The Surrender Experiment

“I knew there had to be others who had gained the perspective of watching that voice of the mind instead of identifying with it. Not only was there an entire legacy of knowledge spanning thousands of years that dealt with the voice, but this book clearly discussed ‘getting out.’”

Singer highlights the transformative realization that his inner struggle with the “voice” is a universal experience, using reflective narration and historical context to connect his personal journey with the broader spiritual legacy of Zen practices. This interplay emphasizes the timeless relevance of seeking liberation from the mind's chatter.

“I was watching a human being in almost unbearable pain. My heart exuded pain all the time, and my mind was literally broken. It was as though the foundation of my self-concept had been removed, and my personal self was in free fall.”

Singer uses vivid imagery and metaphor, likening his emotional turmoil to a “free fall,” to convey the depth of his existential crisis. These literary devices emphasize the transformative impact of loss on dismantling his self-concept, a recurring theme in his journey toward surrender and spiritual growth.

“To me there was no doubt about how it happened—I had let go of myself and something very special had followed.”

Singer reflects on the power of surrender establishing a tone of humility and gratitude, using simplicity of language to emphasize the profound outcomes of letting go. This moment encapsulates the book's central theme, illustrating how release from self-centered control opens the path to deeper, unanticipated experiences.

“I now realized that the great saints and masters of all the religious traditions had gone beyond their personal self to find their spiritual self. Yogananda called it self-realization.”

Singer emphasizes the universal pursuit of transcending the personal self to achieve spiritual self-realization, using references to religious traditions and Yogananda’s teachings to bridge his personal journey with timeless spiritual wisdom. This approach underscores his use of comparative spirituality as a literary device, connecting individual experience to broader human aspirations.

“I remembered my recent commitment to surrender to what life brought before me. That voice I was watching was not my spiritual adviser; it was my spiritual burden.”

Singer uses the contrast between the observing self and the reactive mind to emphasize the transformative Power of Surrender. By framing the voice in his head as a "spiritual burden," he employs metaphor to illustrate the inner conflict that fuels his commitment to relinquish control and embrace life’s unfolding events.

“By following the flow of life, instead of my own preferences, I was now a carpenter, a teacher, and a published author. Little by little, the fabric of my life was composed of the results of my surrender.”

Singer reflects on how surrendering personal control enabled life to unfold in ways he could never have planned, using cumulative listing (“a carpenter, a teacher, and a published author”) to emphasize the unexpected diversity of his roles, while the metaphor of "fabric" symbolizes the interconnectedness of these experiences as woven by surrender.

“If I had known then that we were destined to fall in love, get married, and have a beautiful daughter together—given my mind-set at the time, I definitely would not have let her move in. It would take a few more years of learning to surrender before I would be capable of dropping my spiritual self-concept enough to accept the special relationships that life had in store for me.”

Singer reflects on his resistance to personal relationships during a time when his identity was heavily tied to a “spiritual self-concept.” He acknowledges that his mindset, rooted in an idealized detachment, would have prevented him from embracing the human connections life had in store for him. This insight reveals his evolving understanding of surrender—not as avoidance of attachments but as an openness to life’s unexpected gifts. The phrase “dropping my spiritual self-concept” signifies his growth beyond rigid notions of spirituality, illustrating that true surrender includes embracing relationships as integral to personal and spiritual growth.

“With a single touch, this man could bring about such transformation. At that moment I understood what was meant by a Siddha master—Baba did not belong in this world; he was from somewhere else altogether.”

Singer captures the spiritual significance of his encounter with Baba by emphasizing the transformative power of a single touch, symbolizing the master’s extraordinary connection to the divine. Through concise and reverent language, Singer underscores the contrast between ordinary human existence and the spiritual transcendence embodied by Baba, highlighting the theme of surrender to a higher force beyond worldly comprehension.

“Little by little, the items in the temple began to represent all religions, all saints, and all masters. As its roof rafters stretched up toward the sky, the temple also belonged to those whose religion was the reality of the Infinite.”

Singer encapsulates the universal and inclusive spirit of the temple, portraying it as a sacred space that transcends individual religions and traditions. By describing the Temple’s items as representing “all religions, all saints, and all masters,” he emphasizes unity in diversity, suggesting that spiritual truths are interconnected regardless of their origins. The metaphor of the roof rafters “stretching up toward the sky” evokes an image of limitless aspiration and connection to the infinite. The phrase “the reality of the Infinite” underscores the temple’s broader purpose as a sanctuary for all seekers, irrespective of specific beliefs, aligning with Singer’s theme of surrender to universal truth.

“The fact is, I never even dreamed of starting a spiritual center. It all just happened by surrendering to the flow of life. Though there was at least some internal resistance each step of the way, I just kept letting go.”

