The Secret ridiculed on Real Time with Bill Maher

[Rocket Surgery]

Anybody see last Friday's show?

Bill Maher, host of Real Time on HBO, and former host of Politically Incorrect on ABC, panned The Secret as a "load of crap" that tries to convince people that they can get rich simply by "visualizing it."

Deepak Chopra was a guest on the panel, and he even referred to the notion as "ridiculous," which surprised me since he is a respected spokesperson for metaphysical theory.

I think that the negative feedback that is on the rise about LoA and The Secret is a direct result of how the so-called "teachers" of The Secret have been packaging the concept.

Many of these "teachers" are of the Tony Robbins mold of self-help gurus, who, IMHO, place way too much emphasis on acquisition of wealth, career success, and "finding true love." While I find nothing particularly wrong with these pursuits, certainly they have little to do with SPIRITUAL GROWTH, IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS, and overcoming ILLUSIONS OF SEPARATION, which, to me, should be the primary focus and course of study of each and every human life.

I understand that, as a marketing tool, appealing to an individual's material desires will probably be much more successful in selling a product than pitching to the masses how "buying this DVD will save you hundreds of lifetimes stuck in karmic purgatory..." but at the same time, this emphasis opens the concept of LoA up to more skeptical criticism than it deserves from all the Amazing Randi's of the world.

How do you see The Secret? As another scam akin to the "Lazy Man's Way to Riches," or as a clever packaging to attract the masses into a first exposure to metaphysical theory?

~ RS

[Adam]

I try not to judge products themselves... Rather, I look at the people who apply them, and see what changes it has made.

In the vast majority of cases, I see people who pre-judge, rather than looking at the actual content. This goes for both sides of the spectrum, from those who are entirely against The Secret to those who swear by its every word.

It's a product, which means that it is meant to be sold. I can't fault it there, because it is serving its purpose. It is an introduction to the creativity of consciousness, and in that respect, as long as it is getting publicity, either good or bad, it can not fail. It isn't perfect, but since it is serving its purposes, it isn't a bad thing either.

About the content of The Secret, I remain skeptical... It could work, but it may not... there are simply too many variables in life to tell. I think the idea of polarizing your decisions does the exact same thing with results that are far easier to measure... but I can't tell if conscious creationism causes polarization, or if polarization causes conscious creationism.

I'm going to take the scientific approach and say that it may, or it may not... I don't have enough data yet.

[Mr. Punch]

Yes, easy now. I gave it some thought earlier today. There is going to be - there already is - a huge reaction to the flimsiness of the concept as presented in the movie and the hype and the millions of people flooding the bookstores right now. And so what? Everyone in here knows that PD is HARD WORK! One of Pavlinas major achievement and what gives him the integrity in the rather shallow PD field is to constantly remind of us just that! And so all the people on "The Secret" bandwagon will have disappeared in a few months because so few are willing to devote themselves to the massive discipline applying the LoA entails.

[Dani]

Originally Posted by Mr. Punch

Yes, easy now. I gave it some thought earlier today. There is going to be - there already is - a huge reaction to the flimsiness of the concept as presented in the movie and the hype and the millions of people flooding the bookstores right now. And so what? Everyone in here knows that PD is HARD WORK! One of Pavlinas major achievement and what gives him the integrity in the rather shallow PD field is to constantly remind of us just that! And so all the people on "The Secret" bandwagon will have disappeared in a few months because so few are willing to devote themselves to the massive discipline applying the LoA entails.

I highly doubt 'all' of the people on the bandwagon will fall off. I know of quite a few, myself included, who went the next step after seeing the secret.

The secret didn't introduce me to LoA, but it did remind me of how important it is. For that I am grateful. I know others too who have recieved such good benefits that they will continue with it.

It is a bit of a shame however that there are so many PD elitists who seem to think that anyone who likes The Secret is just a fad PD er and isn't worth letting into the club.

