Deepak Chopra
www.deepakchopra.com http://twitter.com/DeepakChopra

Deepak Chopra

Chopra is the author of more than fifty-six books translated into over thirty-five languages. His latest books are the "Ultimate Happiness Prescription" and "Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul"

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A Test Case for Obama's Idealism

The Question: Jeremiah Wright's sermons continue to be an issue in the presidential campaign. Why? What do you think of his preaching style? What do you wish you understood better about it?

I can't help but wonder if the surfacing of Jeremiah Wright -- and his
recent resurfacing on PBS and other venues -- didn't send a shiver of fear
through campaign central in the Obama camp. In himself Sen. Obama
exemplifies the success of racial integration, having lived in both worlds
and understanding each with unaffected sympathy. Rev. Wright is not such a
person. His manner was gentler when talking to Bill Moyers -- you wouldn't
recognize the firebrand from those YouTube video clips -- and he attempted
to sound reasonable without backing down, however, from anything he has said
in the past.

Wright's idea of racial progress is to keep alive the memory of past
injustice and the rage and shame they caused. He is typical of a certain
theological movement that stresses social involvement in the black
community, but not many people are buying that smokescreen. Wright uses his
words, gentle or inflammatory, to promote Africanism as being the heart and
soul of the Bible. He identifies with the oppression of the Jews in the Old
Testament as a model for black oppression today, and he calmly equates
Jehovah's damning of sinners with his own damning of America for segregation
and racial intolerance. In Wright's world view, there is us and them, going
back thousands of years. Therefore, he belongs, or so the public perceives,
to the divisive camp in racial politics, not the uniting camp. A great many
people, black and white, are firmly entrenched in the same camp, and if
Obama wants change, he couldn't have gotten a more perfect challenge than
his own pastor, who seems as committed today to his views as he ever was.

I think Obama can meet the challenge. His speech on race from Philadelphia
was almost universally acknowledged as a great speech, and the man who was
capable of writing it will be capable of doing more in the same vein.
Comparisons to Abraham Lincoln aren't misplaced. Lincoln was a lighthouse of
truth but a lightning rod for attack at the same time. In retrospect his
defense of America as one people united by one purpose seems like the only
path. It didn't at the time, however. Periodically the American union gets
beset by divisiveness for the same reasons as in 1860: economic inequality,
regional ambitions, backward traditions fighting the tide of modernism, and
simple mean-spirited prejudice. We've become trapped in such a time once
again, and the process of extricating ourselves will echo what happened
after 1860.

Emotions will erupt; heads will knock (rhetorically if not physically). The
dark matter hidden inside the body politic will spew out on the surface.
Obama is experiencing that eruption, and like Lincoln, his response to it
can't be perfect. The fact that he is willing to be both lighthouse and
lightning rod speaks to his innate integrity. Will that be enough? No one
can tell. He faces Wright on his left and wrong on his right. Or perhaps we
can take a page from Obama's book and look beyond right and wrong. A house
divided against itself cannot stand -- that's the message uniting Obama and
Lincoln. He needs to keep repeating the message, and if it's our historical
destiny to listen, we will.

By Deepak Chopra  |  May 4, 2008; 11:19 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
Previous: Can Wright's Rants Lead to Real Discussion? | Next: Smearing Muslims

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I have read many of Mr. Chopra's books and have enjoyed them. He is knowledgable concerning many spiritual traditions. However, his knowledge on political matters is desperately lacking. Mr. Chopra, please stick to writing about matters of which you have sufficient knowledge.

Posted by: Todd | May 29, 2008 6:08 PM
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I have read many of Mr. Chopra's books and have enjoyed them. He is knowledgable concerning many spiritual traditions. However, his knowledge on political matters is desperately lacking. Mr. Chopra, please stick to writing about matters of which you have sufficient knowledge.

Posted by: Todd | May 29, 2008 6:07 PM
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THE WORLD OF FICTION IS COMING TO AN END.
Embrace your truth before it is embraced for you

Lying is to support a fiction.

The wise (conservative) and those that value freedom (liberal), and those that value both, (party free independents for collective control), do not vote for the President that has their mind clouded with fictions, the consciousness of old.

The constituency would not want a leader that would support the fictions in their minds, the minds of others, or a fictional framework, the candidate being blinded to external by their own internal fictions. For it is a great leader, that leads by extinguishing the fictions in the minds of those that would look to one to lead.


Who has not cast fictions? Who does not support the fictions from which only a few benefit to the detriment of the many? Who can cast out the fictions that divide us?

What you say may be the truth, from some perspective, and false from another, depending on the mind, so the question is are you being honest? If you were me and I were you, knowing what you know, what would you as me want to know? To impart that knowledge to another is being honest.

Obama has a certain innocence about him, a light, and that is why people like him, and that is what this country needs a light to cast out the darkness of ignorance.

Posted by: Richard Thomas | May 7, 2008 12:59 AM
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Dr. Chopra: thought-provoking article except I'm not fully convinced of your rationale as I am aware that you and your family have donated to Hillary. I believe the donation was near/around 12,000.

Posted by: Anonymous | May 5, 2008 4:07 PM
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Dr. Chopra: thought-provoking article except I'm not fully convinced of your rationale as I am aware that you and your family have donated to Hillary. I believe the donation was near/around 12,000.

