# Deepak Chopra is a Moron **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 14, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472 "2005-07-14T05:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/1 "2005-07-14T05:19:26Z")
Has anyone ever tried to seriously understand what this guy is saying? He has to be the most successful charlatan, ever. His works are a combination of horrific medical advice or plainly obvious advice (“If you have trouble sleeping, do not drink caffiene. Especially in the evening.”) He’s wrapped every new-agey, folky belief in some vaguely mystical-sounded mumbo jumbo, and making millions. Here are some samples of his thinking, from his blog on [The Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/deepak-chopra/). Allow me to quote one of his more imaginative statements: > [@](#): > > It occurred to me that even though I was arriving here in the middle of winter (it was cold and windy when I landed) that I wouldn’t be experiencing any jet lag. Jet lag as you know is the disruption of circadian rhythms which is the biological rhythm that occurs in us as a result of the 24 rotation of the earth on its own axis. We have other rhythms in our body. There is the seasonal rhythm that occurs as the earth goes around the sun. (This was certainty going to be affected.) There is a lunar rhythm, a 28 day cycle that occurs as a result of the movement of the earth, sun, and moon in relationship to each other (the human menstrual cycle is a lunar rhythm, but there are others). We also have a tidal rhythm that occurs as a result of the gravitational effect of the sun, moon and all the stars in the distant galaxies on the oceans of our planet. But we also have an ocean within us as 60% of our body is water and once upon an evolutionary time when we stepped out of the ocean we brought a lot of it along as our body fluids. Randomly, I remembered something from Shakespeare, “There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.” Our bodies are literally a symphony of the stars. When our bodies are totally in sync with this symphony everything is effortless, spontaneous, and the exuberance and abundance of the universe flows through us in joyful ecstasy. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/2 "2005-07-14T05:24:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Our bodies are literally a symphony of the stars. LITERALLY? Ow, my head. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/3 "2005-07-14T05:29:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > LITERALLY? Ow, my head. Yeah, here I thought that was just gas. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/4 "2005-07-14T05:33:15Z")
I read \*The Path to Love \* when I was 16, and it was the DEEPEST. THING. EVAR. I read it again a few months ago and couldn’t stand to subject myself to more than a chapter. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/5 "2005-07-14T05:46:04Z")
That “All-one! All-one!” crap seems pretty common in all things New Age. Depending on the details, it’s either laughably false (astrology) or utterly mundane and inconsequential (we are made of atoms forged in stars). His utter misunderstanding of evolution is a new twist for me, but it fits with the general inanity of New Age crap in general. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/6 "2005-07-14T05:50:33Z")
Well, he does offer the opportunity to preen one’s worldly skepticism in public. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/7 "2005-07-14T06:00:11Z")
Deepak Chopra is a moron like film director Michael Bay (_Armegeddon_, _The Roc k_) is an idiot; both produce utter dreck, and both make millions of dollars doing it (and manage to make a lot of people satisfied, somehow, by doing it). It’s like the aliens said to L. Ron Hubbard: “They may be pink, but their money is green.” Or, as a college chum repeatedly said to me, “Those are the kind of people that are going to make me a millionaire.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/8 "2005-07-14T06:29:19Z")
Yeah, well, you try filling a tent for an existentialist revival meeting! All those people making the “zero” sign with their fingers, chanting “No way! No way!”… ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/9 "2005-07-14T06:35:25Z")
Damn my scruples. I could be rich offa morons, but Nooooo. I gotta be all moral and crap. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/10 "2005-07-14T06:53:10Z")
I have a dear friend who fully buys into Chopra, so I made a serious, honest effort over a couple of years to learn about what he preaches. Having done so, I absolutely agree with Sam. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/11 "2005-07-14T07:29:57Z")
I’ve heard many good things about this guy. He’s published several books. One or more people gave his books favorable reviews. I’ve heard his name several times before. He is not American. I think he went to college or something. The above reasons seem to validate his popularity, obviously. The OP’s quote seems to indicate however, that Deepak is at least partially retarded. It’s almost as if people were trying to fight ignorance here, possibly while swearing. I applaud the effort. Too bad the OP is wrong though, everyone that is from India, or any region nearby, is always right. People from that region tend to go to school and learn things, then they get doctorates, sometimes more than one. Americans are generally stupid, and we are very aware of that. Why else would we only trust people with phony British accents to sell us things on infomercials? ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/12 "2005-07-14T09:47:40Z")