I have been into PD for 15 years and I still got something small out of the movie. (though I hated the cheesy intro and always skip it )

[yeslist]

Hi All
I was one of (I believe) the more fortunate ones who got to see the earlier Abraham influenced version of "The secret" I too had heard of and used the LoA to some degree in my past experience but was not fully aware of the concept.
I would like to thank the makers and contributors of that movie for their collective enlightening contribution to my experience. I have discovered, there is always contrast when we start to reason and the irony of reason is that reason is only our personal perspective. That is why there is so much confusion and conjecture around this topic.
Thanks for the opportunity to contribute.
Simon

[Margaret]

I purchased the CD although I had been exposed to this way of thinking many times in the past. The suggestion that so many people have known "the secret" and have strived to keep it from the masses was very misleading. So many have tried to bring this knowledge to ordinary people, if not as a way of making money but as a road to happiness or contentment. I have a problem with the money aspect, however I applaud anything that will cause people to think more positively and view life as something to look forward to. The "play it forward" theory. There are many books that one can read, if one is not a reader the CD "The Secret" may just be one way to get the message to them, that what one thinks and how one acts can have a direct impact on the way life treats them.

[Elenny]

The Secret has been criticized a million times on this forum for focusing on materialistic wealth, but the reality is, if they had taken another focus, it probably would not have even made it to DVD status.


The Secret simply opened the door for many people. If they actually go inside and start researching everything behind the LoA, they will come out better human beings in all aspects of life, not just financially.

However, the ones that only focus on easy and quick money are the ones that end up being disappointed.

[Dietrie]

For me the Secret really opened up the door to true personal development. In the past I struggled with a lot of things and wanted to make a better life for myself, but didn't know how and I always thought that I'd have to get the answers from someone else.
I already had some really great and inspired ideas about life and making the most of it, but I just couldn't seem to apply that to myself and my own life.

The Secret for me, came at a time when many things in my family's life were up in the air. It's true that when my partner and I sat down to watch the movie, it changed us. It changed our lives.

The reaction for me, was like a new-found love; it was exciting, fresh, overwhelming, said all the right words ( ) it was emotional, it was full of awesome 'ups', and some downs. Things began to change with us immediately. Although there has been struggles, doubts, and tough days... for the most part we've taken a step towards the better that we were never able to before.

Now... I feel like it showed me the way to make the most of my life if I so choose it. I feel like the whole experience has grown into a deeper kind of love; one of deeper understanding, growth, spirituality, patience, self-wealth and love, and faith in life and in self. It was truly the stepping stone for me that really aligned all those good things in my life and made it become clear to me finally. I feel like I was asking for the way and the Secret came and showed it to me. Hype or not, I am truly greatful for everything it has done for me. Because I am so, deeply and truly happy now. And it took watching the Secret to know, to really believe, that I really did have it in me.

[Vicariously Yours]

Thanks, Dietrie...well said. I first heard about The Secret on a completely unrelated forum, and tried unsuccessfully to download it or to locate the DVD. Then I discovered this forum which went into considerable detail about LoA and IM. So by the time I finally saw The Secret, I knew quite a lot about the various philosophies on which it is based. I, too, was put off by the cheesy intro (and have concluded that the majority of nay-sayers seem to base their opinions on the intro, rather than the meat of the subject that follows). But I also noticed that there was considerable meat for those who had the ears to hear it. Strip away the cheesy packaging, and the message is the same quality inspirational instruction it has been for (I guess) centuries. And I am grateful for that instruction. It has changed my life.

I like Bill Maher. Too bad he seems to have missed the real message in The Secret. Too bad he has to trash it in public.

But then, the folks who believe the trash probably aren't the ones who would have succeeded with LoA anyway, given that it truly does require diligent work.

[Dharma]

I said this in another thread -- The Secret is just to get the idea of creating your own reality into the mass consciousness.

Another point, not everyone on Earth is here to ACTIVELY evolve their consciousness. A very small, small population will be doing that, consciously, and everyone else is here for the ride. So if people say it's crap, don't worry. Not everyone is supposed to accept it. Its purpose is to bring the idea of creatorship to the mass consciousness. That's enough right now.

Originally Posted by Rocket Surgery

Deepak Chopra was a guest on the panel, and he even referred to the notion as "ridiculous," which surprised me since he is a respected spokesperson for metaphysical theory.

Chopra is probably respected more than any of those in the Secret movie. Why would he say such a thing? Think he might know something they don't?

[dorothy hanna]

I didn't think the intro was cheeesy at all. It was very profound, and the movie was profound all the way through. I know it spoke of material things, but I thought it well balanced also speaking of The Secret to you, The secret to the world etc...Very inspiring.

Guess I am one of the very few with the eyes to see, and ears to hear.
I've been conciously working within the Law, for about 3 months, and my life is getting better every day, in everyway.

THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!!

[smartDad]

Visualization is effective to a certain extent. Of course your still have to work hard and make sacrifices to reach your dreams.

