"The Secret" has recently been all the big rage: it has been the featured DVD and book at bookstores nationwide; Oprah Winfrey had the cast on her show, twice; Larry King made it the subject of his show. But what is it to actually live "The Secret"?

The ironic thing is that the 'Secret' itself isn't: as the film points out, philosophers throughout the ages have known it. More recently Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote about it in "The Power of Positive Thinking." Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, on an aspect of it. It is the power to take control of your own life, creating a life of happiness through your positive thoughts.

The Community for Spiritual Living (CSL) hosts a showing of "The Secret" on Sunday, May 20, at 1 p.m. Following the showing, practitioners of CSL will lead discussions on what the film means to the individual and audience members can share their thoughts on how they can incorporate the teachings of the show in their daily lives.

Rev. Charllotte Amant is the Spiritual Leader of the Colorado Springs CSL, which is in their 40 th year. She says that "The Secret" philosophy falls very much in line with how CSL runs.

"'The Secret' talks about the 'law of attraction,'" said Amant. The law of attraction, as explained in the film, is that positive thoughts towards a goal attracts positive energy towards that goal; likewise negative thoughts produce negative results.

At CSL, while not called the law of attraction, the same basic philosophy is held to. At CSL it is called the law of mind.

"Change our thinking, change our life. So that thinking what our beliefs are creates our life. So if we begin to change the beliefs we are holding, we will change the experience of life," said Amant.

"One of the aspects of this is that money and health are two ways we can quickly see how the law of mind, the law of attraction works. This is something very small that very quickly responds to a small shift in belief," said Amant. "If we then take this to the totally spiritual base, it is that in everything in our life from our belief is created. So we can look at it from our concept of God. We have put that together to our body, to our health, to our relationships, to our prosperity, to anything, to the way we perceive the world.

"'The Secret' tries to move in that direction. A lot of it is to encourage people to try it, just try to see if you can shift your finances some, because it is the quickest response. It is much easier to shift it than many other things," said Amant.

"Do we have a spiritual life that fulfills us and lifts us and inspires us? Do we really know that we are not just one with God but are one of God? We really have that sense that we are an expression of that spirit by allowing that to work in our life, by God to express itself through us for a healthy, happy life as well as to make a positive difference on the planet," added Amant.

"My connection with 'The Secret' goes back to 1980, when I moved to Los Angeles to go to the school of ministry and as a volunteer in the World Ministry of Prayer, I met my mentor and friend, Dr. Michael Beckwith," Amant said.

Beckwith is with Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles and a featured commentator in the film. Amant is pleased that he acts as the representative for the aspects of the show most in line with the teachings of CSL.

The showing is free and open to the public at large. It runs 93 minutes and a short film, 'Expanding Universe,' will precede the showing. Light refreshments will be served. CSL is at 3685 Jeannine Dr., Colorado Springs, near the Wendy's on N. Academy Blvd. south of Austin Bluffs Parkway. CSL holds services every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and invites the public to join in.