Singer reflects on the organic unfolding of his journey, highlighting how surrendering to life’s flow, rather than deliberate planning, led to the creation of a spiritual center. The phrase “it all just happened” underscores the spontaneity and lack of control he experienced, while “internal resistance” acknowledges the natural hesitations he faced along the way. His emphasis on “letting go” illustrates a recurring theme in his philosophy: the act of relinquishing personal control and allowing life to guide the path, centering the transformative power of surrender as a means to achieve outcomes far beyond conscious intent.

“There are some amazing stories of how people ended up at the Temple, and these stories had a profound effect on my willingness to surrender to life’s flow. It was as though people were handpicked to show up at just the right time in their spiritual growth—and ours.”

Singer emphasizes the serendipitous nature of life and how its unfolding aligns with both individual and collective growth. By describing people as “handpicked” and arriving “at just the right time,” he conveys a sense of divine orchestration or universal intelligence guiding events, a central tenet of his worldview. The interplay between the individual’s spiritual growth and that of the community underscores the interconnectedness of their journeys. This observation deepens his commitment to surrendering, as it reinforces his belief in life’s inherent wisdom to bring about meaningful connections and transformative experiences. The use of personal anecdotes adds a reflective and relatable tone to this insight.

“Now a boutique business in West Palm, one of the most affluent cities in the United States, had hired me to fly down and computerize the business. It was all beyond my comprehension. I was never even trained in any of this. I was just living in a fairy tale.”

Through his candid acknowledgment of his lack of formal training and his astonishment at the opportunities unfolding before him, Singer emphasizes the power of releasing control. The use of “living in a fairy tale” as a metaphor underscores the surreal and magical quality of his experiences, blending humility with wonder at the unforeseen paths life presents.

“In a very short period of time, Medical Manager practices would be defining hundreds of different templates needed to handle the nation’s insurance companies.”

This excerpt underscores the rapid evolution and scaling of Medical Manager as a pivotal tool in the healthcare industry. By emphasizing “hundreds of different templates” and their necessity for managing the complexities of “the nation’s insurance companies,” Singer highlights the intersection of innovation and practicality. The specificity of the achievement demonstrates how surrendering to life’s flow allowed him to create something that adapted to and influenced a critical system, showcasing the impact of aligning vision with societal needs.

“As head of Personalized Programming, it was now my job to do business with all these large corporations. I had never worked at that level before. But just as life had given me on-the-job training to become a builder and a programmer, she was now training me to be a corporate executive.”

This excerpt reflects The Challenges and Rewards of Living a Life Aligned with the Universe’s Flow, which led Singer to embrace roles he never anticipated. By likening his transition to becoming a corporate executive to his previous “on-the-job training,” he emphasizes life’s ability to prepare and guide through unexpected experiences. The personification of life as a teacher underscores the theme of trust in life’s unfolding, while the contrast between his humble beginnings and his corporate responsibilities highlights the power of adaptability and surrender.

“It left me breathless to see all this unfold the way it did. I was playing a game with life, and every time life made its move, a part of my noisy mind fell away. Why was I needed? Everything was unfolding on its own much better than anything I could ever imagine—let alone do.”

This excerpt captures Singer’s belief in life’s self-sustaining and autonomous nature. By describing life as a “game,” he emphasizes the interplay between his surrender and life's unfolding, illustrating his diminishing need for control. The phrase “a part of my noisy mind fell away” symbolizes his deepening detachment from ego and mental chatter, achieved through trust in the process. His acknowledgment that life unfolds “better than anything [he] could ever imagine” underscores the theme of surrender to a higher order, blending humility with awe for life’s innate intelligence.

“By the time it was all done, we ended up with five buildings, giving us more than 85,000 square feet of high-tech office space. To this day, I stand in awe of how life unfolded so perfectly to provide us exactly what we needed, exactly when we needed it.”

This quote emphasizes Singer’s enduring amazement at life’s ability to orchestrate outcomes beyond his planning or control. The detailed description of “85,000 square feet of high-tech office space” highlights the scale and precision of what was achieved, underscoring the efficiency of surrender over personal strategizing. By stating, “exactly what we needed, exactly when we needed it,” Singer illustrates his faith in the synchronicity of life’s flow, showcasing the recurring theme of trust and alignment with larger, unseen order guiding events.

“I learned a lot about surrender by being with Amrit during this whole ordeal. What I saw was that no matter who we are, life is going to put us through the changes we need to go through. The question is: Are we willing to use this force for our transformation? I saw that even very intense situations don’t have to leave psychological scars, if we are willing to process our changes at a deeper level.”

This quote reflects Singer’s core philosophy of surrender as a tool for personal transformation. By acknowledging that life inevitably brings challenges, he frames these experiences as opportunities for growth rather than sources of trauma. The rhetorical question, “Are we willing to use this force for our transformation?” invites self-reflection, emphasizing individual agency in responding to life’s events. His observation that “intense situations don’t have to leave psychological scars” highlights the transformative potential of processing experiences deeply, promoting healing and resilience over lingering emotional wounds.

“Fifteen years later, Medical Manager was now going to become a public company. Standing at the threshold of this major event, I was totally in awe seeing where my experiment with surrender had managed to lead me.”