Posted by: Anonymous | May 5, 2008 4:07 PM
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Dr. Chopra: thought-provoking article except I'm not fully convinced of your rationale as I am aware that you and your family have donated to Hillary. I believe the donation was near/around 12,000.

Posted by: Anonymous | May 5, 2008 4:07 PM
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Some poetry worth perusing:

Born on the Nile River in Sudan, KOLA BOOF is an exciting new voice in literature. Her remarkably beautiful (but controversial) poetry collection, "NILE RIVER WOMAN" is now available at Amazon.Com. Some of the classic poems from that collection are printed right on this page!! Also see her tribute to her slain friend, Theo Van Gogh: poetwomen.50megs.com/catalog.html

Published in Africa/1997:

"BINT IL NIL"

I want a new religion.
The one our mothers had in the river.

I am tired of Jesus and Mohammed.
I am tired of man's foot.
I am tired of the White man's mother.
I am weary...from doing nothing about it.

I want my own religion.
I want my real mother.

Africa, I want you.

Make me pregnant with God.
Our own perfect babies...Black as perfection.
Tall as the sky. Healthy as light sparkling on
clear water.

I want my own religion.
I want my own voice.
I want my own face.
I want my own hair.
I am Naima/the one who is victorious
the one

who is praying


Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | May 5, 2008 12:56 PM
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Hi Deepak,

I thought this was a great article, and it pretty well mirrors my own views about Wright. You write very well about politics, and I wish more spiritual teachers did so.

Posted by: cecilia | May 5, 2008 11:37 AM
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" haewon lee:

"It is too sad he might become a preseident of United State."

No, what's too sad is how the corporate media have turned a man who's a strong voice for unity and diversity into some focus for the very fearful divisions his popularity showed America's sick of ruling us.

All of this is about some *suspicion of 'guilt' by association,* remember. As opposed to the utter debacles and injustices the Republicans expect us to let them skate on.

Think about it.


Posted by: Paganplace | May 5, 2008 9:23 AM
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You missed the point, Gary, that was a comparison: the question was, "Why can't Obama be considered to be his own man, after all the weeks of people wanting the Church as a whole let off the hook?"

Double standard, in other words.

It's 'anti-Catholic bigotry' to suggest there's something systemic going on there, but it's beyond the pale to listen to Obama, what he thinks about his former pastor, and take him at his word when he strongly disagrees.

Interesting, I think.

Posted by: Paganplace | May 5, 2008 9:04 AM
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Considering the fact that this is the first time we've had an honest-to-God black presidential candidate, it would have a true miracle had nothing negative come to the surface - the amount of rancor out there should surprise no one.

The sanctimonious whitebread blowhards have now found 'real evil' in Obama's background - he sympathizes with all the wrong people, according to these Teutonic zealots - his covert sympathies range from Black Liberationists, to Muslim fundamentalists to characters from the long extinct Weathermen - they're all on his Christmas list, according to these whack jobs. And let's not forget - Michelle just doesn't like America, according to these same stellar sources.

Hey, there's a lot not to like - especially about our present government...but then, not everyone is edging up to the Oval Office. Unbelievingly, our poster Candide didn't like the idea of her Big Black Feet disgracing the Royal Blue carpet in the Oval Office....can anyone spell KKK???

Are these attempts at demolishing his good name and his character surprising? Hardly - we've struck a deep vein of racism here, and if you'll notice, the tendency to project racism on Obama and his persistent 'spiritual mentor' gives the lie to the tale.....it doesn't take a PhD in psychology to see what's going on here. Lots of white folks don't like the idea of a black president, not one little bit. They'll take a doddering has-been like McCain any day!

And sure enough, Rev. Wright gets his big old ego into the act and does an Al Sharpton on Obama - hey, with friends like that, who needs enemies??

The net effect has taken a toll, and the media is whipping it up into a media inspired frenzy all out of proportion to its real magnitude - this is pretty lightweight stuff in the big scheme of things.

McCain's proposal to stay in Iraq for the next 100 years has real gravity, on the other hand - now the poor man has to explain himself. Well, we can expect the media to be sympathetic, can't we?? Where McCain is concerned, they usually are.

Hillary is not out of the woods by any means - next thing you know, she'll have to explain what all those feminine tears are all about...how can she keep her finger steady on the red button when it's all slippery with tears, informed minds would like to know? Can she be rational about going to war?? She says YES, but can we believe her??? After all, she is a woman. That's W-O-M-A-N - could be a problem. Let the media run with it. Surely they’ll know how to cover this angle fairly!

No, should Hillary pull out this nomination by some miracle, her troubles have only just begun. Were Bill not seemingly a mere shadow of his former self, he'd probably know what to do.....these days, you have to wonder.

Tabloid journalism, that's our present news-related media reality...we haven't got a straight story in going on 8 years.

Nope, none of this is surprising in the least....

Posted by: perplexed | May 4, 2008 7:42 PM
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It is too sad he might become a preseident of United State.

Posted by: haewon lee | May 4, 2008 2:58 PM
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Sorry, the word secular never comes up in the constitution or the debate. In fact most of them expected that religious people would be fully involved in government. The very much expected that people's religious views would define how they approached government. That, in no small part, was why they went to such great lengths to try to keep government from interfering with people's personal religious choices.

