By Deepak Chopra--1994. Notes by Doug Muder (1997)

7 Laws is a distillation of an earlier Chopra book Creating Affluence. It is basically a how-to-get-what-you-want book. It assumes that the world works according to spiritual (as well as psychological and physical) principles, and its laws are instructions on how to align yourself so that those principles work in your favor.

I find some of the laws to be a little abstract, but each of them is followed by a few behavior or attitude changes that Chopra recommends to make this law work for you. This practical advice can give you a better idea of what the laws themselves mean.

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality: The source of all creation is pure consciousness … pure potentiality seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest. And when we realize that our true Self is one of pure potentiality, we align with the power that manifests everything in the universe.

2. The Law of Giving: The universe operates through dynamic exchange ... giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.

3. The Law of "Karma" or Cause and Effect: Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind … what we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.

4. The Law of Least Effort: Nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease … with carefreeness, harmony, and love. And when we harness the forces of harmony, joy, and love, we create success and good fortune with effortless ease.

5. The Law of Intention and Desire: Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment … intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. And when we introduce an intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put this infinite organizing power to work for us.

6. The Law of Detachment: In detachment lies the wisdom of uncertainty … in the wisdom of uncertainty lies the freedom from our past, from the known, which is the prison of past conditioning. And in our willingness to step in to the unknown, the field of all possibilities, we surrender ourselves to the creative mind that orchestrates the dance of the universe.

7. The Law of "Dharma" or Purpose in Life: Everyone has a purpose in life … a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.