[Piercetheveil]

The secret was great marketing. I am with Bill M. I would make fun of it too.

So what?

Bill M. rocks. LOA rocks. What is the issue?

[Cado]

I think it deserves to be ridiculed. Well, everything is ripe for parody; I honestly don't think a bit of satire ever does any harm, people just take it too personally. So what I mean is that "The Secret" is feel-good fluff designed to appeal to the most gullible and desperate members of modern society. "Think and Grow Rich" is indeed a sound principle; you need to shift your mindset before you can accomplish much of anything, however, you won't merely visualize and get everything you want. Instead you'll calibrate your mind so that you're more aware of opportunities, you can create new opportunities, you can push through doubt and failure until you've achieved success, etc.

Sure, "The Secret" hints at some of that, and the book might go in-depth, but the movie is basically an infomercial for everyone who took part in it. Frankly I'd tell people to skip it and pick up "Think and Grow Rich" instead.

[OlderWiser]

Originally Posted by Rocket Surgery

The Secret as a "load of crap" that tries to convince people that they can get rich simply by "visualizing it."

Well, I can see his point. "The Secret" is pretty shallow and poorly presents the very deep concepts it's trying to explain. In my opinion, "The Secret" is pretty crappy. It's overproduced and lacks substance, and the book version is poorly written.

Originally Posted by Rocket Surgery

Deepak Chopra was a guest on the panel, and he even referred to the notion as "ridiculous," which surprised me since he is a respected spokesperson for metaphysical theory.

Well, I've read a lot of Chopra's books, and he's calling "The Secret" ridiculous. He's not saying the idea of reality creation is ridiculous. He couldn't, because he knows better.

Originally Posted by Rocket Surgery

I think that the negative feedback that is on the rise about LoA and The Secret is a direct result of how the so-called "teachers" of The Secret have been packaging the concept.

Agreed.

In my opinion, "The Secret" is to reality creation what Britney Spears is to music. It's lightweight, shallow, and more sizzle than steak. It's very visually appealing, yes, but it hasn't got much substance. It's no wonder people laugh at it (or take pictures of it going out to a club with no underpants, though I'm pretty sure "The Secret" hasn't done that; I do wonder if those infamous photos of Britney were the manifestation of millions of drooling fans' fantasies... )

BTW, I love your user name.

[missbhaven]

The suggestion that so many people have known "the secret" and have strived to keep it from the masses was very misleading. So many have tried to bring this knowledge to ordinary people, if not as a way of making money but as a road to happiness or contentment.

I remember this saying : They are not called secret teachings becuase they are hidden. It is because soo few understand them.

[Criseyde]

Anyone can ridicule the Secret all they want, but it obviously worked great for Rhonda Byrne.

[impaul99]

What is really accepted as "True" out there anyways?

Something as simple as Chiropractic medicine is ridiculed and called "Bogus" by most traditional doctors, yet there are hundreds of Chiropractic offices in the city I live in alone.

Each Chiropractor's office has hundreds if not thousands of clients who keep coming back, so obviously they experience benefits from the treatment.

I see the LoA no different from things like:
- Chiropractic care
- Martial Arts
- Quantum Science
- Psychic Abilities
- Reiki Healing
- Naturopathic Medicine
- Vitamins

For every person that believes in one of these things, I know a few that think they're "Bogus". I know people who think Martial Arts are totally bogus and that they wouldn't help you defend yourself in a "real fight" because they watched Karate Kid 1 and thought it looked fake.

Same thing with things like Vitamins. Science has proven that certain Vitamins help the body with certain things, but there are still people who think it's a bunch of crap.

The one thing I do find common with most people who think that things are bogus is that they haven't even tried it.

For example, I'll hear a conversation between two people in martial arts and one person will be bashing martial arts, but when I ask them if they've ever been to a martial arts class, or done any research on it, or trained in any martial arts they say No. They just judged it based on what they saw on TV.

Same with Vitamins. People will say they are useless, often stating something like "You just urinate all the stuff out anyways" or "There's already all the vitamins I need in my food", yet when I ask them if they've ever tried buying a good quality Multi-Vitamin product and taking it for 30 days to see how they feel, they say No.

It's the same thing with most of the things I listed above and hundreds of other things in life. Everyone's got an opinion, but 95% of the time they haven't even tried the thing they're bashing.

