The Book of Secrets : Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life (Deepak Chopra)

Rating:
Summary: Deep enlightenment through embracing real life
Review: A truly uplifting read, this is possibly the best book so far by the masterful intelligence of Deepak Chopra. The writing is of exceptional quality, his popular blend of scientific objectivity and poetic mysticism. It feels strongly as though the author was himself undergoing a major personal re-birth while writing "The Book Of Secrets".

Each chapter is given to a "secret" such as "The Mystery Of Life Is Real", "The World Is In You", "What You Seek You Already Are", "Evil Is Not Your Enemy" and "The Meaning Of Life Is Everything". At the end of each chapter Deepak gives some exercises and suggestions as to how one might accommodate the secret just discussed. Many of these boil down to simple honest and open awareness of oneself and others, together with practical advice of one kind or another. For example, in chapter 6 the author helps free you up from the fear of making mistakes. Right and wrong decisions are mental constructs, there is bad in the good choices we have made and vice versa.

On the cover Deepak asks three questions: "Who am I?", "Where did I come from?" and "Why am I here?". He answers them clearly and simply in the last chapter. A great book to help you WAKE UP!

Rating:
Summary: Another winner!
Review: After Chopra's truly innovative and powerful HOW TO KNOW GOD, I didn't think anything following could come close to its quality, but this book is often stunning in its insights and healing power -- the exercise on page 145, for example, and the commentary on pages 163-166. Priceless.

Still, it is important to remember that if something isn't true for you, it isn't true. Mr. Chopra seems (to me) on occasion a bit sweeping in his assessments (or doesn't say enough) and statements he makes which are true can be misleading...for example, on page 12 he writes "Others assume that they must leave where they are and find something they do not yet have...a new job, a new religion...If where you are isn't good enough, then love and healing and God will remain forever out of reach." Yet elsewhere he describes how he left an early position with a famous doctor because it was suppressive, and how glad he was he did because he found something far more validating, where he could grow. And many of us know at least one person who has moved from place to place until he finds he takes himself wherever he goes and nothing changes...but it took those moves to bring about that awakening. (In HOW TO KNOW GOD Chopra similarly says, on page 101: "If you start out by rejecting this or that, how will you end up accepting it?" Well, by realizing, for yourself, what does and doesn't work for you to do to advance your freedom. Elsewhere, Chopra does say that spiritual progress is inevitable.)

Regardless of this caveat, I believe the BOOK OF SECRETS will reach you deeply and trigger many realizations, and that you will upwrap a world or worlds you recognize as real, and as your own creation. It is difficult to imagine anyone not benefiting immensely from reading and re-reading it. It is a liberator.


Rating:
Summary: A different way to look at death
Review: Chopra writing of death says to "imagine yourself into a new form with a new location in space and time."
Lewis in An Encounter with a Prophet instructs an adolescent to see his dead brother pursuing his favorite activity at a different location.
These authors do not see death as a end but as a continuation of the life here. Interesting concepts.



Rating:
Summary: Wonderful and inspiring book - good ideas and applications
Review: Chopra's books are always a wonderful read and this was too. He breaks down this one into a series of secrets about how to break free from our self-made restrictions and to awaken to the glorious life that is our right, right now. Take coffee for example, I used to drink it everyday but kept having that acid stomach and that wired up feeling.

After eliminating my coffee habit with the help of a wonderful coffee substitute I found online. I'm feeling so much better. Its made from soybeans which help lower cholesterol and promote strong bones. You can google under "acid free coffee" to find it. There is an interesting free feeling to this book, as though Chopra is in a new place too. A wonderful, wonderful book. Highly recommended!!

Rating:
Summary: Q&A to John Zxerce
Review: Dear John,

I am aware of the fact that this is not a message board to discuss literature or our reviews, but I really feel the need to respond to your review.
It seems that your questions answer themselves...

1. If I am the world and the world is me - then when I see pain, suffering and evil in the world, am I seeing myself? MDC: Yes!

2. If my goal is to realize that I am one with the universe then should I strive to reform culture and fight for justice - or should I accept things as they are? MDC: You got it! It's no need to fight that what is part of you.

3. If I am truly free when I am not a person then is suicide a valid option? MDC: Valid, but unnecessary, when you are truly free there's no need to make such decision.

4. When someone offends me, should I seek to honestly communicate that to them, or should I recognize they are part of me and let it go? MDC: Road of least resistance: let go, what would you gain from that communication?

5. If my ultimate goal is to extinguish myself, then should I work on subduing my desires, dreams, and passions - or should I pursue those things?
MDC: When you are able to extinguish yourself it is no longer necessary to pursue, because this is when your desires, dreams and passions will finally be able to manifest themselves automatically.

6. What is the ultimate purpose and meaning in life if all is one? MDC: If all is one, there is not one ultimate purpose or meaning.

7. If evil is not my enemy then should I fight against it or should I embrace it?
MDC: What you fight will grow bigger, as evil is also a part of you, you better not fight it, but embrace it, accept it.

8. If I am in communion with the whole of life - why do I experience disappointment?
MDC: Disappointment means you had certain expectations, disappointment means you're judging a certain outcome. When you're in communion with life, results are just what they are, nothing more or less. When you don't expect, you can't be disappointed.

9. Is change real or imagined? MDC: Inevitable, it's nature; to me it's the only real thing in this universe!

10. Is there a difference between the renewed and the old - or are differences illusions? MDC: see my answer to question nr. 9, since changes are inevitable, what was old can renew and vise versa...


Rating:
Summary: A distillation of his deepest thoughts
Review: Deepak Chopra is one of the most helpful spiritual teachers alive today. A prolific author, his 35 previous publications have changed the way society appreciates spirituality today. "The Book of Secrets" may well be his finest work, a true magnum opus. A distillation of his deepest thoughts over the years and his best advice to spiritual seekers, these basic principles of successful living will show you how to find more fulfillment in life.



Rating:
Summary: Not practical? Read again
Review: I am bothered by the impression given that this book contians no practical advice for spiritual seekers. Far from true. Every chapter ends with a long section of exercises and practical advice. In addition, to summarize this rich and fascinating book with one sentence like "You are the world, the world is you," implying that all one needs to do is swim in a vat of sameness, is wrong. Chopra goes deeply into the philosophy of "the one reality" in great detail. Just thought potential readers should know.

Rating:
Summary: A truly inspired book, arguably Chopra's best ever!
Review: I first read this book in parts, then from cover to cover. Now every so often I revisit a chapter. It is absolutely beautiful, arguably Chopra's best! The elegance and power in the words of this book command repeated readings, and in each exposure it seems a deeper layer is uncovered. There are many topics here, most have been addressed before by other authors and even Deepak, but here they come alive with a potency that is ineffable. Particulary remarkable and beneficial were the discussions of time and death. Don't miss this book. It is absolutely inspired!

Review by Evan Finer, author of "Effortless WellBeing"

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I have listened to this book about three times. I think it takes that many times to really understand everything Dr. Chopra is talking about. I recently lost my father and listening to Dr. Chopra's insights into his fathers death and the secrets he learned about life was excellent. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: ********** 10 Stars
Review: This man is so brilliant, so evolved, he could doodle on a cocktail napkin and I'd read it. Wonderful book!