No Wonder, Ilene Cooper from BookList, in her Review says:

"Chopra's writing can be overly dramatic and his language flowery.."

"From prince to fully awakened being we enter the mythic life of the Great Lord Buddha painted in primary colors on a canvas so fresh and unpretentious that we can sit and contemplate the essence of this ultimate spiritual adventure. Bravo Deepak!”

--James O’Dea
President, Institute of Noetic Sciences "

Opinions of Institute of Neotic Sciences, included in this post..damn!

This institute is listed on Questionable Organistations on Quackwatch.org.

*****

"The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) is an unaccredited group that attempts to use scientific research to understand alleged paranormal phenomena such as telepathy, clairvoyance, psychokinesis and "mind-body health" such as the effects of meditation. "

Congratulations Deepak.

It is good you are selling this as book of fiction and spirituality and not as a research on historical Buddha - the Real Budhha. Fictions do well as movies. The next logical step is to sell it as a movie.

It would have been great had you also sold your afterlife speculations: "Life After death: Burden of Proof" as a Spiritual-Science-Fiction rather than as Science-and-Spirituality.

"In case Chopra's fans want something more direct, an epilogue and concluding "practical guide" offer nonfiction commentary and teaching on core Buddhist principles."

I am sure Chopra fans who read many of his previous books and still didn't find their God..will be eager to read this new installment.

I am sure these people want to read Deepak Chopra for the mesmerizing language than to know and follow the teachings of Buddha, to seek enlightenment by meditation, to lead a pious life.

They read more and more books which repeat the spiritual values...shelling out more bucks...searching for enlightenment, for ever.

Aloha Deepak

It sounds wonderful and I was happy that Fire in Your Heart (audio)is avaliable too! Your the Best, love patty

I am eagerly waiting for the audio book this time, there is nothing like listening to stories of greatness, especially when the storyteller is an example of such greatness.

I perceive enormous wisdom in your books, Deepak. And also truth, honesty, courage, inspired beauty, naturalness, deep knowledge, intelligence and a sense of playful ease. These books have transformed not only me, but everyone around me in the most profound ways. Thank you!

Jeff&Janet: I did think about this deeply. I don't enjoy the critics very much, but I must say there is something true in what you people say.

There is nothing wrong in making a movie on Buddha by adding spice and making it dramatic. To make lofty goals out of it, to think the world will change, there will be a shift in consciousness by making a movie on buddha or writing his lifestory is Crap. Keep your intentions and expectations from such projects clear, that's all. If you're making a 100 Million dollar movie on buddha and taking out double the profits. Be sure you're clear on that. But, to present that this movie or book will bring about the shift in consciousness?? mmm! The Director who is planning to make a movie on that, has left his wife in tears and loss of peace. I just wonder, someone like him will be able to show a way or light to the world by making a movie? Damn!! I used to think highly of him. Not anymore. You damn critics, I must say you've been right on many counts. It's me who has been wrong in thinking that these are saints who could really show a way to the world. They are out there to make money and profits out of it. Whatever maybe the topic, if not romance and action, then take spirituality and make millions. Yeah, when there is so much audience which is ready to pay them so much for spirituality. Why not??

People used to tell me, Ricky, These guys are top class Enterpreneurs, and don't get fooled by them. I thought they were wrong. Now, I can see what they meant.

Good critics are an essential part of a healthy system Janet. I know, the world, the times are very nasty, but if one can present a neat sincere critique then I can think it can be a very valuable read to those who are on these lines.

Now, I'm thinking of making a movie on Jesus and maybe I can rake in millions. LOL! And present to the audience that this movie will bring about the shift in consciousness which we all have been dreaming and the world would become a peaceful place to live, after this movie.

Dear Ricky,
They never claim to be saints and non-profit entities. So what, if they are making money? I think its a prerogative. But thats good criticism anyway :)).
PS: by the way, you are making money on something well decribed once by G B Shaw. What about that huh ;))?

