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From Deepak Chopra’s Latest
Book,
Buddha, A Story of Enlightenment
Last Spring, my husband and I heard Deepak
Chopra speak in person. The experience was very powerful,
enlightening. If ever you get the chance, go hear him speak. I
bought his latest book, Buddha, A Story of Enlightenment.
It is novel based on fact of a man who was born Prince
Siddhartha Suddhodana, in the Kingdom of Sakya, 563 BCE.
Buddha means "someone who is
awake." Deepak Chopra captures the human side of this man.
We learn of his journey of leaving behind his royal life to
become a monk and eventually achieve enlightenment, to become
The Buddha.
In the last chapter, The Art of Non-Doing, A
Practical Guide to Buddhism, Deepak gives the reader some very
simple and practical answers to some difficult questions. The
first question is, "How am I supposed to follow someone who
constantly insisted that he was no longer a person and didn’t
have a self?" Deepak’s answer, "Ideally, you follow
him by losing your own self—which seems impossible, since it’s
your self that’s fascinated by him. It’s your self that’s
suffering and wants to be rid of suffering. The primary message
of Buddhism is that the self cannot accomplish anything real. It
must find a way to disappear, just as Buddha did.
In the Epilogue there is a summary of the
teachings of Buddha. Even though it has been 2,500 years, the
information is still useful today, no matter your religious
preference. Many of today’s popular writers, teachers,
and therapies are using the same material. Following is a brief
summary of the teachings of Buddha which may benefit you on your
journey. I recommend reading Deepak’s book.
The Four Noble Truths
Life contains suffering – suffering
exists
Suffering has a cause, and the cause can
be known. I have heard it stated that "suffering exists
due to attachment"
Suffering can be brought to an end
The path to end suffering has eight parts
– the eightfold path
The eightfold path
Right view or perspective
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration
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