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{{Infobox Person | name = Deepak Chopra | image = Deepak Chopra.jpg | image_size = | caption = Deepak Chopra in 2006 | birth_date = (1946-10-22) October 22, 1946 (age 77) | birth_place = New Delhi, India | death_date = | death_place = | education = | occupation = Public speaker, Writer, philosopher | title =

| spouse = RitaThis article is part of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine series of articles. CAM Article Index

Deepak Chopra (Hindi: दीपक चोपड़ा; born October 22, 1946) is an Indian medical doctor and writer. He

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 | occupation  = [[Public speaker]], [[Writer]], [[philosopher]]
 | title          =
+| spouse         = Rita<tr><td align="center">This article is part of the [[Terms and concepts in alternative medicine#CAM|Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] series of articles.
-| spouse         = Rita
-| parents        = Dr. (Col) K. L. Chopra
-| children       = [[Mallika Chopra]] and [[Gotham Chopra]]
-| nationality    = [[demographics of India|Indian]]
-| website        =
-}}
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-'''Alternative Medicine'''
-<tr><td align="center">This article is part of the [[Terms and concepts in alternative medicine#CAM|Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] series of articles.
 <tr><td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#ffcc99">'''[[:Category:Alternative medicine|CAM Article Index]]'''
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-'''Deepak Chopra''' ({{lang-hi|दीपक  चोपड़ा}}; born [[October 22]], [[1946]]) is an [[India]]n [[medical doctor]] and [[writer]]. He has written extensively on [[spirituality]] and diverse topics in [[mind-body medicine]]. Chopra says that he has been influenced by the teachings of [[Vedanta]] and the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'', as well as by [[Jiddu Krishnamurti]]<ref>{{ cite book | title=Krishnamurti: 100 Years | last=Blau | first=Evelyne | page=233 | publisher=Stewart, Tabori, & Chang | year=1995 | month=May | isbn=978-1556704079 }}</ref> and by the field of [[quantum physics]].  Deepak Chopra has had a profound influence on the [[New Thought Movement]] that has embraced him in the [[United States]].
+'''Deepak Chopra''' ({{lang-hi|दीपक  चोपड़ा}}; born [[October 22]], [[1946]]) is an [[India]]n [[medical doctor]] and [[writer]]. He
-==Early years==
-Chopra was born in [[New Delhi]]. His father, Dr. (Col) K. L. Chopra, was a [[cardiologist]] in Mool Chand K. R. Hospital, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi (India) and served as a lieutenant in the British army. Chopra's grandfather practiced [[Ayurveda]]<ref name="webindia">{{cite web | title=Deepak Chopra: Physician, Author, Philosopher | url=http://www.webindia123.com/personal/abroad/deepak.htm }}</ref>. He completed his primary education at [[St. Columba's School]] in New Delhi and eventually graduated from the prestigious [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]].
-Having graduated from AIIMS in 1969, Chopra emigrated to the U.S. in 1970 with his new bride, Rita, to do his [[clinical internship]] at a [[New Jersey]] hospital, followed by [[residency training]] for several more years at the [[Lahey Clinic]] in [[Burlington, Massachusetts]] and at the [[University of Virginia|University of Virginia Hospital]].  He became board-certified in [[internal medicine]] and [[endocrinology]].<!-- !! domain lapsed. !! ref name="autogenerated1">{{web cite | url=http://thenewagefiles.shadowweb.info/biogs_info/chopra_deepak.php --><ref>{{web cite | url=http://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/new-age-catalysts/deepak-chopra/chopra.asp | title=An article on Deepak Chopra, the bestselling spiritual author and new age guru | work=Life Positive | year=2000 | month=May | accessdate=2008-11-30 }}</ref>
-==Career==
-Chopra taught at [[Tufts University]] and [[Boston University]] Schools of Medicine, and became the Chief of Staff at the New England Memorial Hospital (later the Boston Regional Medical Center) in [[Stoneham, Massachusetts]]<ref>{{cite web | last=Redwood | first=Daniel D.C. | url=http://www.healthy.net/scr/interview.asp?Id=167 | title=Quantum Healing | work=HealthWorld Online | accessdate=2008-11-30 }}</ref>. Chopra also established a large private practice.