Singer captures the culmination of his surrender experiment, highlighting the awe and disbelief he feels at the monumental success achieved through letting go of control. The phrase “standing at the threshold” conveys a pivotal moment of transformation, symbolizing both a literal and figurative crossing into new territory. By attributing the journey to surrender rather than deliberate planning, he reinforces his central theme: allowing life’s flow to guide decisions can lead to unimaginable outcomes. The tone of humility and wonder underscores Singer’s acknowledgment of life’s greater orchestration beyond personal effort.

“My mouth went dry, and tears welled up in my eyes. I had given everything up, and it kept coming back tenfold. When I had decided to let go and devote my life to serving what was unfolding in front of me, I was earning less than five thousand dollars a year. When Built with Love came together, it grew from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands in revenue. When Personalized Programming came together, it quickly grew to millions and then more than ten million in sales and royalties. Now I was dealing with a hundred-million-dollar asset. It wasn’t the money that moved me; it was the invisible hand of life that blew me away.”

Singer conveys the emotional impact of his surrender experiment, using vivid imagery—“my mouth went dry, and tears welled up”—to emphasize the overwhelming realization of life’s abundance. The juxtaposition of his humble beginnings, earning "less than five thousand dollars a year,” with the astronomical growth to “a hundred-million-dollar asset” highlights the power of relinquishing control. By attributing this success to “the invisible hand of life,” Singer de-emphasizes personal ambition, framing his journey as a testament to the rewards of faith and selfless service. This reflection blends humility with awe, reinforcing the theme that surrendering to life’s flow yields outcomes far beyond individual imagination.

“After almost thirty years, I’d seen enough perfection unfold around me that nothing in me wanted to interfere with the flow ever again. I had seen time and again how what at first appeared to be a problem turned out to be a guiding force of change leading us forward.”

Singer reflects on his journey of surrender, emphasizing the recurring theme of life’s inherent perfection. The phrase “nothing in me wanted to interfere with the flow ever again” highlights his complete trust in the unfolding of events, illustrating a shift from resistance to alignment with life’s natural rhythm. Through the juxtaposition of “problem” and “guiding force of change,” Singer conveys the power of perspective, suggesting that challenges are catalysts for growth and evolution. The tone is introspective and affirming, encouraging readers to reconsider their relationship with adversity and embrace change as a necessary path forward.

“The merger between Medical Manager Corporation and Synetic created quite a stir. It was the main business story on CNN that evening and was prominent in the Wall Street Journal the next day. The new company kept the Medical Manager Corporation name, and John Kang and I were co-CEOs and sat on the board of directors with Marty as chairman.”

This quote highlights the monumental shift in Singer’s journey as his company, Medical Manager Corporation, ascends to national prominence through a high-profile merger. By mentioning its coverage on CNN and in the Wall Street Journal, Singer situates the event within a larger societal and economic context, demonstrating the significant impact of his work. The collaborative leadership structure, with Singer as co-CEO alongside John Kang and Marty as chairman, symbolizes a confluence of expertise and shared vision, reflecting the surrender to collective outcomes rather than individual control. The factual tone underscores the scale and gravity of this milestone, marking a turning point in his experiment with surrender.

“When the sun set on September 3, 2003, nationwide, the government had taken 1.2 million e-mail messages, 1,500 boxes of files containing more than 3 million pages of documents, and 830,000 computer files. This was, indeed, a day that would live in infamy.”

This quote captures a pivotal and dramatic moment in Singer's narrative, underscoring the scale of government action against him and his company. By specifying the sheer volume of confiscated materials—1.2 million emails, 1,500 boxes of documents, and 830,000 computer files—Singer employs precise data to emphasize the magnitude of the event, lending a sense of gravity and overwhelming force. The phrase “a day that would live in infamy,” echoing Franklin D. Roosevelt's words about Pearl Harbor, adds a historical and emotional weight, framing the event as a deeply significant and life-altering ordeal. The juxtaposition of the mundane (emails, boxes) with the catastrophic connotation intensifies the tension and stakes of the situation.

“The trial went extremely well. John Kang’s attorney turned out to be an excellent litigator, and he pretty much handled all the cross examination of the government witnesses, including Bobby and his paramour from the accounting department, Caroline. By the time the government rested its case, the defense attorneys felt that almost every government witness had been turned into a favorable witness for the defense.”

This quote reflects a turning point in the narrative, in which the trial’s momentum shifts in favor of the defense. Singer uses descriptive yet straightforward language to recount the effectiveness of John Kang’s attorney, emphasizing his skill as a litigator. The phrase “pretty much handled all the cross-examination” conveys a sense of authority and control, suggesting the defense’s strong strategy. By highlighting how the government witnesses, including key individuals like Bobby and Caroline, were turned into assets for the defense, Singer underscores the unexpected reversal of fortune. The tone combines relief and vindication, illustrating how surrendering to the unfolding events allowed a positive outcome to emerge.