To encourage the exchange of thoughts about Deepak Chopra and his work, we will post your comments, inquiries, and opinions. Please feel free to respond to someone else's comments or questions, or simply post your own. Post a Message | Read the Forum | Sign the Guestbook Please Post Your Comments Name: Email Address: Comments:

Here's a Billy Joel song for Mrs. Berry, some of the lyrics may or may not apply.It's an upbeat song and it makes me feel better when I hear it. I hope it does the same for you.

You’re Only Human (Second Wind)

You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood It's alright, it's alright Sometimes that's what it takes You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes You better believe there will be times in your life When you’ll be feeling like a stumbling fool So take it from me you'll learn more from you accidents Than anything you could ever learn at school Don't forget your second wind Sooner or later you'll get your second wind It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain You're gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again It's alright, it's alright Though you feel your heart break You're only human, your gonna have to deal with heartache Just like a boxer in a title fight You got to walk in that ring all alone You're not the only one who's made mistakes But they're the only things that you can truly call your own Don't forget your second wind Wait in your corner until that breeze blows in You've been keeping to yourself these days Cause you're thinking everything's gone wrong Sometimes you just want to lay down and die That emotion can be so strong But hold on Till that old second wind comes along You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else But I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself It's alright, it's alright Sometimes that's all it takes We're only human We're supposed to make mistakes But I survived all those long lonely days When it seemed I did not have a friend Cause all I needed was a little faith So I could catch my breath and face the world again Don't forget your second wind Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in Don't forget your second wind Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in

Mrs. Berry: Wow, I could hardly imagine how I would feel if that happened to me.I feel alot of compassion for you and I will send positive thoughts your way. Since I have not experienced what you are going through I cannot give advice based on experience, but if I were in your position,I would face life with a new perspective. I would re-evaluate and re-structure my mind set and surroundings. I would accept that he has made a choice that is completely different than yours. Now you have a new future full of new feelings, experiences and people to discover. I would find comfort in old friends and I would look forward to the opening of new doors in my new life. I would especially look forward to getting to know the person within. Now is a time for discovering YOU and all the dimensions you have to offer yourself and the world.The next phase will be determined by how you react or not react. Never be afraid to reach out, because you are not alone. Best Regards, Silvia

Mrs. Berry--I offer my support for the turmoil in your life...I don't know that I have any specific suggestions--you sound like you have a good perspective on the "bigger picture"--which doesn't always help with the developing, however ;-) Hang in there, and keep up your spiritual practices that you mentioned! The forum is always open if you need to unburden yourself...and possibly you'll get more helpful responses than this from the wise souls that frequent here!

Frank--The game was too one-sided--obvious by the score I guess, eh? :-) Thanks for the further info! Lots of choices!

Good night all! Cathy

I am in need of counseling and advice. Can anyone help? My husband of 13 years returned to our flat in Germany, mid December from finalizing the paperwork on our new home in the states. Wow, what an incredible gift, a beautiful home in an Indiana cornfield, a real Field of Dreams, for our little family (which includes my 2 year old daughter). Then, the big gifts start coming out. Plans for our future. Which happen to include a) he's found his "soul companion" for the rest of his life, b) he's moving in with her and her two children in February in a new house they are BUYING, and c) the bonus prize, she's came to visit and stay with us for New Year's. That's the reader's digest version of things. Needless to say, the last few months have been a complete fog to me. Considering it all, I'm trying to cope. We continue to experience the fighting, crying, and trying to work it all out, etc. Lots of meditation, lots of communication with spirit. I'm trying to take the path of least resistance and complete release. I know everything has its purpose and in the end it's all for the best. He's been unhappy for years, and I begged for counseling. HE DOESN'T DO Counseling .... this was his solution. He has already moved into his house with his girlfriend and their children. This has torn me up, physically, mentally and spiritually. I am hoping someone can at least direct me to one who can help. Thanks for listening.

Hi again Cathy

Hadi is pronounced "ha" (soft a) "dee" (hard e).

The different types of meditation are suitable for different environments. It is easier to do a two word Wazifa while walking through a mall for example as opposed to the singing, rotating type! Don't change things too often because you need a chance to sit with what you are doing to become proficient with it.

Trungpa Rinpoche recommends the following six points to be considered for good posture during seated meditation (from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition). (seat/legs/torso/hands/eyes/mouth).

1) Whether sitting on a cushion on the floor or in a chair, the seat should be flat. Not tilting to the right or left or front or back.

2) The legs are crossed comfortably in front of you, - or if you are sitting in a chair, the feet are flat on the floor, the knees a few inches apart.

