Most of all, this book is quite good for self-discipline and reasonably compelling. While reading, I couldn’t help thinking of Buddhism and Mencius though.
Actually, the main ideas in the book are much like those of Buddhism such as “Every single situation in which you were involved in the past has made you at present and what you are now will bring about your own future.” Of course in a slightly different and more detailed voice.
Moreover, some parts, in which the author tries to make understood that everything inside is bound to show up outwards and your sincerity will tell the outcome, reminded me of a Mencius quote that I like; “If you love men and they are unfriendly, look into your love. If you rule men and they are unruly, look into your wisdom. If you are courteous to them and they do not respond, look into your courtesy. If what you do is vain, always seek within.”
10 comments:
Nice post. There is much to comment on! First off, I've always liked that painting of the red purse, and of course, I'm blanking on the artist's name. Nice Sting song added to the play list, too.
That's an interesting take on The Secret, I was curious how you would respond to the book. There is a lot of hype in it (in my opinion), but I don't disagree with the idea that a positive outlook is always better than a negative one. I would have gone for existentialism before Buddhism, but that is because I don't know very much about Buddhism. The existentialists asserted that the individual is responsible for their own lives, which strikes me as similar to some of the things in The Secret.
The cottage industry that has grown up around the book kind of turns me off, though. All these psych gurus claiming you can have anything you want just by thinking about it remind me of Professor Hill's "Think System" from The Music Man.
I like the alternate universe possibilities implied by current physics - for real, no jokes, such things are possible if string theory is the "correct" view of the universe. Sometimes I think the advocates of The Secret are twisting quantum mechanics when they claim that thought creates literal things: thinking about money creates wealth; think about what you want in a relationship and it will magically happen just as you imagine it because the mind creates the object it considers. I don't think it hurts to focus on a goal. In fact, I think that is a positive thing to do. I don't think the act of focusing brings the object of that goal into existence as some Secret practitioners imply. It reminds me a bit of these "God wants you to be rich" televangelists.
There are things to like in The Secret if you can overlook the hype. I bought the book after you mentioned it a few weeks ago. I haven't finished it yet, but I will. Thanks for the stimulus.
Too many words, sorry. I never knew there were so many distinct compositions with the title La création du monde. I found at least two others on YouTube. Interestingly, I also found an excerpt with Bernstein as conductor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeXgEURsf-E
The cute thing about this to my mind is that Bernstein has a beard! I don't ever remember seeing him wearing a beard before. That was a first for me.
Anyway, this was a really nice post. I enjoyed the post and responding to it.
Sorry. I managed to post the same reply twice. I deleted the duplicate post.
Kush was the artist, of course...I should have just looked at Metamorphosis 1.
Sorry for this late reply I was up to my ears.
It’s always my pleasure to read your awesome comments, actually I learn a lot from you. I don’t think I’m well informed about existentialism and will take some time to learn more about philosophy for some time to come.
Yeah, to me, the most appealing part in The Secret was the links with Quantum physics which is another part that I was totally ignorant before this book. As you’ve pointed out, I also agree that sitting in the house and just thinking and imagining about what you want should not work at all. Every excellent outcome is supposed to need our exertions, I believe. Nevertheless, The Secret is quite intelligible and I really liked it.
Bernstein with a beard~! That bearded look made me smile. Thanks for the video. Most of all, I’m so glad you enjoyed what I’ve selected for this post, Bob. :) *bisous*
One of the things personal trainers etc. try and get you to do is to visualize your goals...I think they call it "actualize" or some such term.I do think it helps to be confident and optimistic, but it is silly to believe that someone or something else will do it all for you without your lifting a finger.
If you are interested in some lectures on philosophy, check out The Teaching Company. They are not free and you should wait for them to put any course you happen to like on sale, which they do at least once a year, sometimes more. I'm interested in the one on existentialism myself, though I haven't bought it as yet. The title of the course is "No Excuses," which I like as a personal motto, too...only Nike beat us to it.
The Teaching Company is here: http://www.teach12.com/teach12.aspx?ai=16281
I have read all but the last few pages of The Secret now. My impression still stands: I like the attitude part of it; I think their quantum mechanics is fuzzier than quantum mechanics, but I do believe in string theory, I do, I do, I do believe....(the Cowardly Lion, just in case you don't recognize the I do, I do, I do...thing)
I'll take a look at the site you've introduced, but I may not enrol for any philosophy classes on line. Thanks :) *bisous*
Oo, sorry. I wasn't clear enough. You don't enroll, you just purchase the lectures and listen to them at your leisure. They are typically univerity-style lectures, but you don't sign up for a course for a grade or even pass-fail. It is purely for your own personal enrichment.
OK~! Thanks :) *bisous*
This is kind of a crazy association to make, but I've been reading The Little Prince (one of these days I might actually finish it, too) and the passage of walking all night and finding the well in the morning reminded me of The Secret. As the prince drinks, the pilot says, "That water was more than merely a drink. It was born of our walk beneath the stars, of the song of the pulley, of the effort of my arms. It did the heart good, like a present." (Obviously, I'm reading and English translation.) I was struck by how much it reminded me of some of the ideas in The Secret.
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