When I first learned about LoA I didn't believe in it right away. Why would I if I haven't tried it yet. But, I didn't bash it. Instead I tried it. I wanted to test it either way. So I tried using it in my life, my business etc. and it turned out to work for me, in really big ways.

Same with martial arts. I actually signed up for some classes and tried it.

Same with Psychic readings. I actually got Psychic readings done to see if there was any validity/accuracy to them.

The way I see it, there are 2 types of people out there:

(1) People who judge things based on personal experience or a well researched point of view.

(2) People who judge things based on their limited and often ignorant sense of "common sense" or "logic", or based on what they saw on TV or read in a Newspaper, with no personal experience at all.

I find that most skeptics fall in the #2 category and really I just mostly ignore them because they offer no valuable information, they just repeat what they heard or saw on TV.

I haven't seen the show, but the first question I would ask is if Bill Maher actually experimented with LoA and the concepts taught in The Secret personally or if he was simply given a topic for the show and told to bash it for ratings.

As far as Deepak Chopra is concerned, pretty much all of his books speak of concepts very similar to Law of Attraction, Synchronicity, Creating Abundance, Spontaneous Fulfillment of All Desire, etc.

[cylon]

Originally Posted by impaul99

I find that most skeptics fall in the #2 category and really I just mostly ignore them because they offer no valuable information, they just repeat what they heard or saw on TV.

I'm starting to feel the same way. It's such a relief to just let them be and not have to keep justifying your beliefs and (more importantly) personal experiences all the time.

Figure it's one of my "eggs". I'm starting to do this in my life in general. Why bother engaging people I know I'm just going to disagree with? It's nothing personal, they are a part of me after all, but there are a lot of parts of me, from my past, that I choose to not focus on because I am always becoming a new person.

I think I have just as much obligation to deal with the #2 people as I do with my past negative beliefs. I believe #2 people are physical manifestations OF my past negative beliefs, and not engaging them is an effective way to focus my vibration on what I DO want. And I can still do so in a loving, accepting, non-judgmental way.

I got no problem with contrast... but I am enjoying a different TYPE of contrast, these days.

Btw your analogy of comparing not believing in Martial Arts because Karate Kid looked cheesy to not believing in LOA because of the secret is true and equally hilarious.

[Mounds]

I also believe "The Secret" had it coming. A book like this is dangerous. Humans are not gods. Were just not. No matter how badly we want it. A bold statement maybe.
If we look back, there are many examples of reality punishing human beings for their hubris. Look at Timothy Treadwell. Convinced he could talk to bears. This man truly believed that he was a god. Ya, it worked for a while and then he got EATEN. Died a horrendous death.
Or Chris McCandless. Wandered into the Alaskan wilderness to escape from the confines of society. He considered himself to be above the rest. He starved, alone, in a bus. Died a horrendous death.
These were apparently impressionable people that could be alive today had they kept both feet on the ground. That's the danger of a book like this.
Why learn about money if the Law of Attraction will manifest it for me? Why excersise if the LOA will keep me from gaining weight?
It's not the LOA I have a problem with. Some interpretations are very good (like Illustro Cada talked about). But this supernatural version where thoughts set a chain of events into action is frightening. I'd hate to see a lot of people get their asses handed to them by reality.
Finally, if ever "The Secret" is truly proven, I swear on my grave that I will dedicate what's left of my life and finances to ending world hunger, war, poverty, child abuse and environmental destruction. Until then, I'll do what I can.

-Tim

[cylon]

Mounds all I can really say is that there is a lot of variety in this world, and there's room for lots of opinions. If you prefer a "non law of attraction" way of experiencing the world, more power to you.

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I'd hate to see a lot of people get their asses handed to them by reality.

As I've said before, I have no interest in or use for a world utterly devoid of (for lack of a better word coming to mind) magic, and would actually look forward eagerly to my oblivion in such. 'The Secret' wasn't my cup of tea, but I do still hold out hope that some form of 'acausal' IM exists and that I will witness it for myself. I've also experienced just barely enough weirdness to support my hope.

[Cado]

@Mounds: I believe thought is an incredibly powerful force and, indeed, magick is a real phenomena. However, when people think "magic" they think of something occurring with no effort on their part. Real magick requires discipline and years of practice, and then it usually doesn't manifest in the ways most would expect. It's subtle. You probably won't will a million dollars into your bank account, but you will have life-changing opportunities show up with seemingly no explanation, often when you least expect them.

