wilber and his brain-trust (consisting of some of the smartest and most spiritually advanced people on the planet–and I mean that) have created a unique way to “cross-train” in the areas of body, mind, spirit, and shadow material. This, along with Holosync, is a very potent way to develop your awareness.
Ken and his team have found that when you do a daily practice that affects all four of the above areas, it greatly accelerates your growth. When you leave out any of these areas, it holds you back. So, they’ve identified some of the very best time-tested practices in each area and they show you exactly how to do them (solving another problem–what’s the correct way to do a certain practice?). They even give you “one-minute modules” you can do on days when things are hectic and you have little time, so you can hit each area, at least a little bit, every day.
Most of you are already using something powerful in the spirit area–Holosync (in fact, as they add “auxiliary modules,” Holosync is the first one they plan to add). I think you’ll find that this kit is a powerful way to create a practice in the other three areas. I highly recommend this kit. Go check it out at www.myilp.com.
Until next time, when I’m going to share something new about development…
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November 9th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Hey Bill, great artical. I do have one question though. In the Secret and else where I’ve heard of people who chaim they can consistently get parking spaces by visuallizing an open spot. If it happens a few times thats a coincidence but if it happens everytime then something is going on. I’ve also heard Brian Tracy talk about that in his Psychology of Achievement tapes. Now I don’t personally know any of these people so maybe they’re all BSing but just though I’d get your opinion on the matter.
Thanks
November 9th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
RIGHT ON BILL!!!
I will say though that The Secret made me smile and brightened my day and it led me to you and that’s the most important thing to me!
I tried to get into the magic but just couldn’t quite believe it. I got a few parking spaces but my gut was telling me “don’t set yourself up, you know better”.
You were what I needed and The Secret got me what I needed. Hey!!! A little magic never hurt!
November 9th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I read the Secret and then purchased the movie and enjoyed both. I still share them with my friends. I have never become disillusioned about how things work. I know the “inspired action” they barely mentioned in the movie is what turns focused thoughts into reality. Many years of self study in personal growth led me to the Secret which then led me to learning about those in the Secret movie. This pointed me toward Bill Harris and Centerpointe, and now I am happily using Holosync.
It is unfortunate some people will not grow beyond what the Secret seems to teach. I used the Secret as a starting point and have found my growth in learning from those in the movie and not necessarily from the movie itself.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Thanks Bill! Excellent blog and always fresh ideas!
I haven’t seen _The Secret_ yet (although somehow it does leave a bad taste in my mouth before I’ve even seen it; yet I do believe there must be some good aspects to it). It sounds to me like something of Jung’s concept of synchronicity, only in reverse. Wishful thinking creates synchronicity? Maybe it could be practiced as gratitude in reverse to turn it into a positive (wish for what you want, and then have gratitude when you receive it)?
Speaking of quantum physics, New Age, and Eastern paths, have you read anything by Fritjof Capra? He wrote _Tao of Physics_ and _Turning Point_. Really excellent books! I found a lot of connections with concepts from Centerpointe’s support material.
Thank you!
Susan
November 9th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
So glad you clarified this Bill. I have the Secret (the book) and I have read it. I’m glad I already knew about the fact that action is required othewise I’d have been a lot more disappointed. As it was, I found “The Secret” a little misleading because of what it left out. And I was puzzled because I thought surely all those speakers (many of whose books I’ve read and products I’ve used - including yourself) did not arrive at their level of success by simply putting it out there and leaving it at that. In that sense I think the Secret did some people a disservice.
November 10th, 2007 at 12:44 am
Hi Bill,
It is really valuable to read your comments on The Secret and its ‘magical’ perspective. ‘Refreshing’ is the word. Yet the same myth keeps reappearing, witness the ‘Cosmic Ordering’ material. perhaps the more stressful we find the world, the more we hope for magical intervention, (win the lottery!).
On the other hand, we need to be aware of new dogmas. As paradigms shift, the new one, in this case the views of Ken Wilbur and others (which are brilliant), become the new orthodoxy. As soon as that happens it is already time to move on.
Anyway thank you for your excellent interviews with teachers of the Secret and this excellent blog.
Richard
November 10th, 2007 at 5:48 am
Hola Bill,
I have to say Bill, the statements you make here - and I’ve seen you make similar points elsewhere - boggle my mind just a little bit. I think most people with some knowledge about life know very well that action is a key part. And focus is another fundemental key to purposefully creating life circumstances.
The points you make sound to me however like a very narrow view and very contradictory. You seem cavalier toward magical thinking, which I can agree can be harmful, especially to those that fit in the group of your understanding of ‘preconventional’ thinking (I wonder how many ‘preconventional’ thinkers read your blog btw).
Like you seem to indicate, there is no magic in this universe. And I can agree on that. But experiences that rise from deliberately focusing your attention, intention and action in unison can’t be summed up by the 4 points you make.
“1) it generates ideas you can use to get it, 2) it alerts you to resources you can use but might not see otherwise, 3) it creates the motivation to act, and 4) it helps you develop necessary personal qualities you might need, such as imagination, courage, persistence, or enthusiasm.”
You try to convince people that the ‘acting force’ behind creating in your life those things that you want (or attracting circumstances) can be explained away by developing traits, cognitive processes and simple goal motivation for getting you into action. This is what I would deem preconventional thinking - yes these are very important elements. They are the traits of any successful person. It does not explain how synchronicity occurs and the process through which circumstances are attracted. I’m not going to claim I do know how this works and I’m certainly not going to bring in quantum physics for explaining it either.
It just seems incredibly clear to me that the process of manifesting is MUCH more than simply having your brain’s basic functions poised for it. It seems to perpetuate the belief that to become aligned to attracting a certain lifestyle there is this linear path to it that must be accomplished by hard work, certain actions, certain ways of using your mind ( like looking for red will make your brain pick out red easier in a picture, or looking for solutions will make your mind creatively processes produce solutions ). This is folly and just a partial limited part of what really is going on.
It does not explain why certain people come into your life at the exact right time. It does not explain all those manifestations you never took action for that simply fall into your lap by doing nothing much of anything (how would you explain this). If you review all the major changes in your life and you examine how those precise lifechanging circumstances had to unfold for those experiences to happen - it’s incredible minute events that set things into action. Was it because of those 4 points you mentioned? NO. But if you have the focus going consistently, you are going to create an incredibly successful life - its like a turboboost to deliberately creating a rich experience of life.
I value your services and contributions, however I can’t help but think you are putting up a very invalid and silly point here. You’ve been pretty opportunistic of all the opportunities that have unfolded from the Secret. You haven’t been shy to associate with its success - but you do disassociate with its contents. Your course for instance, ‘The Masters of the Secret‘ brought much value, but doesn’t it feel like double standards/speak you are putting out here.
If you disagree with the contents of the Secret - have the balls to steer away from it. And I’m actually agreeing on most of your points, mind you. But to cash in on one end and then project contradictory beliefs (ye these are just beliefs not facts - be honest) on the other end - that seems to be bent thinking in my book.
Just my opinion. I hope contrasting opinion is allowed here:)
November 10th, 2007 at 8:17 am
I completely agree with you, Bill, on what you say.
Many times I read of magical ‘wishing’ methods. It is absurd.
But, although I only brushed through ‘the Secret’, I got the idea that
by ‘With our thoughts we create reality’,
author wants to encourage with the proper choice of thoughts, rights actions come about .
Isn’t that also their point of view ?
And, to me, it is very liberating and a source of strenght and stillness inside
while in agressive invironment (often) .
November 10th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
about magical thinking not getting results…
in the sense that magic is just advanced science we don’t understand yet… to use the analogy that “you don’t have to understand how a car works to be able to drive one”… couldn’t it be possible that you can get results from magical thinking because it causing something to happen (at a level beyond what science presently comprehends) as long as you happen to be doing it in the right way and it isn’t necessary that you may not understand how it’s coming about ?
