Deepak and Oprah’s Shared Vision
For thousands of years, people have used meditation to experience inner quiet and expanded awareness. As an ever-growing body of scientific data shows, meditation has the power to heal our...
Spirituality
For thousands of years, people have used meditation to experience inner quiet and expanded awareness. As an ever-growing body of scientific data shows, meditation has the power to heal our body, calm our mind, and even rewire our brain for greater happiness, creativity, and love.During the past five decades, Deepak Chopra has taught countless people throughout the world how to...
If you are new to meditation or just beginning to explore contemplative practices, you have a lot of options. Hundreds, if not thousands, of meditation styles and techniques from a wide variety of wisdom traditions are available to the modern seeker. For example, the following ever-growing body of options can collectively be referred to as “meditation”: Buddhist, Vedic, and Taoist...
Gratitude has become very popular lately, and for good reason. According to research, gratitude is one of the easiest and most beneficial tools for boosting happiness levels on a neurological and emotional level. Many “gratitude practitioners” already employ the practice of gratitude journaling and other simple gratitude practices, but what if you’re ready to graduate to a more developed practice?According...
El sonido ha sido utilizado durante generaciones por la mayoría de las culturas para traer paz y equilibrio. El sonido de un tambor, tocar un cuenco y cantar mantras pueden tener un efecto armonizador. Escuchar los sonidos de la naturaleza también tiene un efecto curativo en tu bienestar.
A physician friend of mine once jokingly said that most of the time, doctors just entertain their patients until they cure themselves. While he was joking, there is an element of truth in what he said. The body is its own best healer. When balanced and harmonious, your body knows exactly what to do in any situation. One tool that...
The line between religion and spirituality can be very fine, and they are similar in many ways. How do we tell the difference between spirituality and religion?
If you are one of the millions of people in the world who meditate, you know how powerful the benefits can be in your life. Or maybe you haven’t felt concrete benefits yet, but you’ve read the research and are committing to it anyway.Whether you meditate every day or have only tried it once or twice, expanding your perception of...
Diwali is one of the most beautiful and joyous times in the Indian calendar, filled with love and rejoicing. It is a time of new beginnings, a festival of light, abundance, and fulfillment as well as a celebration of good over evil and wisdom over ignorance, which can be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. The word Diwali means “row of lights,”...
Get the most out of your meditation by making sure you know how to sit. Learn how to sit comfortably during meditation from these experts at Chopra today.
Malas are growing in popularity and can be a great complement to your meditation and spirituality practice. Learn more about Buddhist prayer beads from Chopra today.
Learn about Samadhi meditation and the ways in which the Eight Limbs of Yoga can help you reach the freedom and enlightenment of Samadhi.
Learn how to create an altar at home to connect to the sacred and your spirituality every day.
Learn six methods of energy cleansing from your mind and body from Chopra. Further, your journey of well-being cleanse negative energy.
Mantras are vibrations that create desired effects, such as healing, transformation or self-awareness. Learn these 7 mantras to better meditate & help in your daily life.
In The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success, Dr. Deepak Chopra discusses ways to manage surviving in the natural world without desperate striving. Learn more about these laws.
Mindfulness and meditation embody many similarities, but they are not strictly identical. Learn the difference between mindfulness and meditation.
Learn how to improve your life and your outlook with these 7 simple mantras. From improving your daily mood to focusing on success, Chopra has the perfect mantra for you.
Namasté is more than a word used to end a yoga session. Learn what namasté means and how to best internalize its meaning.
Experiencing physical sensations during meditation is common, from tingling to nausea & more. Deepak Chopra answers questions on what these feelings mean.
Guided meditation can help direct your attention to all of what you have to be thankful for. Your inherent happiness will shine.
One of the best things about meditation, that practice of quietly observing your thoughts and feelings in your mind without judgment, is that you do not need anything to practice. No gadgets or gear are necessary. You can practice meditation on the subway. You can practice meditation in bed. You can practice meditation in the bath! Simply breathe in and...
All traditions and religions describe some form of enlightenment or spiritual awakening. Unfortunately, most people are spiritually asleep, some snoring soundly. Meditation is your wake-up call, when you rub the sleep of ignorance from your eyes and begin to enjoy the great bounty that awaits you.The good news is that you’re all already enlightened and perfect in every way—perfectly happy,...
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, for those in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year while for those who live in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year. The solstice begins when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined toward the sun. As the astronomy experts for the...
The benefits of meditation have been known and espoused for thousands of years despite its seemingly recent rise in social awareness. It’s hard not to notice the shift happening as more comedians, actors and actresses, CEOs, and thought leaders are attesting to the fact that meditation works and helps them achieve success on many levels. It’s safe to say that...
Gayatri Mantra meditation develops within you the feeling of constantly living in the divine state of pure consciousness. Read here to learn the Gayatri Mantra's benefits.
Bring to mind the happiest and most successful people you can think of and you can virtually guarantee two things: They have a meditation or mindfulness practice. They have conscious mornings rituals. People who have manifested their best lives will tell you that success didn’t just land in their laps; they had to work for it. They had to make...
No project is more valuable than finding your true self. Once you wake up to who you really are and realize your other selves. Read how to find your true self.
Your physical and mental health is highly influenced by the natural world. Environmental influences on health include: Clean air Safe drinking water Sufficient nourishing food Secure shelter Regular contact with nature has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety, decrease death rates, and may help to increase longevity.On the other hand, numerous studies demonstrate how air pollution contributes to respiratory...
Diagnose any potential imbalances in your body's chakras by performing a chakra test and looking out for these 5 signs that they may be out of alignment.
Western science says that the universe as you know it began with the Big Bang. However, the obvious question is, “What was there before the bang?” The Vedic answer to this question is Pure Consciousness. An eternal, silent field, which is nothing in itself but holds the potential for everything and, out of which, everything arises. The Absolute.Being eternal, the...
Prayer can be a practice to cultivate your faith, blessings, and intentions. You may also associate prayer with the act of simply listing what you need or repenting for your sins. In moments of need, no matter what you believe, you may reach out in prayer to something or someone for help, guidance, and comfort.Mindfulness can help you pray intentionally....
When you feel like you’ve been skimming the surface of life, it is likely a sign you need to reboot. Feeling like you’re stuck in a rut can put a damper on even the most blessed life; however, spiritual stagnation can also give you the motivation you need to refresh yourself and recommit to a journey of profound inner growth.Has...
Regardless of your culture, theology, beliefs, or interests, there are many ways to become more spiritually aware. What does it mean to be spiritually aware?
Your intuition is always there, but there are ways to learn how to access your intuition. Overall awareness will strengthen and allow you greater insight.
Whether you’re a fan of the holidays, you love fresh starts, or you happen to be of the opinion that January 1st is just another day, consider honoring the New Year with a special practice. Since we humans already make meaning of this time of year, we may as well make it, well, meaningful!Creating a complete New Year’s practice may...
Learn how to manifest your desires quickly and align them with your journey from Chopra. Find your goals and how move toward them.
You can think of a spiritual practice as something similar to building a beautiful, tall mansion set in lush gardens. This mansion is like no other. When finished, it will be filled with exquisite works of art, celestial music, and treasures beyond compare. Everything you could ever want or need will be in exactly the right place at the right...
The word Mahavakya means a great pronouncement or great statement, which expresses the message of the One Universal Truth.In ancient Vedic times, a teacher would sit with his or her students and expound on the great wisdom teachings. The more advanced students were introduced to the knowledge of higher states of consciousness and enlightenment. Many of these teachings are recorded...
While balancing your chakra system can be aligned and healed through Reiki, you are your own healer and can transform your life with chakras. Balance yours.
The quick answer is “Don’t Quit”!During my years of teaching meditation, I’ve heard a multitude of excuses for ending a meditation session early so let’s look at some of them and what to do when they occur.ComfortOne of the simplest reasons for feeling restless during meditation is because you’re sitting in an uncomfortable position. If you can sit for 20–30...
You may meditate, but have you taken your practice one step further by
using crystals? Learn the benefits of crystals
and how to us crystals in your meditation practice.
In chapter 2 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, he shares that the fourth cause of suffering is known as Dvesha, or aversion. It refers to the repulsion or avoidance of things you don’t want. Patanjali goes on to explain that aversion is essentially clinging to pain. Aversion can also take the form of resistance to what is and, as a consequence,...
Compassion, wanting to reduce the pain of others, sometimes gets a bad rap. Some view it as a soft and fluffy virtue that allows others to walk all over you. However, giving and receiving compassion offers tremendous benefits for physical and psychological health.Skeptics might be surprised about the science that backs up the power of compassion. Researchers have been studying...
Within you is contained an assembly of beliefs—a vast collection of ideas you support, views and opinions on various subjects, the ideologies, principles, and positions you endorse and hold dear. Beliefs express and govern your attitudes; they filter your perceptions, and in many ways direct your outlook on life.Types of BeliefsBeliefs generally fall into two categories: Constricted, narrow, and limitingLeads...
Meditation is an effortless process that will enrich all aspects of your life. Anyone who can think a thought can meditate, and everyone will benefit from it. If you or someone dear to you is still holding out, hopefully at least one of the following 13 reasons will strike the necessary chord to get you started. Once the gifts start...
Once, before time, there was only Love. Pure, unconditional Love. Divine Love. Pure Love moved within itself to share itself and created a celestial sound. The material world emerges from Pure Love. The whole Universe is a projection of Pure Love. Love is the start to everything.How You Forget You’re Pure LoveThe good news is that in your essence, you’re...
Growing up in England in the ‘60s, we had all heard of meditation when The Beatles traveled to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In my early 20s, I was living and working in London, enjoying all the things that a young man could. In the early 70s, my job moved me to a smaller, provincial town on the...
A lifetime on the spiritual path means revisiting the sacred texts over and over again. Whether this is your first foray into the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali or the hundredth, you will encounter in Chapter 2 Verse 4 a simple explanation of the obstacles on the path to liberation from suffering. Here’s a crucial piece of the puzzle: the reason...
Meditation is one of today’s most effective tools for managing stress, getting into the zone, and entering into a peaceful state of balance. Practiced by celebrities, professional athletes, and high-powered executives, in addition to everyday people like you and me, meditation has climbed its way to the top tier of powerful techniques to change the way you navigate your busy...
In her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, author Brené Brown defines spirituality as the following: “Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion.”Whether you grew up attending church each...
While some people experience more inner peace than others, daily peacefulness is difficult. Most must work at it as it doesn’t tend to come naturally.Distraction Takes HoldIf you attend church or any other religious service on a regular basis, you may know the feeling—your mind gets distracted and you forget. You go to mass or service and you feel inspired,...
The term “meditation” has become a catchall for a wide range of practices. In fact, where few people in the West considered meditation to be an important part of their lives a generation ago, now it’s common to know someone who meditates, in one form of another. As positive as this trend is, some confusion remains around why meditation is...