3) The torso (from the head to the seat) is upright, with a strong back and an open front. If sitting in a chair, it's best not to lean back. If you start to slouch, simply sit upright again.

4) The hands are open, with the palms down, resting on the thighs.

5) The eyes are open, indicating the attitude of remaining awake and relaxed with all that occurs. The eye gaze is directed slightly downward, about four to six feet in front.

6) The mouth is very slightly open, so that the jaw is relaxed, and air can move easily through both the mouth and nose. The tip of the tongue can be placed on the roof of the mouth.

Rinpoche suggests only thinking about your out breath. During your in breath you are actually letting go completely, not thinking about anything. (Taken from Pema Chodron's book "when things fall apart").

There are many different methods to meditate. Choose one that works for you!

I missed the game entirely but am actually going to watch survivor II now. (Indulgence!).

Namaste'

Okay--another question...you mentioned that sometimes you do a certain kind of meditation...do you do a different type meditation often? Is it best, in your opinion, to try a style for a certain period before changing to something else...is that dependent on the individual?

So Hadi means guide, eh? How do you pronounce that? I always say Hay dee, when I'm reading it...

I'm enjoying our conversation as well...and learning :-) Thanks!

Cathy

Hey Cathy,

I think there is an art and a science to meditation. I believe that rhythm is useful to promote internal balance. At the same time, one shouldn't "force" oneself or promote obsessiveness towards particular "shoulds". When your mind drifts, calmly recognize this as an activity called "thinking" and gently bring yourself back to the meditation practise. Thoughts will go through your mind and so let that process occur without judgement. Then draw yourself back to the meditation process.

I think experimentation is awesome when it comes to meditating. I sometimes use mantras that are called "Wazifas" that are often borrowed from the 99 names of God from the Islamic tradition. Each name symbolizes a divine attribute. For example "ya Wali" means "the Friend" and "ya Hadi" means "the Guide". I sometimes inhale on one name and exhale on the other, or vice versa. The names cover such a broad range of positive attributes that a person can bring to mind different desired states and essentially breath them. It is beautiful.

Enjoy the 1/2 time show! I am enjoying our conversation.

Hi Frank--As I did the meditation this am...it seemed more metaphorically sound to say "let go" on the exhale...as in letting go of cares --exhalation is a letting go type of action :-) And, of course, inhaling and letting God enter my awareness etc......but it didn't flow well :-) I ended up just repeating the words and not worrying about getting it on breath...is rhythm important or especially helpful? (i.e. getting the words and breath in sync)

I'll be watching the halftime show, and maybe part of the game :-) Hubby is working, and the kids could care less :-) Have a great day!

Cathy

Hi Cathy :o)

I like your "let go" - inhale, "let God" -exhale, meditation. Also a form of "rememberance" it sounds like.

Enjoy your Sunday. :o) Is your family watching the game today?

There is a chanting meditation that Moslem's and Sufi's do known as Zikar (Dhickr). It is a repetition of the words "La El La Ha, El Allah Hu" which essentially means "Nothing exists outside of God". The term Zikar means "rememberance" because as was mentioned earlier, we once knew our interconnectedness with the Divine.

The chant (which is sometimes done very melodically and is considered "Jemal" or done more focused on the accentuated beats or "Jelal") gets progressively shorter to "El Allah Hu" and then "Allah Hu" and finally "Hu"(the Divine essence which permeates everything).

While the chanting is going on participants also rotate their bodies in a rhythmical fashion. The body moves in a circle, as if forming the shape of an inverted cone, the base of the spine being the tip of the cone. The result is very freeing. Everyone becomes synchronized. Each person experiences this "rememberance" in their own time, in their own way.

If you would like to experience the singing Zikar of Hazrat Inayat Khan, look for a Sufi Movement, Sufi Order or S.I.R.S. group in your neighbourhood.

Ishq

i wonder how deepak feels about the different sects in his home country? does he have a set religion like hindu?

I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON MEDETATION AND WOULD LIKE TO START MEDIATING.I LIVE IN NYC, HOW WOULD WHERE CAN I GOT TO LEARN

WE WILL LIKE TO KNOW IF MR. CHOPRA HAS SOME BOOK FOR CHILDRENS. OR IF HE CAN RECOMENDATE US SOME BOOKS FOR MEDITATION INTRODUCTION FOR CHILDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

Geoff--Regarding your question I wonder when we as a species divided ourselves from the life force so deeply that we had to develop a concept of God as something separate from ourselves?"

I'll ask Larry....;-)

Interesting to ponder...