Godhood is a good aim. What are human beings if they are not gods in training? Don't let the posers and the crazies put you off; you've got some major mojo, it's just a matter of tapping into it.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Mounds

Why learn about money if the Law of Attraction will manifest it for me? Why excersise if the LOA will keep me from gaining weight?

Have you read "The Science of Getting Rich"? You can get it as a free PDF online since it's in the public domain. That book teaches the "real" LoA I believe in, in it's complete form, unlike the "Introduction to LoA" that's taught in "The Secret".

If you read TSoGR, you'll see that nowhere in there does he say or advocate that "LoA will manifest money for you." YOU have to be the one that manifests it in your life through "Right Thinking" and "Right Action".

But this supernatural version where thoughts set a chain of events into action is frightening.

By thoughts setting off a chain of events in action, I assume you're referring to YOUR thoughts setting off a chain of events "out there", right? Like, you're not talking about not believing that thoughts are precursors to our own actions right?

Or do you not believe that your mind has to first conceive of something before taking action?

Finally, if ever "The Secret" is truly proven...

"The Secret" or LoA can never be proven "out there" for you. The only way to know for sure if LoA works and to prove it, is to prove it yourself.

For LoA to be proven TO YOU would actually in the same step prove that it doesn't work, because LoA states that like attracts like, so if your thinking right now is that LoA doesn't work, LoA will attract experiences, people, thoughts, etc. that align with the "LoA doesn't work" way of thinking you have.

It's kind of like saying "I want God to appear in front of me and prove to me that God doesn't exist." How can God appear in front of you and prove to you that he doesn't exist???

Same with LoA... LoA right now is attracting "evidence" in your life to support your current beliefs and "vibrational state", which is a state of not believing in LoA. LoA can't decide for you and show you proof of it's existance, until YOU decide that you're open minded enough to explore the possibility.

Meaning you have to have an attitude of "I would like to see evidence of LoA being true" in order to attract such evidence. Waiting for the world "out there" to prove it for you before you will accept it will never happen.

[Acting Like Godot]

Mounds isn't ready yet. You can feel his vibes.

He is at the level where the LOA works best for him, if it is taught to him as a simple self-motivational tool, and perhaps as a tool to train his mind to spot opportunities.

Not much more than that.

[cylon]

Something is obviously tempting him though, otherwise he wouldn't be here. I think many of our skeptical guests have been wanting our permission to explore it further, because their own worldview won't allow them that freedom.

I personally am going to do my best to not really get involved until I can tell someone is able to hear me though.

Otherwise I would be a preacher man, trying to get other people to believe like me. And I don't want that.

[Mounds]

Hi guys,

I got a bit rash in my last post and I apologize for that. The world is truly large enough for many opinions and I should respect that.

Regards, Tim

[cylon]

Originally Posted by Mounds

The world is truly large enough for many opinions and I should respect that.

Very healthy attitude to have.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by cylon

I think many of our skeptical guests have been wanting our permission to explore it further, because their own worldview won't allow them that freedom.

I usually find that I attract skeptics during times in my life where I'm overcoming skepticism in another area.

For example, right now I'm learning about Energy Healing and Psychic Development. One part of me believes in these things because I've had a lot of personal experiences that point to these things being true, but I know that I still have some buried, subconscious beliefs about something like Energy Healing.

I'm moving forward and learning about these things based on the assumption that they are real, in an open minded manner, but I still haven't fully integrated them into my day-to-day thinking.

I guess it would be similar to when Steve was living with Erin and knew her Psychic abilities were real (that she wasn't just making it up), but hadn't yet had his own experiences. THen when he had some Psychic experiences himself (Uncle's picture in kitchen cabinets incident for example), I'm sure his level of subconscious belief increased big time.

So, when I attract skeptics, I ask myself "Where in my life am I being skeptical and closed minded and not trusting what's right in front of my eyes based on subconscious assumptions, social conditioning, ignorant logic, or crap I've seen on TV?"

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by impaul99

So, when I attract skeptics, I ask myself "Where in my life am I being skeptical and closed minded and not trusting what's right in front of my eyes based on subconscious assumptions, social conditioning, ignorant logic, or crap I've seen on TV?"

It's nothing to do with TV, dear Paul.

2,500 years ago, TV didn't exist. And back then, Buddha already explained the how's and why's of the vast majority of human beings suffering from "ignorance of the true nature of reality".