>> TODAY ON
"SUPER SOUL SUNDAY"...
>> QUIET ON THE SET, PLEASE.
>> QUIET, PLEASE. WE'RE ROLLING.
>> I READ HIS BOOK, LOVED IT.
SO I CALLED HIM UP.
MICHAEL SINGER.
NEVER DONE A TELEVISION
INTERVIEW EVER?
>> ONLY FOR YOU.
>> THIS IS EXCITING.
THE ELUSIVE AUTHOR OF ONE OF MY
NEW FAVORITE BOOKS
"THE UNTETHERED SOUL."
OH, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL YOU ALL
READ IT.
IT'S BY MICHAEL SINGER.
HE'S HERE TO HELP US ALL FIND A
GREATER SENSE OF INNER PEACE BY
SHUTTING DOWN THE VOICE THAT
WON'T SHUT UP.
>> COME FROM A SPACE OF PEACE,
AND YOU'LL FIND THAT YOU CAN
DEAL WITH ANYTHING.
>> THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S GOOD.
>> DID Y'ALL GET THAT?
>> IT'S SOMETHING HE SAYS HE
LEARNED FIRSTHAND.
YOU WERE INDICTED SEVERAL YEARS
AGO.
EMBROILED IN A CORPORATE
SCANDAL, INVESTIGATED BY THE
GOVERNMENT...
WERE YOU INNOCENT?
...MICHAEL SINGER WAS FORCED TO
FACE THE ULTIMATE TEST.
>> I FELT GOD WAS REACHING DOWN
TO PULL WHATEVER WAS LEFT OF MY
EGO OUT.
>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
SPIRITUAL LESSONS I'VE HEARD IN
A LONG TIME.
YOU NEVER SAID, "OH, GOD, WHY
ME?
OH, MY GOD, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
TO ME?"
JOIN ME AND MICHAEL SINGER FOR
HIS CANDID AND ENLIGHTENING
FIRST TELEVISION INTERVIEW EVER.
>> THAT WAS A GIFT TO ME.
PLUS, WE'LL GET DOWN WITH A
BRAND-NEW SHORT FILM FROM
SoulPankcake.
"SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" STARTS RIGHT
NOW.
>> I WANTED A PLACE FOR PEOPLE
TO GO EVERY SUNDAY TO WAKE UP.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING...
OH, YOU COULDN'T HAVE SAID
THAT BETTER.
...EYE-OPENING AND INSPIRING.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING TO
TALK ABOUT.
THIS WILL LIFT YOU RIGHT ON UP.
IT'S FOOD FOR YOUR SOUL.
EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY.
WHOO!
THIS IS "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY."
DESCRIBED BY THE MEDIA AS
INTENSELY PRIVATE,
MICHAEL SINGER IS KNOWN FOR TWO
VERY DIFFERENT ROLES.
HE'S THE FOUNDER OF A
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SOFTWARE
COMPANY, AND HE'S A SPIRITUAL
AUTHOR.
I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO
MICHAEL THROUGH HIS BEAUTIFUL
LITTLE BOOK CALLED
"THE UNTETHERED SOUL."
IT'S BY MY BEDSTAND RIGHT NOW.
HE WRITES ABOUT HOW HE FOUND
INNER PEACE AND HAPPINESS AND
SAYS ANY ONE OF US CAN DO IT,
TOO.
THIS IS WHAT'S SO EXCITING HERE
ON "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY."
MY GUEST TODAY JUST TOLD ME HE
HAS NEVER DONE TELEVISION
AT ALL?
>> I HAVE NOT DONE TELEVISION.
>> NEVER DONE A TELEVISION
INTERVIEW EVER?
>> ONLY FOR YOU.
>> ONLY FOR ME.
>> ONLY 'CAUSE YOU ASKED.
OTHERWISE, I SAY NO EVERY TIME
I WAS INVITED.
>> WELL, LET ME JUST TELL YOU
HOW THIS CAME TO BE.
DID I TELL YOU THIS ALREADY, HOW
THIS CAME TO BE?
>> NO.
>> THAT I DISCOVERED YOUR BOOK.
I HAD ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN
GIRLFRIENDS AT MY RANCH IN MAUI.
I HAVE THE BLESSING OF HAVING A
LOVELY RANCH SPACE IN MAUI.
AND FOR MY BIRTHDAY, AT THE END
OF THIS WONDERFUL THREE OR FOUR
DAYS, SOMEONE HANDED ME
PEGGY FITZSIMMONS LEFT ON THE
KITCHEN TABLE
"THE UNTETHERED SOUL," THIS
LOVELY BOOK.
I THOUGHT, "OH, OKAY."
AND THEN I SAW DEEPAK'S NOTES,
LINER NOTES "READ THIS BOOK
CAREFULLY, AND YOU WILL GET MORE
THAN A GLIMPSE OF ETERNITY."
I LIKE THAT.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND THE VERY IDEA, THE
UNTETHERED SOUL SO, I
THOUGHT, "GEE, WHAT IS THAT, THE
UNTETHERED SOUL?"
SO, I STARTED READING IT.
FIRST, PART ONE IS ABOUT
AWAKENING CONSCIOUSNESS, WHICH
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ON THE
"OPRAH" SHOW AND DID A 10-PART
SERIES WITH ECKHART TOLLE ON THE
WEB IN 2008.
AND WHAT I REALIZED IS THAT
THERE ARE MANY PATHS IN TO
UNDERSTAND THIS WAY OF
CONSCIOUSNESS.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT IN THE VERY
FIRST CHAPTER THE VOICE IN YOUR
HEAD.
AND YOU DESCRIBED IT IN SUCH
GREAT TERMS.
I STARTED READING.
I DIDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN.
YOU KNOW, LUCKILY, I HAD, YOU
KNOW, ENOUGH TIME ON THAT
PARTICULAR DAY.
AND I'VE NOW SHARED IT WITH I
CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE
AND COULDN'T WAIT TO BE ABLE TO
SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> THAT'S EXCITING.
>> YEAH.
SO, WHAT IS THE VOICE INSIDE
OUR HEAD?
>> WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE
LISTEN TO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE THINK IT'S
US.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU LOOK AT A
VASE, AND IT SAYS, "THAT'S A
VERY INTERESTING SHAPE, BUT I
DON'T REALLY LIKE THE COLOR
THAT MUCH.
IT REMINDS ME OF MY
GRANDMOTHER'S VASE."
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE
SOMEBODY NARRATING AND TALKING
INSIDE OUR HEAD.
THAT'S NOT YOU, RIGHT?
>> THOSE ARE ALL YOUR THOUGHTS
ABOUT THE VASE.
>> AND MORE AND MORE, AS I
WATCHED THAT, I REALIZED IT
NEVER SHUTS UP, THAT IT TALKS
ABOUT EVERYTHING, IT JUDGES
EVERYTHING, IT THINKS ABOUT
EVERYTHING.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
IN THE EARLY '70s,
MICHAEL SINGER WAS A YOUNG
ECONOMICS STUDENT STUDYING FOR
HIS DOCTORATE.
SITTING WITH A FRIEND ONE DAY,
HE NOTICED A LULL IN THEIR
CONVERSATION, AND IN THAT QUIET
LITTLE LULL MOMENT, HE BECAME
AWARE OF THE THOUGHTS THAT WERE
RUNNING THROUGH HIS HEAD.
HE REALIZED THAT THAT VOICE,
THAT INCESSANT VOICE THAT
EXPRESSES WORRIES AND DOUBTS AND
ANXIETIES WAS NOT REALLY HIM,
BUT HE WAS THE OBSERVER OF THE
VOICE.
THAT INNER DIALOGUE WAS AN
EXPRESSION OF HIS PSYCHE, NOT
HIS SOUL, AND THAT WAS THE
BEGINNING OF HIS AWAKENING.
>> AND THAT WAS MY PATH.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY
PATH.
>> SO, WHAT HAPPENED ACTUALLY
IN THAT MOMENT, NOW THAT YOU CAN
DESCRIBE?
