Transcripts are available for all of our past live events with medical experts, authors, and celebrities. See all the transcripts.
Deepak Chopra, M.D. Vital Health: Mind-Body-Soul
With more than 10 million copies of his 25 books in print in English alone, Deepak Chopra, M.D., is known worldwide as a visionary author and healer. His latest book, How to Know God: The Soul's Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries, has been called "the Bible of the New Medicine," and "extremely relevant to the ongoing transformation in medicine today from the old soulless paradigm to the new one, with spirituality and emotions occupying center stage." Visit www.howtoknowgod.com for in-depth information about the book and Dr. Chopra's tour dates.
On January 26, 2000, Dr. Chopra came to PlanetRx to chat about self-awareness, spirituality, and cutting-edge medical science. Read more about Deepak Chopra. This is an edited transcript of the chat.
PRx Host :
Deepak Chopra, M.D., is the author of 25 books and the founder of the Chopra Center for Well Being in La Jolla, California. He is known worldwide as a proponent of mind-body medicine. Dr. Chopra's latest book, How to Know God: The Soul's Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries, has been called "the Bible of the New Medicine." Welcome to PlanetRx.com, Dr. Chopra.
Deepak Chopra :
Thank you for having me.
PRx Host :
Most people think that doctors have an ultra-mechanistic view of the universe. But you note in your new book, How to Know God, that every doctor has come across patients who are one step ahead of them -- i.e., they know whether or not they have cancer before the tests come in. Can you give us an example from your career and tell us what lesson these patients helped you learn?
Deepak Chopra :
I think patients not only know what's happening on an intuitive level but on an intuitive level, they also know the solution to the problem. When someone has what we call a healing, they have a creative response in their biology to the disease process. Like any other creative process, there are phases to it. These include intended outcome, information gathering, information reshuffling, incubation insight, inspiration, implementation, and integration, in that order. Some people do this intuitively, but anyone can learn the process.
PRx Host :
You talk in your book about a patient who was cured of terminal cancer by an injection of salt water? Can you tell us that remarkable story and what we all can learn from it?
Deepak Chopra :
For almost 30 years, doctors have known of the placebo effect. The word placebo comes from a Latin word which means "I shall please." When a patient takes a biologically inert substance and gets real response from it, what they have done is converted a belief into a molecule. That's how the placebo works. There is also the opposite of a placebo. This is called the "nocebo." It's when a doctor tells you that you have only three months to live and you believe that it is true.
There are many things we can learn from both the placebo and the nocebo response. The first is, we should believe the diagnosis, but never the prognosis in a disease. The prognosis is based on statistics, which do not apply to the individual person. Secondly, we should never use the term "false hope," which is an oxymoron by definition. There's no such thing as false hope! Either you have hope or you don't have hope. The third thing that we can learn is that if we treat any problem as a challenge to our creativity, including biological creativity, and understand the mechanics of that process, then we will accelerate the healing process.
PRx Host :
We have a couple of audience questions on this point so I'll turn to them.
callmebond :
Are you saying the patient was cured because they thought they were cured? Does this mean that you can actually cure any terminal disease with the placebo effect?
Deepak Chopra :
Theoretically, if there is a mechanism for something, then it should be possible to replicate it. In practical terms, not everybody responds the same way. Placebos work only 30% of the time statistically. Again, statistics do not apply to the individual person. I think the reason they don't work all the time is that diseases are multifactorial in origin. They are influenced; their outcome is not only influenced by our beliefs, but also by our lifestyle, our habits, our diet, and of course, the treatment that we embark on.
terripe :
You mean that whatever we believe will happen?
Deepak Chopra :
Unfortunately, no.
PRx Host :
What is the status of the research on prayer and how it helps the healing process?
Deepak Chopra :
There is both a theoretical understanding of how it works, and also now some practical research on prayer. The theoretical explanation has to do with an understanding of non-local reality, also known as the Einstein-Bodolsky-Rosen equation in physics, which says that two seemingly separate objects can be instantly connected in a domain that is beyond space and time. The theoretical understanding of this is very elegant in its physics.