Posted by: Garyd | May 4, 2008 2:41 PM
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I agree with this article one hundred percent and the best thing about Obama is that he transcends the racial issue and avoided playing the God's card and the closest ever any politician came to be secular in recent American Presidential campaign. However, people don't seem to want to let go of their hangups and if there was any group in our society or history that have been abused, condemened mistreated and enslaved by both the Gods and their followers and society are women. It seems these people bring their own misery by embracing this miserable God and its Churchs that brought nothing but sexism, racism and hate and not love. It is almost like the same attitude of gays who embrace the Church and that God that condemens them from the first place.

It's about time for Americans to read their history thoroughly to find out what America stood for from the first place A SECULAR GOVERNMRNT.

Posted by: LA | May 3, 2008 9:39 PM
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Sorry, Pagan, I'm not a Catholic. Frankly I'm quite in favor of the one percent of Priest who engaged in child predation and the ones that let them get away with it and tried to sweep it under the carpet being tried and spending a very long time in the slammer. And in the case of serial pedophiles execution wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit.

Biblically the only duty I have towards gays or any other sinner as far as that goes is to warn them of impending doom. It is NOT my duty inflict that doom upon them nor is it my duty to make them any more miserable than what will be occasioned by my issuance of said warning. It is not my job to throw you in jail to prevent you from your sin provided said sin involves harm to none other.

Oh and by the way in order to make your point stick you've got a pretty long road ahead. You'd have to prove that what you call the Roman Catholic Church's homophobic stance did not go back to the very beginning or that pedophiles have been making Church Policy at least since Leo I.

Posted by: Garyd | May 3, 2008 9:29 PM
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" Garyd:

"Someone please explain to me why the only reason people can have to not vote for Obama is racism, rather than having suddenly just found out that he has been the more or less captive audience of a racist bigot for the last twenty years and fearing that he might be one as well."

Cause, ...he has articulated exactly why and how everything he has ever said and done is in opposition to what Rev. Wright just started to say when given a national spotlight?

Seems you think it's 'anti-Catholic bigotry' to even consider that maybe Catholic homophobia happened to be taught most virulently by the very people trying to cover for their own crimes, yet you won't accept that just maybe Obama *isn't* a robot and 'captive audience' of the very sort you insist Catholics must not be?

To wit, if you wanna back Catholic homophobic fixations, as if it was just a couple 'bad apples,' GaryD, why all of a sudden can't Obama have been his own man, since he's said the precise opposite all these years?

It's *McCain* who went back on principles he claimed to swear by, in order to appeal to white Fundie preachers, even as a torture victim reversing his stand against torture.

Posted by: Paganplace | May 3, 2008 7:26 PM
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Someone please explain to me why the only reason people can have to not vote for Obama is racism, rather than having suddenly just found out that he has been the more or less captive audience of a racist bigot for the last twenty years and fearing that he might be one as well.

If there was a Caucasian dude running for president and I found out he'd been attending a Christian Identity Church for the last twenty years I'd certainly feel justified in believing that he just might be a racist.

Posted by: Garyd | May 3, 2008 6:00 PM
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I certainly think this is a *chance* ...if the media will cooperate, to really see that there is a *difference* between Wright's speeches, ...some of his opinions are certainly mired in a past that shouldn't be forgotten or dismissed, ...when he spoke of the history of his church, that was certainly history... When he spoke of some other things, perhaps he was unable to see what Obama can, how things have in fact changed and progressed.

Certainly, it's wonderful that a black man can be the frontronner Presidential candidate, speaking of honoring our diversity and carrying our nation *forward* through some necessary changes, but he also is an embodiment of the changes that have already happened.

In some ways, I have some empathy for Reverend Wright, in that he knows fears and concerns that some younger folks might actually find a little foreign. Even in my lifetime I've watched certain oppressions against queer people kind of go away... it's probably reasonable in many places not to expect certain abuses... say as a queer rape victim who was dressed kind of punk rock to not face judges and cops that'd blame the victim...

Times have changed, but some experiences just stay with one.

Sometimes I think that a more fearless generation doesn't know exactly how quickly and how badly things can turn really ugly. Especially when to so many, still, the idea, 'You have no morals' is an excuse for darn near anything.

I think, in some ways, Reverend Wright *actually is still there in the past,* and maybe, in fact, is *still attached* to what he witnessed, not that that's so wrong, but out of perspective, and perhaps he fears that even the younger idealists like Obama will forget.

Maybe this is really all very human, and the media does a disservice turning it into quite the confrontation it has. It's always very easy to try and Swiftboat Obama as being attached to a 'reverse racist' and therefore obviously concealing deep 'reverse' racism himself, but he *says* better. And that's something that talking about Wright, rather than how Obama *reacts* to Wright's recent behavior, seems to keep ignoring.

I was raised around a certain amount of racism, myself. I rejected it.

And that's something that continues to impress me about the man.

Posted by: Paganplace | May 3, 2008 12:57 PM
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Posted by: Anonymous | May 2, 2008 12:36 PM
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Posted by: Anonymous | May 2, 2008 12:27 PM
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What lies would that be?