Dear Ricky,
They never claim to be saints and non-profit entities. So what, if they are making money? I think its a prerogative. But thats good criticism anyway :)).
PS: by the way, you are making money on something well decribed once by G B Shaw. What about that huh ;))?

"Siddhartha", by Hermann Hesse (1922), has stood the
test of time and can still today be purchased off the shelf
at many a bookstore.

Much acclaimed in it's time, it is a story about a young man
who bucked the system religiously and politically.

Jesus is purported to have said, "Drop everything and follow me."

Jesus was not referring to himself as a lowly man here.

He was speaking of what D.K. terms the Super Universal Consciousness.

In The Bible, 'Light' and 'Fire' and 'Christ' were
the symbols used to represent
this state of consciousness, the Heaven within.

The only begotten son of God, the way I read it,
was this Self-same Awareness, the Creator of Reality.

Buddhists refer to this as the Buddha nature.
Before it was called that, Siddhartha dropped everything...
literally, dogmatically, and metaphorically,
and became a seeker of that which could only be alluded to.

Surely Jesus knew of his story, as did the Essenes.

Jesus was supposed to have had all the virtues perfected
from the very beginning of his human life.
For those who don't believe that part of his story,
it may be assumed that he also achieved a natural
perfection via the way of the Buddha.

I believe they both took a vow of poverty.
They transcended the sorry human state and saw life for what it really is.
They both learned the skills necessary to be be called
a spiritual teacher, and they taught with word and by example.

Show me a man or woman like that living today,
and I will make ready to follow them through thick and thin!

But first, I have to patiently wait until my kids grow up
and work until the set retirement age, for I also
believe that we have to give to Caesar that which belongs to him.

Good luck to Deepak. He does take on the toughest subjects.

Hello Deepak and Everyone,

So, Jeff/Janet/Patricia/RickPointing/Nescowafer how bout revealing your real identity? I know you take friday pm to saturday pm off..for some hot date but it seems the rest of the week you have hours to spare...hmmm. wonder wonder wonder

who is the real person behind the many names and why are are their posts only posts that challenge Deepak..like...so mr spearatyouall smarty pants think you know everything liberal lovin gun hating abortion cheerin terrorist sympathizer life and death charlatan quackie wackie gooroo.. what is it you are sellin the fools now and why are these fools reading you instead of me..jeff/janet/patricia/rickpointing/nesoo? I/WE don't get it at all!

have a great day everyone..ruth

What I'm still a bit confused about is that apparently, Deepak has written this book from the perspective of Siddhartha and he claims that no-one to his knowledge has done that before. If no-one has written it this way before, there must be a good reason for it, don’t you think?

How could Deepak claim to know or even begin to imagine what Siddhartha's inner experience was? Isn't it a bit pretentious to think one could write such a book? No-one will ever know what Siddhartha's experience was really like unless, of course, Deepak was Siddhartha in a past life!

fts,

For your information a trilogy on the life of Siddharta has been written in 2000 by Patricia Chendi with the original title "Il principe Siddharta". It was translated into the Dutch language in 2000.

It is a story about a universal inner truth we still seem to have lost these days.

Siddharta is not happy, he wants to see the world and experience real life, cause only then he will be able to know himself and attain enlightenment.

In a way the story of Jesus is the same.

Go and investigate and experience everything and keep the good.

It is an invitation to us all!

Would be very nice to read Deepak´s version of it :)

Hi Deepak,
Nice to see you are keeping busy. ;)

Your book sounds great. I'm all for becoming a buddha. Just tired of trying so hard. Your book might have a clue for me, but I think I've already figured it out anyway. We'll see. :) I'd race you to buddhahood, but in my world we all arrive at the same time.

Scott likes to joke, "I think I've got a few more spins on the wheel." I think I do too.
But that's okay.