November 10th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I thought the secret was beauiful, but I’ve always been a believer in magic. It was a person on the show by the name of esther hicks who I respect and love, she’s only on the first one, but for the most part it gave people hope. It lead me to alot of people I otherwise wouldnt have ever given a ear to, I would have never listen to anything like holosync if it wasnt for the secret so for that reason Im enternally greatful
November 10th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
It is quite tragic that anyone would think the Secret and power of positive thoughts and vibrations was the only thing needed to catapult their life. However, I love the Secret movie. I mean how can a person not get that part? Mind-blowing.
I love the article and love the HOLOSYNC program, I just started.
Samadhi (Marie E. Pollnow)
November 10th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Dear Bill,
When a magician does a magic trick, it seems there is no logical explanation for his ability. Of course it is a trick. He understands how to create the illusion. Life can be like this at times. We might focus our attention on some outcome and then something happens we did not consciously create. Our sub-conscious mind does something to support our goal and it appears like it is magical. There is always a logical explanation for what happens but we are just not aware of the mechanisms involved.
For example, we might be in the market for a new relationship. We are attracted to a certain type of person. We might sub-consciously use a substance, science has found, to influence behavior in insects, animals, and humans, called pheromones, to attract a mate. This ability to attract a mate with pheromones works even if you have no knowledge of the substance. When a person is unaware of a factor involved in creating their reality, it can appear very magical. They just notice that what they think about effects there actual experiences in some way that is beyond explanation.
I will not be surprised if future scientific discoveries make us more aware of unseen forces at play in our lives. Scientists discovered that elephants communicate using sounds which are so low humans cannot hear the sounds. I wonder if the sound of our voices is affected by our thoughts and if these vocal qualities influence the people around us in a way that is outside our awareness.
We have been somewhat aware of the fact that body language is a significant influence on communication. Much of the time we do not consciously look at a person’s body language or consciously control our own body language. Therefore the results of our conversations can be mystifying.
I will not be surprised if we scientifically learn there is some bioelectrical broadcasting emanating from people and that we sub-consciously receive these messages. If this is the case, the effects of this communication will appear magical or confound our understanding of our world since we don’t currently understand this type of communication.
We are more in control of our reality when we are aware of all the factors involved in creating our reality. I think this is what you say Holosync does for us. It increases our self awareness. It increases our ability to understand our thoughts and actions and to consciously direct them to achieve our chosen purposes. I choose to believe you. I am using Holosync and I think I it is working. I hope it becomes more and more clear to me that Holosync works as time goes on.
The biggest problem occurs when we believe in some factor which has no basis in reality. When we have faith in something that is not true, we waste time, energy, and our thoughts. This can lead us to some very dissatisfying results or great disappointments.
I believe that in order to achieve our goals we must focus our minds, take the actions we understand we can take, and then let the unseen factors work their magic just because our sub-conscious mind helps us achieve our goals in ways we do not understand.
November 10th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I read “The Secret” and enjoyed it but then I read the book that the Secret was based on I got much more out of that book. That book is called “The Science of Getting Rich” in that book there is something that must be memorized in order for the so called secret formula to work. Every time I say the secret formula which are words I have mystical experiences or premonitions of something that will happen in the future. I have found that if a person wants the advice that the Secret suggests one must clears their mind of all their thoughts that pertain to old thoughts for it to work. If you know anything about all the other people who wrote their comments in that book “the secret” they are not like the average person they are all different and view life on a completely different level.
November 11th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Thank you so much, Bill!
Among the many things that yanked me in The Secret had to with the starving in Africa somehow attracting that, as it were. As one who is ethnically Jewish, no one will ever convince me that my People attracted the Holocaust, the Bosnians genocide, or the people of Darfur, for that matter.
His Holiness’ statement explains why I am a Buddhist (and Universalist Sufi)!!
November 11th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Hello Bill and everyone else who reads this blog.
I purchased Holosync long, long ago, and can speak very highly of it.
I am inspired by the quality of the responses here, because caring, loving, concerned people voice their views and feelings.
What a wonderful avenue this blog presents.
Whether we as individuals seem to have contradictory values as far as another is concerned, is simply a confirmation that our filters, that is, our subconscious mind, allow us to interpret things according to our model of our world.
That is not to say any one is correct or incorrect - it is wonderfully ‘our model of the world’.
That is what constitutes the magnificent diversity of input, resulting from our unique experiences, that we bring to a blog such as this.
I go back a long way in following what Bill does.
He was a pioneer in the realm of the mind and its intricacies.
The Secret was the catalyst for a lot of people who never gave any thought to the fact that there was more to life than the obvious - going to work, raising a family, the ‘dos and don’ts’ of societal conformity, generic gender expectations, age cliches, and so on.
Thank you all.
Gloria
November 11th, 2007 at 3:15 am
Bill,
What’s wrong Brother? Have you ever wondered if your life’s work, the masterpiece called Holosync, was really your inner child crying out in dual harmony for validation and love? What happened to you, that you locked your inner child away in the dungeon of your subconscious?
I was locked in the closet many times as a child, Dad left when I was 2, was sexually molested, beaten, verbally berated, and so on. I loved life so much that I had arts and crafts hour with a soldering iron on my forearm several times when I was 18. Hey the list goes on but. . .what’s important right now? What happened to you that the enchantment of life, the magic, was forgotten about. . .or maybe more appropriately, denied?
Where do I get off writing this? Well. . .one of your blogs says. . .“Bill’s Complaints”. . . you got irritated when people didn’t follow directions while writing in your blog. . . you only want people to respond to what you write. . . “you” wrote that you were being critical. . . and because I just received my 6 pack of CD’s on the Inside Secrets of How to be Happy, Peaceful, and Successful. . .and well, happy people refrain from being critical of others, and themselves. I care about you Bill, that’s where I get off. . .I care.
There’s no doubt you are a genius Bill, that is why you were tested so hard as a child. Pushed to the brink, I bet. It’s hard to know and understand so much at a young age, I mean, who’s gonna’ know and understand what you’re going through. . . right? Did you ever pray for something and then not see the answer, prompting you to go it alone? Or maybe there’s an answer to a question that still has not found it‘s happy conclusion, like WHY ME?
What does success mean to you Bill?. . .money, doing what you love, notoriety, respect among your peers and in your field. Sure, but something is missing. . .a piece to your puzzle of completeness. I see that you like to hang out with a Zen Master, that’s neat. Really though, who ranks Zen Masters, and who cares? In your quest to be a leader, are you leading by example or by touting that you are the best? I am asking questions that your articles brought up in me, to relay back to you, to do with them what you will.
I know you are special Bill, and I bet that whatever you asked for as a child will be comin’ round the mountain when sidhe comes, real soon like. The magic is in and all around you. One of the ironic parts of this letter is that, every time you write, you’re “putting it out in the universe”, and now you are getting a seemingly long overdue response. If your life had been any easier, meaning less brutal, would Holosync technology be available to the world? Sometimes prayers get answered later that we want, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get answered. Maybe your answers come, just after you create a masterpiece from your pain, when you realize that love is what brought it to fruition. Well, we both know that “God” means love, and from me to you, love is magic. . .in it’s purest form. Brother, you need only to let that little boy inside you heal , to put that missing puzzle piece. . . in it’s rightful place. : -)
Your Unconventional Friend,
~Chad
November 11th, 2007 at 3:34 am
The problem is this: If you control the universe with your mind, then you are the controller. But who controls the controller itself….? And who controls the controller of the controller…??
November 11th, 2007 at 4:37 am
Hi, Bill.
As Susan says, in your blog, above - November 9th @ 8.36pm - Fritjof Capra`s books do add a lot to this `Law of Attraction` & `The Secret`debate. Two more of Capra`s books are also worth mentioning here: `The Web of Life` & `Uncommon Wisdom`.
