DVD Review Preview

Here's the press release for a DVD I got today in the mail which I will review.

Press Release (top)

THE INTERNATIONAL BEST-SELLER DEEPAK CHOPRA'S
SEVEN SPIRITUAL LAWS OF SUCCESS

Debuts on DVD May 8, 2007 From Fox Home Entertainment

Inspirational DVD Features Music Icons Olivia Newton John and Dave Stewart and Actor/Director Bill Duke

CENTURY CITY , Calif. – Based on the book that was on the New York Times Best-Seller list for two years, re-knowned Doctor/Scholar Deepak Chopra's most inspirational and universal work comes to DVD on May 8 when Fox Home Entertainment releases
The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success . Blending the ethereal teachings of Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita from his native India with forward-thinking transcendental quantum physics, Chopra's works about the power of individual consciousness have become worldwide best-sellers, selling over 40 million copies, empowering followers to gain control of their lives through a deep and meditative understanding of their own spiritual connections to the world.

The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success features genuine accounts of spiritual awakening and consciousness from Hollywood stars and artists including singer/actress Olivia Newton-John ( Grease ), director/actor Bill Duke ( X-Men: The Last Stand, Predator ) and musician Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics), among others. The DVD also features new music by Newton-John, inspired by her experience with the book's teachings.

The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success are the principles of pure potentiality, giving, karma, least effort, intention and desire, detachment, and dharma, forming the basis for a more natural and organic lifestyle, allowing personal well-being and enthusiasm for life to govern prosperity and success. Deeply profound and yet surprisingly simple to apply to one's own life, The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98 U.S./$21.98 Canada .

DVD Special Features:
The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success DVD is presented in English Dolby Surround 5.1 with English and Spanish subtitles.

Grand Canyon

IMG_1704
Originally uploaded by withanhauser

Spent some time in the Grand Canyon. My dharmic thought about that is that through meditation, spiritual friendship and dharma study and discussion with friends, is the water, wind and gravity that causes some amazing erosion of the self, which the Grand Canyon can show the potential beauty of.

Where to give money

We had a visit in New York City from our Indian dharma brothers who work for Jambudvipa Trust in India. Next time I'm in a position to give away money, I'm going to give them some. There are still lynchings going on in India! There is real social injustice relating to the habit of the caste system despite being outlawed in their constitution in 1947. There are natural disasters and there are other ways in which the government does not raise up to the challenge of helping it's people. This trust does good work. I will be donating money to them in the future. The OM and mitra who come over were very committed and focused. I was impressed. Goto to their web site to donate some money!

Quote in History of My Going For Refuge

To discover that within myself which I must obey, to gain some awareness of the law which operates in the organic whole of the internal world, to feel this internal world as an organic whole working out its whole destiny according to some secret vital principle to know which acts and utterances are a liberation from obstacles and an accession of strength, to acknowledge secret loyalties which one cannot deny without impoverishment and starvation,--this is to possess one’s soul indeed, and it is not easily either to do or to explain.

John Middleton Murry 1889-1957

Reiki

I just experienced reiki for the first time. Didn't feel much, it was a short session, supposedly they're usually longer. But it was nice to lay down and relax.

The wikipedia article on it reports that scientific studies show it has no greater than a placebo effect, but I think that the placebo effect is worth something--the hope that something good happens is wonderful.

The instructions were, "imagine a white light coming into your head, and you breathing it out." So she put her hands on my shoulders, on my chest and stomach and then knees, and finally my ankles. She said she's tell me when she's done and she did.

She thought I was balanced, no anger pulling energy to my liver.

I'd say it can't hurt. I want to be open to things. There is a part of me that is curious about the scientific community, but there's a part of me that wants to be open to things outside my immediate experience. I have no problem that people make a living doing such things, there are lots worse things.

I like it that a Buddhist discovered Reiki, supposedly enlightened, but I'm also a bit wary. In my tradition, in so far as I understand it, these magical kinds of things are seen as nice, but not really the point. They can be a distraction. I don't have a formal sadhana practice but I'm going to ask for Avalokiteshvara when some day I hope to be ordained into the WBO. The woman who did Reiki on me today said she imagines Jesus Christ.

She talked about healing a woman's breast cancer, and her own heart problems. Of course anecdotal evidence doesn't prove anything, but it doesn't disprove anything either.

I imagine people pro-Reiki might dislike my not embracing it the way they do. I imagine skeptical people poo pooing it. I think people should try it if they can and I hope to try it again.

More Proof That Meditation in Revolutionary

Blakeslee for the New York Times writes, "Recent research has shown that meditation is good for the brain. It appears to increase gray matter, improve the immune system, reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being." in an article dated May 8th 2007. (I can't make the permalink work, but try this link.)

For me meditation is so revolutionary that I choose it over sleep. I'd rather be tired and more aware.

Am I addicted? Addiction is not used for positive beneficial things. When you know something is good for you, it's healthy to want to do it.

I feel more embodied, closer to my experience, I have a greater and more powerful observing ego. And the study shows, better attention.

In one of my favorite sutras, there is all kinds of advice, then they go to the Buddha. The Buddha says, "taht's all good, but I think you should just sit down and meditate till you are enlightened." I'm trying to follow that advice.