The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success [DVD Rip]

The visual complement to his 1994 book of the same name, Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success provides adherents with the same kind of inspiration and advice that have made the New Delhi-born doctor and writer's work so popular. Whether it will sway those who consider Chopra more charlatan than guru, however, is another matter. To be sure, there's much to be said for the virtues of cultivating one's consciousness, which Chopra describes as "a faculty more powerful and reliable than the five senses." In fact, much is said about it here, often by some familiar faces, including singer Olivia Newton-John (who also provided much of the music for the DVD), actor-director Bill Duke, musician Dave Stewart of the band Eurythmics, and professional golfer Tina Mickelson. Their testimonials, while varying in specifics, all have the same essential theme: only after they'd reached their lowest ebb (breast cancer for Newton-John, a car accident for Stewart, drug problems for Duke) were they able to "tap into the power of their inner beings" and realize their full potential. That's where the Seven Spiritual Laws come in. Some contain considerable wisdom; the fourth (called "The Law of Least Effort") recommends acceptance and responsibility as alternatives to blaming others, while the sixth ("The Law of Detachment") suggests that relinquishing one's obsession with a particular goal will make it more likely to happen. Others are frustratingly vague; learning to "efficiently, effortlessly co-create with the universe" or to be "grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty" is all well and good, but in the absence of practical steps it comes off as vapid New Age speak. Overall, the DVD is well-produced, mixing interviews with the principals (Chopra included) with some lovely cinematography and several sequences that combine live action (mostly featuring Newton-John) with imaginative, computer-generated landscapes and interiors. The package contains a 16-page "study guide" along with the DVD. –Sam Graham