“We are stardust, Billion year old carbon, We are golden, Caught in the Devil’s bargain And we’ve got to get our way back to the Garden” At least Joni Mitchell had the excuse of being a folk singer in the 60s, and smoking lots of dope. Chopra is an ass, milking the gullible of their cash. As the proverb says “a fool and his money are easily parted”, if it wasn’t Chopra it would be someone else…he’s still an ass though. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/13 "2005-07-14T10:00:01Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > It’s like the aliens said to L. Ron Hubbard: “They may be pink, but their money is green.” “Bob” dun said that, not no namby pamby Slackless aliens. Aliens don’t refer to people as Pinks, that’s a good ol’ fasioned SubGenius tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/14 "2005-07-14T11:06:09Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > “Bob” dun said that, not no namby pamby Slackless aliens. > Aliens don’t refer to people as Pinks, that’s a good ol’ fasioned SubGenius tradition. Oh, but SubGenii love making fun of the CoS\*, [especially](http://crimjob.tripod.com/) in [song](http://www.soundclick.com/bands/6/enturbulator009_music.htm). (\*Cult of Scientology, as in the criminal organization as opposed to the duped members and the persecuted Free Zoners.) Note that the songs are proudly **Unsafe For Work** and other small-minded environments. And you have to undergo a free registration process to access songs at [soundclick.com](http://soundclick.com). Further note that the songs are only funny if you have at least some understanding of the major players in the CoS history. A jaunt to [Xenu.net](http://www.xenu.net/) might prove helpful. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/15 "2005-07-14T11:30:06Z")
Intersting… in response to a poison pen letter directed at the band: > [@](#): > > I am solo - not part of any group of critics. I am not paid, except in SLACK, which you find valueless though you try to steal it from others. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/16 "2005-07-14T11:50:32Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Has anyone ever tried to seriously understand what this guy is saying? He has to be the most successful charlatan, ever. His works are a combination of horrific medical advice or plainly obvious advice (“If you have trouble sleeping, do not drink caffiene. Especially in the evening.”) He’s wrapped every new-agey, folky belief in some vaguely mystical-sounded mumbo jumbo, and making millions. > > Here are some samples of his thinking, from his blog on [The Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/deepak-chopra/). Allow me to quote one of his more imaginative statements: > > WTF? I am not a follower of Deepak Chopra, but he is far from being a Moron. He has several degrees. Why call someone a moron just because they disagree with your beliefs? He does not suggest anyone has to follow his ideas. It is his way of seeing the world and how things are. People differ with others and some think their way is the only way. Monavis ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/17 "2005-07-14T12:44:45Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I am not a follower of Deepak Chopra, but he is far from being a Moron. He has several degrees. Why call someone a moron just because they disagree with your beliefs? I suspect part of the problem is that none of Chopra’s advanced degrees had a physics 101 component. > [@Deepak Chopra](#): > > We also have a tidal rhythm that occurs as a result of the gravitational effect of the sun, moon and all the stars in the distant galaxies on the oceans of our planet. If he thinks the sun and the distant galaxies have much role in the tides of Earth, he needs to be a lot less in touch with his Inner Idiot. The inverse square law, ya know. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/18 "2005-07-14T12:53:00Z")
> [@](#): > > We have other rhythms in our body. There is the seasonal rhythm that occurs as the earth goes around the sun. (This was certainty going to be affected.) There is a lunar rhythm, a 28 day cycle that occurs as a result of the movement of the earth, sun, and moon in relationship to each other (the human menstrual cycle is a lunar rhythm, but there are others). We also have a tidal rhythm that occurs as a result of the gravitational effect of the sun, moon and all the stars in the distant galaxies on the oceans of our planet. Some of us also have . . . _BROADWAY RHYTHM!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/19 "2005-07-14T12:57:30Z")
> [@Mac Guffin](#): > > Damn my scruples. I could be rich offa morons, but Nooooo. I gotta be all moral and crap. I hear ya. I could be fleecing the gullible, downloading copywrited material off the internet and otherwise taking advantage of every situation I’m in. But \*noooooooo. \* And everyone thinks _I’m_ the weird one. Screw it. Being moral sucks. I’m giving it up for lent. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472/20 "2005-07-14T13:23:54Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I am not a follower of Deepak Chopra, but he is far from being a Moron. He has several degrees. Why call someone a moron just because they disagree with your beliefs? He does not suggest anyone has to follow his ideas. It is his way of seeing the world and how things are. People differ with others and some think their way is the only way. > Monavis No Deepak is not an idiot or a moron. He’s a new age buisiness man. He started out dealing with alternative medicine. The power of positive thinking and how it effects our health. I don’t know if he was sincere back then or not . As he saw the potential market he branched off into other areas. As I see it he gathers a bunch of new age ideas from new and ancient sources. He likes the Persian poet Rumi. He repackages what he gathers and adds his own touch and sells a bunch of it. I read some of his early books and they were okay. Some of the stuff he compiles is interesting. The more his money machine grew he left a bad taste in my mouth. I doubt if he believes what he preaches. It’s the money. I even went to see him speak at a book signing here and there was a cool vibe in the room. I realized it wasn’t him. It was the audience. Gullible? Maybe. Hopeful and positive? Definately. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deepak-chopra-is-a-moron/312472.md?page=2)