I KNOW ECKHART TOLLE HAS SAID
THAT THAT IS THE AWARENESS, THAT
YOUR VOICE THE AWARENESS OF
THE THOUGHTS OR THE AWARENESS OF
THE VOICE INSIDE YOUR HEAD IS
WHERE CONSCIOUSNESS RESIDES.
AND THAT IS WHO WE REALLY ARE.
>> YES.
>> SO, THAT'S WHAT YOU CAME TO.
>> YES.
>> THAT WAS YOUR OPEN DOOR TO
THE PATH TO UNDERSTANDING
YOURSELF AS A SPIRITUAL BEING
INSIDE A PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY.
>> WITH A MIND.
>> AND ISN'T THIS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING EVER?
>> PERIOD.
>> BAR NONE.
THIS IS THE ROAD TO THE
SPIRITUAL PATH, IS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL BEING.
AND THE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THAT
YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL BEING IS TO
KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALL THOSE
THOUGHTS.
>> THAT'S THE KEY, RIGHT?
'CAUSE SO FAR WE CAN'T SAY WHAT
YOU ARE BECAUSE THAT'S A
THOUGHT, RIGHT?
JUST YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE
THOUGHT.
WHY? 'CAUSE I'M WATCHING IT.
>> YES.
>> YOU ARE THERE WATCHING THESE
THOUGHTS.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY TO ME,
"BUT WHICH OF THOSE ARE ME?"
NONE OF THEM ARE YOU.
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S WATCHING.
>> OKAY, SO, I GOT THIS I'VE
SHARED THIS.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE.
WHEN I WAS INDIA, I GOT IT
REALLY CLEARLY.
I MEAN, I'D UNDERSTOOD IT
THROUGH ECKHART.
I'D UNDERSTOOD IT THROUGH
TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION.
I WAS IN INDIA EARLIER THIS
YEAR, AND THERE WAS A YOGI WHO
WAS LEADING ME THE MEDITATION.
AND IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF US.
AND HE HAD ME HE SAID, YOU
KNOW, "CLOSE YOUR EYES, AND NOW
I'M GOING TO NAME DIFFERENT
OBJECTS."
AND ONE WAS A RED TRIANGLE AND
ONE WAS THE MOON AND ONE WAS,
YOU KNOW, A WHITE PICKET PENCE
AND WHATEVER, ALL THESE OBJECTS.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, "HOLD ON
TO THE OBJECTS IN YOUR MIND, AND
THEN WHEN I NAME THE NEXT
OBJECT, LET IT GO."
WHAT I REALIZED IN THAT
CONSCIOUS MOMENT WAS THAT THAT'S
WHAT'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME.
RED TRIANGLES AND PICKET FENCES
AND CHAIRS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT
EVERYTHING ARE COMING IN, AND
YOU CAN LET THOSE THOUGHTS
"I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
I LOST MY JOB.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HE LEFT ME.
I CAN'T BELIEVE MY KIDS DID
THAT."
>> THEY'RE THOUGHTS.
>> THEY ARE NOT YOU.
SO, HOW DO WE BEGIN TO SEPARATE
OURSELF FROM THE THOUGHTS?
THAT'S THE QUESTION.
>> RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE KEY.
WHAT I LOVE THAT YOU SAID IS
THAT REALLY IS THE BEGINNING OF
SPIRITUALITY...
>> THAT IS.
>> ...BECAUSE TO SEPARATE WHAT
YOU'RE NOT FROM WHAT YOU ARE
IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU'RE
GONNA STAY LOST.
THE SELF IS SPIRITUAL.
THE ONE WHO'S WATCHING IS THE
GATEWAY TO SPIRITUALITY.
SO, IF YOU CONTINUE TO JUST GET
INVOLVED IN THE MIND, IN
THOUGHTS OF THE MIND, THE TRUE
SPIRITUAL PATH DOESN'T TAKE
PLACE.
>> IN "THE UNTETHERED SOUL,"
MICHAEL SINGER ENCOURAGES US TO
ASK OURSELVES THE ULTIMATE BIG
QUESTION "WHO AM I?" AND
THE OTHER "WHAT IS THAT VOICE
IN MY HEAD?"
HE SAYS ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS
IS A KEY STEP TOWARD SPIRITUAL
DEVELOPMENT.
SO, YOU ASK THIS BIG, WONDERFUL
QUESTION, "WHO ARE YOU?"
"WHO ARE YOU?"
AND THE ANSWER, WHEN I ASK YOU
THAT QUESTION, IS...?
>> AT THIS STAGE OF MY GROWTH,
WHO I AM IS THE ONE WHO'S IN
HERE WHO NOTICES THE THOUGHTS
COME UP, WHO NOTICES THE
EMOTIONS COME OUT OF THE HEART,
AND WHO SEES WHATEVER IS IN
FRONT OF MY SENSES.
I AM THE SEER.
I AM THE ONE WHO SEES.
>> THE ONE WHO SEES.
>> OKAY.
AND YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT THE
LUCID SELF.
>> YES.
>> WHAT IS THE LUCID SELF?
>> THE EXAMPLE WE USE IN THE
BOOK IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE A
LUCID DREAM IN WHICH SOME
PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT, THAT
INSTEAD YOU'RE LOST IN YOUR
DREAM, SOMETIMES YOU KNOW YOU'RE
DREAMING.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD ONE OF THOSE?
>> OH, I LOVE IT.
>> THAT YOU'RE AWARE THAT YOU'RE
DREAMING.
>> YEAH.
AND THEN I'VE THEM TO THE POINT
WHERE I THINK, "I'M GONNA GET
OUT THIS DREAM."
>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> YES.
>> SO, YOU ARE THEN MORE
CONSCIOUS IN THAT DREAM THAN YOU
NORMALLY WOULD BE, RIGHT, 'CAUSE
YOU'RE AWAKE.
IN A SENSE, YOU'RE AWAKE WITHIN
THE DREAM.
>> YES.
>> THAT IS WHAT THE LUCID SELF
IS.
AND NOW DO THAT IN YOUR REAL
LIFE, THAT YOUR MIND IS
CONTINUING, LIFE IS FOLLOWING IN
FRONT OF YOU, BUT YOU ARE AWARE
THAT YOUR MIND IS MOVING, THAT
THE WORLD IS UNFOLDING, BUT YOUR
SEAT OF CONSCIOUSNESS IS
TRANSCENDENT TO THAT.
IT'S CENTERED AT DEEPER LEVEL,
AND ALL OF IT JUST GOES RIGHT
BY.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME
RELATIONSHIP WITH IT YOU USED TO
HAVE.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE WATCHING,
NOT SOMETHING YOU ARE.
>> SOMETHING YOU'RE WATCHING,
NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE.
AND I WOULD SAY YOU JUST, I
THINK, AGREED WITH ME THAT, FOR
EVERYBODY WHO IS SEEKING,
WHO'S SEEKING THIS PATH OF
OPENING THEMSELVES UP TO BEING
ABLE TO LIVE A DEEPER, MORE
ENRICHED LIFE THAT
UNDERSTANDING THAT CONCEPT IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
>> YES.
>> YEAH.
>> PERIOD.
>> THAT'S IT, PERIOD.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH THE OTHER
REALLY GOOD STUFF, REALLY GOOD,
IN A MOMENT.
COMING UP, THE SECRET TO FINDING
JOY AND INNER PEACE.
MAYBE IT'S NOT AS HARD AS WE ALL
THINK.
ISN'T THAT WHY WE ARE ALL HERE,
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT?
>> WE MAKE IT HARD, BUT IT'S
ACTUALLY VERY, VERY EASY.
>> AND LATER, HOW MICHAEL SINGER
AND HIS SPIRIT SURVIVED A
CORPORATE SCANDAL.
WERE YOU INNOCENT?
"SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" WILL BE
RIGHT BACK.
>> SO, IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US
ON "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY," THERE A
FEW BOOKS OVER THE YEARS,
SPIRITUAL BOOKS, BY SPIRITUAL
TEACHERS, THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN
STAPLES FOR OPENING THE HEART
SPACE FOR ME, WHICH IS HOW I
DEFINE SPIRITUALITY.