Love, Kristin

Let's see 288 pages on the Buddha probably lots of illustrations and large type, yep I would say this is the definitive Buddha book, just like the rest of the final says: Vedanta,Kaballah,Kama Sutra,World Peace,Spritual Laws, the list goes on and on.

Yet he has time to blog twice a week, what is your secret Deepak?

Steve

Dear Ambasteve,

Perhaps Deepak has a lot of co-writers? But why wouldn´t that be a problem. We are all one and the book only reveals a universal truth.

And the more people can profit whether financial or spiritual or even beneficial to me this truth seems worth it.

For me this is another book to share. Share with as many people as you can. And if one is able to buy it and let it circle in one´s friendship and family environment, then why not?

Correction: But why would that be a problem?

My problem Mieke is if you notice on the cover of the Buddha book, Deepak gets top billing, then Buddha appears. Does that seem odd to you or anybody else.

If Deepak has co-writers which I suspect he does, then why not share the credit? Don't we honor diversity on IB? Tolerance?

All I see is Deepak, then the title, that's enough for me to know what this book is about.

Cheers,

Steve

Dear Ambasteve,

Aren´t we all Buddha? :)

What is in a name? I have translated two books for a Dutch writer who calls herself Angel and i know she is not me. Yet i do not want my name present in the book as translator, cause what she describes in it is a struggle all women go through and i am convinced a lot if not all men too.

What does the name Deepak mean? Tell me because almost everyone in India seems to have a first name with a special universal meaning to it. That is what i learned here on Intentblog from Harb. And where he lives very many people have the surname of Singh.

I do remember though in all the books i have read written by Deepak, he has an extensive list of people to whom he is thankful for advice and help in whatever way. Am sure these people will all benefit from the output of the relevant book.

I guess if we want a new economy to arise in the 21st century, more people should develop an attitude for the benefit of humanity as a whole. Am sure Deepak is realizing this and there are a lot of other writers and entrepreneurs that already realize this too.

Me in my own way try to make the above come true in my world and someone else does it in another way. You just do it your way and learn and dare to choose again if something is not working the way you intended to :)

We always have the right to choose and experience whatever we want at whatever moment.

Cheers,
Mieke

Keith, #11, yes, give the devil its due as I often say to my sons and then follow your real calling.

Your post for me is bordering on perfection. I cant imagine anything being added or subtracted.

Harb.

There seems to be a ground swell away from the mind body pioneers, like Deepak, in the direction of reason.

Here is the latest.

Here comes the forth Musketeer.

God Is Not Great
By Christopher Hitchens

"If God intended reasonable men and women to worship Him without embarrassment, why did He create Christopher Hitchens? It was a fatal miscalculation. In God Is Not Great, Hitchens not only demonstrates that religion is man-made--and made badly--he laughs the whole monstrosity to rubble. This is a profoundly clever book, addressing the most pressing social issue of our time, by one of the finest writers in the land."

Sam Harris, author of the New York Times best sellers, The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation

Richard Dawkins is probably the world’s foremost evolutionary biologist.

With these thoughts about memes, he expresses hope for our future.

“It is possible that yet another unique quality of man is a capacity for genuine, disinterested, true altruism. I hope so, but I am not going to argue the case one way or another, nor to speculate over its possible memic evolution. The point I am making now is that, even if we look on the dark side and assume that individual man is fundamentally selfish, our conscious foresight -- our capacity to simulate the future in imagination -- could save us from the worst selfish excesses of the blind replicators.”

“We have at least the mental equipment to foster our long-term selfish interests rather than merely our short-term selfish interests. We can see the long-term benefits of participating in a `conspiracy of doves', and we can sit down together to discuss ways of making the conspiracy work. We have the power to defy the selfish genes of our birth and, if necessary, the selfish memes of our indoctrination.”

“We can even discuss ways of deliberately cultivating and nurturing pure, disinterested altruism -- something that has no place in nature, something that has never existed before in the whole history of the world. We are built as gene machines and cultured as meme machines, but we have the power to turn against our own creators.”