By the way, Bill, thank you for Holosync. I am using it, and gaining great benefit from it.
Regards
Ian W
November 11th, 2007 at 5:16 am
Dear Bill, I really appreciate your views on the Secret. I was initially attracted to it, but very soon got turned off precisely because it left you devoid of a developmental quest. I was also turned off by the high-powered advertising, commercial nature of spreading the ideas. To be honest, I was disappointed that you were a part of that scenario, and was relieved when I saw your subsequent response, and the fact that you did not know the agenda, and that they took only a part of what you said. So, thank you for grounding the concepts in a developmental perspective. I very soon got turned off New Age books because I found that they seem to take pieces of eastern philosophies derived from Hinduism, Budhism, Taoism etc. without providing the depth of those concepts and emphasizing the hard work that goes into practicing those beliefs towards achieving self-development. I have been using Holosync meditation since 1998, and have moved so far along the road towards observing, that I am almost a different person today. Thank you for what you have created, and the good you have put out into the world. Taimoon
November 11th, 2007 at 5:18 am
It’s a pleasure to hear such level-headed, rational … and practical thoughts. I haven’t actually seen The Secret, but I heard the hype about it when it was on TV here.
I think it’s pretty clear that to achieve any kind of change in your life, you have to start with your mind. If you keep thinking and acting the same way, nothing will change for the better, unless you get lucky. But as you say, just wishing for things will not achieve anything. To make a change in your life, you have to do something different.
I’m still just starting out with Holosync, but it seems to be helping me to make changes in my thinking and my life. I’m only managing to find a few hours each week for time to myself, but even meditating a few hours a week makes a difference. I can see improvements in my interactions with people and my ability to cope with life. I can’t imagine what benefits I would get if I could meditate every day.
Thanks,
Alan
November 11th, 2007 at 5:25 am
The best thing about The Secret was the introductory music and trailer, loved them, butas for the rest it was like comparing a pinhole camera with a 20 mega pixel digital camera. Both take pictures but the outcome is so different.
During the course of my work I come across a lot of people who have watched and believe the powerful message delivered by The Secret and the reason they come to me is because they are suffering from the disease transmitted by the movie. I coach people to use their mind skills to overcome the problems they are facing in their daily life and work. Many of my clients have taken on board the message of The Secret and as such have abdicated their responsibility to take charge. Then when they inevitably fail they blame the Universe or their spouse for not supporting them and thus plant the seeds of self inadequacy. “What is wrong with me, you, them, etc.” is their war cry. This I have called New Age Blues, a depression that permeates to their very soul.
I digress. I believe strongly in the Law of Attraction and The Secret is an insight into this Law but because the Universe loves balance the Law of Attraction is always accompanied by the Law of Distraction and it is falling foul of this that is the cause for most failures.
Don’t get me wrong - I may agree wholeheartedly with what you say about The Secret but please do not dispel magical thinking outright. The Secret is as close to real magic as watching an illusionist on stage, it is only perception. Real Magic is about aligning yourself through ritual to take advantage of a preconceived situation, with the ritual being specific to the creation of a particular state. However, even at its lowest level it still requires the manipulation of the physical realm.
Really enjoy your blog
Best wishes
Wilf archer
http://www.mindskills.co.uk
November 11th, 2007 at 5:59 am
Ken Wilbur refers to the world of science and logic as “the flat land.” He then speaks of higher levels of understanding that involve transcendent experiences. It is during some of these types of experiences that some things occur which at least seem to defy logic and the limited rules of science and rational thinking.
Personally I believe rationality (science and logic) are limiting beliefs which act as filters of a sort, filtering out the eternal element from the physical, temporal, scientific world. You can refer to this as magical thinking, if you wish, but I see it as being very different than the magical thinking you’re referring to in your levels of developmental stages.
Science is as much a belief as any religion and has it’s own dogma based on logic, cause and effect, etc. By science’s own admission, through the study of quantum physics (as you know, I’m sure) you can break out of the one-way movement down the river of time and go upstream (or backward in time), producing the effect before the cause.
There is an eternal world that transcends and includes the flatland of our scientifically valid physical world, which exists beyond time and space. When we touch this world we can temporarily transcend the limits of science and logic and sometimes know things or do things that the rules of our everyday world claim are not possible. There is far too much evidence of this for there not to be something to it. There comes a point when it is more of a stretch to believe the limited, flatland view of science and rationality, than to believe in the continued repetition of coincidence. If it happens again and again or if you know that it is going to happen before it does, then it does happen, or if you know things that you could not possibly know (at least according to science and logic) and they turn out to be true, can you really call this coincidence? I’ve had too many of these kinds of experiences to deny them.
Logic can only take you so far. There comes a point when logic falls apart and starts producing nonsense results like paradoxes, or simply causes you to shrug your shoulders and say, “I don’t know the answer to that. We don’t have an answer to that question.” Science simply chooses to deny or ignore what it cannot measure or explain. This does not mean that these unexplainable elements cease to exist or are somehow “not real, only that they are beyond the scope of science to deal with them.”
Humans have two ways of viewing their world. One, the rational (science and logic) or temporal, and two, the intuitive or eternal (intuition, psychic connections, prayer, faith, etc.) We have two ways of seeing the world, just as we have two eyes. When we view the world with one eye, we perceive a flat world. When we view the world stereoscopically, using both our eyes, we create a three-dimensional view of the world that is much more accurate and useful.
Just some food for thought.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:24 am
I agree with you Bill about these points. But I found the Secret the inspiration I needed to seek out some new material for study. It was almost an infomercial for life coaches, motivational speakers, and authors of self help books. It made you guys a little money and it made the producers a little money, and it helped a few people get up and get going. Nothing wrong with that.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Bill,
I feel Peter’s post clarified what bothered me so much about your thoughts on the Secret. To me, it felt like you bashed the movie - promoted YOUR way as the more appropriate way - and yet are very willing to reap financially from it. Total contradiction of energy.
I really enjoyed the Secret and while I didn’t agree totally with how they approached the subject many of the jewels of that movie such as your emotional guidance system were areas that I could begin conversations with my college students on taking responsibility for their own life and making their thoughts congruent, and throwing out beliefs that no longer serve them.
Take out the ideas of magic and mystery and synchronicities in life - no thank you - I will continue to believe we have a divine connection with source and source responds.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:59 am
A friend of mine believed the secret utterly. She lived her whole life by the Law of Attraction, including taking action. Two months ago, she died after elective surgery that she had been sure was the right course and would go well. The worst thing for her was that when the surgery went disastrously wrong, she lost her main belief in life and was left in a wilderness. She had been so sure that this surgery would be the answer to her problems and had envisioned a good and healthy life ahead. She died disillusioned and despairing.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:02 am
I’m with Peter (NL)….
The Secret is harmless if you put some thought behind it….it’s a feel good movie just as many Hollywood movies are. It makes most people feel hopeful and there is nothing wrong with that, is there?
You can’t use it to promote yourself and call it down in the next breath - that, my friend is definitely hipocrisy!
November 11th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Hi Bill, Thanks for Holosync….I quite agree with what you said about action, however, if everything is energy, I do believe that people can be Light enough in their being to “travel”. I also believe in the Holosync method as a stepping stone in your progress to enlightenment, whatever path you choose…It is about belief, isn’t it…I also think that your emotions take you in a direction and that inspired action is necessary to getting what you want.
The Secret, was edited…alot, I’ve heard…but it was part of my process, like Ramtha, Abraham and The Course in Miracles….many,many others….but it has all led me to realize that going within is the only way to get to my desires….THE ONLY WAY…..so,this journey through the resourses that we are all given, we all understand….that it all requires this…there are no avenues to get to where you want to go ,unless you go within….your program helps tune our frequencies to a higher level, which otherwise would take years, however it does not stop there…how far down the rabbit the hole do you want to go….I am grateful to you and your program.You have been very generous with the material and “open communication”,far exceeding most programs.