AND I WOULD TELL ANYBODY WHO IS
LOOKING FOR A MORE DEEPENED,
ENRICHED, FULFILLING LIFE AND
LOOKING TO CHANGE YOUR
PERCEPTION OF WHO YOU ARE AND
LOOKING FOR MIRACLES TO OCCUR
REGULARLY THIS IS THE GIFT.
I'VE GIVEN IT TO EVERYBODY,
SO...
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M RUNNING OUT OF PEOPLE
TO GIVE IT TO.
SO NOW I'M JUST SHARING IT WITH
THE WORLD, AS I CAN.
IT IS CALLED
"THE UNTETHERED SOUL."
YOU SAY, "IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
GROW, REAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH
HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS ONLY ONE
OF YOU INSIDE.
THERE'S NOT A PART THAT'S
SCARED AND ANOTHER PART THAT'S
PROTECTING THE PART THAT'S
SCARED.
ALL PARTS ARE UNIFIED BECAUSE
THERE IS NO PART OF YOU THAT
YOU'RE NOT WILLING SEE."
>> YES.
>> THAT'S WHAT BEING A WHOLE
PERSON IS, ISN'T IT?
>> THAT'S TRUE INTEGRITY
YOU'RE INTEGRATED AS A BEING.
>> WOW.
ISN'T THAT WHY WE ARE ALL HERE,
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT?
>> YES.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT IT'S EASY.
WE MAKE IT HARD, BUT IT'S
ACTUALLY VERY, VERY EASY.
>> I LOVE THIS, TOO FOR
EVERYBODY WHO'S ON THE SPIRITUAL
PATH, OPENING UP YOUR HEART
"ONCE YOU'VE MADE THE COMMITMENT
TO FREE YOURSELF OF THE SCARED
PERSON INSIDE, YOU WILL NOTICE
THAT THERE IS A CLEAR DECISION
POINT AT WHICH YOUR GROWTH TAKES
PLACE.
YOU JUST NOTICE SOMETHING STARTS
TO CHANGE.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS ABOUT THE
POINT AT WHICH YOU START TO FEEL
YOUR ENERGY CHANGE."
>> YES.
>> YEAH.
>> SO, BASICALLY, AN EVENT IS
HAPPENING OUTSIDE.
YOU'RE TALKING TO SOMEBODY,
ENJOYING A CONVERSATION, AND ALL
OF A SUDDEN THEY SAY SOMETHING
THAT HITS SOMETHING INSIDE OF
YOU, A SOFT SPOT.
AND YOUR WHOLE MIND YOUR
HEART STARTS TO CLOSE.
YOUR MIND STARTS TO FIGURE OUT,
"WHY DID THEY SAY THAT?
DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG?"
AND YOU GO SOUTH.
[ LAUGHS ]
OR YOU GO SOMEWHERE, RIGHT?
>> AND YOU NOTICE YOURSELF
STARTING TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT
REACTION.
AND SO AT THAT MOMENT YOU HAVE
TO DECIDE, "DO I WANT TO SOLVE
THIS?
DOES THIS NEED TO BE SOLVED, AND
DO I NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT?
OR AM I WILLING TO JUST RELAX
AND LET IT PASS?
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT
CHAPTER "LET GO OR FALL"?
>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT NOW.
>> YES, BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING
COMES IN TO DISTURB YOU, IF YOU
DON'T LET IT PASS RIGHT THROUGH
YOU, YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT
WILL THE ENERGY OF IT WILL
DRAG YOU DOWN INTO IT, AND THEN
YOU BECOME YOU THINK YOU
BECOME THAT THING.
SO, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO
WHEN PROBLEMS SHOW UP?
>> THE MOMENT IT STARTS WITH
THAT CHITTER-CHATTER
>> YOUR MIND.
>> MY MIND MY FIRST REACTION
INSIDE IS TO RELAX AND LEAN AWAY
FROM THAT.
>> TO GO TO THE SEAT OF SELF.
>> YOU CAN USE WORDS.
I JUST RELAX AND LEAN AWAY FROM
IT, RIGHT?
YES, IT'S TRUE.
YOU END UP LEANING INTO THE SEAT
OF SELF, BUT I LEAN AWAY FROM
THE NOISE THE MIND IS MAKING.
>> AND BY "SEAT OF SELF," I MEAN
THAT AWARENESS THAT THAT IS MY
MIND SPEAKING.
>> YES.
>> UH-HUH.
>> SO, YOU'RE GONNA DO ONE OF
TWO THINGS ONCE IT STARTS.
YOU'RE EITHER GONNA LEAN INTO IT
AND GET INVOLVED IT'LL PULL
YOU IN OR YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO RELAX AND LEAN AWAY.
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS
START TO GET SOME SPACE.
AND YOU WILL LEARN OVER TIME
THAT THAT'S THE SMARTEST THING
YOU EVER DID.
WHY?
BECAUSE YOU GAVE IT ROOM TO PASS
THROUGH.
AND IT WILL PASS RIGHT THROUGH.
>> NOW, DID THIS COME TO YOU
OVER TIME?
YOU LEARNED THIS OVER TIME.
I KNOW I'VE READ YOUR STORY.
YOU WENT TO GURUS.
YOU SAT ALONE. YOU MEDITATED.
YOU BECAME ALMOST A RECLUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR MOST OF US,
THAT'S NOT THE PATH WE WANT TO
TAKE.
>> GOOD.
>> WE JUST "GOOD."
YOU SAY "GOOD."
WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO
AND I SAY "WE," SPEAKING FOR
MYSELF I WANT TO BE ABLE TO
BE CONNECTED TO THAT SEAT OF THE
SELF THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHERE
GOD FLOWS THROUGH...
>> YES.
>> ...THE POWER OF GOD FLOWS
THROUGH.
HOW DO WE BEGIN TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN FOR OURSELVES?
>> SO, BECAUSE I DID ALL OF THAT
AND TRIED ALL OF THAT, I AM SO
PROUD TO COME BACK AND TELL YOU,
NO, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.
IN FACT, DON'T DO IT.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET TO THE
POINT ON YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
EVERY MOMENT OF LIFE IS A
SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT.
>> YES, I DO.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE ON
"SUPER SOUL SUNDAY."
>> AND THE REASON IT BECOMES A
SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IS BECAUSE
YOU'VE REALIZED YOU ARE CAUSING
THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR OWN
PROBLEMS DUE TO YOUR MENTAL
REACTIONS.
SO, AS LIFE UNFOLDS ON A DAILY
BASIS, HAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO
CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT.
YOU CAN STILL GO TO WORK.
YOU STILL TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS.
YOU JUST LEAN AWAY FROM THIS
MESS THAT THE MIND IS DOING TO
AMPLIFY AND OVEREMPHASIZE,
OVEREXAGGERATE WHATEVER'S GOING
ON.
>> AND THEN WHAT DO WE DO?
LEAN INTO WHAT THAT AWARENESS IS
SAYING?
>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, WHEN YOU
LET GO OF THE NOISY MIND, YOU
WILL END UP IN A SEAT OF QUIET,
WHICH I KNOW YOU LOVE TO TALK
ABOUT.
YOU'LL END UP IN A SEAT OF
QUIET 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS
BACK THERE.
IT'S QUIET.
>> STILLNESS.
>> THE STILLNESS, RIGHT?
AND MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT NOW
YOU CAN LOOK AT REALITY, AND YOU
WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO.
JUST THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE YOU ALL THIS STATIC, RIGHT,
MEANS THE QUIET ONE WHO'S CLEAR
WILL LOOK AT REALITY, AND IT
WILL BE PRETTY OBVIOUS WHAT IT
IS FOR YOU TO DEAL WITH.
>> YES.
ULTIMATELY I THINK WHAT WE'RE
ALL SEEKING, EVEN WHEN WE DON'T
KNOW IT WHEN I WOULD ASK
PEOPLE ON THE SHOW FOR YEARS,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" EVERYBODY
WOULD SAY THEY WANT HAPPINESS.
BUT AREN'T WE ALL ULTIMATELY
SEEKING FREEDOM?
>> YES.
WE'RE SEEKING A STATE OF
ABSOLUTE WELL-BEING, AND THAT'S
WHAT FREEDOM MEANS.
>> THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS, YEAH.
