CONVERSATIONS WITH DEEPAK CHOPRA
BY MAE MAÑACAP- JOHNSON
In the field of alternative medicine and mind-body healing, Deepak
Chopra is one of today’ s most prominent thought-leaders. Boardcertified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chopra initially envisioned a career in Western medicine. In 1970, he left his home country, India, to pursue a medical career in the United States. Following a residency, he worked as chief of medicine at New England Memorial Hospital( now called the Boston Regional Medical Center). Not soon after, he became disenchanted with Western medicine practices, particularly on its reliance on prescription drugs. It was around this time that his interest in alternative medicine was ignited.
Today, Chopra is the founder of The Chopra Foundation and cofounder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing. He is also the author of more than 85 well-being books and was named by Time magazine as“ the poet-prophet of alternative medicine.” In this Conversations, he shares some of his philosophies, early influences and his views on the future of alternative medicine.
PULSE: Before“ wellness” was a cool thing, you were among the few trailblazers on the philosophy of mindbody connection. As you paved the way, how did you deal with critics? Chopra: Because of my background in internal medicine and neuroendocrinology, I saw a clear link between consciousness and biology. I was convinced that biology is different in different states of consciousness and my personal experience with meditation confirmed that. Even though the critics were vicious in the beginning, I learned to ignore it because I was convinced of the validity of the inseparability of mind and body. Of course, many decades later, we have research through gene expression, epigenetics and neuroplasticity to validate everything I said in the earlier years.
P: Who were some of your earliest influences or thought-teachers who helped you embrace the lifestyle you now live? C: My personal teacher was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who brought meditation to the west, J. Krishnamurti, and my own reading of wisdom traditions, Upanishads.
P: You are a highly sought-after speaker, have written more than 85 books and continue to teach your philosophies to others. Where do you find the creative energy to do all that you do?
C: I am passionate about the meaning and purpose of life, the source of existence and about the fact that our consciousness is a field of infinite possibilities. The creative energy comes from meditation, good sleep, yoga, exercise, and the emotions of love, compassion, joy and peace of mind.
P: You’ ve written several books on the power of the mind, including one entitled Super Brain. What are some of the game-changing discoveries about our super brain that have since changed our views about mind-body connection? C: The brain responds to every experience in every moment of our lives, so does our genetic activity. We have three brains:( 1) Reptilian brain that is mostly concerned with the functions of survival;( 2) Limbic brain that is the orchestrator of our emotions
Chopra’ s Prescriptions to Happiness
l Find passion and purpose in your life. l Be immune to criticism and flattery.
l Make compassion and love the most important reasons for doing anything in your life.
24 PULSE ■ January / February 2017