Buddha (Distribution) [LARGE PRINT] (Paperback)

by Deepak Chopra (Author)
Key Phrases: five monks, forest hermit, older monk, Golden Age

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Eastern philosophy popularizer and mind-body pioneer Chopra has done novels before, and critics have not found fiction his long suit. That should change with this tale of how the Indian prince Siddhartha came to be the enlightened one, the Buddha. The subject is tailor-made for Chopra. He can draw on what he's familiar with: the ancient Indian culture that shaped the historic personage of the Buddha, and the powers of mind that meditation harnesses. Although the novel begins a little slowly with exposition and character introduction, once the character of the Buddha is old enough to occupy center stage, Chopra simply portrays the natural internal conflict experienced by any human seeking spiritual wisdom and transformation. Centered on a single character, the narrative moves forward simply and inexorably. Especially imaginative and intriguing is the low-key nature of the Buddha's enlightenment experience. In case Chopra's fans want something more direct, an epilogue and concluding "practical guide" offer nonfiction commentary and teaching on core Buddhist principles. Chopra thanks a film director friend for sparking the project, and the novel has clear cinematic potential. This fast and easy-to-read book teaches without being didactic. Chopra scores a fiction winner. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Chopra is best known for his spiritual how-to books. Here, he turns to fiction (though he adds a how-to epilogue), writing about the life of Prince Siddhartha, who became the Buddha. Chopra divides his book into three parts. The first chronicles the youth of a motherless boy who has a destiny: to be a spiritual leader as foretold by astronomers at his birth. But his powerful father refuses to bow to fate and keeps his son isolated from the world. In the second part, Siddhartha, now a husband and father, sees suffering and decides to leave his life of leisure and become a monk. Despite extreme asceticism and a duel with a demon, enlightenment eludes him. In the final section, Siddhartha sees the error of trying to defeat his body and, in one night, achieves enlightenment and becomes the Buddha. The Buddha's story is compelling, and though Chopra's writing can be overly dramatic and his language flowery, he captures the essence of the spiritual seeker, sometimes shockingly single-minded in the pursuit of illumination. When the novel ends, the explanations begin, with Chopra providing a Q and A about the tenets of Buddhism. Many will find his "answers" as enigmatic as they are enlightening. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: HarperLuxe (May 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006123320X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061233203
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #765,959 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new classic, May 1, 2007

By	Lissa Coffey, Host of coffeytalk.com "DoshaDiva" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment (Hardcover)

The story of the prince who awakened to become the Buddha is one of the most dramatic and compelling stories of all time. Deepak Chopra, a well-known and loved voice in the self-help arena, has a new book out that beautifully lets us experience just what the life of the Buddha was like as he embarked on his spiritual journey. We can really feel the natural internal conflict that he goes through as he seeks both wisdom and transformation. Deepak is a gifted writer. I'm sure you have read many of his non-fiction work; I have a whole "Deepak" bookshelf at my house! "Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment" is a novel, and an inspiring read. As an added kind of "bonus" to all of us on the path who crave nonfiction, Deepak has included a guide with commentary and teachings on core Buddhist principles. This book is destined to be a classic. And I could totally see it being turned into a movie. Two thumbs up from me!

46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Teaching, May 7, 2007

By	Dale Colton (Tampa, Florida USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment (Hardcover)

Like an "on the spot reporter" Deepak Chopra tells the story of the Buddha as if he had been there. Did he draw these memories from his past? Was he was one of the monks who knew and shared Siddhartha path to Buddhahood? Possibly-- or perhaps he received his information from the Akashic field? How else can one explain how he could tell this story with such deep understanding? For those of us who aspire to know the same Truth that Siddhartha sought, this story - written as a novel, becomes an important Teaching... for within it's pages lies the wisdom to consider the "human condition" and compassionately realize what we must all overcome on our way to Enlightenment. The Buddha depicted as the symbol of compassion, serenity and peace is honored more fully because of Deepak Chopra's words...they remind us all of what it takes to become a Buddha and encourages us to continue on. I highly recommend this book.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, August 27, 2007

By	medreader (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment (Hardcover)

This book is disappointing on many levels. The prose is overly flowery, and attempts to Hollywood-ize the life of the Buddha, filled with details of be-headings, 'magic tricks' performed after enlightenment, etc. Chopra could have taken advantage of his reputation as a leader in the field of mind/body studies and skill as a writer to try to get some of the fundamental teachings of the Buddha across, but instead writes an 'action movie' type of account, spending far too long on the princely childhood (filled with gratuitous violent images), and hardly any time discussing the period after Buddha's enlightenment, which was the majority of his life and where he expounded his teachings. Rather, Chopra makes it look like enlightenment provides magic powers. THE classic fictionalization of the Buddha's life is Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, a wonderful book. If you're looking to learn more about the teachings for inner peace, see: Thich Nat Hahn's The heart of the Buddha's Teaching and The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka by William Hart....or to see how these teachings transform lives, check out the film Dhamma Brothers.