>> AND WHAT'S BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU
SAY IT 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU KNOW
IT IS THAT TRUE FREEDOM IS
FREEDOM FROM YOURSELF.
>> YES.
>> RIGHT?
I JUST THOUGHT LIKE HOW WOULD
YOU I'LL GIVE YOU A VACATION.
GO TO HAWAII, RIGHT, OR SIT IN
THE CORNER OVER THERE AND GO
INTO ECSTASY.
>> YEAH.
>> WHICH ONE YOU WANT?
>> SIT IN THE CORNER.
>> OKAY?
SO, THE JOY IS INSIDE
OURSELVES.
>> YES.
>> IT'S JUST THAT THIS MIND HAS
GOTTEN PROGRAMMED
>> 'CAUSE YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY
TO HAWAII AND LOTS OF PEOPLE
HAVE DONE THIS.
YOU GET ALL THE WAY TO HAWAII.
YOU SAVED YOUR MONEY.
YOU GET TO DA-DA-DA.
AND YOU'RE TAKING YOUR MISERABLE
SELF
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> YES.
>> THAT'S WHY FREEDOM IS FREEDOM
FROM YOURSELF, NOT FREEDOM FOR
YOURSELF.
>> GOT IT.
COMING UP, MICHAEL SINGER'S
ADVICE FOR LIVING YOUR BEST
LIFE.
>> YOUR TIME IS LIMITED, AND
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE USING IT
FOR SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
>> YEAH. WELL DONE, MR. SINGER.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING ON OWN
AROUND THE WORLD AND ON THE
WEB, I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE INCESSANT
VOICE IN YOUR HEAD CONNECTED TO
YOU.
FACEBOOK ME OR TWEET-TWEET.
LET ME KNOW.
"SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" WILL BE
RIGHT BACK.
>> I THINK MAY FAVORITE
CHAPTER AND I'VE BEEN
TWEETING WITH OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT
IT IS "LET GO NOW OR FALL,"
CHAPTER 8.
SO, LET ME READ A BIT OF IT
BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE AN HOUR
TODAY.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SHARE
EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK.
MAY I JUST SAY, GET THE BOOK,
AND YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT.
BUT THIS CHAPTER I LOVE THE
MOST, "LET GO NOW OR FALL."
"THE EXPLORATION OF SELF IS
INEXTRICABLY INTERWOVEN WITH
UNFOLDING ONE'S LIFE.
THE NATURAL UPS AND DOWNS OF
LIFE CAN EITHER GENERATE
PERSONAL GROWTH OR CREATE
PERSONAL FEARS.
WHICH OF THESE DOMINATES IS
COMPLETELY DEPENDENT UPON HOW WE
VIEW CHANGE, CHANGE WHICH PEOPLE
ARE SO OPPOSED TO.
CHANGE COULD BE VIEWED AS EITHER
EXCITING OR FRIGHTENING, BUT
REGARDLESS OF HOW WE VIEW IT, WE
MUST ALL FACE THE FACT THAT
CHANGE IS THE VERY NATURE OF
LIFE."
NOW, WHY ARE WE SO AFRAID OF
CHANGE?
>> WHAT BASICALLY HAPPENS IS
WE'VE GONE TO THE MIND AND SAID,
"I'M NOT OKAY.
HOW DOES EVERYTHING NEED TO BE
FOR ME TO BE OKAY?"
AND THEN WE HAVE DEVOTED
OURSELVES TO TRY AND CREATE THAT
SITUATION.
IT DOESN'T WORK, BUT WE DON'T
KNOW THAT YET.
AND SO WE TRY TO CREATE
SITUATIONS THAT WE THINK WILL
MAKE US BE OKAY.
AND WHEN THINGS START CHANGING
THAT DON'T MATCH THAT MODEL
>> YEAH, WE GET SCARED.
>> WE GET SCARED BECAUSE IT
LOOKS LIKE IT IS NOT GONNA WORK.
>> OKAY, I LOVE WHAT YOU SAY,
TOO, IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH.
YOU SAY, "PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE
THAT FEAR IS A THING."
>> YES.
>> FEAR IS A THING.
>> IT'S A THING.
>> "IT'S JUST ANOTHER OBJECT IN
THE UNIVERSE THAT YOU'RE
CAPABLE OF EXPERIENCING.
AND YOU CAN DO ONE OF THINGS
WITH FEAR.
YOU CAN...?"
>> YOU CAN EITHER PUSH IT AWAY,
OR YOU CAN LET IT GO.
>> YEAH.
>> RIGHT?
YOU CAN EITHER AVOID IT AND BE
SCARED OF IT, OR YOU CAN LET IT
PASS RIGHT THROUGH.
>> OKAY.
SO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "LET GO
NOW OR FALL"?
>> RIGHT.
FEAR COMES UP OUT OF YOUR HEART.
THAT'S A VERY NATURAL THING.
IT'S HUMAN, ALL RIGHT?
YOU'RE WATCHING. YOU SEE IT.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RELAX.
LET IT PASS RIGHT THROUGH YOU.
IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU'RE
GONNA TRY TO FIX IT.
YOU'RE GONNA TRY AND CONTROL
SITUATIONS OUTSIDE SO YOU DON'T
EVER FEEL THE FEAR.
AND IT ALL STARTS TO BOTHER YOU.
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS.
YOU'LL FALL, AND EVENTUALLY
YOU'LL LOSE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS,
YOU'LL FORGET YOUR WHOLE
PURPOSE, AND YOU'LL JUST BE
SCARED.
YOU JUST GET SCARED.
>> YOU SAY THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO
DECIDE NOT TO FIGHT WITH LIFE.
BUT THAT'S FEELS LIKE GIVING UP
AND LETTING THINGS TAKE OVER.
>> YOU DON'T DO THAT IN ANY
WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, RIGHT?
LIFE IS A NATURAL UNFOLDING OF
REALITY.
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HARMONIZE
AND WORK WITH IT.
YOU DON'T GIVE UP AND LET IT
TAKE OVER, RIGHT?
LIKE, IF YOU GET ON A HORSE AND
YOU'RE SCARED, YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BE A VERY GOOD RIDER, RIGHT?
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU LET
THE HORSE GO WHEREVER THEY WANT.
YOU LEARN HOW TO INTERFACE AND
INTERACT WITH LIFE IN A
WHOLESOME, PARTICIPATORY WAY.
FEAR DOESN'T LET YOU DO THAT.
SO, LETTING GO OF FEAR IS NOT
LETTING GO OF LIFE.
>> OKAY, I'M WATCHING THIS FOR
THE FIRST TIME OR THE TENTH
TIME.
I AM ON THIS PATH.
I WANT TO LEAD A BETTER LIFE.
THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD TELL
ME TO DO IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT, IS TO RECOGNIZE
THAT VOICE INSIDE YOUR HEAD...
>> YES.
>> YEAH.
STEP BACK.
BE ALLOWED TO BE IN THE SEAT.
ITSELF.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING?
>> THE NEXT THING IS, WHEN
YOU'RE WATCHING, SEE WHETHER
WHAT THAT VOICE IS SAYING IS
REALLY HELPFUL.
IN OTHER WORDS, IS IT REALLY
GIVING YOU GOOD ADVICE?
OR IS IT JUST A NEUROTIC VOICE
TALKING INSIDE YOUR HEAD?
AND YOU WILL FIND THAT IN EVERY
SITUATION YOU'RE IN LIFE, THERE
IS A HIGHER WAY TO DEAL WITH THE
SITUATION.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE SITUATIONS
THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH,
BUT THERE'S STILL A HIGHER WAY
TO DEAL WITH THAT SITUATION THAN
BEING REACTIVE, WHICH IS THE
ONLY THING THE MIND'S GONNA DO.
>> SO, ONE OF MY FAVORITE OTHER
CHAPTERS IT'S CHAPTER 17,
"CONTEMPLATING DEATH."
"IT'S TRULY A GREAT PARADOX THAT
ONE OF THE BEST TEACHERS IN ALL
OF LIFE TURNS OUT TO BE DEATH.
NO PERSON OR SITUATION COULD
EVER TEACH YOU AS MUCH AS DEATH
HAS TO TEACH YOU.
