Last Friday, 20/20 did a show on forgiveness.  One of the segments featured a man who have been wrongly convicted of a murdering someone.  He spent 19 years in prison and was finally released because the real murderer came forward and confessed to the crime.  The man in prison said that the only way he was able to make it through prison during those 19 years was because he chose to forgive.  He forgave the prosecutor who prosecuted him for a crime he did not commit.  He even helped the prosecutor campaign for reelection after he was released from prison. 

He said that he had a choice to forgive or remain filled with hate.  He could either choose to believe that he was a victim while he was in prison or he could choose to forgive and free himself from his anger.  He chose to forgive. 

This takes incredible courage and strength to forgive something like this.  But this type of forgiveness really is not for the person who did the wrong.  It is for the person who chooses to forgive.  Forgiveness like this simply means to let go of a resentment.  The results are both practical and profound because in that moment of letting go of a resentment a person begins to heal themself on a conscious and unconscious level.

  Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist is going to be adapted into a movie.  Harvey Weinstein will be the producer and Laurence Fishburne is attached to star and direct.  Shooting starts a year from now. 

The Alchemist is an inspirational fable about a Spanish shepherd, Santiago, who sets out on a quixotic quest to find a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids.  Along the way he learns various spiritual lessons.  The lessons he learns include the importance of paying attention to the signs in our life and that it is our responsibility to follow our dreams because that is how we become in integrity with our soul. The most famous line in the book is:

“When you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” 

 The book has sold more than 30 million copies and is currently number seven on the New York Times bestseller list for paperback fiction.  Coelho has been hesitant to adapt his book into a movie because the producers who have approached him have attempted to add violent war scenes to his book that have nothing to do with its message or plot.  However, Coelho agreed to allow Harvey Weinstein adapt his book because Weinstein will stay true to Coelho’s messages about simplicity and spirituality.

Below is a link to a 45 minute presentation that Joe Vitale gave.  Joe considers this Karmic Marketing because he is essentially giving this presentation away for free.  You can watch the presentation by visiting the link below:

http://blog.mrfire.com/prosperity/inside-attract-wealth/

According to Oprah.com

The makers of The Secret have created a short four minute video clip of the planets and Earth.  The video clip shows beautiful scenery of planets, waterfalls, oceans and other gorgeous scenes from across the globe.  The video is accompanied by music from composer Jo Blankenburg.

This short video clip is great dose of inspiration and tranquility.  I received an email with a link to this video clip and it was a great way to start the day.  For about four minutes my focus was on appreciating nature and the universe.  This is the intention of the video.  The makers from The Secret believe that as people watch these video clips that their thoughts begin to shift to a state of gratitude and awe.  This shift caused by the video clip raises the vibration of who we are being.  As a result people are inspired to take actions consistent with thoughts of gratitude and appreciation.

You can watch the video at

http://www.thesecret.tv/planet-earth/

Three of the top five book on the May 3 New York Times Bestseller list all ask very spiritual questions such as why are we here, how do I live the life I deserve to live, and what actions can I take make the most of my life. 

Number one on the list is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow.  This book is written by a man who has terminal cancer and explains how he is making the most of his time left to live.  Number three is The Secret, the book written by Rhonda Byrne based on the hit movie, The Secret, which shows us that we are responsible for creating the experiences in our lives.  Number five is Harmonic Wealth by James Arthur Ray with Linda Siversten.  James Ray is a star of The Secret and his new book talks about how to achieve harmonic wealth (which he distinguishes from just money) in our physical health, intellectual life, relationships, career and spiritual life.

This list shows that people are really searching for meaning, purpose and joy in all aspects of their life.  All of these books go beyond the material definations of success such as making a lot of money.  They ask us what is really important to us and inspire us to take responsiblity for living a life that is consistent with what we really value in our life.

Mike Myers is coming out with a new comedy, The Love Guru, this summer June 20.  The Love Guru is about an American, Guru Pitka (Myers) who is left at the gates of an Ashram in India as a child and raised by gurus.  He returns to the US seeking fame and fortune in the world of self-help and spirituality.   According to the website, his karma is huge.  Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake and Deepak Chopra also make appearances in the movie.

This movie is taking advantage of the viral nature of the Internet with video clips on YouTube, a Myspace page, Facebook page, and a blog by Guru Pitka on Intentblog.  This movie and some of its viral marketing has already raised controversy as it pokes fun at Eastern spiritual traditions.  Interestingly enough, Deepak Chopra, who is an advocate for Eastern philosophies, is in the movie and also makes jokes about some of the stereotypes associated with himself and other Eastern mystics.  Chopra also hosts the blog for Guru Pitka at his website, http://www.intentlbog.com 

The humor in the movie is just that.  It is simply humor.  The movie reminds us not to take ourselves so seriously and that life is capable of being a cosmic playground for us to enjoy, laugh at and have fun.

You can watch the trailer of The Love Guru at http://www.lovegurumovie.com/

Bono has used his celebrity status as a platform to raise awareness for causes in Africa through his ONE campaign and (RED).  In particulary he focuses his efforts on helping raise money for those with poverty and AIDS.Africa is now giving back to BONO by creating their own CD with interpreratations of their favorite U2 songs.  The CD, In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2, features the continent’s top artists including Grammy Award-winning singers and up-an-comers.  Angelique Kidjo, Les Nubians, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Vieux Farka Tour, and Vusi Mahlasela are all on the CD.  One of the most popular songs is Angelique Kidjo’s rendition of “Mysterious Ways,” sung in French and Fon and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars’ version of “Seconds,” with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry on lead guitar.

 The Global Sound Conference is a unique event that will bring together important people from the film, television and music industries with pioneers in the areas of sound healing, wellness, and integrative medicine to explore the many ways that sound impacts our lives.

Doctors, scientists, musicians, and media visionaries will address the various components of sound including health, science, entertainment, and technology.  Additionally the Agape choir and Ricky Byars Beckwith will contribute to the event.

For more information visit: http://www.discoversound.com/