I really do not believe in magic either, but if love does move mountains….and I believe it does…I don’t need proof to know that there are others capable of being more progressed in that area…Grateful to share my thoughts, Kelly
November 11th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Thank you, Bill for explaining where you’re coming from. I’ve long maintained that every major religion has two separate credos: a simplistic, superstitious one for the masses and a subtly complex one for the enlightened. Your explanation of the 4 stages of psychological maturity makes much more sense. I have a twist for you, however. I’m bi-polar and I’m using Holosync to reduce (hopefully eliminate) my mood swings. I’m just in Awakening Prologue and seeing benefits already. The twist is as follows. When I’m not in a mood swing I see things very much like you describe as post-conventional. Along with that I tend to have success in most areas of my life and get huge satisfaction out of helping others. However when I’m depressed or manic I regress into conventional and even pre-conventional thinking. In mood swings I become ego-centric though in different ways. When manic I become a social magnet and live for pleasure. I commit to way more than I can handle without considering the work involved, go deeply into debt and lose the ability to focus on anything for more than a few moments. When depressive I become reclusive, self-loathing and unable to stop focusing on everything that’s wrong with my life.
You mentioned the potential harm done by The Secret. When I saw the movie (before starting Holosync) I was in a manic phase and I immediately adopted a belief in “magic”. I quit my day job thinking my fledgling entrepreneurial enterprise would get all the fuel it needed from my wishful thinking. I’m now maxed out on my credit cards and looking for another job. At least now I have a realistic sense of what to expect from focusing and, with the help of Holosync, I think I’ve got a better chance of staying with my plan.
Thanks again
November 11th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Hello Bill,
Your blogs are very thought-provoking. I will share a few things that popped into my mind.
Marcus Aurelius wrote something like this almost 2000 years ago : Miracles are not things that exist against reality, but rather things that exist against our view of reality.
To papraphrase this, we can say that there are things/phenomena in the Universe that we call miracles because we still do not understand why and how they happen. In this sense we are all “preconventional” compared to beings of higher inteligence for whom it may be trivial.
Thought is energy. Focusing is focused energy, like a sunbeam through magnifying glass, or just a raindrop. (And that can burn out a whole forest.) The equivalence of energy and matter is common knowledge by now. Why is it than that you question a process in which thought can create matter directly, or make matter disappear?
By looking at the world, we can see that everyday people cannot simply manifest material things by using their intellect. But if you really want to see this happen, the only thing you need to do, is to look for it. There are a few grand masters who can do it. The question is, whether your view of the Universe would collapse by such an experience. And if so, would you survive on a higher level (quantum leap), or disintegrate and die. Fear of the latter may hinder you from experiencing such “miracles”.
In spite of the above thoughts, I admit that you are right in your view that by mere wishing, one will not create material things. To become a grand master, one has to work extremely hard to learn to focus on a level only a handful out of a billion has reached in history.
So yes, there is action needed (which can be super-concentration of mental powers), and no, we cannot assert that it is impossible for a human being to create matter directly from thought.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:53 am
My wife had breast cancer diagnosed.
The secret opened my eyes to a connection of mind and body.
All the news the specialist doctors gave was that they cannot cure cancer. They simply manage it’s symptoms and recommended the most drastic of all operations. Since it was in the liver also by this stage, everything else they were overing seemed like shutting the gate after the horse had bolted.
However other methods of dealing with this in other ways, gave us hope which they didnt. In fact with the law of attraction principle, FEAR is an enemy. Fear bring your horrors upon you. At least in an unconscious part of the thought processes, and then transmitted as energy to the universe. I know people who curse themselves so badly by this Fear factor, that they seem to mystically be in the wrong place at the wrong time, oblivious to them standing in the way of the next accident and causing it.
Anyway, back to cancer. Fear in the body is high energy, as are all emotions. Lots of energy in emotions. The principle cure for cancer, is one of feeling well being in it. In fact the cause of the cancer, if they really understood it so, and many alternates do, is of imbalance of the bodies proper functions by stresses and other emotional blockages.
In other words cutting the door of the house aint gona fix the rusty leaky roof. So we opted to give this a try. For if people have the operation they remove the fear factor. Others have personal issues which have them fear it coming back and woe is to me. Some even get to like the idea of dying as a matyr like thing. And others resolve to it killing them and find peace. But the reality is, we simply believed for healing, we planned the logic to build the faith required, and the body healed itself with the energies being in harmony. With the diet changed to fresh foods and salads more often for enzimes and good old carrot juice orange apple mix every couple of days.
All contributed to the healing. But I think the most important factor is attitude and what you decide is going to happen to you in your heart of hearts. And that can be sparked off by asking the right questions, and thinking about the possibilities. In the liver it is in operable, and yet it has GONE!
November 11th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Dear Bill - I had mixed feelings a few weeks after watching the Secret. On the one hand I was thrilled to see that people were finally receptive to hear and pay attention to this philosophy, but under other hand I was really disappointed with the “Hollywood” style of this movie. For Pete’s sake….get rid of that stupid Genie idea! Why, for the sake of me, do these producers always have to do that? It looked as if they were trying very hard to self-sabotaging this unique opportunity by making it looking as ridiculous as they could. Creating or manifesting our reality requires a clear intent/decision, discipline, tenacity, and a flaming passion to stay with the program. All the teachers/philosophers in The Secret have this “warrior-like” common denominateur. They earned it with disciplined dedication. These people including constantly work on. It’s a way of life, period, I know….because I am one of them too. And THIS needs to be seriously emphasized in the new Secret in the makings.
I sincerely hope they will hear it from many people.
Please folks, do another Secret about the “reality of The Secret”.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:07 am
There are no “real” coincidences because there isn’t anything that God doesn’t know about BEFORE it happens. God isn’t something separate from…… it’s the HOW, it’s ALL of it……
If someone asks for more money and it shows up as a check from a relative, the point is IT SHOWED UP. The idea is not to limit the experience of “MORE” with conditional expectations of HOW.
People sometimes say “SHOW ME GOD”…. and the thing is, there is nothing else TO SEE/EXPERIENCE. Free Will allows us all to CHOOSE our experience. One is not “less than” another.
And as far as people starving in Africa: starvation is a perception just like anything else here; conditional & temporary.
The body is WHAT each of us is IN, not WHO we are.
WHO we are is ETERNAL.
The illusion of being human is a GRAND one, but it’s still “Xbox”.
In the meantime, while I am in this human form, I very much enjoy your Holosync, as I HAVE noticed it is sort of like defrag for my brain. Thank you.
Blessings,
KO
November 11th, 2007 at 8:42 am
I loved “The Secret.” I watched it every day for 60 days straight and I got plenty of ideas. Unfortunately, none of those ideas panned out, no matter how much work I put into them. Even without the ideas bringing any income, two of the major things I needed - a laptop computer and a car - were gifted to me and I was completely surprised. I didn’t get the new versions I had been visualizing, but I got good-working, reliable items that I love and cherish. The fact that I got the exact model of car I wanted having no money to my name amazes me on a daily basis. The fact that it was in such good condition and so well maintained blows my mind.
I’m on disability and have tried everything I can to bring financial prosperity into my life. Even though the money isn’t here yet, the things I’ve wished for so deeply in my heart have come into my life a year later. I understand your stance on action, but I have to testify that the law of attraction does work in some pretty magical ways as well. Gratitude is my daily mantra.
I purchased my first Holosync disc with equally magically attracted cash. As soon as I can manifest enough to meet a few needs that are a little higher on my To Do list, I’ll be ordering my next level disc. Until then, I’ll be working hard visualizing a little more magic.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Hello Bill, I think you have the point. I haven’t read that book, because most of those productions have one objective, demonstrate that they can become wealthy convincing others they’re wrong.