Posted by: Garyd | May 1, 2008 8:29 PM
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" garyd:

El Deepo finally is close to target for once. Still making excuses for lies is an exercise in furthering bigotry."

I'm glad you've come around, Gary, after all the lies you've defended that happen to fuel bigotry against my own person here in the now.


Is this a reason to decide not to take Senator Obama at his word, when, consistent with everything he's ever said and done, he says he respects the struggles Rev. Wright has witnessed, but chides him from *not moving on,* as, in fact, the good Senator wishes to do?

Still, Gary, you've made a number of excuses for lies about my own person right here, even defended them, whereas Obama took the time to say, 'What he says is not what I believe, and here's how and why.'

I'm just not getting the idea that in all this, it's Senator Obama who's 'making excuses for lies,' here.

Posted by: Paganplace | May 1, 2008 2:07 PM
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El Deepo finally is close to target for once. Still making excuses for lies is an exercise in furthering bigotry.

Posted by: garyd | April 29, 2008 10:28 PM
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1

Posted by: Anonymous | April 29, 2008 1:58 PM
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Eclectic Elder writes:

"Wright isn't just talking about the "ancient history" of 50 years ago."

Every day in every way, this is the case. Moreover, racism and bigotry extend beyond African Americans, some of whom are guilty of it themselves, directing it inside as well as outside their own group. Every group has members who have prejudices against those whom others see as belonging to the same group. As an African American child said to me last week, "Did you know that white people are prejudiced against each other?"

That said, my question remains whether Wright is doing Obama's campaign any good, a difficult question to answer. What I can say is that the media's joining Wright and Obama at the hip is making it difficult, for us, the voters to attend carefully to the candidates, something the media has done its best to prevent throughout this campaign.

Discussions on race, sex, ethnicity, religion and bigotry are urgently needed. Speculation on Obama's possibly being Muslim, the close attention the media has given to Clinton's dress, breasts, thighs, etc., are ample evidence of other -isms.

Who the candidates are, their fitness for the presidency is what is at issue with respect to the presidency, not whether Obama is Muslim or Christian, has the right pastor, or whether Clinton's blazer is right for the occasion, etc.

Posted by: Farnaz | April 29, 2008 12:42 AM
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Racism and injustice is not something in the distant past we need to get over. It was acted out today. It was acted out yesterday. It will be acted out tomorrow.

Sitting in a coffee shop with my white male coworkers. We speak of a coworker injured in a taxicab accident. One of them asks if the driver was a "rag head."

Sitting in an room after having interviewed a young black female with a M.S. degree for a union job. My white male coworker says we shouldn't hire her because something must be wrong with her for wanting this job (that will pay twice what she would get in her field).

A white male coworker asks a customer making a credit card purchase for identification. The customer gives him his driver's license. The coworker says that he needs proof that the guy is an american citizen. When the customer complains, the coworker tells his supervisor that he thought the guy might be a terrorist. The customer was from India.

He who does not understand history is doomed to repeat it. Being well versed in history gives one perspective.

Wright isn't just talking about the "ancient history" of 50 years ago. He is reminding us all of the continuing duplicity of the wealthy planters who still view "we the people" as disposable income.

That he teaches from a Black perspective? Well, from what other perspective would he approach these realities? His experience is as a Black person in America. It would be ridiculous and insulting for him to assume that he could present the white perspective or latino perspective, etc.

It is easy to be "deep" and "spiritual" and "ascendent" when your stomach is full. When you have to swallow the burst of rage that comes with subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) racist words and behaviors, it helps to be assured that it is not you who contains the pathology but the culture. The world cannot be re-created unless it is faced in its reality.

Posted by: Eclectic Elder | April 28, 2008 10:46 PM
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Hi Perspective,

I responded. I guess we and anyone else interested in Yeats and/or a poetry break might want to hang out there for awhile, on Susan's thread from last week, that is.

Farnaz

Posted by: Farnaz | April 28, 2008 9:46 PM
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Farnaz - I posted on Susan's last thread as you suggested.

Posted by: perspective | April 28, 2008 8:25 PM
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If Rev. Wright is stuck in the past, then are not
Blue Collar White working class folks. To not vote for a man because of the color of his skin is stuck in the past. No one ever addresses the motivation for injustice and why some people gravitate towards it more than others. Whether it's Agent Orange, Nuclear Bombs, Tuskeegee experiments, Waterboarding,Japanese internment, Slavery, Apartheid, Native Americans, African Americans, Japanese Americans, etc. The sting of Hatred has been devistating and unaccountable. I just want to know why? What motivated it? And how do we rid ourselves of it and keep it from coming back? Is it a disease, a defect, Godlessness, WHAT?!

Posted by: Martin | April 28, 2008 6:12 PM
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If it is our historical destiny to listen we will? Just who determines this this elusive destiny. God? Man? If it doesn't happen it wasn't meant to be? What a cop out way of living. Backward traditions
simple mean-spirited prejudice. Who and what people harbor such notions and why? As long as we don't confront these Traditional, Blue Collar, White Working Class folks and one follows the blueprint given by them to appease their intellect and you might gain acceptance. Will they ever have to change? Is not their perspective self serving? They've been referred to as Alabama, never voting for a Black Man and no-one was alarmed! They continue to harbor Racist sentiments excused by Tradition left unchecked by exploitive Politicians and the lack of courage by new age Humanist to practice what they preach. Their comfortable lives have made them complacent. What cataclysmic event in History excuses the Racist view of these people. Is it not possible that Rev. Wright and Blue Collar White working class people are both WRONG? This kind of cheesy pandering helps no-one!

