Fox News' Neil Cavuto has New Age wacko Deepak Chopra on to talk about Hurricane Katrina's aftermath or something -- the second Chopra came on I turned the channel. Why? Because Chopra is a frauda.
I first saw Chopra on the Oprah Winfrey show in the summer of 1993. I was renting a room while I worked as a poorly-paid intern at the Lompoc Record. (For the record, just about anyone who is willing to rent out a room is at the very least a little weird. These people were a lot weird.)
I'd come home for a late lunch and Oprah was interviewing Chopra and he was trying to demonstrate the power of the mind. He had Oprah holding a length of string between her thumb and index finger with a washer tied to one end. Oprah was directed to hold it tightly and get it spinning in one direction. Once it started she was told to hold her hand still and Chopra kept on directing her to direct her "energy" at the washer to get it to spin in the other direction.
About 30-45 seconds later it happened. Oprah had used the power of her mind to cause the whirling washer to reverse. At least, that's what Oprah -- and her fans like the woman I was renting the room from -- believed.
I, however, had taken a physics course in college. The power of the mind was really a build-up of tension within the string itself eventually overcoming the momentum of the twirling washer. Let's see Deepak Chopra keep the washer going in the same direction for two minutes.
Needless to say, ever since then I've had nothing for disdain for the charlatan -- and anyone who actually believes anything he says.
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[...] pointed out before that "thinker" Deepak Chopra is a snake oil salesman. The Wall Street Journal’s [...]
I am not familiar with any of Dr. Chopra's parlor tricks. However, I recently attended his Synchrodestiny seminar in Sedona, Arizona.
Deepak was unavailable to his guests. He presented about 2-3 hours per day (for a 5 day seminar) and left a day early. He would show up seconds before he spoke and leave immediately after he was done. He did make himself available to sign books but I'm convinced that was more about sales than caring for the seminar attendees. He didn't even attend the celebration dinner.
One of the other presenters was Davidji, a fixture at the Chopra center for the last 6 years. He really thought a great deal of himself and what he had to offer, but I felt more like he was filler and a side show. He told stories about himself and showed up in ripped jeans. His attitude was flippant and his message was highly overrated.
The bright spot was Dr. David Simon, referred to as the Chopra Center's hidden secret. The man is brilliant and very in touch with people. He shows how he cares because when you speak to him you get the sense he is totally engaged in the conversation.
The other bright spot, although with a slight tarnish, was the Sedona Rouge in Arizona. The location was excellent. But we paid $199 a night and the regular room rate when I searched online was $157. So I had to ask myself why. I came up with several possible explanations, none of which really matter. The issue is just why?
One more thing . . . the ayurvedic food was amazing.
I'd like to add one more thing to my last comment. I think highly of Dr. Chopra's teachings. But you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to attend his seminars. Just read his books. I learned the same information from two programs - The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire (on DVDs) and Synchrodestiny (on audio). You will not get anything additional out of seeing him in person, except a reduction in your bank account.
I always knew he was an a******. How can anyone get tricked by him? He has no originality whatsoever. As one example take a look at this video: