Chopra On Buddha

[sabaijai]

Gautama Buddha is India's best spiritual brand

PTI, September 16, 2007

NEW DELHI, India -- Gautama Buddha is India's best spiritual brand, new age guru Deepak Chopra says in his new book on the founder of Buddhism.

"Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment", launched here last night, is a new form of teaching from Chopra, who has been a pre-eminent voice of Eastern philosophy in the West.

In his book, published by HarperCollins India, Chopra describes the iconic journey of the prince who became the Buddha and influenced the world with his teachings.

Chopra said he wanted to bring Buddha out of the mists of time, to fill him out in flesh and blood while still preserving his mystery.

"Buddha was born at a time when Vedic culture was becoming a slave at the hands of corrupt Hindu hierarchy," he said at the launch which was followed by a question-answer session.

Though Chopra calls ‘Buddha...’ fictionalised in many of its externals, it is ‘psychologically true’.

"The priestly class of Hindu hierarchy took all the beauty of Vedic culture and introduced power mongering and vices," he said.

But Buddha stripped Hinduism of its rituals and though he was not initially accepted because of his radicalism, he slowly succeeded in making an impact, Chopra said.

"From then he has become India's best spiritual brand," he said.

"Buddha was as mortal as you and I, yet he attained enlightenment and was raised to the rank of an immortal. The miracle is that he got there following a heart as human as yours and mine, and just as vulnerable," he said.

Chopra was named by Time magazine this year as one of the 100 heroes and icons of the century. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest leaders in alternative medicine and is also the founder of the Chopra Center of Wellbeing in California.

The book describes in a lucid manner how a young man in line for the throne is trapped in his father's kingdom and yearns for the outside world.

Betrayed by those closest to him, Siddhartha abandons his palace and princely title. He becomes a wandering monk and embarks on a spiritual fast that carries him to the brink of death.

Ultimately recognising his inability to conquer his body and mind by sheer will, Siddhartha transcends his physical pain and achieves enlightenment.

[Austhaied]

Was that your review ? If not, what did you think of it ?

[chownah]

Chopra said he wanted to bring Buddha out of the mists of time, to fill him out in flesh and blood while still preserving his mystery.

a bit contradictory

[sbk]

Was that your review ? If not, what did you think of it ?

PTI is the Press Trust of India, cited as the source at the top of the article

[garro]

I haven't read this book but suspect it is yet another Buddhist-lite title.

[sabaijai]

I haven't read this book but suspect it is yet another Buddhist-lite title.

I've read it, it's OK. Had me wondering whether Deepak Chopra was converting from New Ageism to Buddhism in his old age

[garro]

Maybe I'm being too judgemental without reading it.

I have just bought the ebook and will give it a whirl.

I will comment later.

[Austhaied]

Was that your review ? If not, what did you think of it ?

PTI is the Press Trust of India, cited as the source at the top of the article

Of course it is, i should have guessed.

I must be losing my "eagle eye" in my old age.

[chutai]

I've read it, it's OK. Had me wondering whether Deepak Chopra was converting from New Ageism to Buddhism in his old age

Does anyone convert to Buddhism ? When I found Buddhism, I didn't experience a radical change of thinking. Rather, I just felt at home for the first time. No blindng realisation, more a gradual wakanening to the truth.

Work in still in progress I suppose I could say.

Anyway.The book.

"Buddha was as mortal as you and I, yet he attained enlightenment and was raised to the rank of an immortal. The miracle is that he got there following a heart as human as yours and mine, and just as vulnerable," he said.

Yes, well this is true. Even more so having the mind of any other mortal. That's the essence of Buddhism, isn' it ? It's the thought that is the thinker and not the thought that determines a persons being.

Ultimately recognising his inability to conquer his body and mind by sheer will, Siddhartha transcends his physical pain and achieves enlightenment.

Seems to me that the author is mistaking the cessation of suffering as just being a physical austerity. Shakyamui Buddha was as prone to physical suffering after enlightenment as before. He just taught us how to view it it correctly. That is, as transient and not being related to our true selves.

[sleepyjohn]

I have more time for Lurpak (slightly salted) than Deepak.

[sabaijai]

I've read it, it's OK. Had me wondering whether Deepak Chopra was converting from New Ageism to Buddhism in his old age

Does anyone convert to Buddhism ? When I found Buddhism, I didn't experience a radical change of thinking. Rather, I just felt at home for the first time. No blindng realisation, more a gradual wakanening to the truth.

Work in still in progress I suppose I could say.

Anyway.The book.

"Buddha was as mortal as you and I, yet he attained enlightenment and was raised to the rank of an immortal. The miracle is that he got there following a heart as human as yours and mine, and just as vulnerable," he said.

Yes, well this is true. Even more so having the mind of any other mortal. That's the essence of Buddhism, isn' it ? It's the thought that is the thinker and not the thought that determines a persons being.

