Usually I avoid videos or have to rely on transcripts, but the audio in this one was very clear and I was able to hear most of the points. Although the debate was only put online recently, it actually took place 2-3 weeks ago and Michael Shermer has discussed it at his blog in two rather enlightening articles:

My Debate Date with Deepak (and friends)

Does the moon exist if there are no sentient beings to look at it?

Thanks for posting the link, Kalisurfer. And thanks for commenting on it, Brainiac, for I would have overlooked it, otherwise. It sometimes happens that links or topics are posted here and I read them quick and think "I'll get back to that later. I shall revisit this thread." And then it fades out of sight for long or forever. In any case, it was an interesting debate. Despite all his bad science, Deepak is kind of charming in his obstinate ways.

Somehow I missed this post when it first appeared. But today Ek and I had a delightful time watching it after breakfast. I thought Tapati would have liked Jean Houston. I quite liked Sam Harris. And was surprised by what a hard time Deepak Chopra had thinking scientifically.

It amazes me that apparently for many people science equals having studied a field, having a degree, knowing a lot of facts and theories. For me, science is a mental discipline, a scrutinizing approach to claims.

I read some time ago "End of faith" by Sam Harris and liked it a lot, even though the finnish translation was just plain awful.

There is a discussion taking place on Caitanya Symposium about this debate: Godmen, Get Some Logic. I also agree with the point made there (and here) that Sam Harris is quite complimentary about the depth of thought displayed in Eastern spiritual traditions, and it was interesting to read when I read his book.

By the way, I recently found out that Deepak Chopra is a disciple of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi?

A 7.2 earthquake caused massive destruction in Mexico near the California border. And as both residents in Mexico and California prepared for the series of after shocks, Deepak Chopra apologized for the disruption.

“Had a powerful meditation just now — caused an earthquake in Southern California,” Chopra wrote on his Twitter page. “Was meditating on Shiva mantra & earth began to shake. Sorry about that.”

Chopra is a famed alternative medicine practitioner who also popularized transcendental meditation.

The earthquake Sunday destroyed homes, schools, and left thousands of people without electricity. If Chopra is responsible for the earthquake, he owes the world a little more than an apology.

(Indyposted)

Deepak Chopra did not popularize Transcendental Meditation, for he did not get involved with the TM program and institution until around 1981, 10-13 years after it was popularized by the Beatles, Beach Boys, Donovan and Mia Farrow. I was still in the TM organization, though working my way out when he became a spokesperson for their early steps into Aryuveda. Chopra became very close to the Maharishi, mainly because he was a physician and endocrinologist of Indian decent immersed in the study of Aryuveda, something the TM movement wanted to cash in on. The Maharishi liked to surround himself with the famous and wealthy, not to mention anyone connected to science or medicine in hopes of mainstream acceptance, for in that organization, wealth and social status embodied in a person was looked upon as someone filled with higher consciousness, not to mention it procured large donations and a lot of publicity.

In 1991, when Chopra published his first book ‘Perfect Health’ through the TM movement, he and his father (a cardiologist in India) were summoned to take care of the Maharishi when he was mysteriously poisoned. It was not to long after that episode that Chopra and the Maharishi had a falling out, perhaps the Guru being jealous of his disciple becoming as famous as himself, or Chopra using his status within the TM movement toward starting up his own movement?

Once he left TM, he took some followers with him, creating The Chopra Centers, where his own meditation system called ‘Primordial Sound,’ was taught. (a simple mantra system based on ones astrological chart) His teaching methods and terminology were a pretty direct copy of how TM was taught and practiced, same with his practice of Aryuveda, though with time he has pretty much New Aged the operation. He is still considered a pariah within the TM movement.

The fuller story as told by Deepak is here at the Huffington Post;
Deepak's story on how he met and left the Maharishi

Click to view attachment



As far as Deepak’s Tweet about causing an earthquake with his meditation, I do think it was an attempt at humor gone wrong, for I don’t think he would jeapordize his lucrative meditation and alternative health business by saying something like this seriously, but no matter, the publicity damage is done and he sure does look rather off the wall for putting such a statement online.

While we are pondering Chopra, Science, God and Consciousness, on March 27th, the Washington Post published an interview led by Deepak Chopra, who interviewed Dr. Stuart Hameroff of the Center for Consciousness Studies of the University of Arizona, asking the question; Is Consciousness connected to the fine structure of the universe?

Dr. Stuart Hameroff is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Anesthesiology and Psychology and the Director of the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona. Dr. Hameroff is best known for his research on quantum consciousness, an alternative to the accepted view that consciousness emerges from complex computation. Dr. Hameroff in conjunction with noted Oxford physicist Sir Roger Penrose, who was Stephen Hawking's thesis advisor, has proposed that consciousness arises at the quantum level with infrastructures inside neurons known as microtubules.

Washington Post “On Faith” section Interview

It's good to know the Gaudiyas aren't the only ones with apasampradayas.

today's deviation is tomorrow's norm