There are five causes of suffering. By understanding the kleshas, you can then begin to transcend them through meditation.
Have you ever had a light bulb moment—a time when, out of the blue, you had a brilliant idea? Maybe it was a new solution to an old problem. Perhaps you felt inspired to create art, or you felt lyrics to a song flowing through you.Have you ever wondered if your meditation practice could foster more of these moments?My brightest...
Here are some tips and meditation techniques to help you listen to your inner voice. Learn more about your inner voice and how to listen to it from Chopra today.
After being inspired to expand their awareness and walk the path of higher consciousness, people can lose motivation. Modern society has so much stress and rush—relieved by endless distractions—that a consciousness-based lifestyle seems out of joint. Meditation retreats may show a stark contrast to all this hustle and bustle, but when you come home, the pull of everyday life can...
Vedanta is one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive spiritual philosophies. It is based upon the Vedas, or sacred scriptures of India and underlies the principles of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Hinduism. The word “Vedanta” has two parts, Veda, which means knowledge, and anta, which means the end or goal of.Therefore Vedanta means the end of all knowledge and where...
With summer rapidly approaching, you may be gearing up for the fun, excitement, and spontaneity that are just around the corner. Out comes the camping gear, hot dogs, bathing suits, and beach towels as you prepare for family vacations, hot weather, and fun get-togethers.Whether summer equals downtime or a jam-packed list of outdoor activities, you can agree there is a...
Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) and meditation are vast subjects that can each take many years, if not a whole lifetime, to fully understand. Jyotish helps you understand the effects of an external Universe on your life. Meditation brings you to the realization that the Universe is within you; you are the Universe.A reading of your Jyotish chart by a qualified astrologer...
Ambition is a marvelous trait to have! Ambitious people can liven up a room with their determination and excitement. They are usually the ones who encourage others to stay on task and see the end goal as a certainty. Here's the thing that go-getters often neglect though: their personal down time and self-care when it comes to health, relaxation, and...
Everyone can occasionally find themselves prey to heavy thoughts, which is a natural response to emotional sadness and anxiety. Forcing yourself to be positive under every circumstance is a constant strain and undesirable as a realistic view of life. If heavy thoughts keep returning, however, and begin to attach themselves, you need to know how to lift yourself out of...
The word ashram comes from the Sanskrit word, Srama, which means "religious exertion." However, in more recent times the term "ashram" is used to describe any facility used by a spiritual community. They can vary in size from a small hermitage housing just a few people to multiple building complexes which are home to hundreds, including whole families.Ashrams have existed...
All suffering stems from these six vedic maya (also known as illusions or delusions) of life. Learn how you can move beyond the illusion of time and expand your view of reality.
It’s common to hear people on a spiritual path saying that you need to destroy or erase the ego. However, while you have a physical body, it’s necessary to have an ego just as much as you have a mind and intellect. Rather than focusing on eliminating the ego, your aim should be to balance it so it acts in...
Those who don’t describe themselves as an artist often shy away from the thought of creating their own piece of expression. They think, “I'm not good enough” or “I could never do that.” Truth is, if you push through those initial negative words, you may be surprised with what you can do. And what you can create isn't as important...
Winter brings shorter days, less sunlight, and colder weather. It can seem like you are cut off from Source with the increased darkness, which can bring about sadness and the blues. Many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder at this time of year. Since I’m one of those people who doesn’t invite winter with a warm welcome, I’m going to join...
This article was co-authored by Deepak Chopra and Tiffany Barsotti.Millions of people have adopted some plan for personal growth, depending on the goals they set for themselves. Some people want to be happier, others closer to God; some have committed themselves to find enlightenment, which would be alien to someone else trying to escape suffering and self-defeat. So what part...
India pulsates with rituals and sacred ceremonies, many dating back thousands of years into Vedic times. The Vedas themselves are filled with mantras, chants, and rituals for just about any purpose you can imagine.These sacred rituals are an integral part of Indian life, used before any new undertaking and to: Mark rites of passage. Change a situation. Give thanks. Honor...
“A child cannot be born without a father and a mother. Clothes cannot be washed without water. There can be no horseman without a horse. So, without a Master, none can reach the court of the Lord.”- KabirDo You Need a Guru?As you progress on your spiritual journey, sooner or later the question arises, “Do I need a Guru or...
Meditation is one of the most reliable tools to manage stress, improve relationships, fulfill your desires, and connect with your Spirit. Although it’s relatively simple to practice, your intellect can often make it more complicated than it needs to be.One way to see meditation in a new light is to look at it through the lens of the Seven Spiritual...
For most of us, our ego began to develop when we were young children. We learned the word “mine” and how to manipulate our parents by being nice, nasty, or stubborn. As we continued growing, the ego grew too, serving a useful purpose in helping us to organize our education, careers, and families.For many people, the ego continues to dominate...
The balance of peace in the world can seem overwhelming, as if huge forces outside your control are in charge. But you can take a different perspective by setting the goal for yourself of creating peace all around you. The world's wisdom traditions teach that the source of violence, war, discontent, rebellion, and unrest lies inside each of us. When...
Ganesha is the most distinctive Hindu deity. Learn about what he symbolizes and how he can remove obstacles in your life.
Shiva, whose name means auspicious one in Sanskrit, is both a protector and destroyer. He can be a source of inspiration as you try to achieve a goal.
We are surrounded by archetypes: those recurrent symbols found in art, literature, modern-day movies, television soap operas, tabloid newspapers, mythology, and even regular everyday people. These archetypes—including those found in the Vedic tradition—can be valuable assistants in your life. An archetype can be anyone who has traits that you admire or would like more of in your life. And they...
You may chant "OM" in your yoga or meditation class, but do you know what it means? Learn the definition of the sound of the universe from the experts at Chopra.
Hindu God Vishnu is seen as the divine arbitrator He protects justice and moral order by mediating disagreements. Learn the story behind Vishnu.
Brahma, the god of creation, is usually depicted as a bearded, four-faced, four-armed deity. These four faces represent the sacred knowledge of the four Vedas: Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva. The faces symbolize that Brahma is the source of all knowledge needed for the creation of the universe and the arms represent the four directions illustrating Brahma’s omnipotence.Brahma, who is...
Shakti, also known as Parvati, Durga, or Kali, is one of the most important goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. She serves as goddess of balance, creation, and destruction.
One of the biggest causes of suffering in the world today is expectations. Imagine how free you would feel if every day you were able to just “go with the flow,” trusting that the Universe was organizing everything perfectly. Well, this is exactly what the Universe is doing, but by imposing your ideas of how things should be, you end...
Goal setting is a great way to create the life you desire. Use Chopra's visualization meditation guide online today.
For most people, the path to enlightenment means living a spiritually oriented life while remaining fully engaged in the world. A select few withdraw from everyday life, take vows, and give up worldly possessions to become enlightened.Vedanta, which guides the steps on our spiritual journey, says that regardless of which path you take, the key to success is to find...
Discover the universal connection of oneness and the role of meditation in removing the separation between yourself and the universe.
Our minds can get quite cluttered. We spend so much time exploring and experiencing the outer world that we are rarely called to get to know the universe within. Do you remember the last time you sat with yourself without any distractions? If you’re like most people, it’s probably been quite some time.When I was a kid, I used to...
Learn more about Vedanta philosophy with Chopra. We've broken it down to help you better understand what the four Vedas are and the meaning of Vedanta.
American culture smacks of rugged individualism and a “can-do, can’t-fail” attitude. In this youth-oriented, future-focused nation, an irrational desire for material success drives the culture and economy. When people come to this country, they leave the past behind and look only to the future. This attitude serves us well when we focus on creating wealth. However, as a nation obsessed...
Karma can affect your life every day in a wide amount of ways. Learn about karma and how it can affect your life from Chopra.
Knowing how your subtle body—the mind, the intellect, and the ego—functions is essential to knowing yourself. Discerning between each level can help you decide which parts of the subtle body you will use in making choices in life, and developing this awareness can translate into confidence, comfort, and ease while navigating through life.The Mind: ReactiveThe mind causes you to react...
The Full Moon Altar is a powerful tool that enhances positive change. Its based on the principles of Vastu, building harmony with nature.
The source of creation is consciousness and the law of pure potentiality, seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest Realizing our true self aligns with powers that manifest.
The Law of Giving & Receiving & the universe operates through the exchange of giving & receiving. The flow of energy in the universe is critical.
The Law of Karma or Cause and EffectEvery action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind . . . what we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.I will put the Law of Karma into effect...
Learn what the law of least effort is and how you can practice acceptance and responsibility to improve your life.
The Law of Intention and DesireInherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment . . . intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. And when we introduce an intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put this infinite organizing power to work for us.I will put the Law...
Learn about the law of detachment and how it can help your spiritual journey from the experts at Chopra.
The law of dharma or life purpose is a unique gift to give to others. With this unique talent for service to others, we experience the exultation of our own spirit.
Oneness is a concept that, for all its simplicity, is still lost on many of us Westerners. As human beings, there’s a natural disposition to process life in a dualistic way. We look at things as black and white, this or that. Even the gateways through which we perceive our world are in pairs, other than the tongue. We have...
In its ambition to explain every aspect of the natural world, modern science has sidestepped very few problems. Some mysteries are so difficult that they defy the scientific method. It’s hard to conceive of experiments that will tell us what happened before time and space emerged, for example. But two mysteries have been consistently sidestepped for decades out of prejudice....
Editors Note: Read Part 1 and Part 2 of the series, “A Spiritual Mystery: Does God Listen to Prayers?"It may sound odd at first, but there are ways to improve the chances that God will answer your prayer. In the first and second post in this series, we saw that the whole subject of prayer is filled with assumptions and...
Editors Note: Read Part 1 of “A Spiritual Mystery: Does God Listen to Prayers?"To say that prayers are answered isn't the same as saying that God answers prayers. In the first case, a thought manifests as reality. You wish, intend, or ask for an outcome, and the outcome appears. In the second case, a supernatural being in the sky listens...
In 2012, I attended a small ceremony with my art teacher, a striking woman who paints abstract watercolors that speak directly to your heart. The ceremony was inspired by her spiritual study of Native American culture. We played drums, chanted, lit sage, and welcomed everyone as we went around in a circle. I was so impressed with her language and...
Without taking a poll, it's safe to say that people who believe in God also believe that he answers prayers. If he didn't, one would be left with an indifferent, distant deity who pays no attention to human affairs. This alternative is hard to reconcile with faith, and so believers are left with a God who seems to answer prayers...
Self-compassion involves becoming aware of the presence of suffering in our bodies, emotions, thoughts, and actions—and then taking steps to diminish the suffering. Compassion is the natural and spontaneous feeling that arises when we witness suffering, and that triggers our taking action to alleviate the suffering. While it may sound easy, practicing compassion for ourselves is the more difficult of...