“ We, alone on earth, can rebel against the tyranny of the selfish replicators.”

Depaak Chopra has no degree in biology but appears quite proud to have labelled Richard Dawkins a bigot and a materialist, all because of a disagreement over consciousness.

Richard Dawkins, considered one of the world's most influential scientists, is the first holder of the Charles Simonyi professorship of the public understanding of science at Oxford University and the recipient of a number of awards for his writings and for his science, including the International Cosmos Prize, the Kistler Prize, and the Shakespeare Prize. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society. In a recent poll in the United Kingdom, he was named Britain's leading public intellectual. He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books, such as The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Unweaving the Rainbow, The Devil's Chaplain, and The Ancestor's Tale. The New York Times Book Review has hailed him as a writer who "understands the issues so clearly that he forces his reader to understand them too."

It looks like nonsensical truthiness prevails whenever the brights are missing. The pretenders are full of it and their followers out of it, common sense, reason and rationality that is.

More and more neurological evidence shows that when the meme of faith, religion, or new age mumbo jumbo has altered the wiring of your brain, you will lose the desire for evidence. Blind faith becomes a virtue.

However, please don’t forget, science will grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Dear Skeptisch, I wish you the wisdom to know that you can indeed change your thinking :)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQeeZDkMCUQ

Your dad must not need much sleep!

Steve

Apachu: It is their prerogative. Who said no to that. I clearly mentioned that at the outset. My point there was: They both are Excellent Entrepreneurs. In my eyes Spirituality and business don't go together. For me, it is too too pure to get money and profit into it. I understand though that in new age nothing is spared to make Profits. That is why I want to make a movie on Jesus.:-) and from that money I want to buy big house in a posh locality and a couple of suv's. all from the profits from Jesus. yup!

My other point was with expectations and dreams. My god. I was once a part of that. Dreaming of utopia and better world. BS!! It's a BS world and more than likely it will be the same story continuing for a long time. By making a movie on buddha and showing it to the dirty dog eat dog world and thin section of spiritual population, thinking that with such things there will be a shift in the consciousness and the world will get better thru' this way!! Give me a break!!! That is what I don't like Apachu. Do write, make movies, make profit. But be clear in what you're doing and in your expectations. The world is not going to be saved by writing a few books, making a movie on buddha or conducting few seminars. The misery and problems are Incredibly deep rooted. If you really want to think of a better world for the whole of human population 6.5 billion, then go to the base and provide all their basic needs, food to eat, place for shelter. Basic education, healthcare for everyone. Then, only then you can talk and dream of attaining a better world. Otherwise, it will only be for a thin % of the 6.5 billion. That thin section will have it all, and the rest the same misery for them.

Do good things, think good things. That is a good way of living, but to Expect that the whole world will get rid of its problems by doing such things is downright ridiculous. It amounts to Living in a Delusional world by definition.

Well, life is about choices though apachu. To each his own.

Ricky

These words are especially eye-opening on commercialization of spirituality which in effect is materialism in disguise - entertainment, ego-centric, amassing money, success and wealth, forgetting the spiritual essence of the dissolution of ego:

"Today meditation is taught by corporations to their executives to enhance the corporate profits. Meditation and yoga has degenerated into mere materialistic tools to exploit the mind/body to pursue the self-centered motives for multiplying physical, bodily, and material gains, successes, power, and fame.

Just two months ago, I took a six week course in meditation. For sure, most students saw some positive results with regard to momentary feelings and experiences of stress relief. When, I asked the teacher (an accomplished teacher boasting having several months meditation teaching training from a well-known master in India) to explain some fundamental theory or mechanistic explanation as to how, why, and when it works or fails to give any positive results, the teacher was a blank and admitted that she had no such understanding.