On a more practical level, research at Duke University, and other places like Stanford has shown clearly, that prayer works even when the prayed-for person is unaware. In 1998, researchers found that in 150 patients who had undergone invasive cardiac procedures, prayer aided post surgical recovery and the improvement was graded as being 50%-100% better than in control groups.
PRx Host :
I loved the anecdote in your book about the devotee of Vishnu who wanted to know God so badly. He got a little distracted. Can you tell the story and how it relates to our everyday lives?
Deepak Chopra :
Our intentions are sometimes lofty but minor distractions make us forget the true meaning and purpose of our existence. The anecdote in the book is a reminder that ultimate meaning and purpose in life come from knowing our higher selves, which is what Vishnu represents.
PRx Host :
You note in your book that most people are addicted to worry, control, over-management, and lack of faith. How can people overcome that addiction?
Deepak Chopra :
Like any addiction, the treatment is to not erase the memory of the habit, because it can't be done. The only way to treat any addiction is to overpower it with a new habit which is more fulfilling. In this particular case, it is to understand that when we are engaged and detached at the same time, the law of least effort operates in our favor.
PRx Host :
Can you tell us about the website and seminars on the theme of your new book?
Deepak Chopra :
The website is www.howtoknowgod.com. It is free of charge. You can bring to the website any problem that you have and the website will offer you tools to find the solution within yourself. In other words, the website will aid you in eliciting the intuitive, the creative, the restful awareness, the visionary, and the sacred responses to that particular challenge. Then you will decide what the most appropriate way to respond to that particular situation is.
It's very exciting to work on this website because it makes the understanding of divine intelligence, which is present within all of us, very practical. We access intelligence through our nervous system, and we all have the ability to do it. It is just a matter of shifting our awareness and introducing the right quality of attention and intention. The New Testament says, "Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened, seek and ye shall find." Who would have thought that the Internet would make this possible?
PRx Host :
We have a lot of questions from the audience, so I'll turn to them.
starfishing :
Dr. Chopra, can a placebo work if the patient KNOWS they are taking a placebo? If they have faith that it will work anyway?
Deepak Chopra :
In the situation you describe, a placebo is not necessary. In many healing traditions, a ritual is used instead of a placebo. Rituals are ways of trapping your attention and also your energy, and ways of also trapping information. Therefore, rituals work the same way as placebos. A person who has immense faith to begin with may need neither the ritual nor the placebo.
MariaSyrNy :
Deepak, I have had a tremendous amount of healing in the past two years. How do I give complete and total thanks to the universal energies that guided me along this path?
Deepak Chopra :
One way is to sit down every morning, close your eyes and acknowledge all the things for which you could be grateful at this moment.
Devi2000 :
Dr. Chopra, do you plan to write a "sequel" to Quantum Healing? I'd like to know how or if science is grasping the concepts you have introduced any more than in 1989. And the patient stories are truly inspirational -- I could read a whole book dedicated to them and your experiences with them.
Deepak Chopra :
Actually, you will find a lot of that material in How To Know God because, since 1989, our understanding of how quantum physics relates to consciousness has increased by leaps and bounds.
Devi2000 :
Dr. Chopra, what are your feelings regarding organ or tissue transplants? Does the introduction of someone else's tissues into a body affect the host body's inner intelligence?
Deepak Chopra :
Of course it does! Fortunately, in the near future, which means less than a decade from now, you will be able to replace any organ in your body using your own cells. It will be possible to take a few cells from your tongue or the inside of your cheek and create any organ that you need. It will be made from your body's own intelligence. There will be no problems of rejection; moreover, the organ will be several years younger.
starfishing :
Dr. Chopra, can you speculate as to why the religions of the world are all so separate -- and not more unified? It seems like they all point to the same thing.
Deepak Chopra :
Even though the essential truths of all religions are the same, over the course of several centuries the organization of religion has become a political process. Instead of focusing on spirituality, which is a domain of universality, religions have focused on semantics and differences of interpretation. This has caused untold bloodshed. A wise Indian philosopher by the name of Krishnamurti once said, "God gave humans the truth, and the devil came and said, 'I'll organize it for you, and we'll call it religion!'" I see that the future of spirituality belongs to a domain which is totally beyond organized religion.