You alone are the explorer of your inner world. Of all the ways to unfold your inner potential, by far the most powerful is to use the flow of evolution. Evolution isn't just a theory but a force that has been working in every cell of your body since you were born. As a child, you experienced evolution as a...
From time to time we have the opportunity to speak publicly about something that is meaningful in our lives. In these moments, if we can find ways to ground ourselves and connect with our true self, we may be able to say what we really want to say in the way we really want to say it.I recently had an...
Learn from Chopra about cosmic consciousness and how to achieve it. By learning about master consciousness, you can work on achieving it yourself. Learn more today.
Each one of us has the power to shift global consciousness into the mind of peace. To achieve a mind of peace, we must understand healing as a perennial process, the ever-generating energy of being whole. Wholeness is not a state of being free from disease. We are forever whole, with disease, without disease, with despair, without despair, with pain,...
When I first began to meditate, I considered the Buddhist approach to things to be completely separate from the scientific. But over time, that changed. At the beginning of my practice, I associated spirituality with transcendence. Eventually, though, I realized that meditation was about being right up against things, in an intimate way. This was a surprise; suddenly, both my...
Joy is a divine quality of our true self, which is inherently lighthearted, playful, and free. You can see the full expression of this joy in young children who haven’t learned to worry or take themselves too seriously. They play and laugh freely, finding wonder in the smallest things. They are infinitely creative because they haven’t yet built up the...
There is a center in the body where love and spirit are joined, and that center is heart. It is your heart that aches or fills with love, that feels compassion and trust . . . that seems empty or overflowing. Within the heart is a subtler center that experiences spirit, but you can’t feel spirit as an emotion or...
For many years I wrote a column called Ask Deepak, answering questions about personal dilemmas that people sent in from all around the world, including India, China, the United States, Canada, and many countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Yet in a sense, everyone was writing from the same place inside, where confusion and darkness had...
If you were to ask me what the most important experience of my life has been, I would say it was learning to meditate. Meditation has been the key to my creativity, wellbeing, and happiness. I have enjoyed it in my own life, and it continues to be one of the most powerful healing tools we offer at Chopra.Meditation takes...
The So Hum meditation is a simple but powerful technique that uses the breath and the repetition of a mantra to quiet the mind and relax the body. This meditation will help you move beyond your mind’s busy chatter to the peace of present moment awareness. Choose a place where you won’t be disturbed. Sit in a chair or on...
The good news is that you can free yourself from your mind. This is the only true liberation. You can take the first step right now.Start listening to the voice in your head as often as you can. Pay particular attention to any repetitive thought patterns, those old audiotapes that have been playing in your head perhaps for many years.This...
Since its inception in 2010, more than half a million people from 200 countries around the world have participated in the 21-Day Meditation Challenge. We’ve been inspired by the thousands of heart-warming emails and comments from people sharing how the practice of meditation has transformed their lives. We are grateful to everyone who has participated and shared in our intention...
Transform a Small Corner of Your Home into a Peaceful RetreatAs we teach participants in the 21-Day Meditation Challenge, creating a daily meditation practice that allows you to spend time each day in peace, silence and restful alertness will give you the greatest benefits. To make meditation part of your daily routine, it helps to create a special space that...
During most of our waking lives, our minds are engaged in a continuous internal dialogue in which the meaning and emotional associations of one thought trigger the next. We hear a snippet of music and suddenly we’re thinking about the first time we heard that song with an old boyfriend or girlfriend and how that relationship ended. If we’re still...
In the past forty years, meditation has entered the mainstream of modern Western culture, prescribed by physicians and practiced by everyone from business executives, artists, and scientists to students, teachers, military personnel, and – on a promising note – politicians. Despite the growing popularity of meditation, prevailing misconceptions about the practice are a barrier that prevents many people from trying...
It’s never too late to have a (brain that’s wired as if it had a) happy childhood.Therapists get this question a lot: “Okay, so now that I understand how my history made me a mess when it comes to relationships, what now? It’s not like I can go back in time and change my childhood.”The “what now” is that there’s...
As the ancient Vedic sages taught, where our attention goes, our energy flows. Whatever we focus on will expand in our experience, so if we want our lives to be filled with love, joy, and abundance, it's important to focus on these qualities as often as possible.Sometime today, take a few moments to quiet your mind and allow yourself to...
For decades, scientists believed that once we reached adulthood, our brain was incapable of any change beyond than the negative alterations associated with disease and aging. We now know that the brain is incredibly dynamic, with a potentially unlimited ability to change throughout our entire lifespan. At any age, new neural pathways can be created and refined, and our gray...
Ayurveda is the traditional healing system from India that is literally translated as "the science of life." Through healthy daily practices and aligning with natural rhythms, one can prevent disease and create health on a daily basis. And although the outcome of Ayurvedic lifestyle and medical treatment is a healthy body and mind, the true aim of Ayurveda is to...
Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ~Oscar WildeThere is no question that as a human, you are a sensual being. You rely on your senses to help you both survive and enjoy the pleasures of life. Ayurveda, the ancient mind-body healing system developed in India, teaches...
“Reality is a selective act of attention and interpretation.” This deeply profound insight (attributed to Chopra Center co-founder Dr. David Simon) reveals your hidden ability to influence the experience of life. You may consciously choose what you give your attention to and how you process what you perceive. Consider the phrase, “you are what you eat.” Dr. Simon’s understanding goes...
The Shatavari plant has many health benefits and uses that help your mind and body. Originating from Ayurvedic medicine, Shatava
Psychologist Dr. Jean Houston has said that we are the victims of an "age of interrupted process." Meaning, you generally know a bit about how things begin and how they end, but you are rarely present throughout the middle – or the process. The point she makes is that people tend to either be ruminating about the past or worrying...
If we have been blessed with general good health, we may tend to take our body for granted, not paying attention to what a miracle it is that we can see the colors of the landscape, hold the hand of a loved one, savor a delicious meal, listen to our favorite music, and breathe in the scent of freshly mowed...
Pavamana MantraOm Asato Ma Sad GamayaTamaso Ma Jyotir GamayaMrtyor Ma Amritam GamayaOm Shanti Shanti ShantihiLead us from untruth to truth.Lead us from darkness to light.Lead us from death to immortality.Peace, peace, eternal peace.- The UpanishadsWhen you were dreaming last night, the dream you were in seemed real. The sights, sounds, and smells were recognizable, as were the people. However, when...
What common experiences exist when it comes to spiritual traditions? According to our founder, Deepak Chopra, ™ MD, we can observe three distinct components. The first, transcendence from the ego identity, in which we evolve from the conditioned mind to the whole mind. The second, the spontaneous emergence of platonic truth. The third, the loss of the fear of death....
If you’ve looked at the sprawl of spirituality and wondered Where do I fit in?, then this spiritually sassy message is for you.
Para los Latinos, la Religión Puede Complicar las Prácticas de Atención Plena — Pero No Tiene qué...
Raquel Reichard
En los Estados Unidos, los latinos tienden a tener vínculos religiosos más fuertes que la mayoría de los grupos raciales y étnicos. Como tales, las religiones, principalmente el catolicismo y el protestantismo, a menudo juegan un papel importante en sus vidas, incluidas las formas en que enfrentan la adversidad. Para algunos, la curación se produce únicamente a través de la...
Here are five steps for harnessing the power of intention setting to create anything you desire. Follow our guide & find the creative power to fulfill your dreams.
La alegría es una cualidad divina de nuestro verdadero ser, que es inherentemente alegre, juguetón y libre. Pueden ver la plena expresión de esta alegría en los niños pequeños que no han aprendido a preocuparse o a tomarse demasiado en serio. Juegan y ríen libremente, encontrando maravillas en las cosas más pequeñas. Son infinitamente creativos porque aún no han construido...
Consider what you might say to yourself after spilling coffee all over your new outfit on the way to work. Consider what you might say to yourself after missing your latest deadline—again. Consider the wild ideas you might formulate about yourself after being let down by your latest crush. If your inner dialogue is anything like most people’s, you are...
The ancient ritual of burning plants to clear your energy can help you start anew. Learn about smudging using herbs like sage from Chopra today.
Here you can learn how to improve your spiritual wellness along with your physical, mental, and emotional health for a vibrant, healthy life.
The benefits of spirituality to your heart and is known, but spiritual wellness can also help you physically by lowering your risk of depression, and improving sleep.
Do you ever want to press the reset button? Start fresh and get back to you? If a little rejuvenation and renewal sound good right about now, then a wellness vacation might be just what you need. What is a wellness vacation? Isn’t that redundant? Isn’t a vacation, a period of leisure and recreation, already attending to your well-being and...
Thanks to Marie Kondo and her Konmari Method, decluttering and finding what “sparks joy” is all the rage right now. Of course, spiritual practices around cleanliness and order are age-old practices, and the yogic teachings found in the Yoga Sutra contain powerful inspiration for how to create an inner environment for peace, joy, and freedom.Saucha means cleanliness or purity, and...
Surrendering yourself spiritually through meditation can help you live a more fulfilled life. Learn from Chopra how you can practice this concept.
You may have heard about celiac disease more often in recent years due to the rise in gluten-free diets and the growing availability of gluten-free products. But what is celiac disease?Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that can develop when people with a genetic predisposition to the disease consumes gluten. When someone with celiac disease eats gluten, the body reacts...
Most of us were taught that to stay healthy, we need to avoid bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. This has led many people to take hygiene vigilance too far, with the constant use of hand sanitizers, household disinfectants, and other antibacterial products. While being clean is beneficial, the attempt to create a sterile environment can weaken our immune system and...
Hardly a day goes by without a research study or article being published about the gut microbiome. When it comes to cutting-edge innovations in medicine, all signs point to the microbiome. As Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut.”The central location of your microbiome is your gut, which contains trillions microbes. If you want to optimize your health, bio...
In the past three articles in this series, we learned about people who live in Blue Zones (areas in the world where there is a high rate of centenarians) and how cultivating a healthy diet, having a purpose, and staying active are all factors that are involved in their longevity.This series of articles is based on a 2004 study led...
There is power in nature. Generally undisrupted by modern conveniences, nature offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of your daily life. No cubicles, no traffic, no emails—it’s a stark departure from what modern society tends to value.Sacred men and women throughout history have understood the power of nature, using the wilderness (whether forest, beach, or desert) to cultivate...
The warmth of the summer sun can have a revitalizing effect on you, particularly after a long winter and rainy spring season. With the summer season just days away, you might already be daydreaming about what you want to do.Perhaps a vacation or a summer cookout is on your list. There are many more ways to take advantage of what...
The changing of the seasons is often a tricky time for health. On one hand, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you may be excited with the end of winter and happy to see the budding flowers of spring. On the other hand, the rapid changes in weather and seasonal allergies can leave you feeling a bit out of...