Ultimately recognising his inability to conquer his body and mind by sheer will, Siddhartha transcends his physical pain and achieves enlightenment.

Seems to me that the author is mistaking the cessation of suffering as just being a physical austerity. Shakyamui Buddha was as prone to physical suffering after enlightenment as before. He just taught us how to view it it correctly. That is, as transient and not being related to our true selves.

You'd probably get a better idea what the book is like if you read it. I thought it was a fairly good read, a little slow in parts but for anyone interested in attempts at Buddha 'biography', it appears to be a well-intentioned and serious attempt. Chopra understands Buddhism on an academic level, he has obviously studied it in detail, possibly more than most of us posting here have. One might have problems with Chopra as a marketing mogul, but this book, on its own merits, doesn't seem to have any cynical agenda.

Chutai, I was using 'convert' as a convenient figure of speech. Although there's no formal conversion in Buddhism, one can 'convert' to any variety of causes or schools of thoughts, intellectually speaking.

[jamesc2000]

I have more time for Lurpak (slightly salted) than Deepak.

Haha so do I!

At least with Lurpak you get quality!

[garro]

I finished this book and was surprised to find that it was actually quite a good read.

I kept on thinking that the narrative was going to go off track, into un-Buddhist territory, but it never really did.

The story itself is obviously a work of fiction, but I think it catches something of the Buddha that I never considered before.

Stories often write themselves so maybe this one came contains more truth than fiction. Who can tell.

This book made the Buddha come alive for me, but I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.

After all, wasn't it this idea of a real person that he left behind when he reached enlightenment.

[AYJAYDEE]

I finished this book and was surprised to find that it was actually quite a good read.

I kept on thinking that the narrative was going to go off track, into un-Buddhist territory, but it never really did.

The story itself is obviously a work of fiction, but I think it catches something of the Buddha that I never considered before.

Stories often write themselves so maybe this one came contains more truth than fiction. Who can tell.

This book made the Buddha come alive for me, but I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.

After all, wasn't it this idea of a real person that he left behind when he reached enlightenment.

yes, but i think its worthwhile to be reminded that a mere person can in fact do it

[jamesc2000]

I finished this book and was surprised to find that it was actually quite a good read.

I kept on thinking that the narrative was going to go off track, into un-Buddhist territory, but it never really did.

The story itself is obviously a work of fiction, but I think it catches something of the Buddha that I never considered before.

Stories often write themselves so maybe this one came contains more truth than fiction. Who can tell.

This book made the Buddha come alive for me, but I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.

After all, wasn't it this idea of a real person that he left behind when he reached enlightenment.

yes, but i think its worthwhile to be reminded that a mere person can in fact do it

I always hear the term enlightenment. Would anyone like to explain what it means?

[sabaijai]

I finished this book and was surprised to find that it was actually quite a good read.

I kept on thinking that the narrative was going to go off track, into un-Buddhist territory, but it never really did.

The story itself is obviously a work of fiction, but I think it catches something of the Buddha that I never considered before.

Stories often write themselves so maybe this one came contains more truth than fiction. Who can tell.

This book made the Buddha come alive for me, but I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.

After all, wasn't it this idea of a real person that he left behind when he reached enlightenment.

yes, but i think its worthwhile to be reminded that a mere person can in fact do it

I always hear the term enlightenment. Would anyone like to explain what it means?

Search the Buddhism forum for 'enlightenment' and you'll find several threads devoted to the subject. This thread is about Chopra's Buddha story.

[camerata]

I saw both hardcover and paperback versions of this book in Emporium Kinokuniya last week. It's quite rare to see a Dhamma book in hardcover.

[Samuian]

I have more time for Lurpak (slightly salted) than Deepak.

Tetrapak is more versatile though... but then...ahhh well...

[jamesc2000]

I finished this book and was surprised to find that it was actually quite a good read.

I kept on thinking that the narrative was going to go off track, into un-Buddhist territory, but it never really did.

The story itself is obviously a work of fiction, but I think it catches something of the Buddha that I never considered before.

Stories often write themselves so maybe this one came contains more truth than fiction. Who can tell.

This book made the Buddha come alive for me, but I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.

After all, wasn't it this idea of a real person that he left behind when he reached enlightenment.

yes, but i think its worthwhile to be reminded that a mere person can in fact do it

I always hear the term enlightenment. Would anyone like to explain what it means?

Search the Buddhism forum for 'enlightenment' and you'll find several threads devoted to the subject. This thread is about Chopra's Buddha story.

Yes, lets discuss Chopra On Buddha. Lets discuss - Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment,

I am not sure we all have the same definition of Enlightenment.

So how can we discuss anything if we all do not have the same definition of the subject?

If we don’t have the same definition then we are all discussing different things!

Sabbatical - You quote “Ultimately recognising his inability to conquer his body and mind by sheer will, Siddhartha transcends his physical pain and achieves enlightenment.”