The point is that for majority of the masses involved in practicing meditation, it is merely a mechanistic ritual that is far away from spirituality. It is no different than practicing dieting to reduce obesity. Only the genuine meditation that dissolves the ego leads to the realization of spirituality. A consistent mechanistic ritual of practicing meditation is no different from the religious ritual of going to temple or church every weekend. All mechanistic rituals that do not transform a person via dissolving the ego are plain dogmas leading to temporal self-gratification and enhancing the ego that leads to even greater suffering in the end."

(Excerpt from a comment by Dr. Avtar Singh)

*******

Appreciate these comments too:

"I believe they both(Buddha and Jesus)took a vow of poverty. They transcended the sorry human state and saw life for what it really is. They both learned the skills necessary to be be called a spiritual teacher, and they taught with word and by example.

Show me a man or woman like that living today, and I will make ready to follow them through thick and thin!"

- Keith Allen Watson

"give the devil its due as I often say to my sons and then follow your real calling."

-Harbhajan Singh

Dear Dr. Chopra, offcourse I gonna, read, those words of yours, so my Disney..:)

1. Why is The Path to Love, not available on audio, not mentioning DVD?
2. Is there gonna be an audio version, of that Buddha book?
3. Let me, when I order 'esoteric' stuff in the Netherlands, I have to wait, overpay, but I don't get upset, useless waste of time
4. Love, the fifth realm, the final(?) fronteer, where do you go from there..?
5. Well, i dunno
6. Polish cheesecake, russian pierogies, barscz
7. Life, heck, here my verdict, nirvana is a campfire, eldorado, a woman, vegetarian or not,
non-alcoholic, non smoking, with/or without kids..

in spiritual terms..

Where's the guitar?
;)
Love, Passion,
marek

(((((Thank you Deepak))))

I don't know what I would have done without all Deepak's books, CDs, webs, and kindness to all. Deepak has help me, as well as millions and his books sells speaks for itself. My mother is currently enjoying his books as I send them to her when I am finished.

I thank my God for Deepak, who is a most perfect teacher for me.

We love you Deepak! ;-)

T H A N K Y O U!!!!!

Love, Char

Ambasteve,

I agree with you on the book cover.

Before this hits the shelves in China...I mean,
this is History, and like him or not, Deepak is contemporary.
And that's not always a bad thing, but the classics
are named just that for a lot of good reasons.

.

Harb,

You are my current inspiration, old man!

And as soon as I was on my way to work I thought,
"Damn! I should have given Harb his due!"

But I'll get around to you eventually, probably over yonder.

From my side of the coin, I see you.
Thanks for trying to swell my head.
The rest of me is shrinking fast!
I'm almost afraid to blink.

Where did everybody go?

The Front Cover Says:

"DEEPAK CHOPRA

New York Times Bestselling Author

BUDDHA

A Story of Enlightenment"

Deepak Chopra, the bestselling author is a Buddha - An enlightened person?

Is this his biography?...just wondering.

The concept that 'we' are all fragments of one big Self, collective consciousness, is merely another expression of the innate tendency of mind to imagine a creator god.

"All there is is consciousness" is another expression of religiosity.

What if...matter came first.......then chemical attraction and evolution produced consciousness which evolved into self consciousness......

.........and here we are........

What if there is no big Self?

Could you live with that?

Come back to nm on your book tour love the land of Enchantment misses your light!
V

The only true knowledge is self-knowledge. Objective knowledge is all crap.

My next book: 7 Steps to become Buddha.

Step 1: Read "7 steps to become Buddha"
Step 2: Read "7 steps to become Buddha"
Step 3: Read "7 steps to become Buddha"
Step 4: Read "7 steps to become Buddha"
Step 5: Read "7 steps to become Buddha"
Step 6: Read "7 steps to become Buddha"
Step 7: Don't you get it? OK. Repeat Step 1