By now you have surely heard the symphony of lawnmowers, weed eaters, bees, and children playing that signify springtime is upon us. This means it’s time to get back down in the dirt and co-create some of nature's goodness. This participation with Mother Earth can be very rewarding for not only our bodies but also for our consciousness. The wisdom...
Energy is everywhere—even when you can’t see it. Everything in existence vibrates at a subatomic level, according to quantum physics. And at its core, is energy. Voice recordings, satellites, body scans, and heat can sense energy.There is a more basic way of sensing energy without the assistance of modern technology. Thousands of years ago, before our minds were cluttered with...
Spiritual practice is a way to let go of stress that accumulates throughout the day so you can be healthier and more productive at work and at home. The Vedic sciences of yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, and Vastu Shastra—which is the science of environmental placement or building—address how to create balance between the body, mind, and environment.According to the principles of...
The beginning stages of falling in love are magical, new, and refreshing. Everything else in life seems to stop as you move through love. It feels as though you’ve found the one who knows your soul inside and out, and this brings a fresh spark to life. As the years pass, however, this new feeling seems to dissipate like steam...
The first time I heard the word Ayurveda was a few years ago. I became a bit overwhelmed as I began learning about the Ayurvedic practices and routines. How could I do the morning routine if I had to rush to work and take my kids to school? How could I have the time to meditate in the afternoon?After some...
If you were to eavesdrop on the conversations taking place around you, stress would likely be one of the most common words you would hear. People talk about feeling stressed about their work, the economy, global politics, deadlines, their relationships, and just about everything else. Many suffer from the emotional and physical consequences of chronic stress, which include accelerated aging...
Is science rewriting emptiness with the emerging field of complexity theory? What Buddhists can learn from ants, atoms, and physics.We Buddhists often speak of perceiving the “true nature of reality,” attempting to do so through devoted contemplative practice. Science can make the same claim: that through a multigenerational process of hypothesis formation, experimental testing, and revision of hypotheses, we create...
"I am a lover of what is, not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality."The only time we suffer is when we believe a thought that argues with what is. When the mind is perfectly clear, what is is what we want.If you want reality to be different than it is, you might...
Mantra: I nourish the universe and the universe nourishes me.“Finding the hidden dimensions in yourself is the only way to fulfill your deepest hunger.”–Deepak Chopra Modern life is often so fast and hectic that we forget to nourish ourselves. Everyone deserves to thrive, which depends on paying attention to every level of mind and body. There’s a different kind of...
During the dark winter season when there is a limited amount of light, it is especially important to reconnect with friends and loved ones and with our deeper self. Reconnecting gives us emotional nourishment, enlivens our mind, and expands our experience of the inner light of consciousness. While forming the intention to reconnect may feel easy, many of us find...
Learn how to choose love and focus your attention on what really matters in life with these tips from the experts from Chopra.
Within our core self is an indelible blueprint of unrivaled individuality—the singular being that each of us exists to express. In this three-dimensional movie called “Life” there are no stand-ins, body doubles, or understudies—no one can fill in for us by proxy. Realization of this truth alone eliminates the need to imitate, conform, limit, or betray our loyalty to the...
We have all experienced loss, heartache, and sorrow. Nobody wants to go through emotional pain, but it is inevitable. Here is how to let go of past trauma.
Most of us do not believe that we live in mythic times, and we look back on such times – when knights sought the Holy Grail and Icarus flew too close to the sun – through a thick haze. Why is myth relevant? Why bother? At best myth flickers in and out of modern life, making it hard to tell...
“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask yourself if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.” −Deepak ChopraRelapse, or the fear of relapse, is one of the most challenging parts of maintaining recovery from an addiction. Whether a person has stopped drug or alcohol abuse, smoking,...
For many years I wrote a column called Ask Deepak, answering questions about personal dilemmas that people sent in from all around the world, including India, China, the United States, Canada, and many countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Yet in a sense, everyone was writing from the same place inside, where confusion and darkness had...
As a natural life force, emotions are intended to flow freely through our bodymind, then dissipate once we have fully experienced them and assimilated their valuable message. As we were growing up, however, many of us learned that certain emotions – such as anger, sadness, or even joy – were unacceptable, and we subconsciously began to push them out of...
In my book Spontaneous Happiness, I write about lifestyle practices that can help people achieve and maintain happy lives. Bear in mind that by “happy,” I am not referring to endless bliss. Despite what many in the media proclaim these days, such a state is neither achievable nor desirable. Instead, these practices are designed to help most people reach and...
Commitment is the ultimate assertion of human freedom. It releases all the energy you possess and enables you to take quantum leaps in creativity. When you set a one-pointed intention and absolutely refuse to allow obstacles to dissipate the focused quality of your attention, you engage the infinite organizing power of the universe.There is no limit to your ability to...
In yesterday's post we explored the roots of emotional pain and several practices for healing this pain. Today we will look at another body-centered approach that can help when you feel stuck in repetitive patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting.Tune into Your Body The word emotion comes from the Latin term emovere, which means “to set in motion.” As the...
The human mind, inherently impatient, triggers emotional reactions when our ideas about how things should be collide with how things are. We sometimes torment ourselves about choices we’ve made, words we’ve spoken, and the path not taken. Or we dwell on the future, postponing our happiness with thoughts about what is missing or wrong in the present moment.These thoughts and...
Eating intuitively can nourish your body, mind, and spirit and also invite renewal. Honoring your inner wisdom is an act of courage. In a world that constantly and consistently tells you that you are not enough, that being you is wrong, and that you just need to buy this cream, or take this supplement, or sign up for this course...
Comer intuitivamente puede nutrir su cuerpo, mente y espíritu y también invitar a la renovación. Honrar tu sabiduría interior es un acto muy fuerte. En un mundo que te dice constante y consistentemente que no eres suficiente, que ser tú está mal, y que solo necesitas comprar esta crema, o tomar este suplemento, o apuntarte a este curso para que...
In the Yoga Sutras, the sage Patanjali outlines eight limbs of yoga. The first of these limbs he deems the yamas. The five yamas outline five restraints that an individual can practice in order to reach spiritual awakening. The first of these yamas is the practice of ahimsa.Ahimsa is a Sanskrit term that means nonviolence, both to yourself and the...
If you haven’t heard of lycopene before, it’s time to get familiar with lycopene foods that fight cancer, help the heart, & reduce inflammation.
Nutrition plays a large role in your overall energy as well as the ability to focus and think with a clear mind. How much more could you accomplish in a day if your mind was consistently sharp and could tackle anything that was thrown at you?With the following seven foods, you can improve your mental focus, energy, and cognitive function...
Like many people, I did not have a healthy relationship with food growing up. I was raised with a mother who suffered from poverty consciousness and we were, in fact, living for many years at poverty level. The mentality about food was either feast or famine. When we went to a buffet or gathering where food was present, my mom...
Practice this yoga sequence to tap into your inner strength and power.
Mudras are powerful hand gestures using during meditation and yoga to control the flow of energy in the body. Here are 10 mudras to use in your practice.
The study of asana is not about mastering posture. It’s about using posture to understand yourself.- B.K.S. IyengarThe third branch of Raja Yoga, or the Royal Path to Union, is Asana—the classical postures of Hatha Yoga. The word asana means “seat” or “position.” Asana is easily the most popular and well-known aspect of yoga practice, despite it being only 1/8...
Clogged chakras can be a source of low energy or emotional distress. Learn how to cleanse your chakras to remove blockages and free your energy.
The Patanjali Yoga Sutras are a practical textbook to guide your spiritual journey. Here are some important takeaways that every Yogi should know.
Men and women, adults, and children—if you want to feel more balance in your life and a deeper sense of calm and gratitude overall, you can benefit from practicing yoga and meditation. Yoga can be used as a form of physical exercise as well as for mental clarity and exploration of oneself. During a yoga class and in meditation, you...
The warrior poses are among the most well recognized postures in the Hatha yoga tradition. Standing poses that are accessible to almost everyone—Virabhadrasana I, II, and III—engage the entire physical body, while providing an opportunity to bring a powerful focus and attitude into the moment you are in. Just putting your body into these shapes brings about a certain attitude—one...
The Sanskrit word purnata represents a sense of all-encompassing fullness, or divine perfection. Connect to the completeness of your inner being with this full moon-inspired yoga practice.According to Tantrik philosophy, every aspect of reality is perfectly whole, even when it might appear otherwise. Suffering occurs when a being identifies with some limited aspect of him or herself, instead of the...
Mudras are a centuries old tradition that can aid in reducing your stress improving your mood Here are seven mudras such as strength and yoga mudras.
Try these 5 yoga breathing techniques to keep warm when it cools down. From ujjayi breathing to box breathing and wim hof techniques we'll show you how to warm yourself from the inside out.
The wisdom of any given day reflects the beliefs and values of that time. Wisdom about how to get from point A to point B in the 1800s, for example, likely had to do with how to get your horse to keep at a steady pace—information that is unlikely to be helpful to inhabitants of the 21st century.However, there is...
Learn how to spiritually connect to the moon from the experts from Chopra. This guide will give you examples and benefits of spiritually connecting to the moon.
Did you know that common yoga poses have deep meanings? Learn the meanings and symbolism of yoga poses today from Chopra.
Take time to nourish your emotional, mental, and physical body with these cooling yoga poses for summertime yoga sessions.
Over the last several decades the practice of Yoga has become a global phenomenon. Yoga classes, books, videos, and online resources have made this timeless practice available to students like never before. Many students though, view yoga simply as a system of physical fitness, largely focused on the bodily attributes of strength, balance, and flexibility that are cultivated through specific...
Move through this asana sequence to prepare your body, mind, breath, and emotions for the upcoming year.Start by finding a comfortable seat and close your eyes. Position yourself on a bolster, blanket, or block for optimal comfort and center yourself with three to five deep, full breaths.Keeping your eyes closed, set an intention for your practice. Call to mind an...
Yoga is a lifestyle, and there are many different ways you can incorporate yoga into your daily life. Try this 30-day yoga challenge and get a month’s worth of transformational practices and ideas. You can add to your practice from the previous day or do one each day.Day 1Get out your yoga mat and do three sets of Sun Salutations...
The eighth and final step in Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga is samadhi. The word samadhi literally means “putting together” and is often translated as “integration” or “absorption.” The eighth limb is the practice of the entire program (the other seven limbs) as well as the final attainment of being. Through dharana and dhyana, samadhi unfolds. Living in Union with...
Vedanta offers us four paths of yoga to help us rediscover who we are and
return to a life of joy, bliss, and freedom. Read how you can incorporate yoga into your life.
Dhyana is often used interchangeably with the practice of meditation There is a distinct difference between meditation practice and dhyana yoga.
You may have a basic understanding of the seven chakras, but do you know how to benefit from them? Here is an overview of the benefits of chakra balancing.
Too often we get caught up in the busyness of our lives and lose sight of our life’s purpose. The last three limbs of yoga are known as samyama, the pathway to the true light of knowledge. Dharana is the sixth limb of yoga and the essence means “one-pointed attention,” teaching us how to focus our attention on the present...
