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December 4, 2015 By Admin

Deepak Chopra’s Ideas on “The Future of God” – Part 3 of 3 By Anthony R. Quintiliani, Ph.D.,Ladc

Deepak Chopra’s Ideas on “The Future of God” – Part 3 of

In this third and last post I will discuss Deepak Chopra’s views of the three worlds of human experience: Material, Subtle, and Transcendent.  As usual, I will paraphrase and add my own comments as appropriate.  Belief in god or a higher power has no borders, neither formal national borders nor personal reality borders.  Let’s explore the three human worlds, and how they relate to spiritual development and energies.

  1. The Material World  – This world of human experience is based on pure duality as in happy-sad, good-evil, pleasure-pain, craving-avoidance, light-dark, etc.  This is the world of ego and personality of the self.  This is the conditioned world made up of atomic particles formed into materials and experiences we judge as good and not good.  It all reflects what our brain’s neurons are doing within the experiences of life. It is the world of self-interest, self-aggrandizement, the self of I/Me/Mine.  Even though we humans represent a very, very tiny insignificant speck in the universe, we somehow see ourselves as very important within the overall scheme of existence.  Although we may someday destroy the world as we know it, we are – on the whole – quite unimportant in the infinite system of all things in all ten directions. We are driven by desire, and the basis for positive versus negative evaluations are based on the sense doors of our experience.  If we judge our sensory experiences to be what WE WANT, they are good; if we judge our sensory experiences to be what WE DO NOT WANT, they are bad. We tend to be comfortable, even happy, if personal reality provides more of what we desire.  We tend to be unhappy (even angry and sometimes dangerous) if personal reality fails to provide what we desire.  This is the world of possible entitlement and narcissistic injury. We view and evaluate all worldly happenings as good or bad based on what our inner sensations and emotions (with thoughts and behaviors) “tell” us.  It is an internal, evaluative part of being human. As the ever changing reality of experience continues (impermanence), we track it by how our emotions react to the changes. The world of samsara is a hopeless world, in which we cannot attain lasting satisfactions let alone lasting intrinsic happiness. Unless we grow via spiritual expansion, we remain trapped in day-to-day “I got what I wanted” or “I did not get what I wanted.” The ups and downs of this rollercoaster life tend to end in dissatisfaction (as The Buddha noted). We may learn to self-medicate (see earlier posts on this topic) to experience short-term pleasure or escape from suffering but it always ends with long-term pain.
  2. The Subtle World – If/when we grow spiritually, we may attain access to the subtle world.  In this transitional and energetic space, we experience a bit more intuition, even deep insight about the true nature of things.  Opposites tend to move toward the middle way, and our deep-rooted desires begin to move from material gain to finding more meaning and purpose in life (happiness). We may have more awareness of our own inner changes, enjoy the natural world and its wonders, and begin to think and act (thoughts, emotions, behaviors) in more compassionate ways.  We may even care about the welfare of others more than our own personal self-cherishing.  We encounter the awe and bliss of our “soul.”  We use mindfulness skills to follow where I mind goes, and we may be able to set its direction on our own.  We are far less dominated by automatic negative thinking. We become less fearful, more cooperative, and more hopeful. We recognize the core change rests in our willingness to hold a more flexible view of ourselves, other people, and the world as a whole.  We experience and value inspiration and deeper insight into higher consciousness and the way things are. We have more radical acceptance of whatever comes to us, and find ways to be OK with it all.
  3. The Transcendent World – There are many great steps from material to subtle to transcendent worlds.  They all begin with the first step.  Here we seek the sources of perceived and experienced reality.  We may even be with the ultimate oneness of all things.  We may suffer less; this occurs because we are less conflicted and trapped by the I/Me/Mine expectations of the material world. It is NOT about competition for the good.  Opposites tend to collapse into some form of non-duality and oneness. If we are fortunate, we experience true consciousness and discover the cosmic reality of boundlessness, egolessness and selflessness. We are more open to ultimate possibilities, even ultimate emptiness. We feel more connected to ourselves, other people, greater consciousness – perhaps even to god or some form of higher power.
  4. Creation of The Higher Self – The subtle and transcendent worlds provide us with experiences that open up our higher self.  We may feel lighter, boundless and secure. We may enjoy life just as it is – without ego-based reactivity and aggressiveness. We feel a true calmness in our center. We accept and forgive without heroic effort. We find deep personal happiness in meaning and purpose in life.  We attain  a state of liberation from attachment, desire, craving, avoidance, etc. We thrive on curiosity, and we do seek higher wisdom even if it ends in emptiness (not-nihilism). We recognize that pleasure and pain, happiness and sadness, satisfaction and dissatisfaction are simply the realities of being human. We feel more inspiration and bliss – sometimes even in simple day-to-day things we encounter. As we continue to grow, we realize that the true sources of creation, joy, bliss are within ourselves NOT out there somewhere far away. We seek higher truth.  Vedanta and greater Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam ALL TEACH that the ultimate answer to our most meaningful questions and life experiences all are already within us. Now we may have the security, inner peace and deeper wisdom to discover our center and its meaning.