If we think in the power of our mind, it doesn’t mean that we can move objects and eventually get into the safe room of a bank to become wealthy, it means that our minds work in achieve goals, see relations and correlate them to take specific actions.
BUt i have a question, what do you think about all the hermetic thoughts?
Regards
Ale
November 11th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Centerpointe as created by Bill is in essence his evolving religion, just as many others have also created their own religions which others then follow. The secret could also be considered a religion of sorts. Why would anyone ever want to follow another’s words. What we should want, is to correct all thoughts, beliefs, feelings and emotions to their purest most beautiful and highest form. When this is achieved we have the magic of our choice and not the pot luck form which most experience throughout their lives. Yes, it is magic when you give yourself what you do not want, including blocking the magic of choice. Bills words and beliefs will block magic, and then everyone will know he was right and more will then follow his religion. All religions that I am aware of block magic, but you will get crumbs that will keep you following.
That said Holosync is phenomenal and I thank Bill for it.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Bill: I agree with you in that the practice of wishing and nothing else normaly results in nothing else. There is no magic.
What there is, are different levels of control. By control I mean the abiliuty to access the energy of the universe in such away as to create material formations. These can be anything you can think of.
The first thing needed I feel in this discussuion is the acceptance of the fact that the body is just a machine that you fly around in for awhile and then move on. It is the I am that we need to access and understand.
The Mind/Soul/Essence/Personality/Ect which drives the body is the key to the “Power” and the understanding nessessary to
move and to create anything any where in the Universe. I feel this understanding will come to the fore in the very near future.
Integral Inst. is but one of many who are at the door to this knowledge. Also the use of sound will be found to be the key to all change. You are on the track. Tesla found this out when he tuned a crystal to the correct fequency and accessed the zero point power/back ground energy of the universe. Ran it through an amp and powered his lights.
I currently use holosync as atool to access the theta level and try to learn some of the simple knowledge of the universe.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I have not read Yoganandas book, but i am aware of the tradition and the magical stuff they do. Well one very compelling evidence and proof of this tradition is Swami Rama. I am not sure whether you have heard of him.
In laboratory conditions, under the observation of research scientists, Swami Rama demonstrated many ways in which one’s internal states could be regulated voluntarily. These research demonstrations have been one of the major cornerstones of the mind-body movement of the past few decades.
The EKG of Swami Rama was recorded while he was sitting motionless, and caused his heart to stop pumping blood at will. This was done by voluntarily speeding up his heart rate to over 300 beats per minute, causing atrial flutter(This lasted for 17 seconds). This demonstration and others were performed at the Menninger Foundation, in Topeka, Kansas in 1970. The research was recorded for the public, in part, in the book Beyond Biofeedback, by Elmer and Alyce Green.
Other demonstrations have included psychokinesis (moving objects through mental will power), recording and remembering accurately conversations in the room while registering being in deep sleep (delta) according to EEG, as well as growing and ungrowing cancers on his arms and in his buttocks.
There is a photograph of a 14 inch knitting needle instrument that Swami Rama successfully caused to spin with his mind from a distance of five feet. This was done in the presence of the research scientists at the Menninger Foundation. A mask and plexiglass plate were placed over Swami Rama’s face by the research scientists during the experiments so that breath could not accidentally affect the needles. His body was also entirely covered with a cloth so as to further insure no accidental involvement of body motion with the needles.
There is also a photograph of Swami Rama showing a glow of light from the area of his heart chakra. This untouched photograph was taken with a Polaroid camera in response to a challenge from one physician who was skeptical about the ability to cause a visible light to be radiated at will.
These demonstrations were not done merely to impress anybody with the unique powers of one person, but rather to demonstrate to the scientific and medical communities that the human has tremendous ability to self-regulate with training.
November 11th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Bill,
Thank you for your post and comments about the Secret. Here is the IMOR (Internal Map of Reality) verbiage I use.
The movie “The Secret” doesn’t tell the secret it tells the Law. No one has to believe the law for the law to work (i.e. gravity works regardless of whether one believes or knows about it). The same with LOA…
The Secret, which the movie didn’t address is that each individual is the leading edge extension of Divinity (or whatever word one chooses to use, God, Universe, the Void, Oneness, no-thingness, Source, etc.) The Secret (you the individual aligned with YOU the more than, physical and non-physical) uses the LAW of Attraction or is used by it.
What if Action isn’t required so much as it is the natural results or extension of alignment (congruence) of you (who we think we are) and YOU (who we really are) and our use of Internal Mapping of Reality, VAK, patterns, etc. determines how well we are aligning/integrating the two most important poles of you/me and YOU/ME. What if INspired action flows or is the natural extension of this alignment and is a lot more desirable than just taking action.
Action is the result of force of will, on the other hand INspired Action is the result of alignment of you and YOU (the you, you are aware of and the INner YOU (Inner Being, Spirit, Unconscious patterns, Internal Map, etc… again we can choose the term we prefer.)
INspired action may not seem like action or can be a lot less than action for actions sake. There is a difference between you ‘have to take action-logical action” and taking INspired action. There are also two action journey’s. The physical action journey and the mental/emotional action journey (which you teach in your Life Principle’s program). If one will take the mental/emotional action journey first and then take the physical action journey second (as a result of the mental/emotional journey) one often finds it easier, more pleasant, more enjoyable and a shorter action journey all the way around.
Ken Wilber as you have pointed out ,has developed a model that addresses these issues in a very useful way. My perception is that Wilber’s course is a good one to use after one is benefiting from Holosync and having one’s Primary Polarities Aligned (Spiritual Technology-Deep PEAT, I mentioned from last blog post.). Or more accurately the use of Holosync and having one’s primes integrated makes the use of Wilber’s model much more effective and work more on a quantum/deeper level.
To Your Best,
Dr. Houston Vetter
docresults@comcast.net
November 11th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I am presently a PRECONVENTIONAL THINKER.
I am not ashamed to say that because it is the truth as I see it today. I am among thousands of people walking this earth…preconventional thinker…yep, that’s me, I fall among those. I credit the “Secret” for inspiring me and leading me to Holosync. I am a beginner in this technolgoy therefore my hopes are to change this preconventional thinker, if that is at all possible. I’ve have magical thinking, come from a preconventional society, am egocentric, have a narcissitic point of view, and have wanted something for nothing so to speak, for quite some time. I definately have felt and feel powerless in the world.
I may not have all the smarts to understand the technology itself but what I do believe is that my brain has been affected by my environment coupled with tramatic experieces which have formed my,,, what I understand now to be my map of reality therefore my “preconventional thinking”. When I saw the “Secret” what held an incredible attraction for me was the piece where the gay man was made to see how he thought… coupled with the help he received to change his thoughts and life. Maybe…I thought to myself I could benefit from this…maybe just maybe this is the change I need to find a way out of my circumstances. Like many of your participants, I’ve tried hundreds, if not thousands of ways to become part of a life I can only imagine. None held any long term changes. I put forth much energy to combine both good thoughts and good feelings… but it just does not hold any long term benifits for me, so I am now trying the Holosync way. I have nothing and I mean nothing to lose. Of course, I was not thrilled that it came at a monetary cost to attain it, remember I am a preconventional thinker.
I may not know alot of things but I did know that it would take more than positive thoughts and feeling good to bring about change in my life, at least for myself…for this individual thinker. I do however adamantly credit The “Secret” for leading me to Holosync. Your piece on the secret made perfect sense to me…. a continuous process, a self discovery…meditation, which I had unsuccessfully attempted feebly throughout the years. Maybe all this talk on coincidense is true or maybe not…maybe hope, proverty and desperateness is in actuallity, part of a preconventional society… maybe wanting to have more for yourself and loved ones is narcissitic and egocentric..maybe prayer and dreams and magical thinking are a fluke…..maybe.