PRx Host :
A very wise philosopher!
callmebond :
I was in this class that taught the power of visualization, and how to use it as a group to help someone else outside of that group heal (whether they know it or not). It has been found to work many times. What is the difference between visualization and prayer then?
Deepak Chopra :
The two work similarly in that they both make use of non-local mind. The difference sometimes is because of the degree of silence. If there is no background noise in your mind, then visualization, prayer, or simply putting intention and attention all achieve powerful effects. On the other hand, if your internal dialogue is turbulent, then nothing works. The key is to still the mind before you practice the procedure. As it says in Psalm 44, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Devi2000 :
How can medical science use results obtained by animal experiments and apply them to us? Surely hurting these animals even for a "greater good" changes the results?
Deepak Chopra :
I agree. In the future, it will be possible to do cell cultures of our own cells to do the research. It will be noninvasive, and will hurt no one if the research is done on cells derived from your own tongue scrapings or saliva, and the cells are cultured. This is the wave of the future.
cccseven :
Dr. Chopra, I'm not able to quiet my mind enough to meditate effectively. I can't always block outside distractions, my mind is always working. Can I develop the ability to connect with spirit?
Deepak Chopra :
Of course. The key is not to try to quiet your mind. Just sit quietly and observe your thoughts as they come and go like somebody sitting in a window and watching the traffic on the street. Once in a while, your attention will drift from the traffic, which is your thoughts, to the street, which is the container of the traffic, or the thoughts and your mind will spontaneously become quiet. Just be an observer, not resisting, not pushing, not trying, simply observing. That is real meditation.
Devi2000 :
Dr. Chopra, have you considered opening a Wellness Center in Canada? Our Western healthcare system is floundering and we are disenchanted. (I am from Calgary, Alberta, and would love to have a center in my own back yard!)
Deepak Chopra :
Come up with a proposal and some people who will help you, and I'll help you in turn! It won't be my center, it'll be yours, but I'll help you.
hungrylikethe :
How do we make church leaders understand that scriptures like the Bible are stories that speak metaphorically not literally? How do we universalize the understanding of Spirit? Is it a case of waiting for a critical mass to occur?
Deepak Chopra :
Precisely. It is a matter of critical mass, and we now have the technology to reach that critical mass. We are using it right now. It's called the Internet. It is my belief that we will reach this critical mass in our lifetime.
MESCHI :
How do we recognize what is stopping us from overcoming unwanted but recurrent conditions?
Deepak Chopra :
We must know that 99.9% of our behavior is conditioned. In order to effect a change, we must become aware of how we respond to situations, circumstances, people, and events by becoming silent, non-judgmental observers of ourselves. We begin a process of spontaneous transformation because we no longer have the desire to remain bundles of conditioned reflexes and nerves, constantly being triggered by people and circumstance into predictable outcomes.
gator674 :
In your book The Path to Love you state, "You were created to be completely loved and completely lovable for your whole life." Can you elaborate on that?
Deepak Chopra :
Most people have the idea (again, because of conditioning) that in order to be lovable, we have to do something, such as improve ourselves physically, emotionally, or psychologically. The fact is, the most lovable people are those who are natural, comfortable with their ambiguity, knowing that to have weaknesses is not to be flawed but to be complete. There is nothing more lovable or attractive than a person who radiates simple, unaffected humanity. These are the traits that children have. That is why they're so lovable.
Anshuman :
How can we visit the Chopra center?
Deepak Chopra :
Anytime you're in San Diego, you can come and visit. We have free lectures called satsangs, and these are posted regularly on our website, www.chopra.com. For more formal visits, that means, if you want to come for several days, you can call our toll free number, which is 888-424-6772. Anyone can come to the evening lectures free of charge.
Grissel :
Dr. Chopra, I am a nurse and think that there is something fundamentally missing in the delivery of healthcare today (and in turn, it is taking a toll on the well-being of health practitioners). How can I integrate mind-body-soul into my practice to benefit not only my clients but my co-workers?
