You Are the Universe, with Dr. Deepak Chopra

In the second half of our two-part interview with Deepak Chopra, he answers questions about his recent book “You Are The Universe”, written with the physicist Menas Kafatos.

Parvati Magazine: The understanding you share in You Are the Universe could be profoundly game-changing for many people. What is your wish for how people may change their lives and the world after reading it?

Deepak Chopra: Human beings suffer because:

  1. They do not know their true self.
  2. They have cravings and addictions.
  3. They identify with their ego(s).
  4. They fear impermanence.
  5. They fear death.

My hope is that as people have a deeper understanding of how mind-body-universe evolve in their own well being they will get in touch with their true self which is not in time and not subject to birth and death. This wisdom has been present in all monistic and non-dual traditions but needed to be expressed in the language of modern science.

PMAG: How did you meet Menas Kafatos and what inspired you to work together?

DC: Menas came to one of my courses many years ago. I was struck by his scientific knowledge and his own explorations into consciousness. We decided to partner to bring together science and spirituality in a way that was understandable to the general public.

PMAG: You discuss the meeting between Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore, the cosmic physicist and the mystic. Do you see Menas Kafatos and yourself as continuing that conversation for the 21st century?

DC: We do consider ourselves as continuing the conversation although neither of us feels equal to those great geniuses.

PMAG: You have now written over 85 books. What inspires you to keep going? Do you ever feel you will have said all you need to say?

DC: My only motivation is to keep sharing what I learn from my own contemplative practices and I will keep doing it until there is nothing more to say. That time has not come yet.

PMAG: If there was only one thing you could say that you wanted everyone on the planet to understand, what would it be?

DC: If you don’t know yourself then you will never know anything else.

Deepak ChopraDeepak Chopra, M.D., founder of the Chopra Foundation and cofounder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. He is also the author of more than 85 books translated into over 43 languages, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. The WorldPost and HuffingtonPost global internet survey ranked Dr. Chopra #17 of the most influential thinkers in the world and #1 in medicine. Visit him at: discoveringyourcosmicself.com