Posted by: Martin | April 28, 2008 5:55 PM
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We in Denmark cannot figure out why you are even bothering to hold an election in the United States.

On one side you have a bi-ch who is a lawyer and married to a lawyer opposing a lawyer who is married to a bi-ch who is also a lawyer.

On the other side you have a true war hero who is married to a beautiful woman with a huge chest who owns a beer distributorship.


Is there really a contest here??

Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | April 28, 2008 5:55 PM
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Being the author of 50 or 100 books does not necessarily mean you are wise. It simply means you wrote stuff that people wanted to hear. Chopra suggests that Wright is part of the divisiveness cult instead of part of the unity cult. The reality is that the Bible is hardly unifying. As a minister, I know how divisive it can be. Just try preaching the truth of scripture that reconciliation, non-violence and peace building is the Christian way when a U.S. president is going to war regardless of his reasoning. Actually, try preaching that at any time. It is an almost certain road to hell for a pastor with her/his congregation.

There is no doubt that Wright is correct when he says God damns the U.S. for certain actions it has and is taking in the world and in the nation. No nation is assured of God's blessings. If people would sing "God Bless America" with some attention to the words, they would note that it counsels an attitude of reflective and measured response instead of the nationalistic rabble rousing behavior of the U.S. churches.

Posted by: Parrish Jones | April 28, 2008 5:54 PM
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Perspective,

Also, if I'm not mistaken, it was the Christian Cabbala, not the Kabbalah, and I'm not quite sure what the former is. Do you know?

Susan Jacoby's last thread? The one before this? Shall we post there?

Spiderman and E Favorite are having at it, so it's still active. Just go to "The Panel," and click on Susan Jacoby.

Farnaz

Posted by: Farnaz | April 28, 2008 5:53 PM
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There is a Hindi movie called 'Guide" and everyone should see it. It runs on the same theme as 'The Emperor's new clothes'. Instead of asking who is Wright, I would like to ask who is Chopra? A self-designated spiritual scholar! Guide, holyman and teacher to the stars! Living lavishly and well and most of all a money-making business man. I have never prescribed to his teachings/books because they are all taken from Hinduism for money-making purposes only.
Religion and politics should not mix. As a 'holy' man Chopra should realize that where ever people are, there will be divisiveness. Such is human nature. But it is evil to make money off of it, and to fan it as he does here. Spiritual leaders should teach tolerance not hatred, which is what Wright did/does. It is ironic that Wright and Chopra are rich blokes, making money out of controversy.

Posted by: ChayaJ | April 28, 2008 5:53 PM
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There is a Hindi movie called 'Guide" and everyone should see it. It runs on the same theme as 'The Emperor's new clothes'. Instead of asking who is Wright, I would like to ask who is Chopra? A self-designated spiritual scholar! Guide, holyman and teacher to the stars! Living lavishly and well and most of all a money-making business man. I have never prescribed to his teachings/books because they are all taken from Hinduism for money-making purposes only.
Religion and politics should not mix. As a 'holy' man Chopra should realize that where ever people are, there will be divisiveness. Such is human nature. But it is evil to make money off of it, and to fan it as he does here. Spiritual leaders should teach tolerance not hatred, which is what Wright did/does. It is ironic that Wright and Chopra are rich blokes, making money out of controversy.

Posted by: ChayaJ | April 28, 2008 5:51 PM
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There is a Hindi movie called 'Guide" and everyone should see it. It runs on the same theme as 'The Emperor's new clothes'. Instead of asking who is Wright, I would like to ask who is Chopra? A self-designated spiritual scholar! Guide, holyman and teacher to the stars! Living lavishly and well and most of all a money-making business man. I have never prescribed to his teachings/books because they are all taken from Hinduism for money-making purposes.
Religion and politics should not mix. As a 'holy' man Chopra should realize that where ever people are, there will be divisiveness. Such is human nature. But it is evil to make money off of it, and to fan it as he does here. Spiritual leaders should teach tolerance not hatred, which is what Wright did/does. It is ironic that Wright and Chopra are rich blokes, making money out of controversy.

Posted by: ChayaJ | April 28, 2008 5:51 PM
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Hi Perspective,

I guess, then, you have read The Tower?

I confess, I have, but I'd really be interested in your thoughts.

Where to post? Here or Susan's last thread?

Farnaz

Posted by: Farnaz | April 28, 2008 5:39 PM
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has everyone forgotten Elmer Gantry? preachers can and will do and say anything to promote their cause... which is usually themselves. Wright is willing to ruin the chances of Obama being this country's first black president in order to draw the spotlight to himself. how could any self-respecting black person support such a clown? this man holds a minority opinion in a minority population, and all he's doing is proving that no one should pay attention to a word he says. this is the perfect example of why blacks and whites and everyone else shouldn't cordone themselves off from one another and create these separate, freaky little worlds in which people grow increasingly xenophobic and begin regarding their own race too highly

Posted by: Anon | April 28, 2008 5:22 PM
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It's not that hard to mix politics and religion, but when it is done any number of controversies can arise, as we see in this case.