-Inspired after meeting New Delhi Ayurvedic physician Dr. [[Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna]]<ref name="webindia"/><ref>{{web cite | first=Rosamund | last=Burton | title=Peace Seeker | url=http://www.novamagazine.com.au/article_archive/06_04_Peace%20seeker.htm | work=Nova Magazine | accessdate=2008-11-30 }}</ref> in 1981, Chopra became a leader in the [[Transcendental Meditation]] movement. Later, Chopra branched off on his own to pursue broader aims in mind-body treatment including, in 1993, the position of executive director of the Sharp Institute for Human Potential and Mind–Body Medicine, affiliated with [[Sharp Healthcare]], in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]]<ref>{{web cite | url=http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=62-039557420x-0 | title=Powell's Books - Return of the Rishi | accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref>.
-Chopra is the co-founder of the Chopra Center, which he founded in 1996 in [[La Jolla, California]] with Dr. David Simon.  In 2002 the Center moved its official headquarters to [[La Costa, California|La Costa]] Resort & Spa in [[Carlsbad, California]] with a branch in [[New York, New York|New York]] City. He has plans for other centers.
-In 2004, Chopra was recruited to co-write a script with [[India]]n film director [[Shekhar Kapur]] on a proposed film to be made about the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], but the plans were later dropped for unstated reasons.
-In 2006, Chopra launched [[Virgin Comics|Virgin Comics LLC]] alongside his son, [[Gotham Chopra]], and [[Richard Branson]], famed entrepreneur and thrill-seeker.  The aim of the company is to promote and examine South Asian themes and culture through [[comic book]]s<ref>{{cite web | last=Singh | first=Arune | title=Eastern Philosophy: Deepak Chopra talks Virgin Comics | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6188 | work=Comic Book Resources | date=2006-01-12 | accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref>. Deepak co-authored 'Ask the [[Kabbalah|Kabala]]' with Mike 'Zappy' Zapolin and Alys Yablon in 2006, which is a set of 22 cards, each one representing a story or character from the Old Testament and a life lesson based on that story from a [[Kabbalah|Kabalistic]] perspective.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ask the Kabala, a new book | url=http://www.kabala.com/askthekabala.html | year=2006 | accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref>
-==Principal themes==
-Many of Chopra's themes and beliefs are stated in his first book ''Creating Health'', in 1986. He launched himself as a staunch advocate of the interconnection between mind and body, advocating [[meditation]] and [[self-awareness]] as primary factors in both illness and healing. He deepened these themes in ''Quantum Healing'' (1989), where he examined the mysterious phenomenon of spontaneous healing of cancer. Here he introduced quantum physics as a means of understanding the [[mind-body connection]], arguing — as he would in many other books — that [[consciousness]] is the basic foundation of [[nature]] and the [[universe]].
-In ''Perfect Health'' (1991) Chopra authored the first widely read book on [[Ayurveda]]{{Fact|date=December 2008}}, the traditional system of Indian medicine. Besides outlining the Ayurvedic concept of body types (Prakriti), Chopra emphasizes that the roots of Indian healing lie in changing the [[holistic medicine|holistic]] balance of mind and body.{{Fact|quote? page number?|date=December 2008}}
-Subsequent books have turned toward larger spiritual questions. In ''How to Know God'' (2000) and ''The Book of Secrets'' (2004) an argument is made for an all-pervasive intelligence that unites every living thing, rather than the traditional Western concept of God as a person, "a venerable white male sitting on a throne in the sky." Chopra sees God as a projection of human awareness, who becomes more expansive and universal as individual consciousness expands.{{Fact|date=December 2008}}
-In  his book ''Life After Death: The Burden of Proof'' (2006) he extends personal consciousness beyond the "artificial boundary that separates the living from the departed." Assessing the seven varieties of the [[afterlife]] described by various world religious traditions, Chopra offered the proposal that a person's awareness in the present shapes existence after death; that is, the afterlife is created uniquely for each of us by our present level of consciousness.{{Fact|date=December 2008}}
-In 2005 Chopra became a staunch advocate for disarmament and international peace in ''Peace Is the Way'', where he argues that a "critical mass" of people of like mind can defeat the global "addiction to war". In the same regard he became president of a broad-based organization, Alliance of a New Humanity, that seeks to form "peace cells" around the world and to foster such related goals as environmental healing and sustainable economies in developing nations.