Since the time of our birth, we are drawn to the external world. From the moment we exit our mother’s womb and take our first breath, the outer world calls us to explore it. An inundation of sights, sounds, smells, and things to touch attract our senses and natural curiosity. We are compelled to take in everything we possibly can...
You may be familiar with Yoga poses, but did you know that yoga was intended to be an entire lifestyle and way of living? Discover what the Eight Limbs Yoga are.
The ancient practice of yoga is so much more than the physical practice that we've come to know in modern times. The word "yoga" means union of body, mind, and spirit. If you look closer at the origins of yoga, you'll come to know that it’s an invitation to part the veils that cloak the deepest aspects of your being....
The ancient spiritual teachings of yoga hold a lot of wisdom—useful even in today’s modern world. If you’re new to yoga philosophy, the five Niyamas are a great place to start. They are personal rules of behavior that provide a guide to help you live a more balanced life.The word "yoga" means to unite the three layers of our existence:...
As a yoga practitioner, you are part of an ancient tradition that dates back at least 5,000 years and has produced great spiritual and philosophical geniuses who have provided answers to some of life’s biggest questions. Questions such as, “Who am I?” “Where did I come from?” “Where will I go after this?” and “What should I do while I’m...
Learn about the 7 spiritual laws of yoga that unite the mind, body and the spirit from Chopra. This guide will give you a strong beginner understanding of Yoga. Learn more today.
You know you need to take a break when you can’t even remember the last time you took a vacation. You’re interested in going on a retreat, but not sure when you’ll find the time go, which retreat to try, or what to expect.There are dozens of different types of retreats out there, from power yoga vacations and Vino and...
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga is a unique practice that blends the wisdom of India’s 5,000-year-old yogic tradition with the principles of Deepak Chopra’s best-selling book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. These principles can be briefly summarized as follows:1. Law of Pure PotentialityOur essential nature is pure consciousness, the infinite source of everything that exists in the physical...
Purpose and inner growth come from the same source. Find and live from this source to unite all your goals and aspirations.
Discover the pure love that is waiting for you to reveal it with the four stages of pure love: bhakti, bhava samadhi, mahabhava, and prema.
Experiencing a spiritual awakening and overall spiritual enlightenment can be a long process. Here are ten signs you're experiencing spiritual awareness and the meaning behind it all.
¿Alguna vez se te ha metido una canción en la cabeza? ¿Sabes cómo se repite una y otra vez? Si vas a tener algo repitiéndose en tu mente, puede ser algo que has elegido intencionalmente. ¿Y qué tal si dices algo una y otra vez que tenga un mensaje positivo? Repetir los mantras antiguos en voz alta, en silencio en...
These mantras from Sanskrit & Gurmukhi will help calm your nervous system and raise your energetic vibration and more. Learn 9 great mantras from Chopra today.
Music is great at lifting your spirits and boosting your mood. Here is a 101 song playlist of happiness-inducing songs from Chopra!
With the arrival of a new year, everyone feels an impulse to get rid of old habits and to change for the better. As time-honored as New Year’s resolutions are, they rarely make a difference. The pull of old habits is strong. At a deeper level, there is a constant tug-of-war between wanting to change and wanting to remain the...
Starting your day with a clear intention can make all the difference, helping you to stay centered, aware, and focused on all daily intentions. Learn more.
Creating a life that is always organized and planned can leave you stressed and depressed. Learn how meditation, love, and awareness can help you trust life and be free.
Tough times are inevitable, and even though you are always moving forward, sometimes it can feel like you’re spinning your wheels. Whether it seems like life’s circumstances are piling up against you, your mind can’t get through a mental block, or your emotions are paralyzing you, there is always hope. It does take some effort, but when you are ready...
Thanksgiving is a time when family and friends come together in celebration of the bigger, more important things in life—a connection to something more significant than the minutia of everyday life. It’s a time for restoration and rejuvenation, as well as merriment and connection with loved ones and family.Relationships are one of the most crucial aspects of life, and Thanksgiving...
In most people’s lives, Thanksgiving Day could serve a higher purpose than food, football, and festivities. The spiritual value at the core of the holiday is gratitude. Everyone considers gratitude to be a positive thing, but we do not always stop to consider how powerful gratitude truly is.Gratitude is a soul quality that brings our attention into the present, which...
Most people know that gratitude generates good feelings. But did you know that a dose of thankfulness can also positively impact your health, happiness, resilience, and relationships? Research in the field of positive psychology has shown, time and time again, that purposefully cultivating gratitude can have far-reaching effects in your life. This month of November is a perfect time to...
Anytime that I’ve written or spoken about consciousness, someone is bound to ask, “But what should I do?” This is only natural. When faced with a challenge, problem, obstacle, or even a desired goal, people automatically want to do something. They feel helpless if they don’t.A Cloud of CausesThis reaction may be so ingrained in you that you may miss...
If you were ever inspired by The Secret or stumbled upon an Abraham Hicks video, you know that your thoughts create your reality. What you think, leads to your feelings, habits, and reality. You may also realize that reframing your thoughts, and simply thinking positive is incredibly challenging. It is also an ineffective way of manifesting when done by itself....
Life already presents multiple factors that can bring you down. A healthy abundance mindset can alleviate these worries. Learn about the meaning of abundance with Chopra.
Learn how to raise your emotional vibration frequency with these tips from Chopra. Raise your vibrations and support positivity in your life.
Are you evolving personally? This question is at the heart of a new book I’d like to introduce you to titled Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential. In it, I propose that a leap in personal evolution is open to everyone if only you are shown how evolution works.What Is Evolution?Evolution is a term that generally means progress. If you ask...
Every day you make choices, big and small, and these change all the time. But surrounding these daily choices are decisions you’ve made about your lifestyle that remain the same. These decisions have been widely disseminated once it was realized, about three decades ago, that your well-being, and especially your health, depends on your lifestyle.What Is the Best Lifestyle?You have...
Are you listening to the messages the universe is trying to tell you? Let the experts at Chopra guide you to better understand how to read signs from the universe.
Discover the path to awakening and the beauty of your potential.
The modern worldview is that duality—materialism vs spiritualism. However if you look closer, the boundary between mind and body can create unity.
Everyone has masculine and feminine energies. Learn how to balance yours and better understand these energies from Chopra.
“Creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred. What we make matters enormously, and it doesn’t matter at all. We toil alone, and we are accompanied by spirits. We are terrified, and we are brave. Art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. The work wants to be made, and it wants to be made through you.” –Elizabeth Gilbert,...
The wisdom traditions of the world—while differing in form, custom, and practice—are essentially in agreement that the purpose of human life is spiritual growth and evolution. You are on a journey from ego to spirit. You may be traveling different paths and at different speeds than those around you, but the destination is the same—expanded awareness, a shift in consciousness,...
It’s not your fault if you’re feeling out of balance. And by balance, think of your propensity to experience more masculine energy then its sister, the feminine.Here’s why. Society is set and founded on the patriarchy. Even the Declaration of Independence, the foundation of the United States, is based on your “forefathers,” not mothers. History books highlight brilliant men who...
When is the last time you nurtured your spirit? Plenty is said about the importance of nurturing the physical body through diet and exercise, but the spiritual body is often forgotten or ignored. In order to live a happy and thriving life, all of your aspects (mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual) must be acknowledged in order to maintain overall well-being.Notice...
“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”~ Bruce LeeThere are a vast array of options for self-transformation available in the modern world. The realms of popular psychology and self-improvement provide a variety of theories and methodologies to help you awaken your potential, create fulfilling families...
As the Beatles told us, “All you need is love” and how sure this is. Your highest vibration, your essence, who you really are, is pure love. When you love, you connect with the deepest part of yourself. The part of yourself which is always ready to present whatever you need in a perfect way, at exactly the right moment....
Learn what the 7 stages of spiritual development and growth are, and how to progress through your journey from the experts at Chopra.
“Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”—RumiRight Speech is the third step on the Buddha’s Eightfold Noble Path toward liberation from suffering. It represents a fundamental component of a conscious and mindful life. The word “Right” is not meant to imply a moral judgement of good or bad, rather it refers to the...
It may sound strange, but for most people there is a wide gap between "being yourself" and "knowing yourself." The first is considered desirable. When you are able to be yourself, you feel natural and relaxed, without pretense or defenses.Knowing yourself is a different matter. A century after Freud discovered the subconscious mind, it has been identified with the darker...
Prayer, meditation, chanting, contemplation, journaling, reading, and singing. Chances are you have turned to one or more of these practices throughout your life—from saying prayers before bed as a child to practicing yoga in the morning as an adult—as a way of connecting to your higher self. People are born with the desire to understand things that they can’t explain,...
“A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences. You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make.” - Dennis Waitley, motivational speaker and authorA key milestone in your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth is the cultivation of...
When you step into your power, you cultivate self-esteem and personal worth. A new sense of freedom emerges, doubts fall away, and you quit being a marionette to other people’s expectations or vulnerable to external circumstances. This new confidence allows you to let go of the need to judge, criticize, or compare yourself to others. When you claim your power,...
We’ve all had experiences of life’s highest of highs—falling in love, getting the job we’re excited about, or achieving a meaningful goal. And, then there are the times when you may find yourself in a downright funk and unable to access any level of satisfaction or contentment. When life is flowing, it feels amazing—and when you can’t seem to pick...
Fight Avidya, or ignorance, as a spiritual warrior with this list of 8 qualities you can embody in your life. Combat ignorance to see the true nature of the world.
Are you tired of your same old Mother’s Day tradition? Perhaps you always send your mom flowers and a card, or you carve out time for brunch. What if you kicked Mother’s Day up a notch and expressed gratitude to your mom in a unique way?If you are stumped on something special you can do, here are some ideas for...
Do you have a spiritual practice? What does it look like? Are there rituals and traditions? Is it a solo endeavor or a group practice? Whether your sadhana, a spiritual exercise that allows you to feel closer to your highest self, looks like Sundays at mass, candlelight yoga, daily prayer, or writing letters of gratitude, moving your routines outside can...
Do you ever just get lost in the moment? Do you get so engrossed in a project or engaged with what’s in front of you that you lose track of time? If you answered no, it’s time for a change! Psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi writes in Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience that those who are able to connect to...
Human beings have become an indoor species. Starting with the domestication of fire, moving to the Industrial Revolution, and to modern day, we increasingly spend the majority of our lives indoors. According to a study, the average American spends 93 percent of the time in enclosed buildings and vehicles. This leaves only seven percent of time spent outside!This is a...
Looking to find some focus in your life? Try setting a one-word intention. The reason to select one word to encapsulate your intention (for a year or whatever timeframe feels right to you) is that it gives you something to prioritize. Think of it as the why behind a goal. A one-word pledge gives you a way to frame your...