Rev. Wright is not just stuck in the past but insists on remaining there. His running theme -- 'different' being 'different', not 'deficient' -- is fine as far as it goes, but I didn't know the argument had turned toward this distinction in any way. Insistence on remaining 'different' is a self-perpetuating reason; this distinction will remain so long as we want to stay defined by it.

Wright doesn't want to think past the racial, religious divide and differences. Obama is, on the other hand, represents 'post-racial' hope.

Wright has become an unfortunate distraction. We should be focusing, instead, on what Obama says and does. Guilt by association is not fair, although we know Wright may say and do things that could in effect suffocate the very 'hope' that he has of 'change'.

Posted by: cantabb | April 28, 2008 5:16 PM
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Senator Barack Obama is a most outstanding American and if elected I believe will be an outstanding president. Former Pastor Jeremiah Wright confirms in his every utterance that he is a racist filled with hatred of whites. My guess is that he has a good chance of killing the presidency of Senator Obama. I think he would be thrilled at that prospect. It would reaffirm his biases. He would then be in a" see I told you so" time of rejoicing. Remember Barack is half white. Rev. Bernard F. Hillenbrand

Posted by: Reverend Bernard F. Hillenbrand | April 28, 2008 5:08 PM
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Obama's true racist leanings are coming to light, and many of these posts reek with the fear of truth.

I was an Obama supporter, but no more, and I'm a person of color.

Posted by: cat's out of the bag | April 28, 2008 5:07 PM
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Senator Barack Obama is a most outstanding American and if elected I believe will be an outstanding president. Former Pastor Jeremiah Wright confirms in his every utterance that he is a racist filled with hatred of whites. My guess is that he has a good chance of killing the presidency of Senator Obama. I think he would be thrilled at that prospect. It would reaffirm his biases. He would then be in a" see I told you so" time of rejoicing. Remember Barack is half white. Rev. Bernard F. Hillenbrand

Posted by: Reverend Bernard F. Hillenbrand | April 28, 2008 5:07 PM
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Dear Deepok:

As an African American gay male, I have read and appreciated your material for years but confronted with a strange phenomenon happening concerning your analysis as it relates to Rev Jeremiah Wright.

It appears to me that we all have a particular prism from which we gather our understanding of the world. And for you, to belittle the particular prism for which Jeremiah Wright is attempting to convey his voice is a major oversight on your part as a spiritual leader and surprising, from a Buddhist’s perspective.

You’re imposing your prism without a historical context from the continued miseducation of American people around the history of oppression and white supremacy and privilege.

The root of Wright’s message is a reconciliation of all races and cultures. Unfortunately, it’s also demonstrates to the world the hypocrisy concerning democracy in America when historically, there are people who have been denied this.

JG, III

Posted by: John Garlington | April 28, 2008 5:03 PM
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My impression of Rev. Wright is first and foremost of a Biblical Scholar of the highest order. I don't beleive it is realistic to beleive that everyone is going to love everyone. We all have those who disagree with our personal opinions in this life. Most of the time we call them Mom and Dad.

He should have never been placed inside of a political campaign and Hillary Clinton, John McCain and all of the rest of the guilty parties should be woefully ashamed of themselves

Posted by: Darrell Hampton | April 28, 2008 4:45 PM
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Issues at hand are world hunger, economy and poverty. Neither Pastor or OBAMA can solve these problems. They are rich and nothing can see the pain and can not feel it. OBAMA spend 13 million to lose by 10% by spending 3 times poor people's hard earned money in PA. He could have lost by 12% maximum by spending 4 million and helped the poor and hungry with the rest of $8 Million. So, acions and intelligence are now trapped in a vicious cycle. The Dems are with him and he should save all the funds for general election and not waste it on Mrs. Clinton who also could make an equally better president compared to McCain. Racist, Caste system and Sexism will not go away because everyone treats others differently because we are different in many ways. OBAMA and his idealism or Chopra's Vedic philosophy can not change that. One thing for sure Chopra, Obama and pastor are very wealthy.
That the change you can believe in.


Posted by: AmericanFirst | April 28, 2008 4:43 PM
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Deepak you are such a self righteous hypocrite. Wright does not NEED your approval of him to define, defend and articulate to you what you are are incapable understanding.

Posted by: Greg | April 28, 2008 4:41 PM
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America needs to look at our history regarding race and our current condition. It's a powerful thought that the Jewish religion still honors passover, their 3,000 year old escape from slavery. I watched Rev. Wright's interview with Bill Moyers and was struck by the sincerity of his views and the challenges of America to appreciate our sometimes sordid past. America has made a lot of progress in the last 50 years in terms of racial justice.

We still have a long, long way to go.

I find this dialogue healthy -- it's as if we are opening up a festering sore to the air and daylight to allow healing. It is also allowing us to see what the core beliefs of many influential individual and institutional players. Some are good and some are intended to be divisive for narrow gains.

Posted by: Werner Schink | April 28, 2008 4:36 PM
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Farnaz -

I did and much appreciated! Yeats, aside from his singular genius with words and ideas was much affected in his earlier years by Theosophy and the mysticism of Swedenborg and William Blake. But his spiritual travels were to be far more extensive in the years ahead.