Ricky, its ok to feel the way you feel. am no authority in either of the world, as i believe i have understood practically zilch, which is why am here to understand from the learned. having said that, i think Deepak is making avg mind like mine think. having tried this and that, having stood against corruption, stood for womens rights, helping orphanages i still missed the point. i had not understood the idea of just 'being' (even now am not sure if i do) even though i grew up in a totally secular environment where i didnt know the diff between various relgions until college. i still remember, during one of my visits to a very religious country and when confronted by a very religious man, where when he asked certain fundamental questions about the relgion i happen to belong to, i explained the logic behind certain points he sought clarification on.i even spoke about his religion in length. to my suprise he offered me to convert. when i told him that am religionless, border-less, whatever less he was surprised and now has become my good friend. u see, how simple it is. i think religion, social fixations were necessary when the world was primitive, uninformed, not-connected, when the weak were deprived. not anymore my friend. i think, even social acts like, marriages also dont make sense anymore. i remember in one of Deepaks interviews, when the interviewer asked if he was a prophet, he said he would like to spell it as 'profit'. you see, it is so pristine, so clean, so perfect. the other day after virginia tech massacre, he spoke about healing. so profound, so true. what do we want, more killing, more pain?....its time one got into understanding the grass-root of all evils-our own mind, our evil mind (including mine). dont you think? we see around, (including us), so much of envy, jealousy, greed, hatred, insecurity, guilt etc. if they are not the route cause of all problems, then what is? please watch jiddu k on youtube. if you think i made an attempt to preach, no. i merely stated what i think i understood from these great men. whew! i said a lot; pardon me

Ricky, its ok to feel the way you feel. am no authority in either of the world, as i believe i have understood practically zilch, which is why am here to understand from the learned. having said that, i think Deepak is making avg mind like mine think. having tried this and that, having stood against corruption, stood for womens rights, helping orphanages i still missed the point. i had not understood the idea of just 'being' (even now am not sure if i do) even though i grew up in a totally secular environment where i didnt know the diff between various relgions until college. i still remember, during one of my visits to a very religious country and when confronted by a very religious man, where when he asked certain fundamental questions about the relgion i happen to belong to, i explained the logic behind certain points he sought clarification on.i even spoke about his religion in length. to my suprise he offered me to convert. when i told him that am religionless, border-less, whatever less he was surprised and now has become my good friend. u see, how simple it is. i think religion, social fixations were necessary when the world was primitive, uninformed, not-connected, when the weak were deprived. not anymore my friend. i think, even social acts like, marriages also dont make sense anymore. i remember in one of Deepaks interviews, when the interviewer asked if he was a prophet, he said he would like to spell it as 'profit'. you see, it is so pristine, so clean, so perfect. the other day after virginia tech massacre, he spoke about healing. so profound, so true. what do we want, more killing, more pain?....its time one got into understanding the grass-root of all evils-our own mind, our evil mind (including mine). dont you think? we see around, (including us), so much of envy, jealousy, greed, hatred, insecurity, guilt etc. if they are not the route cause of all problems, then what is? please watch jiddu k on youtube. if you think i made an attempt to preach, no. i merely stated what i think i understood from these great men. whew! i said a lot; pardon me

Deepak. I really can be thankful for all the people on this thread because they remind me that I have not yet embraced all parts of myself. And instead of asking them why in the hell they are on a blog started by you if they think what you say is so absurd, I'm happy to see them return day after day!

Even though I know many of the above pepole would never, ever in a million years even think to pick up and read your book because it is FICTION and each detail of it is not proven by quantum mechanics, I am LOVING it. Something unexpected has been all the S-E-X. But I won't ruin it for some of my Friends up above on the extremely off chance they should decide to read it someday. For those of you so offended by the cover, please shield your eyes as you pass it or go write a book of your own and put your name really small at the bottom. And also, please feel free to share the titles of all of your own bestselling (or not so bestselling) books so that I might have an opportunity to read those as well. I enjoy many types of books, fiction and nonfiction, science and math, etc.

Peace and Love, Melissa

PS Thank you all for showing up and giving me reminders of all that I am.

The Happy Virus by Hafiz

I caught the happy virus last night.
When I was out singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious--
So kiss me.