Feel inspired by movies! What a great way to indulge yourself with some quiet time on your couch. Movies with heart are great ways to bond with family.
Times of transition give you a great opportunity to reevaluate many areas of your life. The turning of the year is a time when people make resolutions to start a new diet, recommit to the gym membership, or call their mothers more frequently. However, it also gives you the opportunity to look deeper into your spiritual goals and ask yourself...
Having a relationship built on a spiritual connection can bring you and your partner together. Learn how to foster this from the experts at Chopra.
Human life has always been defined and understood through relationships. Whether it be focusing on modern-era couples or looking to the wisdom of the ancients, much of this understanding has come from the dynamic relationships of masculine and feminine energies. Humanity’s earliest exploration into the Divine revealed the presence of both male and female essences on every level of creation.If...
As a kid, vacation was a thing of magic. Anticipating the chance to explore new places and try new wonderful things, you would fanaticize about all that lay ahead. You would make detailed plans or pack your suitcase weeks in advance, annoying your parents with your enthusiasm and the constant barrage of asking how many days until you left.These days,...
When you are aware of your beliefs and thoughts about success and happiness, you can begin to shift your experience from living as a reaction to life toward creating your own highly successful life. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits...
Having meaningful goals you want to achieve in your life is what keeps you motivated and inspired to stay focused on what is truly important to you. Summertime, with all it’s fun and excitement, can be a wonderful—and oftentimes disastrous—distraction from the momentum you’ve built toward achieving your goals.Summertime can usher in an energy of excitement as you begin anticipating...
Do you know your neighbors? In our hurried and often detached society, having neighbors as friends and part of your support system is not as common as it used to be.One of my friends has a theory about why neighbors don’t know each other well. She believes you can attribute the demise of the neighborly bond to the automated garage...
Summer is a season that comes with many rituals. For some, summers include a move to a cottage for the season, while others enjoy weekends at the lake or traveling for holidays to the same annual destination or someplace entirely new. These traditions allow you to experience a sense of coming back to a beginning, of sharing connection, and of...
All people, regardless of their gender identity have male and female energy inside them. Follow these 10 tips to keep the scales of your masculine and feminine energy in harmony.
Intuition is a powerful aspect of the human experience, and something that anyone can access within themselves—if they’re open to it. Often referred to as a “gut instinct,” it’s that hunch that encourages you to go in a certain direction or inspires you to share a piece of wisdom with someone seeking answers. Intuition can lead you to safety in...
Time is flying by, and your intention to set a new habit or pursue a certain goal might have been left in the dust. If that’s the case, don’t fret–there’s still time to get back on the right track.Since we’re about halfway through the year, now is a good time to circle back and evaluate your 2017 intentions. Here are...
The soul of a dog is a very special expression of consciousness, as anyone who has ever known and loved a dog well understands. Animals have the capacity to teach you reverent, timeless spiritual truths simply by being who they are.An indicator of progress along your spiritual path is when you start to see or “recognize” spirit within other beings....
Movies from the 80s and 90s depicted a lot of good times associated with copious amounts of alcohol and drunkenness. Bars and pubs seemed to be the only places people ever went to have a good time. Now with coffee houses and juice bars making more appearances, gathering places without alcohol seem to be more acceptable.There are more people doing...
Exerting effort can get you far in many areas of life. Want to run a marathon? Train hard. Earn better grades? Study hard. Land a new promotion? Work hard.To achieve goals, hard work and determination are often required. But what if the goal is to be happier? How much effort is required to live a more joyful life and to...
Anyone who has shared their home with a pet is aware of the value and joy this can bring into your life. There are several spiritual benefits to having a pet.
Whether you are a painter, a business executive, a grocery store checker, or a stay-at-home mom or dad, you draw upon your creativity every day. That delicate, often elusive quality presents itself in so many forms that it is difficult to know where its boundaries lie. Problem-solving relies upon creative skills, just as much as visual artistry, so it’s vital...
Every life has its ups and downs, and most of them don't test a person's faith. The things that do, tend to be matters of crisis. If you consider what kind of crisis is involved, something familiar emerges. Faith in God is tested when things you consider evil or cruel happen, or when an innocent person suffers greatly—then you say...
India is a total sensory experience; it’s a plethora of sights, tastes, smells, and sounds. The mundane or the bizarre, the chaotic or the silent, the profane or the profound, can be waiting around any corner. Sooner or later, those of us who study and practice the teachings of Vedanta get drawn to visit India. The Land of the Veda...
The last decade has seen an explosion in the world of social media. What was in its infancy just a few short years ago has become a worldwide phenomenon spanning multiple platforms and millions, if not billions, of users. Many of us utilize one or more social networks daily including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, or Snapchat. These tools...
It’s no secret these are turbulent times, full of uncertainty and fear. Huge shifts are taking place both for humanity and the planet, which is commanding your attention and inspiring more people to step up and take a stand for their beliefs.Now, more than ever, is the time to set an example for future generations on how to rise above...
Winter can be depressing, but it doesn't have to be. Welcoming winter with open arms becomes a little easier when you use particular tools to stay warm, focused, and healthy. In general, winter is nature’s way of telling you it’s a time to slow down and enjoy your personal and family time. But we are human and often stubborn, not...
Learn about spirituality and relationships and what is means to be spiritually evolved and how to get attuned with your partner.
When we speak of dreams coming true, we are talking about some form of desire. Beyond the basic necessities for food, water, and shelter, which are enough to satisfy the desire to survive, human beings invent countless other desires.What we all experience is that some of our desires come true while others don't. That seems clear enough, but in fact...
It’s sometimes easy to forget that everyone and everything in creation is connected by a spiritual web. Everyone has a spark of Light, deep within, waiting to be fanned by the flame of spiritual awakening. As French philosopher and paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a...
India loves to celebrate. You could probably find a festival of some sort going on somewhere in India every day of the year. Festivals are the celebration of togetherness in India, often joining people of different traditions and religions in the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.There are many auspicious days in India, most of which are celebrated with great...
It’s pretty amazing that we live in a time when being spiritual has become more popularized; where meditation studios are now trending, yoga studios can be found on nearly every block, and mindfulness themes are ubiquitous. Thanks to the efficacy of Google and social media, you needn’t look far and wide these days to find the Guru or the path.It’s...
Who doesn’t love a good family movie night? Children and parents alike can enjoy downtime while watching a movie. Why not use the opportunity to search for deeper life meanings during that time? From classic favorites to new releases on the big screen, movies can often provide a spiritual or metaphysical teaching.To determine the best approach to teaching your little...
An equinox is an astronomical event in which the plane of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun, causing day and night to be of approximately equal duration all over the planet. Our planet has two yearly equinox events, one in spring and one in fall.The spring equinox is a time of rebirth for all life on our...
You get in your car and punch a destination into the vehicle’s GPS. A pathway appears with explicit directions on how to get from where you’re sitting to where you’d like to arrive. Your only job is to follow the arrows. The GPS will even adjust its route if you go off-course. As long as you know your final destination,...
According to Michael Losier’s The Law of Attraction (LOA), you attract into your life whatever you focus your attention and energy on, whether positive or negative. While it is relatively easy to understand this principle, it can sometimes prove challenging to put to use. Oftentimes, when people claim that the LOA doesn’t work, they just haven’t yet mastered how to...
There’s nothing more attractive and inviting than someone who is confident in who they are and what they believe in. There’s a grace and ease about them. Better yet, when you can live that way, you can share that grace with others and life is more fulfilling.Contrary to that is someone who doesn’t know him or herself well, someone who...
Discover the meaning of Sadhana and how to let go of your ego and embrace a spiritual life. Open your heart with Sadhana yoga and practices today.
Are you guilty of prequalifying how your life should appear, mired in “if only,” “can’t,” and “should have?”“If only I were a size 4.” “I should have been a doctor so I’d be wealthy.”“I can’t get healthy; I’m too busy taking care of my family.” Is your way getting in the way of the Divine’s plan?The Divine is an infinite...
In my life coach practice, I work with a lot of professionals who want to use meditation as a tool to reduce stress and cope with the daily demands of the corporate life. One of the major challenges in doing this is the inability to prioritize well-being and find balance in a stressful environment.As my clients move through their sessions...
Why am I here? What is my purpose? How do I discover and fulfill my deepest mission?These are questions that we all ask at one time or another. Sometimes we discover the answers early on, but often we continue to ask these questions throughout our lives. As we grow and mature, the answers to these questions continue to evolve as...
We often think of creativity as something that only certain people are gifted with. In fact, we have special words for such people. We often call them brilliant, inspired, or ingenious. These words do signify a true insight. Creativity does spring forth from that part of our deeper being which is truly brilliant and infinitely intelligent. In turn, this deep-level...
About a year and a half ago I attended my first official meditation retreat. It was with Deepak Chopra and The Chopra Center. Prior to this, I was what would be described as a "crisis meditator" tapping into the practice at the most expected of times (i.e., New Year's resolution) or the most desperate times (i.e., overly stressed, overwhelmed, etc)....
About six years ago, as I was getting dressed in a hotel room preparing for a lecture, I heard the CNN reporter from my television pose the question to the viewers just as the network was about to break into a commercial, “Do miracles really happen? One man believes they do. He claims he was healed through his faith in...
Explore the science and mythology of archetypes—powerful energies within literature, history, mythology, and religion that personify our core identities.
In Egyptian mythology, there is a story that says that when a person dies, the soul travels to a different dimension to undergo a life review. In that timeless, spaceless realm, the god Anubis places the recently deceased’s astral heart on a scale to weigh it against the feather of truth. If the heart is lighter than the feather, then...
1. Cultivate the Healing Power of GratitudeGratitude is an immensely powerful force that we can use to expand our happiness, create loving relationships, and even improve our health.Many scientific studies, including research by renowned psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, have found that people who consciously focus on gratitude experience greater emotional wellbeing and physical health than those who don’t....
In every moment of our existence, we have access to an infinity of choices. As a result of conditioning, however, most of us tend to act in predictable, repetitious ways. The process is like driving a car down the same dirt road many times. Over time, the wheels carve out ruts in the dirt and the car automatically follows the...
The spiritual wakening journey is a difficult process of going beyond your boundaries & taking the next step. Learn how to progress through this journey today.
Articles
Meditation 101: What Type of Meditation Is Best for You?
If you are new to meditation or just beginning to explore contemplative practices, you have a lot of options. Hundreds, if not thousands, of meditation styles and techniques from a...
Advanced Gratitude Journaling: 5 Practices for Increased Happiness
Gratitude has become very popular lately, and for good reason. According to research, gratitude is one of the easiest and most beneficial tools for boosting happiness levels on a neurological...
Curación con el Sonido: Afinar para Encontrar la Armonía Interior
El sonido ha sido utilizado durante generaciones por la mayoría de las culturas para traer paz y equilibrio. El sonido de un tambor, tocar un cuenco y cantar mantras pueden...