WHILE SOMEONE COULD TELL THAT
YOU'RE NOT YOUR BODY, DEATH
SHOWS YOU."
I LOVE THAT LINE.
YOU WERE IN THE FLOW, MAN, WHEN
YOU WERE RIGHTING THAT, WERE YOU
NOT?
OKAY.
"WHILE SOMEONE TELLS YOU
SOMEONE COULD REMIND YOU OF THE
INSIGNIFICANCE OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU CLING TO, DEATH TAKES
THEM ALL AWAY IN A SECOND."
WOW.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO YOU
WRITE THIS?
>> IT DIDN'T TAKE THAT LONG TO
WRITE THE BOOK.
>> "WHILE PEOPLE CAN TEACH YOU
THAT MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL RACES
ARE EQUAL AND THAT THERE'S NO
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RICH AND
THE POOR, DEATH INSTANTLY MAKES
US ALL THE SAME."
LOVE THAT.
"THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING
TO WAIT UNTIL THAT LAST MOMENT
TO LET DEATH BE YOUR TEACHER?"
MY FAVORITE LINE IS WHERE YOU
SAY, "LET'S SAY YOU'RE LIVING
LIFE WITHOUT THE THOUGHT OF
DEATH AND THE ANGEL OF DEATH
COMES TO YOU AND SAYS, 'COME.
IT'S TIME TO GO.'
AND YOU SAY, 'BUT, NO, YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO GIVE ME A WARNING SO
I CAN DECIDE WHAT I WANT TO DO
WITH MY LAST WEEK.
I'M SUPPOSED TO GET ONE MORE
WEEK.'
DO YOU KNOW WHAT DEATH WILL SAY
TO YOU?"
>> "I'VE GIVEN YOU YOUR WHOLE
LIFE."
[ LAUGHS ]
WHAT WERE YOU DOING WITH YOUR
WHOLE LIFE?
HOW DID YOU NOT BE AWARE THAT
YOUR TIME IS LIMITED AND YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE USING IT FOR
SOMETHING MEANINGFUL?
>> YEAH.
"DEATH WILL SAY, 'MY GOD, I GAVE
YOU 52 WEEKS THIS PAST YEAR
ALONE.'"
I LOVE THAT.
"'AND LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER
WEEKS I'VE GIVEN YOU.
WHY WOULD YOU NEED ONE MORE?
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH ALL OF
THOSE?'
IF ASKED THAT, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO SAY?
HOW WILL YOU ANSWER IT?
'I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION'?
'I DIDN'T THINK IT MATTERED'?
THAT'S A PRETTY AMAZING THING TO
SAY ABOUT YOUR LIFE."
WELL DONE, MR. SINGER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELL DONE.
WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
COMING UP, WHAT IF THERE WERE
JUST ONE THING HOLDING YOU BACK?
>> IF YOU REMOVE IT, YOU WILL
NEVER HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT
AGAIN, AND YOU CAN START TO
ENJOY YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
AND THAT IS SPIRITUALITY.
>> THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD.
A BIG "AHA."
AND BREAK OUT THE BELL-BOTTOMS
AND GET READY TO GET DOWN WITH
SoulPankcake WHEN
"SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" RETURNS.
[ DISCO MUSIC PLAYING ]
>> MY OTHER FAVORITE CHAPTER OF
MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK,
"THE UNTETHERED SOUL," IS
"REMOVING YOUR INNER THORN."
WE ALL HAVE THEM, RIGHT?
>> YES, WE DO.
>> DO YOU STILL HAVE SOME
THORNS?
>> OF COURSE.
>> YOU DO. OKAY.
THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IS ABOUT
CONSTANT TRANSFORMATION.
SO, YOU WERE SAYING IMAGINE
CAN YOU JUST DO THIS FOR OUR
AUDIENCE, THAT WHOLE PASSAGE ON
IMAGINING YOU HAVE A THORN IN
YOUR ARM THAT DIRECTLY TOUCHES A
NERVE?
>> RIGHT.
SO, THE ANALOGY WE WERE USING
IS, IF YOU HAVE A THORN THAT WAS
TOUCHING DIRECTLY TO A NERVE, SO
MUCH SO THAT ANYTHING THAT
TOUCHED IT CAUSED PAIN INSIDE OF
YOU SO, IF YOU WALKED,
DIFFICULT TO WALK THROUGH WOODS,
AND IF A LEAF TOUCHES IT, YOU
WEREN'T ABLE TO WALK.
IF YOU WERE TRYING TO INTERACT
WITH PEOPLE, IT WOULD CAUSE A
DISTURBANCE.
AND THE KEY POINT OF IT IS YOU
HAVE YOU TWO CHOICES.
ONE IS YOU CAN EITHER TRY TO
AVOID EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE
THAT TOUCHES THAT THORN, OR YOU
CAN DO THIS AMAZING ALTERNATIVE,
WHICH IS TAKE IT OUT.
ALL RIGHT?
IF YOU TRY TO AVOID IT, YOU'LL
BE AVOIDING IT FOR YOUR ENTIRE
LIFE.
>> WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE ALL
DOING, RIGHT?
>> YES, IT IS.
>> WE GOT OUR THORNS IN, AND WE
DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO TOUCH
THEM.
AND IF THEY TOUCH THEM AND THEY
IRRITATE OUR LITTLE THORN, WE'RE
UPSET 'CAUSE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE
TOUCHED MY THORN.
>> YES.
>> THAT'S THE WHOLE
>> AND THAT'S THE GAME THAT WE
PLAY, IS, "HOW DO I BUILD A LIFE
THAT AVOIDS TOUCHING ALL OF THIS
STUFF THAT HAPPENED TO ME THAT I
CAN'T HANDLE?
WHEN IT HAPPENED I COULDN'T
HANDLE IT, AND NOW IT'S CAUSED
ALL THESE SOFT SPOTS INSIDE OF
ME."
>> THORNS.
"SO, I NEED TO CREATE A LIFE,
TRAIN EVERYBODY AROUND ME,
RIGHT, SO THEY DON'T EVER TOUCH
THAT."
>> "AVOID MY THORN."
SOME PEOPLE EVEN SAY THAT
"DON'T YOU GO THERE WITH ME."
>> THAT'S RIGHT. EXACTLY.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO UNDERSTAND
YOU CAN REMOVE THAT THORN INSIDE
OF YOU, THE SAME AS YOU CAN
REMOVE IT OUTSIDE, AND IF YOU
REMOVE IT, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE
TO THINK ABOUT IT AGAIN, AND YOU
CAN START TO ENJOY YOUR ENTIRE
LIFE.
AND THAT IS SPIRITUALITY.
>> THAT IS SPIRITUALITY.
NOW, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR
THORN IS?
>> DISTURBANCE TELLS YOU.
JUST LIKE PAIN HAPPENS YOU HIT
THE THORN OUTSIDE, DISTURBANCE
HAPPENS INSIDE.
>> 'CAUSE IT'S NEVER WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
>> RIGHT.
>> IT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING IS
IRRITATING YOUR THORN.
>> IT WAS PUT IN THERE BEFORE.
>> THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD.
>> SO, THOSE EVENTS WILL SHOW
YOU
>> THAT'S GOOD. Y'ALL GET THAT?
THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
SO, EVEN WHEN YOU SEE YOUR
HUSBAND LEAVES THE, YOU KNOW,
DRAWERS OPEN OR THE WHATEVER
OPEN OR THE IT'S NOT ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT IS ABOUT THE THORN THAT WAS
THERE.
>> YES.
>> SO, OKAY, HOW DO WE THEN
BEGIN TO REMOVE THE THORNS?
THAT'S THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY,
IS IT NOT?
>> YES, IT IS.
WHEN SOMETHING HITS IT, YOU WILL
FEEL A DISTURBANCE POP UP INSIDE
OF YOU, RIGHT?
AND YOU YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE RIGHT
THEN, "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
ABOUT THAT?"
>> OKAY, SO AND BY SOMETHING
HITTING IT, MEANING YOU'RE IN A
CONVERSATION, YOU'RE IN YOUR
OFFICE, SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING,
IT HITS A NERVE, YOU THINK THEY
HAVE DISRESPECTED YOU...
