Deepak Chopra, M.D., (born 1947 in New Delhi, India) is a medical doctor and popular contemporary writer in the United States on spirituality, synchronicity, integrative medicine and Ayurveda. He claims Hinduism as his main influence, specifically the teachings of Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita.

Background

Chopra is a trained physician and was board-certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. He graduated from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1968, and after interning at a New Jersey hospital, trained for several more years at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts and at the University of Virginia Hospital. He taught at Tufts and Boston University Schools of Medicine, became the chief of staff at the New England Memorial Hospital and established a large private practice. He subsequently became associated with the transcendental meditation movement, but later branched off on his own, Primordial Sound Meditation.

In 2004, Chopra was recruited to provide script advice to Indian film director Shekhar Kapur on a proposed film to be made about the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.

In June, 2005, Chopra and Kapur launched a discussion blog Chopra and Kapur's discussion blog with a select group of their friends and family. The stated purpose of the blog is to present original voices from South Asia (particularly India) and discuss a variety of topics.

Writings

Chopra writes about holistically treating the

Criticism

Of particular concern to his critics are his frequent references to the relationship of quantum mechanics to healing processes, which they consider part of a pattern of general confusion in the popular press regarding quantum measurement, decoherence and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

Deepak Chopra is also criticized for overly mystifying Hinduism and Ayurveda (a system of medicine). His qualifications in Ayurveda are questioned and by shrouding it in elusive language, he is accused of alienating it from the mainstream and de-legitimizing it.

In its May 22/29, 1991 issue, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a controversial article by Sharma, Triguna and Chopra: Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Modern Insights Into Ancient Medicine.Sharma, Triguna and Chopra. Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Modern Insights Into Ancient Medicine. JAMA. 1991 May 22-29;265(20):2633-4, 2637 Discovering that there was a serious problem, in the August 14 edition of JAMA, the editors published a correctionJAMA: Erratum in: JAMA 1991 Aug 14;266(6):798 which included a financial disclosure, followed, in October 2, by a six-page exposé.JAMA. 1991 Oct 2;266(13):1769-74. The series of events was later reviewed by Andrew Skolnick, the author of the October 2 exposé.Andrew Skolnick. The Maharhish Caper: Or How to Hoodwink Top Medical Journals

Some critics even accuse Chopra's writings and lectures of being dishonest and hypocritical. For example, Chopra frequently admonishes materialism while living in a $2.5 million home and driving a Jaguar. The Skeptic's Dictionary, whose article about

In March 2003, shortly before the US-led Invasion of Iraq, Chopra, upon being asked for creative ideas, gave ten suggestions, which included that Iraq could be disarmed without force, that religious leaders meet in Baghdad, increasing UN forces by tenfold, sponsoring 25,000 Iraq exchange students to the West, etc. He also suggested that a new Disney World theme park in the Middle East would help to reduce fear and anger in children and that residents of Iraq should be provided free access to CNN, MTV and Nickelodeon to expose them to the rest of the world. Chopra's proposals were widely ridiculed.

In August 2005, Chopra posted series of articles on the blog The Huffington Post (to which he is a frequent contributor) in which he offers his solution to the creation-evolution controversy. In doing so he expressed support for Intelligent Design, and offered a series of questions about evolution he believed could not be answered by science alone (thereby requiring an "intelligent designer").Chopra D, Huffington Post August 23, 2005. Science writer Michael Shermer, founder of The Skeptics Society and long-time critic of Chopra, posted a response.

Books

• 1993 Ageless Body, Timeless Mind : The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old
• 1993 Creating Affluence: Wealth Consciousness in the Field of All Possibilities
• 1995 The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams
• 2001 The Deeper Wound: Recovering the Soul from Fear and Suffering, 100 Days of Healing
• 2001 Grow Younger, Live Longer: 10 Steps to Reverse Aging
• 2000 How to Know God : The Soul's Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries
• 2003 Golf for Enlightenment: The Seven Lessons for the Game of Life
• 2003 The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence
• 2003 Synchrodestiny: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence to Create Miracles ISBN 1844132218
• 2004 The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life
• 2005 Peace Is the Way : Bringing War and Violence to an End

Quotes

"The living body is the best pharmacy ever devised. It produces diuretics, painkillers, tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antibiotics. It applies the right dosages with minimal or no side effects, and the directions are inbuilt."

References

• Chopra, Deepak (2001). The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams (paperback ed.). Crown Publishing. ISBN 0609802194.
• Chopra, D., Skolnick, A.A., et. al. (1992). Letters to the Editor. JAMA. 1992 Mar 11;267(10):1337-1340.
• Skolnick, A. A. (1991). Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Guru's marketing scheme promises the world eternal "perfect health". JAMA. 1991 Oct 2;266(13):1741-2, 1744-5.
• Skolnick, A. A. (1991). The Maharishi Caper: Or How to Hoodwink Top Medical Journals. Skeptical Inquirer, 1992 16(3)254-259
• Stenger, V. J. (1995). The Unconscious Quantum: Metaphysics in Modern Physics and Cosmology. Prometheus Books.

Notes

Deepak Chopra Deepak Chopra