The Surrender Experiment - Book Summary

Diving into life's mystery: Learning the art of surrendering

Now, imagine yourself in a whirlwind of distracting thoughts, incessant chatter, and an overload of information. It's a reality most of us inhabit — a ceaseless background buzz that obscures our inner peace and muddies our focus. It's like the world has cranked up the volume, and we're ensnared in a web of stress and societal expectations of what our lives 'should' look like.

Have you ever entertained the thought of just letting it all go? Embracing the unpredictability of life, perhaps even surrendering to its natural ebb and flow?

If not, it might be time to reconsider.

Welcome to a journey led by the author, who dares you to yield to life's currents. Drawing from his riveting personal experiences, he offers you the tools and the courage needed to embark on your own expedition, where success and spirituality dance a harmonious duet.

Ready to embark on this voyage? You'll discover:

- The keys to pacifying your restless mind

- How surrendering to life's rhythm can orchestrate the melody of a flourishing business

- The intriguing chain of events that ignited the author's first spiritual awakening.

Embrace silence: The spiritual gateway of mastering your mind

Have you ever experienced that awkward moment in a conversation where you stumble upon a silence so deafening, it seems to drown out the world? You scramble for words, rummaging through your mental library for any potential topics of discussion, all the while being uncomfortably aware of the other person's judgments. But what if you could transmute this discomfort into a stepping-stone towards your spiritual awakening?

Intriguing as it may sound, such instances provide you with a rare opportunity to unmask your self, or your consciousness, and witness your churning, anxious mind from a safe distance.

This understanding paved the way for the author's first spiritual revelation. Instead of entangling himself in the web of embarrassment, he chose to examine his thought process as a detached observer, unlocking the realization that his anxious mind and his consciousness were two distinct entities — the latter capable of observing the former.

But, you may wonder, how can one master the art of quieting the constant rumblings of the anxious mind? The answer, according to the author, lies in the profound practice of meditation.

Plagued by the intrusive chatter in his mind, the author sought solace in a book on Zen meditation. This form of meditation encourages you to retreat into a peaceful corner, focus on your breath, and gently echo the word "Mu" within your mind. With a little determination and patience, this practice can help you mute the chatter, guiding you towards an oasis of tranquility and silence.

During a camping trip with his friends, the author set out on a solitary meditative journey, resolved not to return until he had tasted a piece of spiritual enlightenment. As he navigated through his meditation, he was jolted awake by a powerful voice urging him to continue his inward journey. Gradually, he sank into a profound meditative state, and his self-consciousness melted away, leaving behind a vast, unexplored universe.

Embracing life's rhythm: The key to a tranquil mind

How often do you find your spirits deflating at the sight of a gloomy, overcast sky? You gaze out of the window and think, "Why does the weather have to be so dismal, especially when I have to be outdoors?" Sound familiar? The culprit behind this unease is your resistance to things beyond your control — such as the weather — that fuels the incessant hum of anxiety in your mind. The chances are high that you carry this resistant attitude towards numerous aspects of your life.

So, what's the root of this restless, discontented mindset? The author points to our personal preferences.

Take, for example, the author's own encounter with resistance. A friend advised him to finish his economics degree by taking his final exams, but the suggestion was met with staunch resistance. Just like our tendency to grumble about unfavorable weather, the author resisted the idea of completing his course, longing instead to retreat from worldly concerns and dive into meditation.

It was during this struggle that the author recognized how his resistance was stirring the pot of agitation. He was caught in a whirlwind of excuses to evade the exams and was struggling to make the right decision.

So, what was the key to silencing his turbulent mind? He decided to surrender to life's currents, accepting the challenges and opportunities life was handing him. By choosing to float with life's stream rather than swim against it, he finally resolved to face his final exams.

Despite his decision, he was woefully unprepared for one specific exam. In a desperate attempt, he picked up his public finance textbook the day before the exam, randomly flipping it open and reading two pages. He repeated this thrice. Come the day of the exam, out of six possible questions, he needed to answer three. Much to his amazement, the exact three pages he had skim-read were the focus of the exam questions!

Service above solitude: The unlikely path to spiritual leadership

Picture this: A friend asks if you could look after their furry companion over the holidays, but you decline, citing an already overflowing plate. Next time, you may want to consider saying 'yes.' Why, you may ask?

Well, the author's journey from solitude to becoming a spiritual guide was born out of surrendering to acts of service, rather than rebuffing the requests of others.