He certainly lived in interesting times full of fascinating characters. Madame Blavastky, the founder of Theosophy, was in turn deeply influenced by Vedanta and her spirit guide Hoot Coomi even seems to have been of Indian origin. Reading 'Isis Unveiled' and the 'Doctrines of Theosophy' is grueling work I can tell you. I'm surprised he missed Ouspensky and George Gurdjeiff in his travels! Their system of spiritual development seems to be greatly influenced by Sufi mysticism, and in particular, dervish dancing as a method of awakening.

Yeats' later work, 'The Vision' was largely about his wife Georgie's experiences as a psychic who communicated with the dead via the gift of automatic writing - and he later hooked up with occultists and members of the hermetically inspired Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley - here he came under the influence of the mystical Kaballah, the true centerpiece of the theory, practice and philosophy of Magick. And of course, as with all esoteric traditions and wisdom religions, the emphasis here is on the 'alchemy' of self- transformation.

Contrary to Mary Cunningham's assessment, I see Yeats as far more than a spiritual dilitante - a man of genius, burdened with a restless mind that had an immensely difficult time satisfying his powerful spiritual wanderlust. Such is the life of many a mystic, whether or not otherwise gifted in the creative arts.

In a different age his spiritual prowess may have equalled the mysticism Theresa of Avilla or her Spanish contemporary, St. John of the Cross - although we'd more likely see him lolling on a hill and contemplating the nature of the One Mind with Hui Neng or Huang Po. Orthodoxy seldom suits the needs of a truly restless spirit, particularly one of the calibre of WB Yeats. With Zen he may have completed his journey........

Regards!

Posted by: perspective | April 28, 2008 4:35 PM
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Obama does not have to rise to a challenge from a tv celebrity philosopher. Just put him on the ballot and see what happens. Wright could give a speech every week until the eve of the election and it would not matter. This is because Obama's support transcends the Old Guard you worry so much about. Obama can bring out an overwhelming majority of new voters, plus his share of the Old Guard. So shut up, put Barak on the ballot, and see what happens.

Posted by: Put him on the ballot put him on the ballot Put him on the ballot put him on the ballot | April 28, 2008 4:34 PM
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Depak,

I worked for Mystic Fire when we put out your Seven Spiritual Laws of Success along with with many of Moyers films. You of all people should see that Rev. Wright's bottom line message is one of equlity... for all.

I myself am not religious but believe in religious freedom. The fact is the media has unfairly characterized his message by looping a few choice comments in order to put old fears and inflame racial tensions that do exist in this country.

I agree with your assessment of Barack... Moyer's showed responsibility in journalism. I wish more of the media would follow suit. But we live in a society where war and pro wrestling are big business... and education is slipping away.

Posted by: jet | April 28, 2008 4:28 PM
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Mr. Chopra,

I enjoyed reading your book Buddha. I agree with your analysis. we should forge on ahead toward meaningful unity and if it means going through the skeletons in history's closet(as represented by the likes of Wright), then it is a commendable exercise.

As part of the truth and reconciliation council set up in SA after apartheid, white "criminals" were broght forth to confess their hate crimes and the reasons why. many said blacks only liked to F*ck and deserved to die, for being sex-crazed and stupid. it was a painful process, but one i think was worthwhile. It is hard to make peace without getting to the bottom of things.

Unfortunately, the soundbyte media is not brave enough or moral enough to embrace this challenge.

Posted by: Anonymous | April 28, 2008 4:04 PM
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So, the slavery of blacks in America has no parallel with the slavery of Jews in Egypt?

Well, don't I feel stupid for feeling so moved at the sound of Negro spirituals. I guess the slaves singing them were just living in the past.

Posted by: anticlimacus | April 28, 2008 3:54 PM
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I admire and hold the teachings of Deepak Chopra dear to my heart..I have elevated my consciouness and spirit through his teachings and I deeply appreciate his insightful perspective on Rev. Wright.. Obama '08

Posted by: sabrinag | April 28, 2008 3:49 PM
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Your article...very refreshing to me...very! As I looked, heard and read Rev Wright's statements in the last few days what I pictured was not a man but a battleground that gives a picture of everything Obama is not but could appear to be if the true nature of the battle is not recognized--a crossroads for this nation. Unfortunately or fortunately, Obama has to provide the proper tools to disarm the battlers for us all.

Posted by: Abbie Agner | April 28, 2008 3:37 PM
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Mr. Chopra,

What is the OT? There is no damning Jehovah. Comparisons with Abraham are hilarious.

Obama's choice of church is his own affair. The Shoah and American slavery have affected and will continue to affect generations. You are free to forget them if you would like to. Their legacies of hatred and discrimination continue apace.

Look at your own country, and think about Gujarat, which amply demonstrates the persistent nature of racism.

Poetry persists, too. Beautiful spirits, minds, not that all these poets had them, well, they persist, as well.

Campaigns should be based on issues. Since the media has absolutely forbidden discussion of them, I see no sense in this endless blathering on Obama's pastor, Clinton's wardrobe and thighs.