What does transcending physical pain have to do with being enlightened? And what physical pain was Buddha trying to transcend?

You also quote - "Buddha was as mortal as you and I, yet he attained enlightenment and was raised to the rank of an immortal. The miracle is that he got there following a heart as human as yours and mine, and just as vulnerable," he said.

Why is it such a miracle? Has anyone reach enlightenment who didn’t have a heart as human as yours and mine?

If someone has reach enlightenment without a heart, now that would be a miracle!

Its all nice words than don’t mean anything!

As far as I know Buddhism is plain and simple. There is nothing mystical or mysterious or exoteric about it.

The mystical or mysterious or exoteric are for the fake gurus from India who says things like

- if you know you wouldn’t have to ask and if you ask then it is not time for you to know!

I hope I offend as many fake gurus and pseudo intellectuals as I can cos all these people want to do is control other people and make lots of money doing it!

Its their wonderfully big egos that causes them to want to control everyone else and its their egos that allows them to feel offended.

A truly enlightened person knows they have no ego and can never be offended.

If the king has no clothes lets just say so!

[Samuian]

Agreed, the historic Person (not only Siddartha) would cry aloud today if he could see all these temples, figurines, frescoes, the many, many thousands and thousands worshiping these Things...

"He who talks, doesn't know, he who knows, doesn't talk!"

Or like Krishnamurti goes: "If the Buddhists would have understood the teachings of the enlightened one, there would be no Buddhism"!

[rockyysdt]

Agreed, the historic Person (not only Siddartha) would cry aloud today if he could see all these temples, figurines, frescoes, the many, many thousands and thousands worshiping these Things...

"He who talks, doesn't know, he who knows, doesn't talk!"

Or like Krishnamurti goes: "If the Buddhists would have understood the teachings of the enlightened one, there would be no Buddhism"!

I'm excited about my future because I have a path and with time I look forward to deepening my experience through practice towards enlightenment.

When I read about people like Deepak Chopra, I can't help but associate him with money and profit as motivators of his work.

If Chopra was truly enlightened he would have no need for money or profit.

Charging people for teaching of spiritual attainment contradicts the very nature of what is being taught and is a sign of the lack of authenticity of any group providing such services.

Quote from a Thai place of learning:

"The courses at our centre are completely free of charge, following the ancient Buddhist tradition of offering teachings freely without expecting payment."

If you view Deepaks website, you'll find great focus on fees and charges.

http://www.chopra.com/secretspricing

Danny.

Edited December 13, 2007 by rockyysdt

[jamesc2000]

Agreed, the historic Person (not only Siddartha) would cry aloud today if he could see all these temples, figurines, frescoes, the many, many thousands and thousands worshiping these Things...

"He who talks, doesn't know, he who knows, doesn't talk!"

Or like Krishnamurti goes: "If the Buddhists would have understood the teachings of the enlightened one, there would be no Buddhism"!

I couldn't agree more!

"He who talks, doesn't know, he who knows, doesn't talk!"

I also like the other quote - He who writes a book comes back as a donkey for 7 lifetimes!

I am not an expert on Buddhism but I really do not think its about being India's best spiritual brand or becoming enlighten is akin to a miracle!

The beauty of Buddhism I think is its simplicity and its everyday practicality.

Miracles is like Jesus bringing a dead person back to life. It is like doing the impossible or a million to one thing.

Buddha found a way to end suffering that is very simple and practical. And he certainly had no intention of making it a brand let alone the best spiritual brand!

Branding is a marketing term and a very modern term. It didn’t exist 2500 years ago! Buddha was not a salesman that wanted to differentiate his product, market Buddhism and get a market share!

Buddhism has nothing to do with crass commercialism! Buddha just wanted to help people end their suffering! And give it away free.

I think the term “India's best spiritual brand is misleading! I think there are about 20 million Buddhism in India and 200 million Hindus.

So maybe Hinduism is India’s best spiritual brand?

But what is misleading is calling Buddhism spiritual! There is nothing spiritual about Buddhism.

Buddhism is more practical, like a science.

The thing about fake gurus and their methods are faith based. Buddhism is not faith based!

With faith based like faith based healing, if you are cured, its because of your faith but if you died of your disease its because you didn’t have the faith! You never get a complain from a dead customer!

Buddhism is a practical method that works that really doesn’t require a faith or a belief!

When a person talks about branding, miracles and spiritual, I not even sure they are talking about Buddhism!

When pseudo intellectuals talk about something they don’t understand they like to throw in high-fluting terms to appear intelligent.

I am not against the intelligent, just the baloney!

Edited December 13, 2007 by jamesc2000

[jamesc2000]

If Buddhism is about ending human misery and suffering then using Buddhism to make a profit would that be

Profiting from human misery and suffering?

How enlightened can a person be if they profited from human misery and suffering?