-==Intelligent design and religion==
-In August 2005, Chopra posted a series of articles in the blog ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', to which he is a frequent contributor, offering his solution to the [[creation-evolution controversy]]. In doing so he expressed support for [[Intelligent design]] without [[the Bible]], or the politics of religion. According to Chopra, Nature itself displays intelligence.<ref name="ChopEin">{{cite web | last=Chopra | first=Deepak | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/intelligent-design-withou_b_6105.html | title=Intelligent Design Without the Bible | work=Huffington Post | date=2005-08-23 | accessdate=2008-11-30 }}</ref>
-In the article, Chopra states:
-:"To say that Nature displays intelligence doesn't make you a Christian fundamentalist. Einstein said as much, and a fascinating theory called the [[anthropic principle]] has been seriously considered by [[Stephen Hawking]], among others."
-:"It’s time to rescue "intelligent design" from the politics of religion. There are too many riddles not yet answered by either biology or the Bible, and by asking them honestly, without foregone conclusions, science could take a huge leap forward."
-Chopra also offers a series of questions about [[evolution]] that he [[Misconceptions_about_evolution#Evolution|believes cannot be answered by science alone]].<ref name="ChopEin"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Chopra | first=Deepak | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/rescuing-intelligent-desi_b_6164.html | title=Rescuing Intelligent Design — But from Whom? | work=Huffington Post | date=2005-08-24 | accessdate=2008-11-30 }}</ref> Science writer [[Michael Shermer]], founder of [[The Skeptics Society]] and long-time critic of Chopra, posted a response.<ref>{{cite web | last= Shermer | first= Michael | url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shermer/skyhooks-and-cranes-deep_b_6179.html | title=Skyhooks and Cranes: Deepak Chopra, George W. Bush, and Intelligent Design | work= Huffington Post | accessdate= 2008-11-30 }}</ref>
-Chopra also believes [[Jesus]] was possessed of [[esoteric]] wisdom and may have studied [[Kabbalah]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Ofek-Arnon | first=Dorit | title=Incoming: Guru seeks Jesus | url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1198517221907&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull | date=2007-12-27 |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] | accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref>
-==Reception==
-Chopra has been  criticized for his frequent references to the relationship of [[quantum mechanics]] to [[healing]] processes, a connection that has drawn skepticism from physicists who say it can be considered as possibly contributing to the general confusion in the popular press regarding [[Measurement in quantum mechanics|quantum measurement]], [[decoherence]] and the [[Werner Heisenberg|Heisenberg]] [[uncertainty principle]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Stenger | first=Victor J. | title=Quantum Quackery | url=http://www.csicop.org/si/9701/quantum-quackery.html | work=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] | year=2007 | month=January | accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref>
-In 1998, Chopra was awarded the satirical [[Ig Nobel Prize]] in physics for "his unique interpretation of quantum physics as it applies to life, liberty, and the pursuit of economic happiness."<ref>{{cite web | title=Winners of the Ig® Nobel Prize | url=http://improbable.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig1998 | work=Improbable Research | accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref>
-In its May 22/29, 1991 issue, the ''[[Journal of the American Medical Association]]'' (''JAMA'') published an article by Sharma, Triguna and Chopra: ''Letter from New Delhi: Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Modern Insights Into Ancient Medicine''.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Sharma HM, Triguna BD, Chopra D |title=Maharishi Ayur-Veda: modern insights into ancient medicine |journal=JAMA |volume=265 |issue=20 |pages=2633–4, 2637 |year=1991 |pmid=1817464 |doi= |url= }}</ref> This article was represented as discussing traditional Indian medicine (''[[Ayurveda]]''). Upon investigation, ''JAMA'' editors found that the coauthors had financial interests in "[[Maharishi Vedic Medicine]]" products and services. In the August 14, 1991 edition of ''JAMA'', the editors published a financial disclosure correction<ref>