Cathy

Thanks all for the info on chanting/mantras...I am still new to meditation, and do find it easier to have a word in mind, so to speak...so the word(s) aren't too important, eh?--it's the state of mind...but can they be too long? I like to think "Let go" on inspiration, "Let God" on exhalation...that's getting me down to 4 words vs just one ;-) I am definitely a Yin type "chanter" :-) I think I'd laugh at the image of myself if I were to chant aloud...

Larry says hello to you all...and be nice :-)

Namaste

Cathy

Cathy, I just read your question regarding chanting and mantras. It has been my experience that the actual 'content' of the chant isn't that important. I often use just sound rather than words. But everyone has to experiment to see what works best for them. The state of mind is vital - there are times I can't chant and times when it's literally effortless but I'm pretty new to the whole business. :)

Recently I went along to see the Gyuto Monks and they have obviously been doing it a weee bit longer than I have. Their deep throat chanting was absolutely hypnotising and had an surreal, other-worldly feel to it.

And if two years ago you'd said I would get right into chanting - often spontaneous - I would have said you were completely loopy. :)

Here's a page with some info on various types of chanting, including overtone chanting. If you've never heard overtone chanting, it's quite something - when i first heard it, I thought 'There's NO way a human voice can make THAT sound!'

Chanting

All the best.

Cathy, say hi to Larry form me. :)

Actually, this talk of God's name reminds me of something I read in Native Wisdom for white minds:

"Some Pacific cultures don't even have a word for God. This is not because God isn't there. It's because God is assumed. God is self-evident. God is so present that there is no need for a term because God is life itself.

I wonder when we as a species divided ourselves from the life force so deeply that we had to develop a concept of God as something separate from ourselves?"

Have a good one, everybody.

Hi Cathy! The state of mind is the important thing, not the word itself. Mindless repetitions are without use I believe.

Meditation can be used to calm or "empty" the mind. Because our inner dialogue likes to chatter, mantra's can be useful also to empty the mind to just the point of one word. It is extremely difficult to keep the mind completely quiet. The mind will still wander but witness it doing so nonjudgementally, and then carefully guide it back to the mantra and the "essence" of the mantra.

You can meditate with the mantra outloud or internally. I would think outloud is more "Yang" or "Jemal" (projective) and internally is more "Yin" or "Jelal" (receptive).

I just read an interesting section from Pema Chodron's book "When things fall apart" with regards to meditation. It says "We don't sit in meditation to become good meditators. We sit in meditation so that we will be more awake in our lives."

If we recognize states within ourselves during meditation, we can access these states during the time outside of meditation.

I hope some of these thoughts may resonate with you Cathy. Namaste'

still playing, i see! :) Larry, huh? ;)

good question, Pegs, heh!

Al?

hi Andrew and welcome! i loved Way of the Wizard, too. it is one of my favorite books, by Deepak. thanks for sharing and if you would like to go to Deepak's website it is www.chopra.com. Namasté

Loved the two videos way of the wizard and 7 spiritual laws - had bought 7 siritual laws (book) a few months ago

One of my brother's name is Larry! How cool...God is my brother! Which makes me God's kid sister--not bad :-)

Words are indeed interesting--I'd never heard the Maranatha breakdown--it does bring to mind a question about mantras. How does one "use" a mantra? Is it the repetition solely, or the state of mind when the repetition is used? Is the word choice more significant than what meaning the word holds for the chanter? Does it need to be aloud or is silent any good? Thanks in advance for the info!

Cathy

Break on through to the other side, Al...

I wonder how she likes being stuck with a guy's name.

M-R M-O-J-O R-I-S-I-N
J-I-M M-O-R-R-I-S-O-N

Coincidence? I think not.

Thank you Geoff. I to have been trying spread the "Truth", that God's true name is Larry. I have had some mixed reactions.

It is thought that some of the earlier languages have words that are more psychically charged that are particular to the meaning and intention of the word. The different consonent sounds have different effects or impressions on a person and the different usage of vowels effect different chakras. Alleluia has a profound effect on an individual (or individuals) when sung. It moves up to higher and higher chakras.

Some say that the word "Maranatha" is a mantra that illustrates the road to enlightenment. Ma(Me)Ra(God)Na (Death to the old self) Tha (Eternal Life found through awareness or birth of the new Self).

Words never cease to amaze me. They are so powerful. Tools for attention and intention; communication and synchronization. "In the beginning, there was the word.."

Free and Easy: A Spontaneous Song

by Venerable Lama Gendun Rinpoche

Happiness cannot be found
through great effort or willpower
but is already present,
in open relaxation and letting go.