>> YES, WHATEVER.
>> ...THEY HAVE STEPPED OUT OF
BOUNDS, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID
THAT, YOUR BOSS DID SOMETHING,
YOUR CHILD THAT'S THE NERVE.
BUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THAT AND THEY REALLY DID
DO SOMETHING?
>> THE DIFFERENCE IS YOU ALWAYS
START WITH SAYING, "DO I WANT TO
BE DISTURBED?
DO I LIKE BEING DISTURBED?
NO, I DON'T LIKE BEING
DISTURBED."
SO, I HAVE A CHOICE.
AN EVENT HAPPENED OUTSIDE.
I CAN DEAL WITH THAT EVENT
WITHOUT BEING DISTURBED.
IN FACT, I CAN DEAL WITH IT
BETTER WITHOUT BEING DISTURBED.
DISTURBANCE ISN'T HELPING YOU.
DISTURBANCE IS HURTING YOU.
>> GOT IT.
>> AND SO YOU ARE WAY BETTER
OFF LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH
THE DISTURBANCE.
AND THAT IS ALSO HOW YOU REMOVE
THE THORN.
THEY ARE DIRECTLY RELATED.
THE FACT THAT THE SITUATION
OUTSIDE STIMULATED THIS
DISTURBANCE INSIDE OF YOU MEANS
THAT YOU'VE UNCOVERED SOMETHING
STORED INSIDE OF YOU THAT NEEDS
TO COME OUT.
>> COMING UP, HOW DO WE TACKLE
LIFE'S MOST DIFFICULT SPIRITUAL
CHALLENGES?
WHEW, THIS PERSONAL-GROWTH
THING...
>> IT'S REAL.
>> SOME DAYS I SAY, "JESUS,
DON'T TEACH ME NOTHING NEW
TODAY."
AND LATER MICHAEL SINGER SHARES
THE STORY BEHIND THE CORPORATE
SCANDAL THAT TESTED HIS OWN
FAITH.
YOU WERE INDICTED SEVERAL YEARS
AGO.
"SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" WILL BE BACK
IN A MOMENT.
AND NOW A SHORT FILM FROM OUR
FRIENDS AT ♪ ♪ SoulPancake ♪ ♪
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> [ VOCALIZING ]
>> WE'RE ON A MISSION...
>> TO TACKLE LIFE'S BIG
QUESTIONS.
>> I'M GOLRIZ.
>> AND I'M DEVON.
>> AND THIS IS...
>> Both: SoulPancake.
>> ♪ ♪ ON OWN ♪ ♪
>> [ IMITATING WHIRRING ]
>> ♪ ♪ 60 SECOND ♪ ♪
>> ♪ ♪ DISCO ♪ ♪
>> WE OFTEN ONLY CELEBRATE WHEN
THERE'S A SPECIAL OCCASION.
BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS NEED A
REASON TO LET LOOSE AND HAVE A
LITTLE FUN.
>> ♪ ♪ HOO ♪ ♪
>> ♪ ♪ OOH OH OH ♪ ♪
>> SO, SoulPancake HEADED TO A
BUSY BUS STOP TO SURPRISE PEOPLE
WITH A SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATION.
>> ♪ ♪ OOH OH OH ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ OOH OH OH ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ OH OOH OH OH ♪ ♪
[ DISCO MUSIC PLAYING ]
>> ♪ ♪ AH, WHOO ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ OOH OOH OOH OOH ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ AH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ OOH OOH OOH OOH ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ AH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪ ♪
>> THIS BUS PULLS UP AND THE
DOORS OPEN IT'S LIKE THE
GREATEST DISCO PARTY EVER.
>> I WAS ENVELOPED IN LIKE A
WHIRLPOOL OF DANCE.
IT WAS AWESOME.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO JUST
CELEBRATE THE LITTLE THINGS IN
LIFE, THAT YOU'RE ALIVE, YOU
KNOW?
THAT'S SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE,
YOU KNOW?
>> I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO
TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES OUT OF
THEIR DAY TO CELEBRATE
SOMETHING.
I WISH SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD
HAPPEN EVERY DAY TO ME.
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
>> A BUS FULL OF PARTYGOERS AND
HAPPY PEOPLE SPREADING HAPPINESS
AND LAUGHTER.
I REALLY LOVED IT.
WE SHOULD DO THIS EVERY DAY.
>> YOU SAY EARLIER ON IN THE
BOOK THAT WE IN LIFE ARE TO
USE OUR PROBLEMS AS A WAY LOU
TO THE SPIRITUAL PATH.
>> YES.
>> THOSE PROBLEMS THAT
REALLY WE SHOULD I DON'T
KNOW WHETHER THE WORD IS
REJOICE, YOU SHOULD BE EXCITED
ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE
THESE PROBLEMS ARE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO LOOK AT
WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON INSIDE.
OY, GOD, THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
>> WELL, BUT NET RESULT IS ALL
YOU DO, WHICH I KNOW YOU TEACH
ALL THE TIME, YOU TALK ABOUT ALL
THE TIME "WHAT DO I DO WHEN I
FEEL A DISTURBANCE, RIGHT?"
YOU RELAX.
BUT PEOPLE SAY, "I DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
I JUST SAID I WAS DISTURBED."
HOW CAN I RELAX?"
>> LET'S DO SOMETHING SIMPLE,
LIKE ROAD RAGE, WHICH I NEVER
UNDERSTAND WHY FOR THE LIFE
OF ME, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
PEOPLE GET UPSET ABOUT SOMEBODY
WHO CUTS IN FRONT OF YOU OR
SOMEBODY WHO WHAT IS
THAT'S ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE
THAT'S GOING ON, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S SOMETHING INSIDE OF YOU
THAT THAT'S STIMULATING.
>> YOUR INNER THORN.
>> YEAH, THAT'S YOUR INNER 1229 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:43,700 THORN.
SO, YOU GOT TO DECIDE, "DO I
WANT TO GO OUT THERE AND TRY TO
MAKE SURE NOBODY EVER GOES TOO
SLOW IN FRONT OF ME?" OR YOU
KNOW, DEVOTE YOUR LIFE TO THAT?
OR WOULD YOU LIKE THE SAY,
"LOOK, I WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY MY
DRIVE TO WORK, EVEN IF SOMEBODY
CUT ME OFF?
BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE I JUST GOT
EXTREMELY DISTURBED DUE TO MY
PAST EXPERIENCES."
>> SO, WE SHOULD LOOK AT OUR
DISTURBANCES AND SEE WHAT OUR
DISTURBANCES ARE TRYING TO TELL
US ABOUT OURSELVES.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE?
IF YOUR BODY STARTED TO HURT,
YOU DON'T SAY, "SHUT UP."
YOU SAY, "WELL, I WONDER WHAT'S
WRONG.
IT'S TRYING TO TALK TO ME."
THAT IS YOUR HEART TELLING YOU,
"SOMETHING'S WRONG INSIDE OF
ME."
YOU WANT TO GET IT OUT.
AND SO YOU JUST APPRECIATE LIFE
AS YOUR TEACHER, AND THEN
ULTIMATELY JUST SO WE GET IT
DOWN HOW YOU GET IT OUT?
YOU RELAX, AND IT WILL WORK
ITSELF OUT.
THAT IS MY EXPERIENCE.
>> YOU RELAX.
>> YOU RELAX AND DON'T TOUCH
IT AND RELAX BEHIND IT AND IT
WILL COME UP AND PUSH ITS OWN
WAY OUT.
IT'S ALMOST AS IF YOUR HEART
DOESN'T WANT THAT INSIDE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND SO JUST LIKE THE BODY
PUSHES SPLINTERS OUT...
>> YES.
>> ...IT WILL TRY TO PUSH IT
OUT.
BUT YOU WON'T LET IT 'CAUSE THE
MOMENT IT TRIES TO PUSH OUT, YOU
PUSH IT BACK DOWN.
>> WHEW, THIS PERSONAL-GROWTH
THING.
>> IT'S REAL.