Nick: I've spoken to many spiritualists who feel that gross consumerism has engulfed a pure subject like spirituality. Nothing much can be done though. At the most, you can talk and discuss.

Apachu: Good points. Yes, now I'm a big fan of Jiddu Krishnamurthi. Earlier, when I was confined to my world of spirituality, I didn't like him much. I felt he was only into criticism and not into seeing the beauties of the world. But now, after seeing and understanding the world much much deeper. I can only salute him for his understanding. More for his genuinity, there was hardly any motive of money in his teachings.

You were right Apachu. Those men had a deep understanding of the human affairs and the psyche. Deepak is one such master, I'm not sure though if you like him or not. With the present level of collective consciousness, it is very easy to see where the world is and will be in the near future. Delusion is quite a common phenomenon seen in many spiritualists btw. Don't take it very seriously when they say the world will all be peaceful and all rosy to live. They are only projecting their joyous peaceful states of mind onto the world. More of wishful thinking.

The duality of sacred-profane, joy-suffering has always existed before and will exist in the future too.

Namaste Intent bloggers.

I have found that when I am earnestly on the spiritual path, helpful teachers, friends and books appear just out of the blue. That I think is the Grace of Consciousness, which unravels inexorably and is always there at the beck and call of the seeker if the latter really cares to call out. Recall Lord Krishna calling himself a friend of the seeker in Bhagavad Gita.

This might apply to other fields too, whereby a seeker of porno gets his load of pornography in order to work out his accumulated Vasanas.

Shri Chopra has never been my cup of tea. I have read only one of his books. However, his style of writing is just excellent and he has the capability to toy with our ancient past and churn out highly fascinating stuff that appeals to the West, most of those of the East in the West and the western-educated among us. No wonder, therefore, he has had enviable commercial success with several best-sellers to his credit. Yet, whether his accounts are accurate is still debatable.

Shri Chopra has been able to kindle the interest of the West in the East in a very big way. He is a revelation of Consciousness to the Western palate and has a reason to be there among them doing what exactly he is doing. I would call it the Law of Consciousness. We can't sit in judgment on it.

His latest fiction on the Buddha will, therefore, unfailingly reach the hands of those who deserve it. If their spirituality is kindled reading it, well, that is more than what we can pray for. Shri Chopra has enough grace - he doesn't have to worry about the money part. Saraswati-ji has always been with him as Lakshmi-ji.

Let us therefore accept him and not bother about whether his works can bring about a shift in consciousness.

Pranams.

I liked what Pranams says. The first book that I read of Deepak's was "Grow Younger, Live Longer," which was purchased purely for extending and preserving my fading youth - I was 42 years old then. And when I read the word GOD, I was shocked that this would be in the book, or I would not have purchased it. I was anti anything related to anyone one preaching to me about God, as I had enough from the Christian Fundamentalists in my early 24 years in the Deep South of the USA and I ran from it all then as well. But as I forced myself to scan over the God part, I realized that Deepak's insights were different and palatable. Once I got thru that 1st book, I purchased and attending anything that I could get my hands on that Deepak wrote or taught. I just could not get enough of this God that Deepak talked about. This is why I love Deepak some much and will always be thankful for all that he has done for some many of us. I found my God deep within my heart ... waiting for me :-)

Love, Char

Dear Ricky, i wouldnt be here, if i didnt admire and respect Deepak Chopra. I'm in awe of him.

((((Melissa)))))
Sometimes I wish I wasn't so well-behaved, lol...
Thanks for your absolutely beautiful #41 ! Your smile IS contagious...

Of all of Dr Chopra's many books I have read none. But have heard many of his lectures and his demonstrations and talks.

This Book will be the first I will buy and read from him. I find the subject quite appealing now due to an experience I had on Tuesday gone.