Deepak Chopra :
These days, a lot of institutions offer courses on mind, body, and soul approaches, including medical schools such as Harvard, UCLA, etc. The Chopra Center for Well Being offers courses in mind-body medicine to nurses, doctors, and health professionals. You can get this information from our website, which is www.chopra.com.
gator674 :
You have said the most creative aspect of our life is the spirit. The spirit in simple terms is awareness. What is awareness?
Deepak Chopra :
If you're reading this sentence right now, become aware of who is reading it and you will immediately turn your attention to your inner self and feel a presence. That presence is not your mind. It is the observer behind the mind. Once again, as you read this sentence, ask yourself, who is reading? As you become aware of who is reading, you will feel the presence of spirit.
PRx Host :
We have people in the audience asking if you're coming to their cities -- everywhere from Hong Kong to Philadelphia. Are you traveling around the country and world in connection with your new book?
Deepak Chopra :
With the book tour, I'm going to 21 cities. These are posted on my website. Then I'm also going around the world, including Hong Kong. The schedule is on the website. If it's not there, then it'll be there imminently. Just keep checking. On the website, there's something called Namaste. If you register with Namaste, you automatically get emails that tell you when I'm coming to your area.
BrazilianGirl :
Dr Chopra. I'm the principal of a school for poor children in Brazil. We taught them that they are immortal spirits. Some of them are very rebellious. In our religion classes we try to teach them the spiritual laws. What can we do to improve their lives to understand the spiritual laws and practice at home with their parents, who don't understand what we are doing yet?
Deepak Chopra :
If you were able to even introduce a meditation session for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening, in the classroom, you would achieve amazing results.
vahuja49 :
Mr. Chopra, have you experienced the transcendental meditation and being connected to the "GOD" yourself?? How did it feel??
Deepak Chopra :
It felt wonderful, exhilarating. But all forms of meditation allow you to experience that, if done correctly.
Devi2000 :
What do you think the most amazing discoveries will be in the next few decades for science, medicine, or any other field?
Deepak Chopra :
The most amazing development in science and medicine today is the human genome project. It will be possible in less than a decade to replace any organ in your body with your own cells. This is selective cloning. The technology for this is imminent. The dangers are also there. We could create monsters, and of course, there would be the threat of biological warfare from unscrupulous and unethical people. However, technology cannot be stopped. It is up to us how we use it. We could eliminate both disease and poverty on our planet or we could risk our extinction. It depends on us.
Devi2000 :
I saw Child of the Dawn by Guatama in the bookstore. Can you give us a brief glimpse of what it is about? You must be very proud. [Gautama is Chopra's son.]
Deepak Chopra :
I am very proud. The book is the story of an orphan child who discovers the magic within himself by understanding how spiritual laws work. Guatama has since then done a comic series called The Bulletproof Monk, which has been optioned for a movie. Look out for it.
PRx Host :
Like father, like son!
cccseven :
Dr. Chopra, I can't afford to travel to California to the Chopra Center for lectures. Is there a possibility that transcripts of these lectures might be available on your website from time to time? Also, I'd like to thank you for the wonderful Namaste emails, they're much appreciated.
Deepak Chopra :
That's a very good idea. Actually, I post transcripts once a week on various topics on the Namaste section of the website. This is already being done, so register with Namaste through www.chopra.com, and you can pick up the transcripts as well as get into the archives.
Gaensly :
Dr Chopra, what was the most important aspect you have learned by writing your last book about God?
Deepak Chopra :
I have finally begun to understand the nature of so-called anomalies, things such as extrasensory perception, clairvoyance, telepathy, synchronicity, remembrance of former lifetimes, the keys to artistic, musical, mathematical, and other genius. But most importantly, I feel that we have a scientific understanding of what our soul is and the fact that it is immortal and that it journeys through space-time eternally. This understanding can remove the fear of death in all of us, and once we no longer fear death, we are free, because we no longer experience fear of any kind.
PRx Host :
You have a wonderful ending for your book -- you quote the poetic dying words of a Blackfoot Indian chief: "What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night, It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time, It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." Can you tell the audience why you chose these words to end your book?
