The Surrender Experiment

Singer reflects on the unexpected growth of Built with Love, and the synchronicity that unfolded in his life as a result of his surrender. Singer finds himself earning more money from construction jobs than he has ever managed before. Radha, a member of the community with bookkeeping experience, helps organize the business’s finances. Together, they set up proper accounting for the business, with the help of Singer’s brother-in-law, a CPA.

A community member offers Singer the use of a valid builder’s license, allowing him to take on bigger projects—an offer that comes just in time for an important task: building an extension on Donna’s cabin to accommodate her growing family. Singer marvels at how life seemed to take care of his needs even before he knows he has them.

After the birth of his daughter, Durga Devi, Singer takes on a commercial job, transforming a liquor store into a clothing shop. While demanding, this project pays significantly more than his previous jobs, netting him a remarkable profit of $35,000 in just four weeks. Shortly after, he learns that his neighbor is selling two rustic cabins on her property for $37,000—almost the exact amount he has just earned. Singer realizes that none of these events are about personal gain. Instead, he sees himself as a caretaker, allowing the money to be used for expanding the temple’s land, fully trusting in life’s flow.

After completing Deputy Knowles’s garage, the company expands so quickly that Singer finds himself running two crews, with Radha managing the office full-time. One day, a young couple asks him to build them a house—an entirely new venture for the company. Building a house, however, requires a construction loan, for which something Singer isn’t equipped.

Singer submits a loan applications to various banks only to be met with rejection after rejection. Frustrated but not defeated, he decides to try one last bank, accepting that if it doesn’t work out, it’s a sign that home building isn’t meant to be. The receptionist leads him to the office of Jim Owens, the bank's president. Despite Built with Love not meeting the bank’s normal criteria, Owens believes in supporting community businesses. He personally advocates for the loan and has it approved. Singer, overwhelmed by this act of kindness, wonders— “Who are these people, anyway—Alan Robertson, Rama Malone, Deputy Knowles? They’re like messengers from God sent to tell me what I’m supposed to be doing with my life” (116).

Built with Love is now in the business of custom home construction. A decade later, Singer encounters Jim Owens again, but this time the roles are reversed. Owens has left banking and finds himself struggling to secure a loan for his new business, a small video store. The amount Owens needs—$20,000—is the same amount that he had once approved for Singer. Without hesitation, Singer offers the loan, recognizing it as life’s way of bringing everything full circle.

Singer transitions out of teaching at Santa Fe College to focus on Built With Love. He describes a standout project, building a home for professional golfer Tom Jenkins, located just down the road from the Temple. Years later, this home becomes part of the Temple’s growing community.

The Temple expands, accumulating property and many more residents. Singer observes that Built with Love consistently earns just enough money to purchase neighboring properties when they became available, turning it into a “game” with life. New residents appear at just the right time, guided—in Singer’s view—by life’s hand. He shares a story of a shy student who eventually becomes a long-term resident, revealing how she believes it's Singer himself who invited her in when, in fact, it is life beckoning her.

Despite his growing responsibilities with Built with Love, Singer remains dedicated to visiting inmates every other Saturday. Radha joins him on these visits, handling correspondence and bringing spiritual books for the inmates. Singer’s prison work focuses on teaching meditation and helping the prisoners let go of their inner mental struggles, an endeavor he describes as deeply impacts both him and the inmates.

Singer develops a relationship with David, a former leader of the Outlaws motorcycle gang, whom he sees as sincerely committed to spiritual growth, attending all of Singer’s sessions and leading meditation practices for other inmates. When David faces additional charges for old crimes, Singer believes his calm acceptance evidences his deep understanding of karma and surrender.

Singer arranges for his spiritual mentor, Amrit, to visit David in solitary confinement. David feels overwhelmed by the love and spiritual energy he feels from Amrit. For Singer, David's journey from a violent past to spiritual leadership within the prison reflects the profound impact of surrender and inner freedom.