The second, of seven, law of spiritual success as described by Dr. Chopra is The Law of Giving.
“The universe operates through dynamic exchange…giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.”
Dr. Chopra begins by reminding us that giving is not only about money but about all aspects of our lives. We operate through what he calls “dynamic exchange” between ourselves and the universe. There is, in other words, give and take. There will be stagnation without this constant circulation between our Self and the universe.
Deepak gives examples using money and seeds. Hoarding up money and not putting it back into circulation through giving leads to stagnation in your own money flow. I don’t believe Deepak is talking about a prosperity gospel here. I think that as long as you are willing to let go of what you want, you will get what you want. Of course, one’s attitude is very important to this equation. If I give half-heartedly, I will miss out on the law working.
“If you want joy, give joy. If you want love, give love. If you want peace, give peace” etc. etc.
“When you learn to give that which you seek. you activate and choreograph the dance with an exquiste, energetic, and vital movement that constitutes and eternal throb of life.”
Chopra says the best way to learn this law (and anything in life really) is to practice. Whenever you come into contact with someone, give them something. Not necessarily material things. A prayer, a smile, a compliment.
In the sense of true Christian philosophy, give unto others and other teachings along those lines, isn’t this the same thing?
Yes it is the same kind of thing, isn’t it? I’m very interested in you going through these laws one at a time like this.
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I found this idea discussed in Conversations with God. Within the context of creating our own reality, he says that the best way to create something is to give it to someone else. Very similar to what you are describing here.
As regards your question if this is the same as “true Christian philosophy” I’m not so sure. I was always taught that “we love because God first loved us”. We give out of that which we have first received. However, this teaching seems to say that we can just go ahead and create whatever we want – it’s up to us. Not quite the same idea is it?
I see where you are coming from. I do think that the “idea” that is expressed in Christian philosophy is “love others because you are loved by God”. For me though, the spirit of the biblical teaching, I believe, is that we just love others. Personally, I don’t need motivation to love other people and that is what “love others because you are loved by God” sounds like to me, a bribe. It is easier to love people that love you back, as stated in the bible, but something inside of me persuades me to love others, even those that don’t even know who I am. Is it God? Is it myself choosing to do so? I really don’t know. What I do think though is that hidden in both the ancient texts of scripture and the teachings of “modern” people like Deepak Chopra are central “truths” that seem to me, at least at this phase of my journey, to be foundational to existence. The hardest part has been for me has been trying to see what the bible is ACTUALLY “saying” to me without the filter of fundamentalistic Southern Baptist doctrine.
“The hardest part has been for me has been trying to see what the bible is ACTUALLY “saying” to me without the filter of fundamentalistic Southern Baptist doctrine.”
This is by far the hardest part for me too. Sometimes I just wish I could just forget everyhting I had every learnt in church and start over again. These past few months during my initial discovery of “modern” teaching my reaction has been to not even try to harmonise with the bible, but simply throw it all away. This is becuase I have been brought up on an “all or nothing” holy bible wholly bible diet. It still feels wrong to me just to pick and choose bits here and there, but somehow some people manage to do it. One thing I am sure is that christianity in its current form is not for me. As I continue to read the various New Age writers I just find their message is so much more coherent than the church message.