Many people don’t realize that Deepak Chopra began his career as a medical doctor, with a specialty in endocrinology, and has incorporated mindfulness in his teachings for years. We’ll share a few of his insights here and you can hear them all in our film here (available worldwide with subtitles in many languages along with 4 free bonus videos).
The word “mindfulness”:
As Deepak jokes in the movie, “The word mindfulness in itself is a little misleading because it implies a full mind. And awarefulness would be an awkward, clumsy word so we’ll keep the word mindfulness.” Meaning awareness is one of the key components of mindfulness. You can’t realize your mind has wandered & bring it back to focus on the present moment if you’re not aware that it wandered in the first place.
You are not your thoughts:
That awareness, Deepak says, makes one of the next critical steps possible: “To be aware of a thought as it arises and falls, or any other experience — a perception, choice, sensation — all does the same thing. You realize that you as a being are not a thought.” This insight allows you to have a different relationship with yourself. When you observe your thoughts you’ll notice many of them are based on regrets about the past, worries about the future or unfounded, self-critical stories you’ve told yourself for years. As you realize those are just thoughts and not your true essence then you can redirect your attention back to the present moment, which provides greater peace of mind.
The importance of non-judgment:
Another key aspect of not getting carried away by your thoughts is to simply notice them without judgment & let them go. As Deepak explains, “The compulsion to say this is good, this is bad, to judge, to label — all of that increases the activity of the mind. That restless activity of the mind ultimately is the cause of all stress. But when you are embedded as awareness, as the loving presence in which all is happening, that’s a state of perfect homeostasis, perfect equilibrium.”
Practice into action:
Putting these insights into action can set up a wonderful, positive cycle. The more we practice mindfulness through meditation & other present-moment awareness exercises, the more we’re able to bring ourselves back to that state of equilibrium throughout the day. And the more present we are, the more we can be empathetic & helpful to others. Then, in Deepak’s opinion, “I think a critical mass of people who are living in awareness & where they’re aware of the choices they make will automatically create a better world.”
That’s the goal of The Mindfulness Movement! For more information, inspiring stories of personal transformation & examples of mindfulness helping people of all ages and backgrounds, check out our movie at here. It’s already been seen in 90+ countries, is available with subtitles in many languages & includes 4 free bonus videos.
Read more here about what mindfulness is & how it’s different than meditation
A curated list of books by Deepak & other experts in the film — U.S. orders
Please note: the producers of The Mindfulness Movement may receive an affiliate commission from books purchased through the links above. Bookshop.org is a non-profit that supports independent bookstores.