BUT THE FREEDOM YOU GET
FROM IT
>> SOME DAYS I SAY, "JESUS,
DON'T TEACH ME NOTHING NEW
TODAY," BECAUSE YOU'RE
CONSTANTLY, EVERY DAY, WITH
EVERY EXPERIENCE, HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT
"SPIRITUAL PATH" AND BY
"SPIRITUAL," WE MEAN OPENING UP
YOURSELF TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
YOURSELF WITH.
AND EVERY DIFFICULTY, EVERY
CHALLENGE IS THERE TO HELP YOU
DO THAT.
>> IT IS.
THE BEAUTY IS, YOU DO NOT HAVE
TO WORK OUT EVERY ONE OF YOUR
ISSUES.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO, "LOOK OH,
MY GOD, I GOT SO MANY.
I'LL NEVER DO " YOU DO NOT
HAVE TO.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN YOU'LL RELAX
BEHIND ENOUGH TIMES TO WHERE
YOUR SEAT OF AWARENESS WILL NOW
BE CENTERED MORE IN YOUR SEAT OF
CONSCIOUSNESS, INSTEAD OF THE
ISSUES KEEP PULLING YOU OUT.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU WILL
START TO FEEL SOMETHING OPEN UP
INSIDE OF YOU.
I GUARANTEE YOU.
CALL IT SPIRIT.
CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT.
YOU WILL START TO FEEL A
STRENGTH, A POWER BEHIND YOU,
NOT IN FRONT OF YOU, WHERE THE
THORNS ARE BEHIND YOU, WHERE
YOU'VE BEEN LEANING BACK INTO.
AND IT WILL SUPPORT YOU AND
STRENGTHEN YOU AND FEED YOU.
AND THE REST OF THE STUFF WILL
JUST FALL AWAY 'CAUSE IT LOOKS
SO MEANINGLESS.
>> WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF THIS
FOR YOU?
>> AT THE END OF THAT, THE
SOURCE OF THAT.
>> AND THE END OF
>> THE SOURCE OF THAT ENERGY.
>> OF THE SEAT OF SELF.
>> YEAH, AT THE SEAT OF SELF,
YOU START TO FEEL THIS BEAUTIFUL
LOVE AND JOY AND JUST, LITERALLY
LIKE A VACUUM, IT STARTS TO PULL
YOU UP INTO IT.
AND I ME, GOD, IS THE SOURCE
OF THAT, THE SOURCE OF SPIRIT.
AND AS YOU COME CLOSER IN TO IT,
YOU GET CLOSER TO GOD.
AND THERE'S A JOY THAT CAN OPEN
UP INSIDE THAT IS SO STRONG THAT
NOTHING WILL EVER PULL YOU OUT.
YOUR PERSONAL SELF WILL NO
LONGER PULL YOU OUT.
THERE'S NO STRUGGLE ANYMORE,
RIGHT?
THERE'S JUST THE STRENGTH, THE
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.
YOU'VE TURNED THE CORNER.
>> OKAY. HOW DO YOU GET THAT?
>> THE MORE YOU ARE WILLING TO
NOT GET PULLED INTO YOUR
PERSONAL SELF
>> BY REMOVING THE THORN.
>> BY LETTING THE THORN BE
REMOVED.
>> WHICH IS SO INTERESTING.
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER A WHILE
BACK, I WAS BEING BLASTED IN THE
MEDIA FOR VARIOUS THINGS, YOU
KNOW, WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING
WITH THE CHANNEL OR NOT
HAPPENING AND WHAT PEOPLE
THOUGHT SHOULD BE HAPPENING.
AND I WAS IN THE MOST PEACEFUL
SPACE.
I WAS AT MY HOME, WITH THE TREES
AND THE AND THE SKY AND
THE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT
JUST I WENT INSIDE.
AND ALL OF THAT DID NOT MATTER.
I THOUGHT, "ISN'T THIS
INTERESTING?"
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN I DID THAT
THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT'S WHAT I WAS
DOING, BUT YOU JUST STEP BACK,
AND YOU GO INSIDE.
>> AND THAT'S ALWAYS THERE.
THAT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
>> THAT'S OUR CONNECTION TO GOD.
>> YES.
AND NOW YOU SIT THERE AND SAY,
"HOW MUCH BETTER ABLE ARE YOU TO
DEAL WITH THE SITUATIONS THAT
NEED TO BE DEALT WITH FROM THAT
PLACE OF PEACE THAN YOU ARE
FROM THAT DISTURBANCE?"
>> 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T, 'CAUSE ONCE
YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE IN THE
DISTURBANCE, THEN EVERYBODY'S
JUST DISTURBED.
EVERYBODY'S DOING THIS.
"WHAT CAN WE DO?" AND "WHAT
SHOULD WE SAY?" AND "HOW SHOULD
WE REACT?"
>> EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND WHEN YOU BRING THAT PEACE TO
THE TABLE, YOU SPREAD IT
EVERYWHERE.
AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT 'CAUSE
I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> AND SO ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S
NOT JUST THAT YOU'RE BETTER
ABLE, BUT EVERYTHING AROUND YOU
IS BETTER ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE
SITUATION.
SO TO ANSWER WHAT YOU'VE
ASKED ME THROUGHOUT THE
INTERVIEW IS, "HOW DO YOU DEAL
WITH THESE TERRIBLE SITUATIONS?
AREN'T THEY REAL?"
THEY ARE REAL, AND YOU SHOULD
DEAL WITH THEM, BUT FIRST BE
READY TO DEAL WITH THEM.
COME FROM A SPACE OF PEACE, AND
YOU'LL FIND THAT YOU CAN DEAL
WITH ANYTHING.
>> EVEN I KNOW WHAT THE
ANSWER'S GONNA BE, BUT I'M
ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE SO
OFTEN, PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME,
"OH, EASY FOR YOU TO SAY, OPRAH,
FROM WHERE YOU SIT, AND EASY TO
SAY IF YOU HAVEN'T LOST YOUR JOB
OR YOU'RE NOT FACING A TERMINAL
DISEASE OR EASY TO SAY IF YOU'RE
NOT GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT
TIMES IN YOUR LIFE."
I KNOW YOU WENT THROUGH SOME
DIFFICULT TIMES BECAUSE WHEN I
FINISHED READING THIS BOOK, THE
FIRST THING I DID WAS TO GOOGLE
TO SAY, "WHO IS THIS GUY, AND
WHERE DID HE GET ALL THIS
INFORMATION AND HOW DOES HE KNOW
WHAT HE KNOWS?"
AND WHAT COMES UP WHEN YOU
GOOGLE YOUR NAME, ANYBODY WHO'S
WATCHING I KNOW THAT YOU ALL
ARE GONNA DO THAT IS THAT YOU
WERE INVOLVED YOU WERE
INDICTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR
FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOR.
YOUR COMPANY WAS.
>> BASICALLY, YES.
THE GOVERNMENT CAME IN AND
ACCUSED THAT THE ENTIRE
EXECUTIVE TEAM OF OUR COMPANY OF
FRAUD.
>> WHICH YOU WERE CHAIRMAN.
>> I WAS C.E.O. AT THE TIME,
YES OF FRAUD.
>> WHEN WE COME BACK, MICHAEL
TELLS US HOW HE STAYED CENTERED
DURING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF
HIS LIFE.
IN SIX YEARS, YOU NEVER SAID,
"OH, GOD, WHY ME?
OH, THIS IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE
THING.
OH, MY GOD, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
TO ME?"
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THEN WE'LL FIND SOME
BREATHING SPACE AND A LITTLE
MAGIC IN THE ISLANDS NEXT.
>> SO, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE
MIDDLE OF BEING CHARGED BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF FRAUD, WERE YOU
INNOCENT?
>> YES.
WELL, INNOCENT IN THE SENSE THAT
THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO HAD DONE
THINGS IN THE COMPANY, FOR SURE,
HAD BEEN TAKING KICKBACKS AND SO
ON, AND HE POINTED THE FINGER UP
AND SAID THEY KNEW WHAT I WAS
DOING.
>> DID YOU?
>> NO, OF COURSE NOT.
OF COURSE NOT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> WELL, I HAVE TO ASK.
>> WELL, OF COURSE YOU CAN ASK,
OF COURSE.
