Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment [Deckle Edge] [Paperback]

Deepak Chopra (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 26, 2008

Deepak Chopra brings the Buddha back to life in this gripping New York Times bestselling novel about the young prince who abandoned his inheritance to discover his true calling. This iconic journey changed the world forever, and the truths revealed continue to influence every corner of the globe today.

A young man in line for the throne is trapped in his father's kingdom and yearns for the outside world. Betrayed y those closest to him, Siddhartha abandons his palace and princely title. Face-to-face with his demons, he becomes a wandering monk and embarks on a spiritual fast that carries him to the brink of death. Ultimately recognizing his inability to conquer his body and mind by sheer will, Siddhartha transcends his physical pain and achieves enlightenment.

Although we recognize Buddha today as an icon of peace and serenity, his life story was a tumultuous and spellbinding affair filled with love and sex, murder and loss, struggle and surrender. From the rocky terrain of the material world to the summit of the spiritual one, Buddha captivates and inspires—ultimately leading us closer to understanding the true nature of life and ourselves.

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 an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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 an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060878819
• ISBN-13: 978-0060878818
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Founder of The Chopra Foundation
Founder of YouTube/TheChopraWell
Founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing
Senior Scientist, The Gallup Organization
www.deepakchopra.com
www.facebook.com/DeepakChopraCommunity
www.twitter.com/deepakchopra

As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Chopra transforms the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. Known as a prolific author of over sixty-five books with twenty New York Times best sellers in both the fiction and non fiction categories.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#9 in Books > Self-Help

#18 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#31 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

#86 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs

#87 in Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting

#9 in Books > Self-Help

#18 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#31 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

#86 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs

#87 in Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 112 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 VINE™ VOICE

Format: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!

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing August 27, 2007

By medreader

Format: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.

57 of 68 people found the following review helpful

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

By Dale Colton

Format: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.