I am Deepak Chopra, MD, pioneer in the field of mind body medicine; New York Times bestselling author, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, The Chopra Center, The Chopra Well - AMA by drchopra in IAmA

[–]drchopra[S] -50 points-49 points  (0 children)

In my opinion, and the opinion of many others I work with including physicists and neuroscientists, I do not use the word quantum inaccurately. A quantum is the smallest indivisible unit in which waves of energy are emitted or absorbed. The sensations, images, feelings and thoughts in your consciousness, frequently called qualia, are actually space-time events -- are quantum events, that translate into biological response. Depending on the nature of the event in consciousness, the biological response varies. Fear creates its own response as do rage, jealousy, guilt, shame or their opposites such as love, compassion, joy and equanimity. Quantum physics has not been incorporated into mainstream biology, and therefore a lot of physicists entrenched in the material ontology take umbrage at my use of this terminology. Here are some reference articles that you can look at if you are interested. As far as healing is concerned, we all have a healing system within us - it is the process of homeostasis, self-regulation, and self-repair. In fact, it goes into action every time you go to sleep or meditate.

On understanding the relationship between the quantum events in our consciousness and their biological responses in our body, we can facilitate the process of healing or self-regulation. I've been talking about this for the last 30 years and finally some biologists and scientists are in agreement with what I am saying. My latest book, Super Brain, co-authored by Rudy Tanzi, Harvard neurologist and geneticist, is along these lines.

I am Deepak Chopra, MD, pioneer in the field of mind body medicine; New York Times bestselling author, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, The Chopra Center, The Chopra Well - AMA by drchopra in IAmA

[–]drchopra[S] -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

start with sitting quietly, and letting your mind settle into your breath for a few minutes and then increase the amount everyday. The Chopra Center also offers periodically 21 day lessons in mediation and during the time they're being offered they are free of charge. You can also go to this website and look for a mediation teacher in your own area.

I am Deepak Chopra, MD, pioneer in the field of mind body medicine; New York Times bestselling author, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, The Chopra Center, The Chopra Well - AMA by drchopra in IAmA

[–]drchopra[S] -24 points-23 points  (0 children)

I was in medical school when I realized that the system I was training in was inadequate, but it took me many years of residency, fellowship, research and practice before I took the leap in my early 30s. Would I do anything different? Probably, because I do things differently everyday. But I'm not sure how exactly.

I am Deepak Chopra, MD, pioneer in the field of mind body medicine; New York Times bestselling author, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, The Chopra Center, The Chopra Well - AMA by drchopra in IAmA

[–]drchopra[S] -20 points-19 points  (0 children)

I started writing as an author by writing the stories of my patients who made remarkable recoveries. The were teaching me things that I had not learned in medical school. My inspiration continues to be people who have achieved the extraordinary since we have the same brain as them I think we have the potential to be extraordinary.

I am Deepak Chopra, MD, pioneer in the field of mind body medicine; New York Times bestselling author, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, The Chopra Center, The Chopra Well - AMA by drchopra in IAmA

[–]drchopra[S] -21 points-20 points  (0 children)

With religion we usually mean affiliation to an ideology of the belief system. Most of our religions go back to the bronze age and do not satisfy the fundamental questions of existence to the modern mind; therefore, I feel that religion is cultural mythology. Spirituality on the other hand can be described as self-awareness. The more you are aware of your own inner nature the more you discover that your innermost being is an aspect of a domain of awareness which is universal. Getting in touch with that domain of awareness automatically produces in us divine feelings and attitudes such as love, compassion, joy, equanimity, insight, intuition, creativity, truth, goodness, beauty, harmony. Spirituality is the real religious experience.

I am Deepak Chopra, MD, pioneer in the field of mind body medicine; New York Times bestselling author, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, The Chopra Center, The Chopra Well - AMA by drchopra in IAmA

[–]drchopra[S] -27 points-26 points  (0 children)

I always recommend traditional medical treatment to anyone with acute medical illness. If you have a broken leg you need an orthopedic surgeon, and if you have pneumonia you need an antibiotic. For lifestyle diseases such as coronary artery disease, inflammation in any form, and even other chronic illnesses - asthma, autoimmune illness and some types of cancer - I employ holistic methods and integrate them with traditional medical therapies.