For more information refer to Chora, D, (2014). The Future of God: A Practical Approach to Spirituality for Our Times. New York: Harmony Books, pp. 145-215.

By Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, VermontChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

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December 3, 2015 By Admin

Deepak Chopra’s Ideas on “The Future of God” – Part 2 of 3-

Review:  Deepak Chopra’s Idea’s on ” The Future of God” Part 2 of 3

In part 2 of this 3-part series, I will discuss the role played by consciousness in various levels of spirituality.  In the beginning, there was the word.  The word is sometimes associated with pure consciousness, since without consciousness there cannot be a word.  And, without consciousness there cannot be a self or a world. Perhaps there is no better example of the power of consciousness than our own DNA; cells split, differentiated body cells grow; body parts are formed; we become human; and, we end up with consciousness in our brain-mind-body-heart systems. Then there is the human immune system – what a wonderful thing! On a larger scale, we behold the universe. How was it made? What caused it to become? The famous quantum physicist Max Planck noted that everything material in the world – all that we become aware of or attached to – is sourced in our consciousness. In some intelligent minds, consciousness and creation are one and the same thing.  So what is it about human consciousness that leads us into becoming highly spiritual creatures? Some may become atheists, while others may become religious extremists. In any event, spiritual consciousness packs great power to move people, groups, and nations. It even directs our not-always positive domination over other species on earth. The absolute answers about the power of consciousness are unknown.  There are some clues!

Human consciousness, from early birth-awareness to blissful experiences, lays down the track on which the train of life rides.  What we experience becomes our basis for learning, and learning is simply the pathway to consciousness.   Personal value systems are built on consciousness.  In Buddhism all experiences are said to be positive/pleasurable or neutral/sometimes boring or negative/suffering.  Such schemas present satisfaction, dissatisfaction and what lies in between the two as the norms of an impermanent system of life. Personal values are based on pleasure vs pain; we seek pleasure, and do almost anything to avoid pain. The power of human consciousness to mold us and direct our thoughts, emotions and behaviors is almost beyond the mind-brain’s ability to understand. The realities of time and space are experienced via our consciousness. All this consciousness-raising about self, others, values, materialism, desires, fears, good, bad – even spiritual consciousness – traps us into belief systems and emotional-behavioral tendencies to seek out the consciousness we desire to be true.  We may place the power of consciousness in others: spiritual or religious leaders, gurus, power-people, etc. Thus the source of our own right consciousness comes often from the outside.  However, in the world’s major spiritual traditions and formal religions, the absolute source of consciousness is within us. Much like the source of happiness lies within us and our responses to whatever we experience in life. There are important leaders in the spiritual/religious worlds, but they are not the true source of your personal consciousness. The great Indian spiritual master, N. Maharaj noted that people need to allow peaceful inner quiet in order to know the self and not just the experiences of the self. This implies that personal desires/cravings and avoidances are simply based on what we want and do not want. To go beyond typical awareness, one needs to be alert but in quiet attention. This process is no simple matter. The great Buddhist master T’song-kha-pa meditated in a cave for five years to get to know and understand his mind.  Mindfulness about consciousness and its experiences lies at the core of many Buddhist practices. Vedanta, perhaps the oldest spiritual tradition in India, noted that true, ultimate reality was located and experienced inside the self. One must move beyond duality and into the transcendent world of subtle energies. The typical “I/ME/MINE” in the West – and its extreme forms of narcissistic entitlement – are light years away from true consciousness of the self. We need calm humility to be with consciousness; Saint Francis of Assisi noted that if god could work though him, god could work through anyone.

So to be whole in our consciousness, in our transformations, we need to let go of fear and insecurity.  We need to be brave in facing what consciousness brings to us. We need to let go of ego-driven desires to be in pleasure, happiness, and joy forever. We need to act with compassion toward others. We need to inquire deeply: Who am I? Why am I here? How/where do I find the light.  Eventually,we need to move beyond all duality and into oneness – oneness with complete grace. We need to explore what the great Indian poet Tagore noted as one’s heart listening to the whisperings of the world. When we listen and respond to the whisperings, we find ultimate love. Yes, even ultimate love is simply another consciousness.  A consciousness we humans like a lot.

As you read through this information, do your best to find your own personal meanings and paths into improved being at your emotional and spiritual levels. Understanding and using consciousness as a good tool is not so simple.  Have courage to let go of material things as representing your true value. Spirit-consciousness and eventual onenesss are within you – deeper within you.  Enjoy your journey! Be calm and kind.

