A New York Times Best Seller
BUDDHA
A Story of Enlightenment By Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra, the preeminent voice of Eastern philosophy in the West, now offers his remarkable insights on the inspiring life of one of the world's most important figures - the Buddha. This re-imagining of the Buddha's life presents a new form of teaching from the beloved Chopra, who shows how the iconic journey of the prince who became the Buddha has changed the world forever, and how the lessons he taught continue to influence every corner of the world.
On June 7, 2007 Arielle Ford interviewed Deepak to discuss his new bestselling book, BUDDHA - A Story of Enlightenment. In addition to the book they discussed:
- What Deepak learned about himself while writing about Buddha
- Spiritual obstacles he has overcome
- How to remain in loving-kindness is today’s chaotic world
- What you can do to make the world a better place
- How to balance spirituality with your desires for abundance
- And much more.
This special interview was for members of The Spiritual Cinema Circle
"BUDDHA is unlike anything Deepak has ever written before. A timeless story retold by one of the most inspiring spiritual guides of our era, it is essential reading for anyone curious about the foundations of Buddhism."
Brian Grazer, Oscar Award Winning Producer of "A Beautiful Mind," Emmy Winning Producer, "24""Deepak Chopra crafts his "BUDDHA" in an astonishing narrative, a veritable literary feast engaging every color of the bouquet of human experience. With dramatic precision and inspired literary artistry he transports us on an adventure in enlightenment with all the twists and turns of a great movie."
Peter Guber, Chairman of Mandalay Entertainment, Producer of Batman, Rainman and Color Purple, and host of AMC's Sunday Morning Shootout
"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
"Outstanding! Deepak's creative and dramatic retelling of Buddha's life is proof, that, when it comes to conveying spiritual verities, fiction can be more true than fact."
Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion, McGill University
"A page turning masterpiece. To me, this is Deepak’s story telling at its best. The telling of one of the greatest stories ever lived, in a fashion that will make the Buddha come alive for the reader. I couldn’t put it down. I now feel as if I have met the Buddha and he is in all of us who search for our own greatest. This book is destined to become a classic, I guarantee it."
Wayne Dyer, Author, The Power of Intention"BUDDHA offers us a most extraordinary opportunity to look at the road to enlightenment taken by one man. Deepak’s insightful re-imagining of the life journey of one of the world’s greatest spiritual leaders is a captivating read and a road map to personal spiritual growth from one of the most respected and inspiring leaders of our time."
Terry Semel, Chairman and CEO, Yahoo!
Reviews
Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
March 12, 2007
Eastern philosophy popularizer and mind-body pioneer Chopra has done novels before, and critics have not found fiction his long suit. That should change with this tale of how the Indian prince Siddhartha came to be the enlightened one, the Buddha. The subject is tailor-made for Chopra. He can draw on what he's familiar with: the ancient Indian culture that shaped the historic personage of the Buddha, and the powers of mind that meditation harnesses. Although the novel begins a little slowly with exposition and character introduction, once the character of the Buddha is old enough to occupy center stage, Chopra simply portrays the natural internal conflict experienced by any human seeking spiritual wisdom and transformation. Centered on a single character, the narrative moves forward simply and inexorably. Especially imaginative and intriguing is the low-key nature of the Buddha's enlightenment experience. In case Chopra's fans want something more direct, an epilogue and concluding "practical guide" offer nonfiction commentary and teaching on core Buddhist principles. Chopra thanks a film director friend for sparking the project, and the novel has clear cinematic potential. This fast and easy-to-read book teaches without being didactic. Chopra scores a fiction winner. (May)
