The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes

There you go: Balance + Transformation + Power + Love + Creativity + Intention + Transcendence.

The book is organized around these laws. Let’s check out how some of those come to life!

As Deepak tells us, superheroes are willing to leave the comforts of the known in service to the higher good.

That’s powerful stuff.

Reminds me of Eric Butterworth’s wisdom from Spiritual Economics (see Notes): “The word secure comes from two small Latin words: se meaning ‘without’ and cure meaning ‘care’—being without care, freedom from anxiety. Victor Hugo articulates this very special sense in this lovely couplet:

Be like the bird
That pausing in her flight
While on boughs too slight,
Feels them give way
Beneath her, and yet sings,
Knowing she hath wings.”

Love it.

So, to re-cap: To be truly secure is to be without care—to have freedom from anxiety.

Moving on, this is such a *great* line: “Superheroes do what needs to be done with impeccability and the highest motivation for the greatest good and leave the results to the unknown. Their focus is on the action, not the fruits of the action.”

All the great teachers and wisdom traditions echo this goodness.

We’ve gotta show up, take our impeccable baby steps as we do our best day-in-and-day-out and then let the results take care of themselves.

In fact, “The Law of Detachment” is the sixth spiritual law in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Here’s how Deepak puts it in that book: “The Law of Detachment says that in order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This doesn’t mean that you give up the intention to create your desire. You don’t give up the intention, and you don’t give up the desire. You give up your attachment to the result.”

And: “The moment you relinquish your attachment to the result, combining one- pointed intention with detachment at the same time, you will have that which you desire.”

How’s YOUR attachment?

Are you showing up with impeccability and the highest motivation for the greatest good then letting the results take care of themselves?

Or…

Are you obsessing about getting what you want and stressing about the outcomes while failing to show up?

Here’s to rockin’ it!!

The superhero doesn’t whine and whimper during the most challenging times.

Nope.

For the hero, the most challenging times are a call to action.

How ‘bout you?

How do YOU respond to challenges?

Do you want to pull the blanket over your head and call it a day when the alarm goes off in the morning?

Or, do you want to head to the closet to put on your cape and go out and rock it? :)

Here’s to seeing the global challenges we’re facing as a CALL TO ACTION. Not as a call to complain, criticize and throw our hands up in despair.

That’s amazing.

To re-cap: When we’re connected to the highest within ourselves:

• We are immune to criticism but open to feedback
• We radiate with a fearlessness and readiness to rock it
• We let go of the need for approval
• We empower others by allowing them to be themselves

I like it.

The bodhisattva.

I just love the concept of moving beyond one’s personal enlightenment to serve others and I never knew that the word bodhisattva translated as “heroic-minded one.”

Makes sense though.

Joseph Campbell, who articulated the concept of the “hero’s journey” tells us that the truly heroic act isn’t just following your bliss in pursuit of your personal holy grail. It’s all about “bringing the boon” back bodhisattva-style.

Here’s how Campbell puts it in Pathways to Bliss (see Notes): “The whole idea is that you’ve got to bring out again that which you went to recover, the unrealized, unutilized potential in yourself. The whole point of this journey is the reintroduction of this potential into the world; that is to say, to you living in the world. You are to bring this treasure of understanding back and integrate it in a rational life. It goes without saying, this is very difficult. Bringing the boon back can be even more difficult than going down into your own depths in the first place.”

Powerful stuff.

Let’s remember that the superhero is the one who brings the boon back!!

P.S. For a full treatise on the mojo of the bodhisattva check out The Way of the Bodhisattva—and our Notes on it!

* queue chorus of singing angels! *

Superheroes LIVE their ideals.

As we discuss throughout these Notes, the world needs DEMONSTRATION more than it needs INSTRUCTION.

We’ve gotta remember that talking about these ideas is *rudimentary* while actually living them is the advanced stuff!

Couple other things come to mind here.

First, Emerson’s wisdom: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

And, the Buddha’s wisdom: “Like a lovely flower full of color but lacking in fragrance, are the words of those who do not practice what they teach.”

Here’s to LIVING our truths and being a shining example of what’s possible as we make a true difference in the world!

As you know, it’s REALLY easy to get all geeked up about an awesome idea.

And then drop the ball.

As Deepak tells us, superheroes understand that creativity is not an *impulse* it’s a PROCESS. Huge difference. Check out the book for a detailed look at how to rock the nine specific steps of the Law of Creativity.

For now, remember that it’s all about the creative process. And, let’s chew on this wisdom from Mary-Elaine Jacobsen’s great book The Gifted Adult (see Notes): “The difference between a creative person and a creative producer is hard work.”

That makes it easy, eh?

→ How can I be of service?

The question of superheroes. :)

Deepak’s questions are *amazing.*

Clarifying our vision is just like working out. We’ve gotta show up consistently. I GUARANTEE you that if you consistently ask yourself these types of questions your life will profoundly change for the better. So, let’s bust out our journals and take a moment to reflect on this goodness. :)

What do you want to create?

What do you really want? Why do you want it? And, will it serve a higher purpose for humanity?

Eknath Easwaran echoes this wisdom in Conquest of Mind (see Notes) where he says: “To fail to live up to this challenge, my spiritual teacher used to say, is simply being irresponsible. This is not asking for perfection but merely expecting us to do our best to grow. If we do not do this much, we are depriving life of a contribution that only we can make. Spiritual living is responsible living. I am responsible not only for myself but for all of you, just as all of you are responsible for each other and for me.”

And, here’s how Steven Pressfield puts it in his must-read The War of Art (see Notes): “Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you got.”