All I know is that I want my present reality to change and have internally desired that change for years. I also know that if Holosync offers me a way that I can change that reality I am definately going to put forth my energy to make that a reality…however long it may take, remember I have nothing to lose. Maybe one day I’ll be writing you about all the changes that have taken place in my life…maybe or maybe not huh? The one thing we preconventional thinkers DO, that you did not mention Bill…is that we don’t give up, no matter what happens..we fall and get back up…we don’t give up no matter how many times we hit the wall. We keep grabbing at different straws and trying them out. I felt a need to say that in my and other preconventional’s defense.
So although, we may not be able to advance through the Holosync program like others who have the means to do so can, …we “preconventional thinkers” do not give up! So Bill, we will see if this map of reality is indeed what has held this particular “preconventional thinker” back…we will see…remember we don’t give up. Please know that I truly appreciate all that you write…it is truly inspirational and full of hope! (smile)
From a beginner”!
November 11th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Hi Bill,
Yup I wholeheartedly agree :O). I read Yogananda’s book ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ and loved it. But I must admit I was at the preconventional stage at the time. I did find hope in the fact that the people in it could do amazing things at the time. But as you say “put it on the table” if anyone has any proof ha :O). And now that I’ve been meditating with holosync for around five years I can see the conventional and perhaps part of the post-conventional point of view and see the secret in the same way. It did seem to me something was missing in the secret when I saw a Bob Proctor and John Assaraf on ‘Ellen’, until I read your ‘The Secret About the Secret’ article, and could sort of see that the nuts and bolts of manifestation were not included. So thanks for clarifying the reason for my gut feeling there haha :O).
Anyway, keep the great blogs coming, I’ve read them all so far and have got something useful out of every one.
Peace,
David :O)
November 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Dear Bill
I think you have valid points but I totally agree with Peter(NL) comments.
It is not totally what you said in your article and it is not totally what is shown in the Secret. A middle ground would probably be closer to the truth.
I agree that maybe not everything is “magic” but there are certain things that is hard to explain by conventional means. One simple example is the Firewalking experience is not just “magic” but by just changing your beliefs almost anyone is able to walk through Hot coals without burning your feet is pretty amazing in my point of view…
Keep up your great work
Neo
November 11th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
I do agree with Bill’s comments on having to take action once you have thought of a plan to make money.
In the Secret Movie, one of the speakers “just got checks in the mail” by thinking about them. I wondered what he did to receive checks in the mail.
I feel this movie was made in order to suck people in to buy more, how to work the Secret tapes, programs and books to make others wealthy!!!
Regarding parking spaces, long before The Secret Movie, for years, I have always gotten a parking space wherever I needed it even at Christmastime. I just never thought my parking spot wouldn’t be there. Take what you like from that.
Tamara Sweeney
November 11th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Bill: I completely agree on the ideas that you said about the secret. The book is basically suggesting to focus on what you want, in every way possible without killing yourself, and that thing, will manifest into what you’ve working on, concentrating on, etc. But if you are so immensly lazy and know that you do want to make something of your life but just can’t stop or snap out of doing what you’re doing, how can you begin to concentrate on something. And I think that’s where holosync would tie in. ??? Regards, Brenden:NJ
November 11th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Of all the comments I read re “Control the Universe with Your Mind,” the one I resonated with was the one from Kurt. Some things just seem so magical in that they appear at the exact time one needs them. As the future comes hurling towards us, I believe advanced science will reveal even more to us, that previously we may have just taken on faith. Meanwhile, “The Secret” I believe, has been invaluable to people who have never had their awareness or consciousness expanded ever, or very little. “The Secret” is a beginning place for the “masses” to start thinking of more spiritual things. Also, like others have said, it connected me to you, Bill Harris, and Holosync.
November 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Dear Bill,
So…. science has disproved some of the beliefs of Buddhism. Are you going to enlighten us as to which ones and whether or not the Dalai Lama has removed them from Buddhist dogma?
Best regards,
Susan
November 11th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Not to belabor the Yogananda issue, but…
There are some logical errors with the way Bill describes the potential for “miracles” such as those found in Autobiography of a Yogi:
Bill wrote: “No evidence whatsoever exists that people can dematerialize, for instance, or that any of the other sorts of magic described in that tradition can actually happen. If those of you who believe in this stuff have some evidence–not stories, but actual evidence, that any reasonable person would accept–put it on the table.”
Fallacy: Appeal to ignorance (or “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”)
—Presumably Bill is asking for experimental scientific evidence. If we lived many years ago, there would be no evidence that visible light is only a small part of the light/electromagnetic spectrum. That would not have been proof that the only light that exists is visible. It is not logically accurate to state that a phenomenon does not exist, based on absence of its observation in a scientific context.
I’m not claiming that the “miraculous” events in Autobiography of a Yogi happened or that they didn’t, only that that is not correct to say that they are impossible. One could accurately say, science doesn’t have an explanation for how they could occur, but then science can’t explain lots of currently observable phenomena, either.
Bill wrote: “Someone asked the Dalai Lama what would happen if modern science disproved some of what Buddhists believe (which it has, in several cases). ‘Then that belief will have to go,’ he said. This is why the Dalai Lama is not a preconventional thinker.”
Fallacy: Appeal to inappropriate authority
—Admittedly the Dalai Lama qualifies as an expert. But does he really disbelieve in the types of phenomena described by Yogananda? I would bet that he thinks it is possible to dematerialize to the extent necessary to, for example, walk through a wall. I also think he would consider such a practice a waste of time and effort, in comparison with expending energy in the pursuit of one’s particular learning lesson during a life on earth: for just one example, learning to favor facts over emotion. He does believe in reincarnation, another phenomenon shunned by the scientific community.
If Bill or I get a chance to meet the Dalai Lama, maybe one of us can ask him specific questions and get his opinion. Until then, he doesn’t really belong in this argument.
Bill wrote: “All I’m doing is pointing out where such thinking fits developmentally, and further making the point that people who live from this point of view have a hard time functioning well in the world.”
Fallacy: Argumentum ad Hominem
—Allow me to suggest that there is a big difference between allowing the possibility of the phenomona described in Autobiography of a Yoga to exist, and having a “hard time functioning in the world”. The prime example being Yogananda himself, as Bill admits.
(Source: http://www.fallacyfiles.org/authorit.html)
November 11th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
It’s very interesting to hear your take on The Secret and also to hear the feedback. I’m not sure where I stand yet. Just trying to absorb all this info for now.
I am wondering though what your thoughts might be on the ‘Busting Loose’ point of view, where everything is just an illusion that we have created. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts and anyone else’s. It frankly boggles my mind but as I said, I’m gathering info for now.
Thanks!
November 11th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
so what is your opinion about Abraham-hicks then?
November 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Peter(NL) makes a good point on Bill’s views. I think your view here Bill is a bit too dismissive of alternate possibilities.
It seems plausible to me that the act of focused thinking could influence circumstances in our favor, without our direct effort, a ‘coincidence’. The reason this seems plausible to me is becuase of the interconnected nature of the universe.
Then again, it also seems plausible that focused thinking only allows one to percieve favorable circumstances, that is, it does not actually change the circumstance. Maybe focused thinking will help motivate you to get into the situations that seem like a miraculous synchronicity.
That being said, it can not be proved that focused thinking does not directly effect actual circumstances. While I agree, it would be foolish to just think wishfully all day and not take action, I would not dismiss the possibility outright.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Hi Bill,
As a molecular biologist and a keen observer of human behavior, I respect your analysis of “The Secret”. It is refreshing to hear your rational voice, and your evidence-based reasoning.
That’s not to say that things don’t happen for reasons we don’t understand. Clearly they do. Someone once said, “the universe isn’t only stranger than you imagine, it’s stranger than you CAN imagine”.