Don't strain yourself,
there is nothing to do or undo.
Whatever momentarily arises in the body-mind
has no real importance at all,
has little reality whatsoever.
Why identify with,
and become attached to it,
passing judgement on it and ourselves?

Far better to simply
let the entire game happen on its own,
springing up and falling back like waves -
without ever changing or manipulating anything -
and notice how everything vanishes and
reappears, magically, again and again,
time without end.

Only our searching for happiness
prevents us from seeing it,
It's like a vivid rainbow which you pursue without ever catching,
or a dog chasing its own tail.
Although peace and happiness do not exist
as an actual thing or place,
it is always available
and accompanies you every instant.

Don't believe in the reality
of good and bad experiences;
they are like today's ephemeral weather,
like rainbows in the sky.

Wanting to grasp the ungraspable,
you exhaust yourself in vain.
As soon as you open and relax this tight fist of grasping,
infinite space is there - open, inviting, and comfortable.

Make use of this spaciousness,
this freedom and natural ease,
Don't search any further.
Don't go into the tangled jungle
looking for the great awakened elephant,
who is already resting quietly at home
in front of your own hearth.
Nothing to do or undo.
nothing to force,
nothing to want,
and nothing missing -

Emaho! Marvelous!
Everything happens by itself.

- Translated at Dakpo Kagyu Ling in Dordogne, France
From Awakening the Buddha within

What's in a name? Actually, God's first name is Larry. I know because I saw it on a TV program once.

Carol and Peggy, it's interesting, this business of what's in the name of God. Islam says that God has 99 names, the merciful, the giving and the all the rest but his first all encompassing name is Allah. There are Islamic defenders, such as Islamic cleric Didat of South Africa, who claims that since God's first language is Arabic, 'Allah' is his rightful name. He justifies it by using the Judeo/Christian bible as a source. Didat says that when the angels sing "Alleluia" this is a corruption of Allahu Akbar (God is Great) or Allah. I disagree of course.

You have to remember that in Hebrew, a semitic language that includes the Arabic language, God is named as, Yaweh, Jehova and later Aramaic times Eloi. Comparing the sounds of the name 'Eloi' with 'Allah' one cannot help but notice the similarity of root sound.

I also find it interesting to look at the Romanian word for God, Zeu; the Latin word for God, Deus; and who was the big chief god in Greek mythology? Zeus.

Thought I'd share that.

Question:
Do you find it difficult staying on track with your life lessons when many people/groupies pay too much homage to you? Does the earthly ego cloud the issues at times?

Answer:
Not really, I lead a relatively normal life in which my personality is based on my relationship with my wife and family. I recognize that at many speaking engagements some individuals focus their appreciation on me personally, rather than the knowledge itself. For my part I am grateful for the knowledge I have received and feel honored to share it. I don’t confuse my personality or ego with the knowledge itself. I interpret the enthusiasm and praise directed at me as appreciation for the knowledge and joy accompanying their own awakening.

Love,
Deepak

Kitty, i noticed you were hesitant to bring the information concerning Deepak's father, here. i just wanted to say that i appreciate that you did and thank you again.

The messenger of death enters . . .
And all business stops

good question, Ee, wonder if anyone ever tried to play with their name for God, like that before? i guess so, just haven't heard it before.

And an identity...

At least Deepak has a sense of play.

Or it be DOG spelled backwards!

Sorry, Peggy, but I couldn't pass that one up. :)

I'll have to agree with Eyore on this one. To me it cheapens the concept to look for what the three letters might stand for. I wonder what the foreign language translations of How to Know God handle the problem. Does he come up with new descriptions of what God is as Eyore has suggested?

Al, this isn't to say that God, as we know her, doesn't generate, organize and deliver our universe. But if the concept of "God" had been spelled J-A-M, then Chopra would have come up with other defining words. Aren't the descriptions more important than what letters they begin with?

Such a silly approach to language leaves the door wide open for someone to come along and say that GOD actually stands for "Good Old Dogma" or some such.

Who generates, delivers and organizes YOUR universe? If it isn't God, who is it?

My condolences to Chopra.

Crown/Harmony Books

Comments by users are not endorsed by Random House. The Deepak Chopra Forum is intended to provide a place for the exchange of information, opinions, and comments. Random House does not necessarily endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify, or agree with the comments, opinions, or statements posted in the Forum. Any information or material placed online, including advice and opinions, are the views of those who post the statements, and does not necessarily represent the views of Random House. Privacy Policy