I was at a funeral on Tuesday, My friend Renee died sadly from Cancer aged 37 years old. The strangest thing happened, amongst the people who were at the funeral was an Indian guy to whom I got speaking and he told me that he is related to Deepak Chopra. I could'nt understand why he would suddenly say that to me as I never gave him any information that would have suggested I knew who Deepak Chopra was. He whent on to give me a deep spiritual lecture, again I thought it was very strange as I never have spiritual discusions with people unless I know them very well and that included nobody at the funeral alive. Then he tells me about this book coming out The Buddah Story, and he says read it, it will be good for you.

So I am ordering a copy from Amazon.

Dear Marek,

"2. Is there gonna be an audio version, of that Buddha book?"

There is and i just ordered it on the dutch site of bol dot com. Containing 9 cd´s.

Love, Mieke

Dear Simon_Freejohn,

I enjoyed your story. That's a lovely example of synchronicity and the spirit of oneness. :-)

Love, Char

Seeker:She thought Pranam was a name. It was funny. Please don't confuse people. Thx.

Do you like Lakshmi more or Saraswati more?? I'm very much into Saraswathi. I think you want to have both Lakshmi and Saraswathi and maybe more. Parvathi, Shweta, Shabnam. I am totally dedicated to Saraswathi, I see her everywhere and nothing else. Maybe you want to have all. LOL!

"Do you like Lakshmi more or Saraswati more?? I'm very much into Saraswathi. I think you want to have both Lakshmi and Saraswathi and maybe more. Parvathi, Shweta, Shabnam. I am totally dedicated to Saraswathi, I see her everywhere and nothing else. Maybe you want to have all. LOL!"

Namaste Shri Ricky Ponting

What is consciousness? Rickyji ? You are a Devi Worshiper! You know the answer. Saraswati Devi is well versed in 64 arts. Devi worshipers know how to enjoy listening to music, reading books etc
etc ... for everything is 'consciousness' and Sri Lakshmi Devi is also a veritable source of material and spiritual wealth!

I love what Deepak chopra had to say on 'love'

"The spiritual meaning of love is measured by what it can do. Love is meant to heal. Love is meant to renew. Love is meant to bring us closer to God."

If you have this 'love' in your heart , you are that much closer to enlightenment .

Love, regards and pranams(salutations)

Pranam seekerji:-) I know these laxmis. I know what they are reputed for and why people do Puja of lakshmi for hrs. yup! LOL!

I don't think I could stand to hear that story one more time.It is a very great story but there were so many Buddhist sermons in which the story is recapped -- Snuff. As for Chopra -- What's not to like? Still, I don't like him. Why not? Because a feeling of liking is not arising. Asking somebody why they don't like something is like asking them why an empty sky doesn't have a bird in it -- cuz no bird came.

Hi everybody,

I sincerely agree to Seekerji sharing that the Lord is the friend of all and hence tries to help us in various endeavors... but I would add that when it comes to the spiritual path ... the lord is more enthusiastic in helping us...

I say the above from my personal experience.. When I asked where is god... he raised the desire in my mind to read the scriptures... when I said Alas! in the Kalyug how am I going to find a Guru... He lead my feet to the palace of guru... and when I long for being in the shade of my guru... he gives me fellow seekers who give satsang for me to walk this golden path...

When I think about the millions who follow a cult or a popular god-man... I feel that’s part of the karma which has to be worked out... to have the right knowledge or the wrong notions is it not part of the fruits of the various karmas... and the self effort of a sadhaka will certainly receive the grace of the lord... even if the guru is not a true one... the lord is the merciful and we his beloved children...

let Mr. Chopra or any other being put forward his thoughts and assumptions... truth remains eternal and unchanged... why to worry about it... let us experience the truth...

enjoy and spread joy,

love all,

divya

I just finished Buddha, and it was lovely to read. Not too intellectual, more heart-centered. Thank you, Dr. Chopra, for incorporating the Buddha's basic teachings into the drama of the Buddha's life story. It made it easier for me to figure out the relationship between Hinduism/yogic principles and Buddhism.