-{{cite journal |title=Erratum in: JAMA 1991 Aug 14 |journal=JAMA |volume=266 |issue=6 |page=798 }}</ref> and followed up in October 2, 1991 with a six-page Medical News and Perspectives exposé.<ref>{{cite journal |author= |title=Maharishi Ayur-Veda |journal=JAMA |volume=266 |issue=13 |pages=1769–74 |year=1991 |month=October |pmid=1653861 |doi= |url=}}</ref> The series of events was reviewed by Skolnick in the Newsletter of the National Association of Science Writers.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Skolnick |first=Andrew |title=The Maharhish Caper: Or How to Hoodwink Top Medical Journals |url=http://www.aaskolnick.com/naswmav.htm |journal=ScienceWriters |year=1991 |month=Fall |accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref> In response to the JAMA exposé, two Transcendental Meditation groups and Chopra sued the author, Andrew Skolnick, ''JAMA'''s editor Dr. George Lundberg, and the AMA for $194 million in July 1992. Pursuant to a settlement agreement, in 1993 the suit was dismissed by the judge at the request of the plaintiffs, with the option of reinstating pending completion of the settlement.<ref>The Lancaster Foundation, Inc., The American Association for Ayur-Vedic Medicine, Inc. vs. Andrew A. Skolnick, George D. Lundberg, M.D., No. 82 C 4175 (U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, Judge Kocoras).</ref>
-In 2008, following the [[November 2008 Mumbai attacks|November attacks in Mumbai]], Chopra created some controversy by claiming that the attacks were the product of the American [[War on Terror]] and reaction to the potential policies of US [[president-elect]] [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="WSJMumbai">{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809544395968075.html?mod=rss_opinion_main |title=Deepak Blames America |accessdate=2008-12-01 |last=Rabinowitz |first=Dorothy |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=[[Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3530680/Mumbai-attacks-India-news-organisations-blame-outside-terrorists-Bombay-India.html |title=Mumbai attacks: India news organisations blame 'outside' terrorists |accessdate=2008-12-01 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>  He suggested that the United States should address the education gap and other issues in the Middle East by way of a [[Marshall Plan]] for the Muslim world.<ref name="WSJMumbai"/> [[Wall Street Journal]] columnist [[Dorothy Rabinowitz]] criticized this position, saying that Chopra is too quick to blame problems on America and that he fails to mention the "fanaticism and sheer mindless gullibility" that she believes to be the root cause of [[Islamic Fundamentalism]].<ref name="WSJMumbai"/>
-==Professional teaching==
-Chopra has cast himself as a critic but not an enemy of conventional medicine. He teaches an annual update in Internal Medicine at [[Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center]], a teaching hospital of [[Harvard Medical School]], where his younger brother, Sanjiv, is Professor of Medicine and Faculty Dean for Continuing Medical Education.<ref>{{cite web |title=Deepak Chopra |url=http://www.nndb.com/people/269/000046131/ |work=NNDB |accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref><ref>{{web cite |title=Sanjiv Chopra MD at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center |url=http://services.bidmc.org/Find_a_doc/doc_detail.asp?sid=41414643494642 |accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Aerosmith Steven Tyler: cancer rumor Hep C secret tv video interview |url=http://www.thecancerblog.com/2006/09/27/aerosmith-steven-tyler-cancer-rumor-hep-c-secret-tv-video-inter/ |accessdate=2008-12-01 }}</ref> Physicians' continuing medical education through the Chopra Center has been certified by the [[American Medical Association]].
-==Personal life==
-Chopra is married to Rita and has two children, [[Mallika Chopra]] and [[Gotham Chopra]] and three grandchildren.
-==Writings==
-Chopra has written more than 40 books. They range broadly across spiritual and health topics; including bestsellers on aging, the "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success," the existence of God, arguments for the afterlife and world peace. He has also written novels and edited collections of spiritual poetry from India and Persia.