What is the point of all these sensationalizing, endlessly talking heads spinning nonsense and fomenting discord?

Farnaz

Posted by: Farnaz | April 28, 2008 3:07 PM
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I had a lot more respect for Chopra before I read this commentary, which totally misses the mark and shows very little understanding of the problems facing the African-American community. To say that "Wright's idea of racial progress is to keep alive the memory of past
injustice and the rage and shame they caused" is revealing: He has no clue about the fact that the injustice and rage and shame are not past - they are the present. I am a white American who can understand that via my own extensive association with the African-American community - Chopra needs to get out more. Chopra needs to visit some prisons, spend some time in black urban communities - including Chicago - and spend some time in Wright's church. This column is naive at best, biased strongly at worst.

Posted by: Karen | April 28, 2008 2:50 PM
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I had a lot more respect for Chopra before I read this commentary, which totally misses the mark and shows very little understanding of the problems facing the African-American community. To say that "Wright's idea of racial progress is to keep alive the memory of past
injustice and the rage and shame they caused" is revealing: He has no clue about the fact that the injustice and rage and shame are not past - they are the present. I am a white American who can understand that via my own extensive association with the African-American community - Chopra needs to get out more. Chopra needs to visit some prisons, spend some time in black urban communities - including Chicago - and spend some time in Wright's church. This column is naive at best, biased strongly at worst.

Posted by: Karen | April 28, 2008 2:50 PM
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PS. Also posted a Keats anti-clerical poem and another posted ancient Chinese poetry (no organized religion)

Let this nonsense go, and let's move on to something lasting.


Posted by: Farnaz | April 28, 2008 2:46 PM
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Never having been a member of his congregation, I confine my focus to poetry, which, I now believe should be a "talking point" in every political campaign.

For those of the poetic persuasion, click on "the panel," and go to Susan Jacoby's last thread. And thanks to all who posted more poems there.

Perspective, do you know Yeats's "Lapis Lazuli"? I posted it. Note the influence.

Farnaz

PS. I posted the lyrics of "Precious Lord" on that thread. Now, I would imagine that the precious song is sung in Rev. Wright's church from time to time. That, well, that I would like to hear.

Posted by: Farnaz | April 28, 2008 2:39 PM
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Chopra stated above: "Wright's idea of racial progress is to keep alive the memory of past
injustice and the rage and shame they caused." Then I suppose Jews should never, ever again invoke memories or images of the Holocaust?

Posted by: Ralph J. Chittams, Sr. | April 28, 2008 2:39 PM
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it's easier to detect media bias on the net, as ya can access a number of sites and see what the media is considering.
the focus on race issues probably doesn't help Obama, appears to alienate some voters; there's probably a streak of racism still alive in a lot of parts of america.
the focus also still doesn't have much to do with the issues we'll face in the next 8 years.
seems to me to be a strategy favoring the establishment candidates.

Posted by: Anonymous | April 28, 2008 2:39 PM
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Mr. Chopra,

I have bought many of your books over the years, lately though, i'm starting to feel like you work for money. There is nothing wrong EVER with the truth, not even timing.

Posted by: Mireille | April 28, 2008 2:37 PM
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Mr. Chopra,

I have bought many of your books over the years, lately though, i'm starting to feel like you work for money. There is nothing wrong EVER with the truth, not even timing.

Posted by: Mireille | April 28, 2008 2:37 PM
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Barack Obama is not Reverend Wright and I am not Deepak Chopra, althrough I did take my wife to his health clinic in Lajola, CA and he took time to visit with her. His staff was honest and said that her cancer had gone to far and his clinic would not be able to help her.
The honest response Deepak gave to me and Frankie is the same response that Barack Obama is giving to the American public. The cancer that is in Washington has gone to far and the host will not survive unless we have a massive review of the procedures of the Constitution that are being over looked.
Barack is a very good man and a crafty manager of people and money...look at how his campaign is functioning.
I praise Barack for stating his beliefs and pray that the general public will look beyond the form (politics) and review the content (our US Constitution) and vote for the person that will get America back together and on some senseable course of action.
Respectively Submitted,
Jim Raleigh
jimdraleigh@yahoo.com

PS: Thanks again Deepak for speaking to my wife!

Posted by: Jim Raleigh | April 28, 2008 2:37 PM
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As a non-believer I'm REALLY angry that so much of my taxes and so much of paid public servant's time is taken up with and in the "religious" circle.
Obviously when we step into the quagmire of religion...other more urgent issues are put on a back burner. It's ALL the same old crap and I'm sick of it. We have real issues that require real solutions. Save the theology lessons for after the election. Right now we should be worshiping at the temple of reason and reality.

Posted by: TJFRMLA | April 28, 2008 2:33 PM
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Brilliant. Thanks for reframing this issue in a potentially healing context. It's becoming clearer to me now why people around the world are responding to Obama's message with a renewed belief in something greater. Tolerance....and necessary understanding coupled with deep dialogue is the way to get there.

Thanks again.

Posted by: phil wellman | April 28, 2008 2:28 PM
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Why do you still insist on making comparisons to those YouTube snippet loops? Let it go already, you only discredit yourself by insisting those snippet loops tell the whole story about Wright.

Posted by: Stinkfinger Willie | April 28, 2008 2:22 PM
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