Everyone would like to influence, if not outright control, the outcome of events in our lives and careers. It’s not about wishing, hoping, or praying…it’s taking effective action. The role of the human spirit and belief should not be underestimated, however, because it gives us the strength and determination to perservere against what are sometimes incredible odds. Despite that, engaging in purely wishful thinking and waiting for miracles is little better than doing nothing at all. God (aka the Universe) helps those who helps themselves. If the universe is completely indifferent to the outcome, then it’s entirely up to us to create the reality that we desire. That’s a good thing!
All the best,
-Jack-
November 11th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Hello Bill, Thanks for your latest blog I did enjoy reading it along with the comments posted by the readers. Like some others, I too, have come to your column via The Secret. I was first intorduced to this via the DVD.
I have the audio and the book, both of which I use periodically when I am drawn to them, like I do every other book, c.d and dvd I have on my shelf and I take from each of them exactly what I need at the time.
This leads me in all sort of directions and I am finding my way beautifully thankyou. My awareness and life are opening more each day, I am becoming more in tune with my Higher Self as I learn to let go of all that no longer serves me and this follows on by allowing me to give more unconditional love than I ever have. Thankyou for your part in my journey. Dianne
November 11th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Thanks for your comments on The Secret Bill. I’m relieved to see that people are finally waking up to the narcissism of this magical new age rubbish. I saw a “Puppetji” video on the same - which is a real laugh. For some real, rich and gutsy energetic information on realisation Elysha’s website is great for cutting right through to your youness.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Just curious, do you think feng shui is magical thinking?
November 11th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Bill
I endorse fully all of the points made by Peter(NL)on November 10th, 2007 at 5:48 am. I would add the following:
Whilst I entirely agree with your points made in your recent blogs re stages of development and all of your teachings and writings regarding the criteria for creating the conditions for achieving, creating and attracting a successful life, and I also understand and share your rejection of “pre-conventional” magical thinking, where does the concept of “Life Purpose” - or “alignment” - fit into all of this?
My own lived and observed life experiences show me that there are dimensions beyond that of a focused mind (and a balanced brain) that ultimately determine the outcomes we experience in life.
Put simply, there seems to be a transcendent (or spiritual) dimension that ultimately determines the course of a person’s life and especially that affects factors such as timing and synchronicity etc.
I would suggest that in addition to and beyond all the excellent principles that you teach (and that I totally support and my life experience bare witness to) there are further and higher principles and dimensions that need to be articulated and understood and - I was about to about to say “applied” - but I feel could be more accurately described as “aligned with”.
I may have misunderstood you, but my concern is that you are so understandably concerned (for all the valid reasons you have frequently and eloquently outlined) to steer us away from the limitations and inadequacies of magical thinking that you seem to negate and/or totally ignore the transcendent or spiritual dimension.
What you seem to present is ultimately a reductionist or mechanistic view which whilst necessary and essential as a foundation, does not, in my lived and observed life experience offer the full perspective.
I would respectfully and humbly suggest that we need to seek to ascertain our own individual “life purpose” and align ourselves with that - as an additional and integral component of all of the personal developmental work that you teach. Thus the ultimate outcomes we experience is a combination of all that you teach when aligned with personal “life purpose”.
In my life experience to date and in my current understanding this occurs within the context of the unitive or integral stage of our development.
You have spoken elsewhere about how you have reached a point in your life where you feel that having done sufficient and extensive personal development work, “invested in the universe” and aligned yourself with your personal “mission” or “life purpose”, that the universe now rewards you for the value you create and deliver.
I feel we would benefit from hearing more from you about how this happened for you, and how you discovered - if you’ll forgive the cliche - your calling, and particularly your experiences of and interpretations of the timings, synchronicities and alignments that have occurred as this has unfolded.
Further, I feel we would benefit from your explanation of the basis of the principles that underlie how (beyond a focused mind and balanced brain)
the universe functions to create /manifest these timings, synchronicities and alignments and the role of the transcendent or spiritual dimension in this unfolding.
Thankyou
Stephen Warrilow
November 11th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Dear Bill,
I am not fond of the Secret mostly because I think they duped people. I felt they were being dishonest and not giving enough information. I didn’t like the marketing either.
I understand your point about magical thinking but I don’t think it can be applied to all parts of life. My experience has been that if I can work it out for myself just trying to pull it in won’t work. If there is nothing I can do, as in a survival situation, help is there almost immediately. I would imagine when it is my time to go there will be no more help that saves my life. I’ve also noticed that the clearer I get, the more of my ’stuff’ that gets released what I do want happens more quickly. Granted I am not just sitting at home waiting but in a very short period of time what I want and need is easily obtainable. I can honestly say most of my parking spaces are right up front. I can’t remember the last time I had to park too far from a building, except for today oddly enough. I attribute that to my intuitive sense of pulling in the lot and ‘knowing’ right where the empty slots are. I would say I am 95% correct. Am trying to apply that towards other areas of my life. Perhaps that is more of a remote viewing thing.
Lester Levenson, from Sedona Method fame, had many synchronistic events like my parking spaces one. His were even better.
I wanted to mention something that happened in my life, just to throw a wrench in the whole ‘magical’ thinking thing. I had cancer three times. The 1st time I had chemo and surgeries. The 2nd time I refused to put myself through all of that again. When I found out I challenged the god of my lack of understanding to heal me or kill me, quickly. I really let go. I knew I had no way of healing cancer and I was pretty sure the medical profession was shooting craps in their attempts so I had to let go. My thinking was I will never, ever put myself through that torture and poison again-never! I don’t know how to say this briefly and get the point across but in 1.5 weeks people, jobs, money, etc starting showing up out of the woodwork. I was taken places I had no intention of going to, given jobs I didn’t look for or particularly want, heard voices telling me what to do and bumped into sevearl people who ended up helping me in unimaginable ways and eventually was healed of breast and ovarian cancer. I never looked for these people. I stopped researching, talking to doctors, reading more reviews, etc. I simply gave it all over to something else. I abdicated all responsibility for my healing. (The book will be out next year). I felt like I had no control over my life. I don’t know what to attribute this too. I didn’t sit and think about it all the time. In fact, I refused to think about it. I just put it out of my mind. It all came to me anyway. Perhaps that original declaration and intent was strong that I didn’t have to do anything else. Far be it from me to know the cause of all this.
Another time I was in the ocean with my siblings. The beach was private so we didn’t have life guards. The undertow was great that day because a storm was coming in. We were not supposed to be in the water but being cocky teeenagers who were all on swimming teams we thought we could handle it. Shortly after body surfing we found ourselves to far out to swim back. I tried several times to get back to the beach but I’d only move a couple of feet if that. I had no clue what to do. All of a sudden a picture popped into my head that showed me if I dove down and put my fingers in the sand I could pull myself in because the undertow did not roll directly across the bottom of the ocean. It rolled about a foot above the sandy bottom. This is what I did to bring myself in. I didn’t know that little known fact. A couple other things like this have happened also. Is this intuition, a voice from something spiritual, knowledge I had inside I was not aware of? I don’t know.
You seem to be pretty adamant about magical thinking not working. Perhaps we don’t know enough about magical thinking or intuition or spiritual guidance or who knows to make dogmatic claims. Check out the work of Dr. Richard Batlett at http://www.matrixenergetics.com. His work is pretty darn magical and he is curing all kinds of things based on Quantum Physics principles. I use his work in my practice and it works. Sometimes it takes several sessions but ultimately it works.
There is more to us than we know. I am sure you know that. Best to keep our minds wide open, don’t you agree?