Healing with Sound: Tune Up to Find Inner Harmony
A physician friend of mine once jokingly said that most of the time, doctors just entertain their patients until they cure themselves. While he was joking, there is an element...
Religion vs. Spirituality: The Difference Between Them
The line between religion and spirituality can be very fine, and they are similar in many ways. How do we tell the difference between spirituality and religion?
How to Meditate Anywhere
If you are one of the millions of people in the world who meditate, you know how powerful the benefits can be in your life. Or maybe you haven’t felt...
Diwali: The Festival of Lights
Diwali is one of the most beautiful and joyous times in the Indian calendar, filled with love and rejoicing. It is a time of new beginnings, a festival of light,...
Everything You Need to Know About Meditative Postures
Get the most out of your meditation by making sure you know how to sit. Learn how to sit comfortably during meditation from these experts at Chopra today.
Benefits & Uses of Mala Beads & Buddha Prayer Beads
Malas are growing in popularity and can be a great complement to your meditation and spirituality practice. Learn more about Buddhist prayer beads from Chopra today.
The 3 Levels of Samadhi
Learn about Samadhi meditation and the ways in which the Eight Limbs of Yoga can help you reach the freedom and enlightenment of Samadhi.
Sacred Space: How to Make an Altar in Your Home
Learn how to create an altar at home to connect to the sacred and your spirituality every day.
6 Pathways to Remove Negative Energy from Your Mind and Body
Learn six methods of energy cleansing from your mind and body from Chopra. Further, your journey of well-being cleanse negative energy.
7 Simple Mantras for Healing and Transformation
Mantras are vibrations that create desired effects, such as healing, transformation or self-awareness. Learn these 7 mantras to better meditate & help in your daily life.
Mastering the 7 Spiritual Laws of Success
In The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success, Dr. Deepak Chopra discusses ways to manage surviving in the natural world without desperate striving. Learn more about these laws.
What's the Difference Between Meditation and Mindfulness?
Mindfulness and meditation embody many similarities, but they are not strictly identical. Learn the difference between mindfulness and meditation.
7 Mantras to Create the Life You Want
Learn how to improve your life and your outlook with these 7 simple mantras. From improving your daily mood to focusing on success, Chopra has the perfect mantra for you.
The Meaning of Namasté
Namasté is more than a word used to end a yoga session. Learn what namasté means and how to best internalize its meaning.
What do Tingling & Physical Sensations During Meditation Mean?
Experiencing physical sensations during meditation is common, from tingling to nausea & more. Deepak Chopra answers questions on what these feelings mean.
Gratitude Meditation: Connect to the Happiness Within
Guided meditation can help direct your attention to all of what you have to be thankful for. Your inherent happiness will shine.
Meditation Tips: How to Prepare for Meditation
One of the best things about meditation, that practice of quietly observing your thoughts and feelings in your mind without judgment, is that you do not need anything to practice....
Meditation’s 9 Greatest Gifts
All traditions and religions describe some form of enlightenment or spiritual awakening. Unfortunately, most people are spiritually asleep, some snoring soundly. Meditation is your wake-up call, when you rub the...
Celebrate Summer Solstice with Meditation
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, for those in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year while for those who live in the Southern Hemisphere,...
4 Reasons You Keep Quitting Your Meditation Practice—and How to Overcome Them
The benefits of meditation have been known and espoused for thousands of years despite its seemingly recent rise in social awareness. It’s hard not to notice the shift happening as...
The Gayatri Mantra for Enlightenment
Gayatri Mantra meditation develops within you the feeling of constantly living in the divine state of pure consciousness. Read here to learn the Gayatri Mantra's benefits.
Morning Meditation: 9 Keys to Manifesting Your Dreams in the A.M.
Bring to mind the happiest and most successful people you can think of and you can virtually guarantee two things: They have a meditation or mindfulness practice. They have conscious...
How to Find Your True Self
No project is more valuable than finding your true self. Once you wake up to who you really are and realize your other selves. Read how to find your true...
Protect the Planet to Protect Your Health
Your physical and mental health is highly influenced by the natural world. Environmental influences on health include: Clean air Safe drinking water Sufficient nourishing food Secure shelter Regular contact with...
5 Signs Your Chakras Are Out of Balance & How to Test Them
Diagnose any potential imbalances in your body's chakras by performing a chakra test and looking out for these 5 signs that they may be out of alignment.
A Brief History of Meditation: From Before the Big Bang to Now
Western science says that the universe as you know it began with the Big Bang. However, the obvious question is, “What was there before the bang?” The Vedic answer to...
6 Steps to Mindful Prayer
Prayer can be a practice to cultivate your faith, blessings, and intentions. You may also associate prayer with the act of simply listing what you need or repenting for your...
10 Ways to Renew Yourself Spiritually
When you feel like you’ve been skimming the surface of life, it is likely a sign you need to reboot. Feeling like you’re stuck in a rut can put a...
How to Be More Spiritually Aware
Regardless of your culture, theology, beliefs, or interests, there are many ways to become more spiritually aware. What does it mean to be spiritually aware?
7 Ways to Access Your Intuition and Cosmic Intelligence
Your intuition is always there, but there are ways to learn how to access your intuition. Overall awareness will strengthen and allow you greater insight.
A Mind-Body-Spirit New Year’s Practice: 3 Rituals to Start Fresh
Whether you’re a fan of the holidays, you love fresh starts, or you happen to be of the opinion that January 1st is just another day, consider honoring the New...
8 Ways of Manifesting Your Desires
Learn how to manifest your desires quickly and align them with your journey from Chopra. Find your goals and how move toward them.
The Foundations of a Spiritual Practice
You can think of a spiritual practice as something similar to building a beautiful, tall mansion set in lush gardens. This mansion is like no other. When finished, it will...
The Mahavakyas of SynchroDestiny
The word Mahavakya means a great pronouncement or great statement, which expresses the message of the One Universal Truth.In ancient Vedic times, a teacher would sit with his or her...
How to Balance Your Chakras Without Reiki
While balancing your chakra system can be aligned and healed through Reiki, you are your own healer and can transform your life with chakras. Balance yours.
Meditation Frustration: What to Do When You Want to Quit
The quick answer is “Don’t Quit”!During my years of teaching meditation, I’ve heard a multitude of excuses for ending a meditation session early so let’s look at some of them...
Enhance Your Meditation Practice with Crystals
You may meditate, but have you taken your practice one step further by using crystals? Learn the benefits of crystals and how to us crystals in your meditation practice.
Learn to Embrace Acceptance in 7 Steps
In chapter 2 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, he shares that the fourth cause of suffering is known as Dvesha, or aversion. It refers to the repulsion or avoidance of things...
5 Revealing Studies into Compassion
Compassion, wanting to reduce the pain of others, sometimes gets a bad rap. Some view it as a soft and fluffy virtue that allows others to walk all over you....
6 Ways Meditation Can Transcend Limiting Beliefs
Within you is contained an assembly of beliefs—a vast collection of ideas you support, views and opinions on various subjects, the ideologies, principles, and positions you endorse and hold dear....
13 Reasons You Should Start Meditating
Meditation is an effortless process that will enrich all aspects of your life. Anyone who can think a thought can meditate, and everyone will benefit from it. If you or...
Meditation: The Path to Pure Love
Once, before time, there was only Love. Pure, unconditional Love. Divine Love. Pure Love moved within itself to share itself and created a celestial sound. The material world emerges from...
Meditation: The What, Why, and How
Growing up in England in the ‘60s, we had all heard of meditation when The Beatles traveled to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In my early 20s, I...
A Modern Take on the Roots of Suffering
A lifetime on the spiritual path means revisiting the sacred texts over and over again. Whether this is your first foray into the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali or the hundredth,...
5 Tips for the New or Struggling Meditator
Meditation is one of today’s most effective tools for managing stress, getting into the zone, and entering into a peaceful state of balance. Practiced by celebrities, professional athletes, and high-powered...
4 Practices to Find the Spiritual in Everyday Life
In her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, author Brené Brown defines spirituality as the following: “Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by...
5 Rituals to Promote Inner Peace
While some people experience more inner peace than others, daily peacefulness is difficult. Most must work at it as it doesn’t tend to come naturally.Distraction Takes HoldIf you attend church...
Exploring the 3 Dimensions of Meditation Practice
The term “meditation” has become a catchall for a wide range of practices. In fact, where few people in the West considered meditation to be an important part of their...
Transcend Suffering Through the 5 Kleshas
There are five causes of suffering. By understanding the kleshas, you can then begin to transcend them through meditation.
Mindfulness and Creativity: Do They Mix?
Have you ever had a light bulb moment—a time when, out of the blue, you had a brilliant idea? Maybe it was a new solution to an old problem. Perhaps...
Why You Should Listen to Your Inner Voice
Here are some tips and meditation techniques to help you listen to your inner voice. Learn more about your inner voice and how to listen to it from Chopra today.
Tuning Into the Pull of Your Inner World
After being inspired to expand their awareness and walk the path of higher consciousness, people can lose motivation. Modern society has so much stress and rush—relieved by endless distractions—that a...
Vedanta: The Science of Spirituality
Vedanta is one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive spiritual philosophies. It is based upon the Vedas, or sacred scriptures of India and underlies the principles of Yoga, Ayurveda,...
A Guided Meditation to Embrace Summertime
With summer rapidly approaching, you may be gearing up for the fun, excitement, and spontaneity that are just around the corner. Out comes the camping gear, hot dogs, bathing suits,...
How to Use Vedic Astrology to Inform Your Meditation Practice
Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) and meditation are vast subjects that can each take many years, if not a whole lifetime, to fully understand. Jyotish helps you understand the effects of an...
10 Meditation Tips for Ambitious People
Ambition is a marvelous trait to have! Ambitious people can liven up a room with their determination and excitement. They are usually the ones who encourage others to stay on...
7 Ways to Lift Yourself Out of Heavy Thoughts
Everyone can occasionally find themselves prey to heavy thoughts, which is a natural response to emotional sadness and anxiety. Forcing yourself to be positive under every circumstance is a constant...
6 Important Lessons From the Ashram
The word ashram comes from the Sanskrit word, Srama, which means "religious exertion." However, in more recent times the term "ashram" is used to describe any facility used by a...
The 6 Vedic Illusions of Life and How to Move Beyond Them
All suffering stems from these six vedic maya (also known as illusions or delusions) of life. Learn how you can move beyond the illusion of time and expand your view...
Is the Ego Your Friend or Foe?
It’s common to hear people on a spiritual path saying that you need to destroy or erase the ego. However, while you have a physical body, it’s necessary to have...
8 Healing Benefits of Art
Those who don’t describe themselves as an artist often shy away from the thought of creating their own piece of expression. They think, “I'm not good enough” or “I could...
3 Wisdom Practices for the Winter Season
Winter brings shorter days, less sunlight, and colder weather. It can seem like you are cut off from Source with the increased darkness, which can bring about sadness and the...