One such instance unfolded when a woman named Sandy approached the author, asking if she could set up a tent in his backyard and participate in his meditation sessions. Accepting this seemingly simple request sparked a dramatic transformation, converting his home into a spiritual sanctuary. Soon, Sandy invited her friends to join the sessions, eventually leading to the construction of a temple adjacent to his house. Before he knew it, the author found himself orchestrating spiritual retreats featuring revered masters from India.

Another curveball came his way when the author was invited for an interview for a teaching position in economics at a local community college, a subject he had zero passion for. However, a friend had set up this meeting with the program director and, amidst the interview, an idea sparked in the author's mind: Why not teach the students about the chatter of the mind and the healing power of meditation instead of economics? Astonishingly, the program director agreed!

The author's decision to surrender to change and challenges also steered him towards unexpected journeys.

Take, for instance, the time his neighbor was moving and requested him to occasionally visit his pen pal, Jerry. The twist? Jerry was an inmate in a maximum-security prison located 40 miles away. Despite his initial reluctance, the author leaned into his vow of surrender and visited Jerry in prison. To his surprise, he discovered that the young inmate had a fervent interest in meditation. Before long, Jerry had rallied a group of fellow inmates, who started to meet weekly with the author for meditation sessions.

Flow with life: How spirituality fuels successful entrepreneurship

Many of us tend to draw a clear line between spirituality and materialistic pursuits, confining spiritual practices to those keen to renounce worldly attachments. But, as the author found out, spiritual tenets can hold transformative potential for not just spiritual seekers but entrepreneurs too.

In fact, his commitment to live by his spiritual principles ended up steering him towards his first entrepreneurial venture.

The wheels of this unexpected journey were set in motion when the author returned home one day, only to be greeted by the local sheriff. Slightly taken aback, he wondered what could have possibly gone wrong. Much to his relief, the sheriff was there not to deliver a subpoena, but to express his admiration for the temple that the author and his friends had built on his property. He even asked the author if he could construct an extension for his house. Upholding his pledge to surrender to the flow of life, the author suddenly found himself donning the hat of a carpenter.

As he continued to flow with the rhythm of life, his business began to prosper.

Firstly, he discovered that clients weren't hard to come by. The sheriff had spread the word in the community, and soon he was kept busy with tasks ranging from installing fireplaces to building porches and garages.

However, he faced a roadblock when he tried to secure a loan for his newly christened business, "Built with Love". His lack of experience and limited financial resources led to a string of rejections from banks. Undeterred, he decided to approach one final bank. This time, he encountered the branch president, Jim Owens, who took a personal interest in his project and decided to pay a visit to the author's temple. Intrigued by what he saw, he decided to approve the loan.

This interplay of life's ebb and flow had a delightful turn when Jim Owens later left banking to open a video store. This time, he was the one in need of a loan, and the author stepped in to lend a hand.

Life's nudge: A journey from the woods to the world of software

Can you imagine a time, merely four decades ago, when computers were a novelty, a peek into a futuristic world? When the author first set eyes on a plastic keyboard linked to a 12-inch television screen, under the signboard reading TRS-80-COMPUTER in a shop window, it was a device straight out of a science fiction novel.

Despite his initial bewilderment, he felt an instinctive pull towards it, a gut feeling that this strange machine would prove beneficial. Heeding his intuition, he purchased this latest technological marvel, stepping into the nascent realm of computers and software.

Life, as if in a playful mood, was gently nudging him towards a new direction. Captivated by his TRS-80 computer, the author started dabbling with programming, finding a meditative resonance in it. Before long, he had fashioned a computerized accounting system for his carpentry business.

His emerging talents did not go unnoticed by the universe — a common consequence of surrendering to the currents of life. Word about his programming prowess began to spread, flooding the author with software programming requests. To cater to this burgeoning demand, he started vending off-the-shelf software while continuing to develop his own.

One day, he received calls from two clients almost simultaneously, inquiring about software for their medical billing systems. When the readily available software in the market fell short of their needs, the author's path was laid out before him: It was time to create a tailor-made software solution specifically for medical practices.

When the software was ready to launch, life laid out the red carpet. Just as he and his team had meticulously crafted hundreds of templates to maneuver the complex maze of US insurance companies, the phone rang. On the other end of the line was Systems Plus, the distributor for the author's accounting software, and they were in dire need of a new solution for medical billing!

