Rating:  Summary: This is the best of Chopra Review: I've read this book several times now, and have nothing to quibble with anymore. Chopra does not try to cover everything - he presents a broad outline, draws a ladder of spiritual progress that is empowering. The ladder seems simplistic at first, but becomes simple (after a few re-reads). There are many, many layers and levels here -- extraordinarily rich.
Rating:  Summary: does anyone really READ this drivel? Review: zFresh from his latest spiritual snake-oil-athon on p.b.s.,Mr. Chopra now takes on ,ah hem,God.If you are an aging yuppie,making well into 6 figures,then here is you man.No sacrifice,no sweat spirituality.If I believed for a moment that Mr. chopra was anything other then a salesman offering his wares to people who want desperately to believe without any fuss,it would be troubling. As it is, it is merely pathetic.There is a plethora of wonderful,meaningful spirituality in print.People like thomas merton,andrew harvey,martin buber,thich nhat hanh henri nouwen,m.r. bawa muhaiyaddeen,a.j. heschel just to barely skim the surface.This,is simply garbage.
Rating:  Summary: TRIM THE FAT Review: I found only parts of this book interesting. He tries to encompass too much, trying to explain everything instead of staying focused. It's buddism married to physics, with miracles thrown in. Trouble is he tried to explain away lots of things like healing with hands, and sightings of the Virgin Mary. I found this stuff to be born of an overactive imagination. The spiritual journey to find the "Self" was most interesting, but those who are lazy and overweight, need not apply : To find the inner spiritual self, the physical body thus becomes a temple : He neglects to mention, the FIRST things on this journey are proper diet and exercise. If one abuses ones body, how can one get to a higher plane of consciousness ?
Rating:  Summary: His best book to date Review: I found "How To Know God" to be insightful and Deepak Chopra's best book to date. He states "a fully awakened brain is the secret to God". The choice is to know yourself if you want insight. By being yourself you open the door to what is. In this way life remains fresh and fulfills its need to renew itself at every moment. To "know God" is to "be" in the process, a silent witness, moment by moment.When Mr. Chopra delves into the 7 ways humans know God and how they correspond to the brain, the book becomes for me, overly complicated. It becomes intellectual rather than experiential. Although Mr. Chopra in his investigations combines science and religion, the 7 visions of God seems to freeze me in a personality type rather than allowing me to discover my own unique "beingness". I prefer a simpler approach. I found "Working On Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel and Shya Kane to be a real and accessible approach to the same material. The keys to being your true self, awake in each moment, are revealed with simplicity, clarity and insightfulness. What I appreciate about Deepak's book, and all of his work for that matter, is his attempt to communicate very difficult and "slippery" concepts to a culture that deeply needs support in being enlightened.
Rating:  Summary: Fine understanding of our Universe Review: I am writing this review almost soley in response to the hundreds if not thousands of reviewers who take apart one of every prose from New Age to cyber punk on the basis of the profit the author is making on the writing. Let me ask you how should they spread their word? Those who refer back to the ancient mystics as they told their message for free understand little on the global market economy in those ages which only allowed messagesto be conveyed in that manner. Those who refer to small unheard of authors as the real deal display a kind of new punk idealism which says, "If it's accepted by the popular culture in anyway its no good." I agree that many of Deepak's works have varied in content over th years, but I know his message. I know that reaching many is not a display of greediness but more that the critic's of this are intellectual ego elitist who like to keep these messages to themselves because their ego needs to make them feel more importnant that they have what others don't. I applaud authors like Neale Donald Walsch, James Redfield and others who do "lighten" their understanding and message to reach the masses the only way you can reach them nowadays instead of, "not selling out" to keep the small amount of the ego driven elitist happy. Please if review these books review them on the basis of merit on not on the what author pockets. Because many of us know that what Deepak is after is mass appeal not profits. The critics show their true colors and attack his mass appeal their blinding ego's will shine bright for all to see.
Rating:  Summary: here we go again Review: Here we go again, another belief about God, the universe, our purpose etc. What if the truth were told? Would these so called spiritual gurus make the money and receive the ego enhancing accolades if they said what is really going on? Probably not. It would not satisfy our need to be gullible. Bottom line, all beliefs are the way our ego/mind/personality manages fear and anger. Creating and relaying beliefs about God and purpose has been happening since the beginning of man when aspects of nature were given names in order to place some order into the chaos. The chaos includes very scary stuff. Pain, anger, fear, death, suffering, and acts of unspeakable violence.Let's face it, without some way to soften the blow of these tough realities that are the root of the dilemmas like 'who' we are and what we are doing here, we might not be able to get up in the morning. So we find a new belief,(really old ones reworked). We then find new facts to support and build a case for these beliefs. Then of course we sell them in any shape, size and form we can. I say, as a human, author of the book THE NAKED THERAPIST, mother, partner, daughter, life coach etc., how about cutting loose of beliefs and living in the truth of each day? Do what is in front of you. Get big enough inside to use your tough uncomfortable feelings like your natural fear and anger to make a life, on life's terms. Each day shows us what we need to do next. If God shows up, hey, you'll know it. Why would you take anybody else's version of God as yours anyway? I give the author a three star rating just for the effort it takes to write and organize a book. Way to go.
Rating:  Summary: Controversial but invaluable Review: What I love about this book is that it is logical, practical but also very controversial. It will stimulate you to think, wrestle with the ideas, and discuss them with your friends. Thank you, Deepak, for such a stimulating work.
Rating:  Summary: A captivating book Review: I have read several books from Chopra, and authors of the like, and so far this is one of the easiest ones to read. When it comes to analyzing reality/un-reality and even God, words cannot describe anything meaningful. However, Chopra has managed to pick the right words and concepts in order to bridge these and give us a fresh understanding of what life consists, and does not consist, of. If you feel a need to refresh your perspective on life, and even become more aware and alive, this book is the way to go. Buy, read, enjoy and learn...
Rating:  Summary: The Honesty of Mystery Review: In my book, PRIMAL AWARENESS, I show how fear, authority,words and Nature move us closer to or further from GOD. In Deepak book, we can remember that such practical wisdom is still seated in a beautiful web of mystery.
Rating:  Summary: Why This Book Isn't "Deepak Chopra" Review: If you are one of the millions of people worldwide who have followed the advice of Dr. Chopra, the odds are likely that you were interested in physical -- not spiritual -- teachings. Ayurvedic medicine is a worthwhile and important alternative to Western sciences. Most of those who have been introduced to Ayurveda through Dr. Chopra's writings have been truly helped. Not so with Dr. Chopra's spiritual side. His promotion of Rumi nonwithstanding, I've always wondered just how much the average Chopra follower truly takes from his mystical writings. Even those who have attended Chopra seminars, as I have, go in equal parts for the lecture on synchrodestiny and the massage. Well, I am sorry to report that How To Know God is all lecture, no massage. It's not the "Deepak Chopra" most of us look for. I worry that Deepak is spinning further and further from usefulness and into some obscure corner of his own spritual doctrine. I know that Deepak truly believes that what he's doing is helpful, but I fear that books like How To Know God will turn away many who would otherwise have been helped by his teachings.
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