From Karma to Grace: Moving Beyond the 4 Archetypes of Survival
This article was co-authored by Deepak Chopra and Tiffany Barsotti.Millions of people have adopted some plan for personal growth, depending on the goals they set for themselves. Some people want...
Harnessing the Power of Vedic Rituals
India pulsates with rituals and sacred ceremonies, many dating back thousands of years into Vedic times. The Vedas themselves are filled with mantras, chants, and rituals for just about any...
The Role of the Guru
“A child cannot be born without a father and a mother. Clothes cannot be washed without water. There can be no horseman without a horse. So, without a Master, none...
How to Deepen Your Meditation Practice with the Seven Spiritual Laws
Meditation is one of the most reliable tools to manage stress, improve relationships, fulfill your desires, and connect with your Spirit. Although it’s relatively simple to practice, your intellect can...
How Meditation Benefits Everyone Around You
For most of us, our ego began to develop when we were young children. We learned the word “mine” and how to manipulate our parents by being nice, nasty, or...
7 Days a Week: Daily Habits for Peace
The balance of peace in the world can seem overwhelming, as if huge forces outside your control are in charge. But you can take a different perspective by setting the...
About Ganesha: The Remover Of Obstacles
Ganesha is the most distinctive Hindu deity. Learn about what he symbolizes and how he can remove obstacles in your life.
Shiva: The Protector and Destroyer
Shiva, whose name means auspicious one in Sanskrit, is both a protector and destroyer. He can be a source of inspiration as you try to achieve a goal.
Exploring Vedic Archetypes: How to Get Started
We are surrounded by archetypes: those recurrent symbols found in art, literature, modern-day movies, television soap operas, tabloid newspapers, mythology, and even regular everyday people. These archetypes—including those found in...
Appreciating OM: The Sound of the Universe
You may chant "OM" in your yoga or meditation class, but do you know what it means? Learn the definition of the sound of the universe from the experts at...
Vishnu: The God of Preservation
Hindu God Vishnu is seen as the divine arbitrator He protects justice and moral order by mediating disagreements. Learn the story behind Vishnu.
Brahma: The Archetype of Creation
Brahma, the god of creation, is usually depicted as a bearded, four-faced, four-armed deity. These four faces represent the sacred knowledge of the four Vedas: Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva....
The Shakti Goddess: A Universal Force
Shakti, also known as Parvati, Durga, or Kali, is one of the most important goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. She serves as goddess of balance, creation, and destruction.
No-Expectation Zone: Letting Go of Expectations During Meditation
One of the biggest causes of suffering in the world today is expectations. Imagine how free you would feel if every day you were able to just “go with the...
How to Use Meditation to Visualize Your Goals
Goal setting is a great way to create the life you desire. Use Chopra's visualization meditation guide online today.
How to Apply the Principles of Vedanta to Modern Life
For most people, the path to enlightenment means living a spiritually oriented life while remaining fully engaged in the world. A select few withdraw from everyday life, take vows, and...
What Is Oneness?
Discover the universal connection of oneness and the role of meditation in removing the separation between yourself and the universe.
Using Meditation to Explore the Universe Within
Our minds can get quite cluttered. We spend so much time exploring and experiencing the outer world that we are rarely called to get to know the universe within. Do...
What is Vedanta Philosophy?
Learn more about Vedanta philosophy with Chopra. We've broken it down to help you better understand what the four Vedas are and the meaning of Vedanta.
The Power of Traditional African Healing Methods
American culture smacks of rugged individualism and a “can-do, can’t-fail” attitude. In this youth-oriented, future-focused nation, an irrational desire for material success drives the culture and economy. When people come...
How Does Karma Affect Your Life?
Karma can affect your life every day in a wide amount of ways. Learn about karma and how it can affect your life from Chopra.
Understanding Mind, Intellect, and Ego
Knowing how your subtle body—the mind, the intellect, and the ego—functions is essential to knowing yourself. Discerning between each level can help you decide which parts of the subtle body...
How to Create a Full Moon Altar
The Full Moon Altar is a powerful tool that enhances positive change. Its based on the principles of Vastu, building harmony with nature.
The Law of Pure Potentiality
The source of creation is consciousness and the law of pure potentiality, seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest Realizing our true self aligns with powers that manifest.
The Law of Giving & Receiving
The Law of Giving & Receiving & the universe operates through the exchange of giving & receiving. The flow of energy in the universe is critical.
The Law of Karma or Cause and Effect
The Law of Karma or Cause and EffectEvery action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind . . . what we sow is what we...
The Law of Least Effort
Learn what the law of least effort is and how you can practice acceptance and responsibility to improve your life.
The Law of Intention and Desire
The Law of Intention and DesireInherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment . . . intention and desire in the field of pure potentiality have...
The Law of Detachment
Learn about the law of detachment and how it can help your spiritual journey from the experts at Chopra.
The Law of Dharma or Purpose in Life
The law of dharma or life purpose is a unique gift to give to others. With this unique talent for service to others, we experience the exultation of our own...
How to Embrace Oneness
Oneness is a concept that, for all its simplicity, is still lost on many of us Westerners. As human beings, there’s a natural disposition to process life in a dualistic...
The Science of Miracles: Perception Versus Reality
In its ambition to explain every aspect of the natural world, modern science has sidestepped very few problems. Some mysteries are so difficult that they defy the scientific method. It’s...
A Spiritual Mystery: Does God Listen to Prayers? (Part III)
Editors Note: Read Part 1 and Part 2 of the series, “A Spiritual Mystery: Does God Listen to Prayers?"It may sound odd at first, but there are ways to improve...
A Spiritual Mystery: Does God Listen to Prayers? (Part II)
Editors Note: Read Part 1 of “A Spiritual Mystery: Does God Listen to Prayers?"To say that prayers are answered isn't the same as saying that God answers prayers. In the...
From Spiritual Imposter to Sage-in-Training
In 2012, I attended a small ceremony with my art teacher, a striking woman who paints abstract watercolors that speak directly to your heart. The ceremony was inspired by her...
A Spiritual Mystery: Does God Listen to Prayers?
Without taking a poll, it's safe to say that people who believe in God also believe that he answers prayers. If he didn't, one would be left with an indifferent,...
10 Steps to Awakening Self-Compassion
Self-compassion involves becoming aware of the presence of suffering in our bodies, emotions, thoughts, and actions—and then taking steps to diminish the suffering. Compassion is the natural and spontaneous feeling...
The Secret to Personal Evolution
You alone are the explorer of your inner world. Of all the ways to unfold your inner potential, by far the most powerful is to use the flow of evolution....
The Art of Grounding
From time to time we have the opportunity to speak publicly about something that is meaningful in our lives. In these moments, if we can find ways to ground ourselves...
What is Cosmic Consciousness?
Learn from Chopra about cosmic consciousness and how to achieve it. By learning about master consciousness, you can work on achieving it yourself. Learn more today.
Nourishing Peace
Each one of us has the power to shift global consciousness into the mind of peace. To achieve a mind of peace, we must understand healing as a perennial process,...
Science as Koan
When I first began to meditate, I considered the Buddhist approach to things to be completely separate from the scientific. But over time, that changed. At the beginning of my...
8 Secrets to Free Your Spirit and Find Joy
Joy is a divine quality of our true self, which is inherently lighthearted, playful, and free. You can see the full expression of this joy in young children who haven’t...
Let Your Love Flow
There is a center in the body where love and spirit are joined, and that center is heart. It is your heart that aches or fills with love, that feels...
Embrace Your Life with Love and Awareness
For many years I wrote a column called Ask Deepak, answering questions about personal dilemmas that people sent in from all around the world, including India, China, the United States,...
Discover Meditation’s Healing Power
If you were to ask me what the most important experience of my life has been, I would say it was learning to meditate. Meditation has been the key to...
Cultivate Present Moment Awareness with the So Hum Meditation
The So Hum meditation is a simple but powerful technique that uses the breath and the repetition of a mantra to quiet the mind and relax the body. This meditation...
Freeing Yourself From Your Mind
The good news is that you can free yourself from your mind. This is the only true liberation. You can take the first step right now.Start listening to the voice...
Messages to Inspire Your Meditation Mojo
Since its inception in 2010, more than half a million people from 200 countries around the world have participated in the 21-Day Meditation Challenge. We’ve been inspired by the thousands...
Turn Any Place into a Meditation Space
Transform a Small Corner of Your Home into a Peaceful RetreatAs we teach participants in the 21-Day Meditation Challenge, creating a daily meditation practice that allows you to spend time...
Why Meditate?
During most of our waking lives, our minds are engaged in a continuous internal dialogue in which the meaning and emotional associations of one thought trigger the next. We hear...
7 Myths of Meditation
In the past forty years, meditation has entered the mainstream of modern Western culture, prescribed by physicians and practiced by everyone from business executives, artists, and scientists to students, teachers,...
A Meditating Brain Creates Better Relationships
It’s never too late to have a (brain that’s wired as if it had a) happy childhood.Therapists get this question a lot: “Okay, so now that I understand how my...
Feel the Love
As the ancient Vedic sages taught, where our attention goes, our energy flows. Whatever we focus on will expand in our experience, so if we want our lives to be...
Rewire Your Brain for Happiness
For decades, scientists believed that once we reached adulthood, our brain was incapable of any change beyond than the negative alterations associated with disease and aging. We now know that...
Ayurveda for Spiritual Well-being
Ayurveda is the traditional healing system from India that is literally translated as "the science of life." Through healthy daily practices and aligning with natural rhythms, one can prevent disease...
Tap Into the Power of Color
Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ~Oscar WildeThere is no question that as a human, you...
Harness the Power of Your Sensory Input
“Reality is a selective act of attention and interpretation.” This deeply profound insight (attributed to Chopra Center co-founder Dr. David Simon) reveals your hidden ability to influence the experience of...
What Is Shatavari?
The Shatavari plant has many health benefits and uses that help your mind and body. Originating from Ayurvedic medicine, Shatava
Everyday Magic: 3 Daily Rituals to Connect You to the Present
Psychologist Dr. Jean Houston has said that we are the victims of an "age of interrupted process." Meaning, you generally know a bit about how things begin and how they...
Love Your Body
If we have been blessed with general good health, we may tend to take our body for granted, not paying attention to what a miracle it is that we can...
Roger Gabriel: In the World but Not of the World
Pavamana MantraOm Asato Ma Sad GamayaTamaso Ma Jyotir GamayaMrtyor Ma Amritam GamayaOm Shanti Shanti ShantihiLead us from untruth to truth.Lead us from darkness to light.Lead us from death to immortality.Peace,...
3 Components In Any Spiritual Experience
What common experiences exist when it comes to spiritual traditions? According to our founder, Deepak Chopra, ™ MD, we can observe three distinct components. The first, transcendence from the ego...