Book Review: Buddha: A Story Of Enlightenment

This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Enlightenment. The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to Enlightenment is Suzanna Kennedy. Enlightenment relates to the act of acquiring new wisdom or understanding which enables clarity of perception, either spiritually or secularly.nnBuddha: A Story of Enlightenment is a valuable resource for people interested in Enlightenment, and it is available through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.nnFrom Barnes & NoblenIn his author's note to Buddha, Deepak Chopra writes: "I wrote this book as a sacred journey, fictionalized in many of its externals but psychologically true, I hope, to what the seeker's path feels like. In all three phrases of his -- Siddhartha the prince, Gautama the monk, and Buddha the Compassionate One -- he was as mortal as you and I, yet he attained enlightenment and was raised to the rank of an immortal. The miracle is that he got there following a heart as human as yours and mine, and just as vulnerable." Chopra's soulful take on Buddha offers a refreshing view of an ancient sage. nnFrom Publishers WeeklynStarred Review. Eastern philosophy popularizer and mind-body pioneer Chopra has done novels before, and critics have not found fiction his long suit. That should change with this tale of how the Indian prince Siddhartha came to be the enlightened one, the Buddha. The subject is tailor-made for Chopra. He can draw on what he's familiar with: the ancient Indian culture that shaped the historic personage of the Buddha, and the powers of mind that meditation harnesses. Although the novel begins a little slowly with exposition and character introduction, once the character of the Buddha is old enough to occupy center stage, Chopra simply portrays the natural internal conflict experienced by any human seeking spiritual wisdom and transformation. Centered on a single character, the narrative moves forward simply and inexorably. Especially imaginative and intriguing is the low-key nature of the Buddha's enlightenment experience. In case Chopra's fans want something more direct, an epilogue and concluding "practical guide" offer nonfiction commentary and teaching on core Buddhist principles. Chopra thanks a film director friend for sparking the project, and the novel has clear cinematic potential. This fast and easy-to-read book teaches without being didactic. Chopra scores a fiction winner. (May) nCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved