I have a friend that I met in one of my acting classes. We are both trying to achieve the same dream. I have studied about the seven spiritual laws of success as well as creating affluence, and I do believe that by helping others achieve their successes, success also comes to a person. I’ve only been studying about the ego and the laws of success for a few months, and some days I have a lot of trouble, while others I feel very confident; however, recently I’ve felt that as much as I’ve tried to help my friend, through making important contacts and connections, she seems to not help me in return, but to use my contacts to help herself only (one instance when I was engaged in a conversation she interrupted to promote herself). I know this stems from my ego and hers, and I truly do like her as a friend, but I am not sure how to deal with the situation.

I have been a painting contractor for almost 25 years now and although I do this to make a living it is not my calling. In 2000 I opened a Karate school and thought I would be ending my contracting career but I ended up back in it full time after I closed Karate school in 2007 by choice. I felt that dream had been fulfilled and ran its course. I’m very happy that I did it! My question is this, My passion since I was very young it to create new products or improve existing products. As of late I have put more energy into this dream but still door has opened to allow me to make a living doing this either for myself or for a company. This is my passion and it drives me. I’m a thinker! How do I make it happen?

Why is it that since my spirituality has increased my friendships have decreased?

You’ve answered many of my questions about 8 years ago on the ‘ask deepak’ site.
I’ve been a long time fan of your brain.
Having been a seeker for many years I have been through everything.
The seeking has not been particularly fun. Bouncing around from teacher to teacher, system to system, wasting much time not to mention money.
Everything came to a halt when the raw truth, the raw black coffee was presented through expressions of advaita.
The false self center is revealed and THIS completely demolishes every concept.
Everything was exposed as false and misleading- food for the seeker for a future time that will never ever ever come. The illusion of time itself. The mind trembled with fear- terror really… Thoughts pop up and try to regain ‘control’ but once it is seen as false ALL BS it comes up with fade quickly….
So, of course this brings me to a question for you: Looking at your body of work and apparent past I am curious as to why you aren’t more direct- why don’t you tell these seekers that there is no individual and this appearance is all arising in the present moment?
You reference Nisargadatta Maharaj in your work and I’ve heard you mention some potent clear pointings but the emphasis on meditation and ‘doing things’ is what attracts more seekers.
You are a very charismatic expression and I have seen you in public and been thoroughly entertained by you for the past 15+ years. So as this understanding is appearing and this false person that was taken to be ‘me’ continues to disintegrate, I just wanted to ask you why you do not take a more direct approach and dynamite the masses that hold you as their guru. Can you imagine if Deepak went on Oprah and told people that their twenty years of meditation has absolutely no value to you because there IS NO YOU????
Well, Oprah probably wouldn’t have you back on…HA
It’s funny though because as these beliefs keep falling apart there are many pointing that you have said which surface and suddenly resonate.
I understand that most do not want to hear the ‘raw black coffee’ and there are very few offering clear pointing. A dude named Paul Heddermann said something like “People don’t want to be free- they want to want to be free”.
Hope that this note didn’t have a confrontational edge to it- I was only expressing curiosity. I still enjoy you (especially your occasional tv appearances), and much of the ‘humor’ you bring to the whole thing, whatever this is.
I don’t expect you to post this on your site but if you have a moment and would like to directly email me a response that would be cool.
Warm Regards,
Joe

I am 15 years old boy. Your book “the seven spiritual laws of success” really changed my life. it lifted me up. I thank you for your support which is so valuable. But as I was following them one day I thought these laws are correct but they bind me up like a cage . Because I understood them with my mind, I then I came to the conclusion that they have to be followed naturally. So I dropped them. Was that correct decision? In my board exams I got lower marks than expected. After few days a thunder arose, it washed off my attachments , my dreams. Now I felt that I was living a hypnotized life due to my dreams. this was all because of my broken dream of board exams. I feel gratitude towards that broken dream. I feel my enlightenment near, just a spark away. But then I also feel it is a long way to go. Why? Awareness is the aspect that has not come to me. My goal is enlightenment what should I do?