For more information refer to Chopra, D. (2014). The Future of God: A Practical Approach to Spirituality for Our Times. New York: Harmony Books, pp. 211-282.

By Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, VermontChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

CLICK HERE  or any image below to Order 

Mindful Happiness cover designs.indd

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Filed Under: ANTHONY QUINTILIANI, Book Review, Deepak Chopra, Featured Tagged With: DEEPAK CHOPRA, DR ANTHONY QUINTILIANI, MINDFUL HAPPINESS, REVIEW, THE FUTURE OF GOD

November 28, 2015 By Admin

Deepak Chopra Ideas on “The Future of God”

Deepak Chopra Ideas on “The Future of God” – Part 1

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Deepak Chopra’s new book, The Future of God… (2014) presents some very challenging perspective on spirituality, atheism, and formal religion.  Here I will simply present some paraphrased details and my own ideas on these topics.

Basic Foundations

Human beings have special talents for searching and finding spiritual systems to become part of. We crave the reality of some higher power to have faith in.  Questions about: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my ultimate purpose in this life? Why do I suffer? Is there a GOD? Even an intelligent view of the tao of the universe suggests that there must be “something” higher out there if not within. Our primary search begins within – the god spot in the brain, the heart, the soul.  We need to find something larger, greater than ourselves to believe in.  We crave a spiritual awakening to find truth – our personal truth and a higher truth.  The peak experience of being in spirit lies only in the present moment experience. Perhaps we are trying to fill a deep hole of inner emptiness, or just trying to make sense of the troubled world and the vast universe of all things in the Ten Directions. Ultimately we HOPE our beliefs and faith will lead to some form of salvation, liberation or true centering inside the core of our self.  Mainly we seek safety, protection, security, inspiration happiness, and success within our own being and within our many groups (family, friends, partner/s, ethnic and racial group, nation, world beings). Ultimate we hope belief in something bigger will lead to less suffering, less boredom, and more happiness. We will stop at nothing – even cruel beheadings and the suffering of The Crusades – to validate that our belief (our god, gods, systems) are the true paths to salvation.  In the end, however, we seek serious and complete transformation – transformation that leads to inner peace, fulfillment, soulful feelings, compassion, higher consciousness, and transcendence beyond the beyond. Beyond any ego-based self.

To be successful in the pathway we must have strong faith. Our faith is highly personal, often unjustified, and requires our complete attention and participation. Our faith sometimes lands us into spiritual places (inside, outside)  where we hope to find deeper meaning.  It requires NO scientific proof, just strong faith and regular practice. The “Dark Night of the Soul” has something to offer all of us. Perhaps The Bhagavad Gita is correct in noting that faith originates in MINDFULHAPPINESS_TheBhagavadGitaperceptions of the mind – mental objects that place “I/Me” at the center of movement toward a more true and secure identity. Then we must pay attention to Mother Theresa’s questions.  Agnus Bojaxhiu noted that although Jesus has special love for all people, she experienced only “silence and emptiness.” How did she go on and on to help others?  What about wisdom?  Wisdom often supports faith in that we learn knowledge and practice in the hopes of making things better for ourselves and for others. Our acts of goodness and compassion take root in the seeds of deep wisdom – wisdom pushed on through faith. From the Buddhist perspective, it has been noted that The Buddha was the master of afflictive spirituality, general dissatisfaction in life.  Surely, meaningful life goes beyond simple pleasure and pain; surely, meaningful life includes detached attachment, acceptance of impermanence, no-self (aggrandizements), and the compassion of fearlessness in the vast emptiness. Whether it is through the teaching of Jesus or the Eightfold Path of The Buddha or other deeply spiritual teaching, we can achieve some level of spiritual satisfaction even in this materialistic, troubled life we live.  Spiritual belief, faith, wisdom, regular practice, and compassionate actions – all lead us to deeper personal spiritual experience.

In the end of our energetic searching, let’s hope that spiritual faith and wisdom-like actions lead us to patience, kindness, generosity, humility, emotional regulation, sincere truth, and inner peace with joy.  Yes, this would be great outcome for all our efforts.  See part 2 coming soon.

For more information refer to Chopra, D. (2014). The Future of God: A Practical Approach to Spirituality for Our Times. New York: Harmony Books, pp. 1-142.

By Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, VermontChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

CLICK HERE  or any image below to Order 

Mindful Happiness cover designs.indd

MindfulHappiness_Amazon           mindful-happiness_barnes_and_noble

Filed Under: Book Review, Deepak Chopra, Featured Tagged With: BOOK REVIEW, DEEPAK CHOPRA, DR ANTHONY QUINTILIANI, THE FUTURE OF GOD

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