7 Spiritual Rules to Live By

Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success outlines principles of spirituality that can be applied to our everyday lives for well being and success. Below, you will find summaries of all 7 rules and the steps you can take to follow them.

Rule #1: The Law of Pure Potentiality

This rule is all about discovering the power of the self. Applying this rule to your life means you realize that your true self is not the ego. You understand that titles and objects are not true representations of who you are. There is an understanding of a deeper or higher consciousness that lives in all of us and everything around us, unifying all things. By coming to believe this is true, Deepak says, you access balance and an endless reservoir of creativity.

1. Practice silent meditation at least twice a day for 30 minutes at a time.
2. Take time to be in nature and appreciate the consciousness in everything.
3. Practice non-judgement of others and of yourself.

Rule #2: The Law of Giving

Here, Deepak discusses how the universe operates through dynamic exchange. Everything is give and take. The application of this rule involves the realization that you get out from the world what you put into it. What is vital to keep in mind, however, is that your intention when giving is just as important, if not more, than the actual gift. Give with unconditional love, joy, and positivity and you will find it all returned to you.

1. Give a gift wherever you go and to whoever you meet. A gift could be a physical object, a compliment, or even a prayer.
2. Be open and grateful to the gifts you receive from nature and others.
3. . Keep true wealth circulating by giving and receiving care, affection, appreciation, and love.

Rule #3: The Law of Karma

We have all heard about karma before. This rule takes a slightly different approach, however, and focuses more on the act of conscious decision making. To apply this rule you need to realize that ever decision you make has consequences for you and for those around you. Even your reaction to somebody else’s actions or words is a decision you need to consciously make. Ask your true self before taking any action, big or small, what the consequences will be and will this bring joy to yourself and others. A positive answer to both those questions will help move you forward.

1. Be consciously aware of all choices you make every moment.
2. Ask yourself when making a choice “what are the consequences?” and “will this bring fulfillment and happiness to me and others?”.
3. When making spontaneous decisions, ask your heart for guidance and follow it.

Rule #4: The Law of Least Effort

You can think of this as the principle of the path of least resistance. Nature gives us great examples of plants and animals finding ways to expend the least amount of energy to obtain their goals. Deepak discusses how the ego feeds off of energy to gain power, control, and wealth for personal gain alone. By focusing on the wants of your ego, you are actually draining yourself. He says that we should instead get in touch with our true selves and use love as the motivation for our actions.

1. Practice total and complete acceptance of people, events, and circumstances. Understand that everything in this moment is as it should be, because the universe is as it should be. Do not struggle against the universe.
2. Take responsibility for the moment and anything you see as a problem, not by blaming others or even yourself, by being alert to all possibilities and opportunities.
3. Be defenseless with your point of view. Know that you do not need to defend or convince others and that you should remain open and flexible to all points of view.

Rule #5: The Law of Intention and Desire

Attention and intention are the two factors involved in making conscious change. As Deepak puts its, “your intent is for the future, but your attention is in the present”. You must accept the present as it is and not struggle against. Realize that your future is created in the present. Another way to look at it is that by focusing completely on the present, future problems and anxieties will not exist. Those are created in your head anyways, which distracts you from the present. By remembering your intention as you are fully giving attention to the present, you will help generate the intended result in the future.

1. Make a list of all your desires and refer back to it during the day, before meditation, and before sleep.
2. Surrender this list with the understanding that if things don’t go your way, there is a reason.
3. Be present in every moment, fully accepting it. Manifest the future through your deep intentions and desires.

Rule #6: The Law of Detachment

Attachment to objects, goals, situations, and people is driven by a neediness of the ego. By being in touch with your true self, your get rid of the fears and insecurities of the ego. This also opens you up to the realm of uncertainty where there are endless possibilities. You still set goals, but you don’t become married to a specific way of achieving them. Allowing for this uncertainty also provides you with more flexibility if, along the way to one goal, you realize there might be something more exciting in a different direction. When you are alert and aware that every moment could hold a myriad of opportunities, you set yourself up for success. The success happens when your preparedness meets opportunity.

1. Commit yourself to detachment by not trying to rigidly impose your idea of how things should be on others or on yourself.
2. Realize uncertainty is essential to life. Within uncertainty there are endless possibilities and opportunities.
3. When you open yourself up to all possibilities, you allow yourself to fully experience the fun and adventure of life.

Rule #7: The Law of Dharma

Dharma is Sanskrit for “purpose in life” Everyone has a unique talent and way of expressing that talent. In order to live by this rule, we must first come to realize that our true self is a spiritual self. We must then find our unique talents. Finally, we must figure out a way to express that talent in a way that benefits humanity and our world. By doing these three things, with positive and loving intentions, Deepak argues we can achieve true wealth and abundance.

1. Get in touch with the stillness inside of you and your true spiritual self.
2. Make a list of your unique talents and how you enjoy expressing them.
3. Ask yourself every day “How can I help?” instead of “What is in it for me?” so you can figure out how to use your talents to serve humanity.

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I found Deepak Chopra’s book (available on Amazon) to be very insightful and thought provoking. I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself as he goes into deeper detail and provides further explanation than what I have outlined above.

All 7 principles feed into each other. According to Deepak, by actively leading a life that incorporate all seven of these rules, you will be able to live a truly fulfilling life.

Regardless of religious affiliations or personal beliefs, I think we can all agree that this is how to live our best lives:

Be mindful and fully aware of the present moment. Act and speak from a place of kindness, love, compassion, and understanding. Make sure your goals and dreams are truly yours and not that of your ego. Be open to the endless possibilities life has to offer. Do your best to serve and better humanity.