Life's perfect timing: Embracing the right people and opportunities

Imagine receiving a call just as you're grappling with a vexing problem, and the person on the other end holds the exact solution you were searching for. Quite often, life unfolds in such uncanny ways, presenting us with precisely what we need at the right moment.

In the author's case, his company's first significant commercial project came from a woman notorious for her high demands, incessant modifications, and tight deadlines. But rather than surrendering to frustration, the author persevered and eventually pocketed $35,000 for his efforts. The real payoff came when one of his neighbors called him a week later, informing him that she was moving out and was open to selling her land to the author's spiritual center for $37,000.

However, the smooth sailing was soon interrupted when the zoning inspector alerted the author that his land did not meet the criteria for commercial property. And, as if to add salt to the wound, the city proposed constructing a waste dump on an adjacent plot next to the community's temple. The community retaliated by protesting against the waste plan, and eventually, it was scrapped. This land was later up for sale, and coincidentally, it met the zoning requirements for a business. Finally, the author had found the right plot for his company.

Life's serendipitous timing does not stop at opportunities — it also gifts us remarkable individuals who make a world of difference.

Whether it was a pilot to fly him across the state for meeting prospective clients, an accountant, or a proficient software designer, the author found that the right people invariably appeared just when he needed them.

The price of success: Embracing challenges and the art of letting go

What would you do if someone handed you the reins of a $300 million business? The allure of the hefty sum might eclipse the impending responsibility and complex intricacies that come attached. The real challenge of colossal success often lies in the relentless effort needed to sustain it.

In 1985, the surge in computer usage in medical practices caught the author's eye. It marked a transition from paper billing to electronic billing, signaling the next evolutionary leap for his medical billing software. But this transformation demanded an increased workload. Luckily, the author had a capable ally in Larry Horwitz, who painstakingly sifted through each of the 250 specification books from different insurance companies and amalgamated them all into a single program called Medical Manager. This meticulous work propelled Medical Manager to become a leading product in its industry.

Shortly after the launch of Medical Manager, the author was approached by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, a major insurance provider in the U.S. Committed to promoting digital transformation in medical practices, they were on the hunt for an efficient practice management system. As regional branches of Blue Cross Blue Shield began to market Medical Manager to clients nationwide, the author's company was compelled to expand to keep up with the demand.

However, success also necessitated learning to let go when the time was right.

With his business booming, a plan was tabled to amalgamate all Medical Manager dealers into one unified company. However, this consolidation required a hefty investment and the investors insisted that the new company own the original software developed by the author. With a heavy heart, the author conceded. It was time to relinquish his creation. Once the dust had settled, he found himself at the helm of a public company.

Embracing life's harsh trials: From the pinnacle of success to the throes of adversity

Surrendering to the flow of life comes easily when you're handed a million-dollar enterprise, a dream house, or the perfect life partner. But what if life presents you with a prison sentence instead?

When the tide turns against us, learning to accept and surrender becomes critical to preserving our mental well-being.

In 2003, the author found himself ensnared in such an ordeal when his office was raided by the FBI, his files confiscated, and he was suddenly embroiled in allegations of fraud.

The company had been probing an employee suspected of receiving kickbacks from the dealers he had taken over. Unbeknownst to the author, this very employee had tipped off the FBI, hoping to scapegoat the company’s managers for his own underhanded activities.

For many, such a predicament would have been a breaking point. But the author, having become well-versed in the art of surrendering to life's trials, weathered this storm with grace and acceptance.

In the face of adversity, it's crucial to remember that acceptance does not equate to capitulation — sometimes, it's a call to fight back, which is precisely what the author decided to do.

However, he was well aware of the grueling process ahead to defend the company. A team of thirty to forty lawyers was enlisted, and with charges looming, the author was compelled to relinquish his CEO position. As the government's case crumbled due to lack of evidence against the management team, all charges were eventually dropped. However, the litigation process would trudge on for another five long years.

Yet, within adversity often bloom the seeds of unexpected blessings.

One silver lining emerged from those strenuous five years: the author finally had the time to put pen to paper. In doing so, he authored 'The Untethered Soul', which soared to the New York Times bestseller list.

Wrapping it up

The main take-away from this book:

Instead of dwelling excessively on orchestrating your life path, embrace the opportunities that life places before you and tune in to the people around you. Investigate how your distinct skills can aid others. Be mindful that those who seek your assistance could be the universe's way of indicating how lending a hand can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life.