Ria
November 11th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I choose to write because I felt a feeling of sadness. From all the support and care you have put into providing us, your holosync users, I’m seeing dupicity, or the end justifies the means, rather than integrity. It seems as though your trying to say that the Secret misrepresented you and your philosophies, and yet your are using it as a personal forum in Materes of the Secret to support yourself. As I see it from reading the comments of which more than half came to you by way of the Secret, your intention of sharing your knowledge through the production have come to pass, just not as you would have liked or choosen. Explaining what the movie did or didn’t take from your interview, sounds like a man concerned too much with what others think rather than His intentions.It r production, it was someone elses, and you choose to be part of it, and it benefited you and those you claim to want to help. I would expect you to act from a position of integrity rather that self promotion. You are either greatful for the doors that have opened and the opportunities presented and should act accordingly, or I feel you should disassociate yourslef from the product ( and how sad would that be for those you have helped). You made a choice and have benefited from that choice, and as I see it your entire reason for doing it was met. We only get to make our choices, we do not get to controll the consequences, regardless of our intention.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I am glad to see so much conversation about the Secret. I too am curious to hear how you explain synchronicity.
I am somewhat confused by the term “magical thinking.” From a wiccan perspective, magic is not wishful thinking. It is so much more than using the power of intention and gratitude. I do believe it taps in to how the universe works-in ways we do not always understand. It may have been Starhawk who said “magic is the way the universe works”. It seems to me there is magic used in ancient cultures and religions (in which people lived for very, very long times) which is very powerful, and the way you are using “magical thinking” is very different.
My main issue with The Secret - which I loved - were that they did not address the fact that unconscious beliefs are thousands of times more powerful than conscious beliefs (see the excellent book The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton, MD) and without addressing the beliefs of the unconcious mind (basically what is accumulated by age 5) it will keep generating the same old crud in our lives.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Bill,
I appreciated your comments. While positive thinking is something which frees one’s attitude from obsessing on the worst case scenario; it is equally important to put “feet on prayers” as my parents instructed me wisely. Scriptures seem to confirm that the Creator expects people to use their God-given talents to achieve while expressing gratitude for the results that come our way. The real Secret seems to be focus on what can be done with some effort, faith, and due diligence. And when “miracles” happen don’t question them, just give gratitude that circumstances fell into place.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
While I too agree, The Secret minimized some very important information; I also believe The Secret serves as a seed — a seed that encourages mainstream humankind to transcend to a higher level of consciousness — to leave behind victim mentality, and transcend to a more positive, empowered state of being.
Bill, in a previous post you spoke of those at the transcendent level in regard to religion, “Though someone at the transcendent level may see the limitations of these other views, they don’t make them wrong, which would be like making a child, or a teenager wrong for not being able to see the world from an adult perspective.”
Would not The Secret fit into the very same category when perceived from a transcendent point of view? Could it be The Secret is more of a means to an end? The vehicle by which to reach an audience that otherwise may have been unreachable?
I believe that you, and many others like you, are the water that will make the seed grow.
With deep respect,
June
November 11th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Hey Bill. I really love your blog.
When I watched The Secret, my first thought was, “People aren’t going to understand the spiritual backwork that’s needed to get to the point where you’re attracting what you want.” I also thought it was ridiculous that it didn’t explain very well that action is needed, and lots of it. In addition, I thought it was terribly irresponsible to encourage people to self-heal. Although some people are able to self-heal, to tell this to a general audience who has a lot of muck sitting in their subconscious minds is inappropriate. But the information it provided about quantum physics and the law of attraction was very valuable. Perhaps if the movie had not focused so much on manifesting bicycles and necklaces simply by looking at a magazine picture, etc., people would have noticed the other messages, like taking action.
I hope you won’t mind if I tell you something else that’s been bugging me for several months now. No offense, but I think it is disappointing for you to use the The Masters of the Secret course (you even used a similar logo to “The Secret”) to market your products, but then turn around, and basically say The Secret is a load of you-know-what. It really lessens your credibility. You could have just said how you felt when the movie came out. The controversy alone would have probably brought even more people to your site, in fact. People who thought the movie was ridiculously magical in nature, or who thought it was too materialistic. Personally, I went to your site because I found what you had to say in the movie to be interesting and compelling.
I have a question for you. I really hope you’ll address it, because you seem to have the knowledge and experience to answer it:
If we create our reality by what’s in our mind, how do we explain a baby getting a fatal illness, or a two-year-old being snatched by a predator? It’s sort of how you alluded to the starving Africans in your post. I would really love it if you’d elaborate. You said, “Don’t even get me started on that people in Africa are thinking wrong thoughts.” Well, what I’d like to ask is, “Please do get started!” It’s very hard for me to reconcile the power of the mind with bad things happening to babies, and starving children in Africa. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject, and also, how does the law of attraction fit in with those events?
Also, what do you think of the vibrational levels concept?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and for your thought-provoking blog posts.
November 12th, 2007 at 8:29 am
While I certainly do not believe that simply “putting it out there” will create piles of money to suddenly manifest in my bank account, I still have to leave room for the possibility that there are energies going on around me that I don’t understand or that happen outside my awareness. I guess my main question is, then, what is the definition of “magic”? As far as I know, there is no indisputable scientific proof of “universal consciousness”, yet virtually all integral and searching philosophies (quantum physics, Jungian psychology, mysticism, many religions, etc.) ascribe to this belief, often presenting it as “fact.” But, without empirical, scientific data, is it any less magical than the belief that “our thoughts create our world”?
Mind you, I’m playing devil’s advocate here, because I wholeheartedly believe in the universal consciousness philosophy, based on my own experience and because it resonates deep within me. But I still think it’s an interesting philosophical question. On one hand, belief in certain types of “magic” seem to place one into the pre-conventional, lowest rung of the developmental ladder; yet, an understanding and “knowing” of other types of “magic” (as in universal oneness and interconnectedness, which cannot be proven, either), catapults one into the “transcendant” realm, that appears to be something to which human beings should want to aspire (ok, no shoulds…but you know what I mean, I think). In fact, many believe that science can explain the ecstatic state of unity and bliss by saying that it’s really just a release of chemicals in the brain, or, in the case of near-death experience, the “light” is what is experienced as our systems shut down. Ultimately, it’s still a belief and, in a sense, magical. It’s just that it’s a more all-encompassing, pluralistic, compassionate belief system than the mostly self-serving approach to magic as presented in The Secret. It’s more experiential than it is faith-based.
I’m not a scientist, but I do know that even science is limited and flawed. How many times have we heard about “studies” that “prove” a certain idea, only to find out later that the studies were inherently flawed? Not being a scientist, I can never truly know what is fact and what is not, so I have to choose to believe or disbelieve whatever studies exist (many, after all, are biased). In the final analysis, it seems that it’s up to me to base my beliefs on what makes the most sense to me — on a variety of levels.
All this to say that I do agree with you — pure magic and “wishcraft” is complete bull. But, again, as a post-conventional, green-meme thinker (I think!), I simply must leave room for the possibility that things exist that are beyond my human comprehension. Today’s magic may be proved fact tomorrow. I’m not going to bank on my dreams and desires, though, unless and until they lead me to appropriate action.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Bill,
I appreciate your comments regarding your participation in The Secret, but do not accept the idea that you lent your name and ideas to a project without knowing how they would be used. That would be negligent and irresponsible on your part, and you just don’t seem like that kind of person.
Thanks for your contribution.
November 12th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Bill, your message is simple and clear.
I am on Purification Level 1 and I can attest to the fact that regular meditation with Holosync and following the instructions to the letter are leading me to greater self-awareness and an increased ability to focus on what I want. It also has considerably dampened my interest in metaphysical speculation, especially of a magical kind.
I have also done the Life Principles Integration Process courses and they work, provided you follow the instructions and don’t get lost in meaningless metaphysical speculation. Once I started focusing my mind on exactly what I wanted in life in outcome terms, then I started seeing and finding the information I needed and getting the ideas I needed to make things happen. Our brain is a wonderful machine, it just needs to be focused on the right things.
Thanks,
Rich
November 12th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Hi Bill,
What’s the difference between the claims in The Secret and waking delta as described in your interview with James Hardt?
regards
Mike