-==Media==
-=== Books ===
-* 1987 ''Creating Health'' ISBN 0-395-75515-8
-* 1988 ''Return of the Rishi'' ISBN 0-395-57420-X
-* 1989 ''Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine'' ISBN 0-553-34869-8
-* 1991 ''Unconditional Life: Mastering the Forces That Shape Personal Reality''
-* 1991 ''Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide'' ISBN 0-517-58421-2
-* 1993 ''Ageless Body, Timeless Mind : The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old'' ISBN 0-517-59257-6
-* 1993 ''Creating Affluence: Wealth Consciousness in the Field of All Possibilities''
-* 1994 ''The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfilment of Your Dreams''
-* 1995 ''The Way of the Wizard: Twenty Spiritual Lessons in Creating the Life You Want'' ISBN 0-517-70434-X
-* 1995 ''The Return of Merlin: A Novel'' ISBN 0-449-91074-1
-* 1995 ''The Path to Love: Spiritual Strategies for Healing''
-* 1997 ''The Path to Love: Renewing the Power of Spirit in Your Life'' ISBN 0-517-70622-9
-* 1997 ''The Seven Spiritual Laws for Parents: Guiding Your Children to Success and Fulfillment
-* 1999 ''Everyday Immortality: A Concise Course in Spiritual Transformation'' ISBN 0-609-60484-8
-* 1999 ''Lords of Light: A Novel'' ISBN 0-312-96892-2
-* 2000 ''The Angel is Near: A Novel'' ISBN 0-312-97024-2
-* 2000 ''How to Know God : The Soul's Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries'' ISBN 0-609-60078-8
-* 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'' ISBN 0-609-60079-6
-* 2002 ''Manifesting Good Luck Cards: Growth and Enlightenment
-* 2003 ''Golf for Enlightenment: The Seven Lessons for the Game of Life''
-* 2003 ''The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence'' ISBN 0-609-60042-7
-* 2003 ''Synchrodestiny: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence to Create Miracles'' ISBN 1-84413-221-8
-* 2003 ''Manifesting Good Luck: Love and Relationships, 50 Card Deck
-* 2004 ''The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life'' ISBN 0-517-70624-5
-* 2004 ''Fire in the Heart: A Spiritual Guide for Teens'' ISBN 0-689-86216-4
-* 2005 ''Peace Is the Way : Bringing War and Violence to an End'' ISBN 0-307-23607-2
-* 2005 ''The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit
-* 2006 ''Ask The Kabala: Oracle Cards/Kabala Guidebook'' ISBN 978-1401910396
-* 2006 ''Power Freedom and Grace: Living from the Source of Lasting Happiness'' ISBN 978-1-878424-81-5
-* 2006 ''Life After Death: The Burden of Proof'' ISBN 0-307-34578-5
-* 2006 ''Kama Sutra: Including the Seven Spiritual Laws of Love'' ISBN 978-1-852273-85-9
-* 2007 ''Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment'' ISBN 978-0-06-087880-1
-* 2008 ''The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore'' ISBN 978-0-307-33831-0
-* 2008 ''Why Is God Laughing? The Path to Joy and Spiritual Optimism''
-* 2008 ''Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment'' ISBN 978-0061448737
-=== Music CDs ===
-* 1998 ''A Gift of Love: Love poems inspired by Rumi''
-* 2001 ''Soul of Healing Meditations - A Simple Approach to Growing Younger''
-* 2002 ''A Gift of Love II: A Musical Valentine to Tagore''
-* 2004 ''Chakra Balancing: Body, Mind, and Soul''
-=== Videos ===
-* 1995 ''Seven Spiritual Laws of Success''
-* 1995 ''The Way of the Wizard''
-* 2003 ''God and Buddha - a dialog''
-* 2004 ''Soul of Healing - Body, Mind, and Soul Vol. 1''
-===Other===
-Deepak Chopra also "presented" and had creative influence upon the [[India Authentic]] line of [[comic books]] from [[Virgin Comics]], including ''[[Deepak Chopra's Buddha]]''. These also feature forewords by Chopra and involvement from his son, Gotham Chopra.
-Deepak Chopra participated in the 2006 documentary film ''[[ONE: The Movie]]'', made a [[cameo]] appearance in the 2008 comedy film ''[[The Love Guru]]'', and in 2008 appeared in a run of [[Microsoft]] [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] advertisements entitled "I'm a PC".
-==Further reading==
-* ''Deepak Chopra: World of Infinite Possibilities'', by Leon Nacson. Published by Random House, 1998. ISBN 0091836735, 9780091836733.
-==See also==
-*[[Quantum mysticism]]
-*[[Alternative medicine]]
-*[[Complementary medicine]]
-*[[New Thought]]
-*[[Leon MacLaren]]
-==References==
-{{reflist|2}}
-== External links==
-{{wikiquote}}
-* [http://www.deepakchopra.com/ Official Site]
-* [http://www.chopra.com/ The Chopra Center for Wellbeing]
-* [http://en.gusli.su/deepak-chopra-gift-of-love/ '''Listen Deepak Chopra & Friends - Gift of Love''']
-{{New Age Movement}}
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Deepak}}
-[[Category:1946 births]]
-[[Category:American Hindus]]
-[[Category:Asian American writers]]
-[[Category:Indian American writers]]
-[[Category:Indian doctors]]
-[[Category:Indian self-help writers]]
-[[Category:Indian spiritual writers]]
-[[Category:Living people]]
-[[Category:Indian motivational speakers]]
-[[Category:New Thought movement]]
-[[Category:New Thought writers]]
-[[Category:People in alternative medicine]]
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