Deepak Chopra :
These beautiful words by a Blackfoot Indian chief were uttered in 1890. They were his last words to a Christian missionary father. They are as profound as the words of Buddha, who said, "This lifetime of ours is as transient as autumn clouds. To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance. A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky, rushing by like a torrent down the steep mountain."
What the Indian chief and Buddha are saying to us is, life is precious, and we should treasure every single moment of it and not grasp and cling to things that are ephemeral, transient, insubstantial, impermanent and, dreamlike.
The essence of life is spirit, and spirit is love. When we change our priorities, and make love the most important thing of our lives, then even though we see that death is stalking us in every moment of our existence, in the continuum of existence, it is just a little shadow. Impermanent, fleeting, transient. That realization can make us free.
PRx Host :
Back to the audience for a final question.
mandaluv :
I find myself wanting to live in quasi-seclusion and spend my time meditating and doing yoga, but feel guilty at times for not contributing to society. What is your feeling about this desire to spend so much time in solitude?
Deepak Chopra :
Although the desire is well-intentioned, unless one is a monk, and is happy with that, one needs to balance inner stillness with dynamic activity that contributes to the well-being of society. If you don't want to feel guilty, then you must engage in both deep inner stillness and solitude and also useful work. In my own personal life, I meditate every day, but every three months, I also take approximately a week off to engage in solitude and inner silence. That kind of balance is very nourishing, and helps you achieve worthy goals, as well as stay in touch with the spirit.
PRx Host :
I'm sorry and I'm sure that our audience is sorry that we have run out of time. Thanks so much for returning to PlanetRx.com for another enlightening chat.
With more than 10 million copies of his 25 books in print in English alone, Deepak Chopra, M.D., is known worldwide as a visionary author and healer. His latest book, How to Know God: The Soul's Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries, has been called "the Bible of the New Medicine," and "extremely relevant to the ongoing transformation in medicine today from the old soulless paradigm to the new one, with spirituality and emotions occupying center stage."
Dr. Chopra received his medical degree from the All-India Medical Institute in New Delhi, and went on to teach at both Tufts University and Boston University. In 1995, he founded the Chopra Center for Well Being, in La Jolla, Calif., to provide medical consultations, therapeutic body treatments, health workshops, meditation instruction, hospital program development, and corporate training courses. The new vision of Western medicine that Dr. Chopra upholds is based on his belief that good health is more than just the absence of disease -- it is a lively balance and integration of mind, body, and spirit.
Dr. Chopra has produced several television and video programs for PBS, including "Body, Mind, and Soul: The Mystery and the Magic," one of the most successful and widely viewed fund-raisers in the history of the network. He has written five best-selling books, including Ageless Body, Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old, Perfect Health: The Complete Mind-Body Guide, and The Path to Love.
Dr. Chopra has keynoted many international gatherings, including the State of the World Forum, hosted by Mikhail Gorbachev, and the Peace and Human Progress Foundation, founded by Nobel Peace Prize-winner Oscar Arias. In 1992 Dr. Chopra served on the National Institutes of Health Ad Hoc Panel on Alternative Medicine, and he currently lectures annually at the Harvard Medical School department of continuing education.
Coinciding with the release of his new book, Deepak Chopra taught a two-day seminar, entitled "The Gift of Love," designed to empower individuals to more fully embrace and feel their lives and spirit. Dr. Chopra led participants through such practical and spiritual subjects as: "How to heal emotional toxicity"; "Action, memory, and desire -- understanding the software of your soul to escape the prison of past conditioning"; and "The nature of relationships, from attraction to ecstasy." More information about Dr. Chopra is available at his website, www.chopra.com.
Don't miss How to Know God: The Soul's Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries and other books by Deepak Chopra, M.D. Available at Barnesandnoble.com and bookstores everywhere!
Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Information about each product is taken from the labels of the products or from the manufacturer's advertising material. PlanetRx.com is not responsible for any statements or claims that various manufacturers make about their products. We cannot be held responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All discounts are taken from suggested retail prices.