>> OKAY SO, OKAY.
BEING ACCUSED OR INDICTED BY THE
GOVERNMENT FOR FRAUDULENT
BEHAVIOR COULD CAUSE YOU TO BE
PULLED DOWN IN I MEAN, I'VE
BEEN ON TRIAL BACK IN 1998.
>> YES, I REMEMBER.
>> I WAS SO, "WHAT IS THIS ALL
ABOUT?"
WERE YOU ABLE TO STAY IN THAT
CENTERED SPACE OF SPIRIT THAT
YOU TALK ABOUT DURING THAT WHOLE
TIME?
>> YES, COMPLETELY.
>> YOU WERE?
>> FROM THE MOMENT THAT TOOK
PLACE, A PCE
>> THE MOMENT.
>> THE MOMENT THE MOMENT...
>> I'M NOT THAT GOOD YET.
>> ...THE PEACE CAME OVER ME AND
I JUST RESTED BACK INTO IT AND
MY ATTITUDE WAS, "MY GOD, THIS
IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY TO LET GO OF SOME
SER ANYTHING THAT'S LEFT OF
ME," BECAUSE, AS YOU SAID, IT
WAS PRETTY NOISY STUFF, RIGHT?
AND THERE WAS A PART OF ME,
RIGHT, THAT OF COURSE WOULD
NEVER WANT TO BE IN THAT
SITUATION.
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, RIGHT?
BUT I LET GO OF HIM, THE WHOLE
PERSONALITY, THE WHOLE
MICHAEL SINGER, ALL RIGHT?
THAT LET GO OF HIM.
THIS IS NOT A SITUATION THAT HE
SHOULD BE IN, BUT HE IS.
IT'S GOD'S GRACE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOD I
FELT THAT GOD WAS REACHING DOWN
TO PULL WHATEVER WAS LEFT OF MY
EGO OUT, AND HE USED THIS
SITUATION TO DO IT.
WE DEFENDED OURSELVES, OF
COURSE, RIGHT, BUT I KNEW I
DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
AND SO THE QUESTION WAS, "ARE
YOU WILLING TO USE THE SITUATION
TO JUST COMPLAIN AND CARRY ON,
ON HOW UNFAIR IT IS?
OR DO YOU WANT TO USE THE
SITUATION TO LET LIFE REACH IN
TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR HEART AND
PULL OUT WHATEVER IS LEFT OF
YOUR SELF-CONCEPT, YOUR EGO,
YOUR SCARED SELF, AND STAND
THERE?
AND WHAT IT DOES IS GIVE YOU
BIRTH.
IT GIVES YOU SPIRITUAL BIRTH.
WENT ON FOR SIX YEARS.
>> IT WENT ON FOR SIX YEARS?
>> GOD DID ME GOOD.
>> THAT IS AMAZING.
'CAUSE I WAS ON TRIAL FOR SIX
WEEKS, AND I THOUGHT, "WHOA."
>> IT NEVER ACTUALLY WENT TO
TRIAL.
IT GOT DROPPED THE CHARGES
GOT DROPPED BEFORE TRIAL.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT THE INVESTIGATION
>> THE WHOLE THING, ALL THE
NOISE.
>> SIX YEARS.
>> AND YOU ARE TELLING ME,
MICHAEL SINGER, THAT IN SIX
YEARS YOU NEVER SAID, "OH, GOD,
WHY ME?
OH, THIS IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE
THING?
OH, MY GOD, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
TO ME?"
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
IT WAS THE OPPOSITE.
IT WAS, "IF I HAVE ONE
CHANCE "
>> I WISH I HAD KNOWN YOU THEN.
>> "IF I HAVE ONE CHANCE,
OPPORTUNITY IN MY LIFE FOR
LIBERATION, GOD JUST GAVE IT TO
ME."
HOW AM I GONNA GET RID OF
MYSELF?
HOW AM I GONNA FINALLY PULL THAT
THING OUT, THAT BIG THORN,
RIGHT, OF ME?
[ LAUGHS ]
>> YES. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> THE ME, THE ONE WHO CARES
WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS AND SCARED
TO DEATH THAT SOMEBODY WOULD
THINK I DID SOMETHING WRONG OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT?
>> WOW.
>> AND SO I CHOSE TO DO THAT.
AND SO MY MIND WASN'T SAYING,
"WHY ME?"
MY MIND WAS SAYING, "TAKE IT.
TAKE IT. JUST TAKE IT.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
I DON'T WHAT TO CARRY THIS
BURDEN ANYMORE," NOT THE BURDEN
OF THE THING THE BURDEN OF
ME.
>> WOW.
>> AND SO IT'S A VERY SPIRITUAL
THING.
I WROTE THAT BOOK IN THE MIDDLE
OF THAT EXPERIENCE.
>> YOU WROTE THIS BOOK IN THE
MIDDLE OF THAT EXPERIENCE?
>> YES.
>> YOU WROTE THIS BOOK IN THE
MIDDLE OF ALL OF THE CRAZY
BEING INDICTED AND THE THING?
>> YES.
YEAH, THERE IT IS, RIGHT?
THAT'S THE LIFE.
IF YOU LIVE THAT LIFE, YOU CAN
GO VERY, VERY DEEP, AND YOU CAN
HANDLE ANYTHING.
YOU CAN HANDLE ANYTHING.
ALL OF IT CAN HELP YOU GO TO
GOD.
USE IT TO GO TO GOD.
THAT'S WHAT RAM DAS USED TO
SAY "USE IT TO GO TO GOD."
>> ALL OF IT CAN HELP YOU GO
TO GOD.
>> IF YOU USE IT PROPERLY, IF
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
>> WELL, THIS IS WHAT'S SO
INTERESTING ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST
SAID.
I JUST LOVE THAT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY PRAYER FOR
THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, EVEN
BEFORE I ENDED THE "OPRAH" SHOW
WAS A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD, WAS
A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD.
NOW, I THINK WHEN I WAS PRAYING
THAT PRAYER, I THOUGHT THAT
THAT WAS GONNA BE WALKING
THROUGH THE LILIES OF THE FLD.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF ROSES,
GOING TO THE GARDEN, YOU KNOW?
'CAUSE YOU THINK THAT THAT'S
WHAT IT'S GONNA BE.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
>> YOU MUST DIE TO BE REBORN.
I LOVE THAT CHRIST SAID THAT.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
THOSE ARE CHRIST'S WORDS.
>> RIGHT.
>> "YOU MUST DIE TO BE REBORN."
IT MEANS YOU MUST BE WILLING TO
LET GO OF YOUR PERSONAL SELF OF
YOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF, OF THE
COMPLAINING VOICE.
>> YOUR IDENTITY.
>> ALL THAT.
>> YOUR IMAGE, YOUR BLAH, BLAH,
BLAH, ALL THAT.
>> IN ORDER TO BE WHO YOU ARE,
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO LET GO OF
WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.
THAT'S WHAT'S MEANT BY "YOU MUST
DIE TO BE REBORN."
AND AS YOU LET THAT GO AND HE
WILL HELP PULL IT OUT, RIGHT?
AND SO YOU USE IT SPIRITUALLY,
AND YOU WILL THAT IT WILL HELP
YOU MORE THAN ANY MEDITATION OR
ANYTHING.
YOU MEDITATE SO THAT YOU HAVE
THE CENTER SO YOU CAN LET GO OF
WHAT LIFE IS DOING.
THE REAL GROWTH IS LETTING GO.
>> THAT'S PERFECT.
THANK YOU.
YOUR FIRST TELEVISION
APPEARANCE.
VERY GOOD.
>> WELL, I'M HONORED TO HAVE IT
WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS GREAT.
THIS WEEK WE'LL FIND
"BREATHING SPACE" IN ONE OF THE
MOST MAGICAL PLACES I'VE BEEN
DAVID COPPERFLD'S PRIVATE
ISLANDS IN THE BAHAMAS.
I LOVED BEING THERE,
INTERVIEWING DAVID, AND
EXPERIENCING ALL THE
SURROUNDINGS.
HERE'S TO FINDING A LITTLE MAGIC
IN YOUR LIFE TODAY.
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