Life After Death: The Burden of Proof

Well Mr. Chopra may be famous but this book is just annoying. He has no original insights of his own and just quotes from a jumble of sources. For this book i would give him the epithet "i don't know anything but i write about everything". Any of the following titles will give you infinitely more info about the subject: In particular the book by Dr Long is a great primer Raymond Moody MD - Life After Life, Michael B. Sabom MD – Light & Death, P.M.H. Atwater LHD, Beyond the Light, Melvin Morse MD – Closer to the Light – Learning from the NDE of children, Transformed by the Light Kenneth Ring PHD – Life at Death, Jeffrey Long MD – Evidence of the Afterlife, Nanci L. Danison – Backwards, Anita Moorjani, Dying To Be Me, Eben Alexander MD - Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife Natalie Sudman – Application of Impossible Things, Dannion Brinkley – Saved by the LIght

At first I thought "oh no, sounds like a fable." But I am glad I got past the first page or so. Excellent book, would recommend to anyone.

This book presents a very good discussion of the principles of quantum theory that support ancient Vedic beliefs about the consciousness of the universe. Earlier titles that covered similar ground include The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav, The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra and The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot, but Chopra's new work is worth reading because it includes scientific information that was not yet discovered when these other books were written. Chopra neatly articulates a few of the basic Vedic beliefs about the continuance of human consciousness after the death of the physical body, and then marshalls evidence from quantum physics to support these ancient ideas. This includes the classic idea that human souls "devolve" and incarnate in physical form in order to experience life lessons that are charted while in between lives, a state that the Tibetans called the Bardo. (You can read a lot more about this in a first-rate book by Michael Newton called Journey of Souls.) The sub-title of the book, "the burden of proof," is somewhat misleading, as Chopra doesn't actually attempt to "prove" anything. Instead he focuses on the quantum concept of randomness at the most minute, sub-atomic levels of the universe and the role that consciousness plays in influencing how that randomness eventually plays out in either/or choices. He eventually leads the reader to the BIG IDEA of the book -- that the whole universe and everything in it is conscious, and that together all conscious beings create reality. That includes rocks, trees, cosmic dust, the works. By the time Chopra gets to this rather awesome statement, the reader (or at least this particular reader) is ready to believe that it could not only be possible, but even likely. It's a tough topic to summarize effectively in a review, so I will say only that I have read many, many books on the topic of life after death, as well as issues related to it, and this book is above average. I have only one reservation: It is a bit slow going in the beginning of the book, not helped by the fact that Chopra introduces the book by telling an old, rather rambling parable about a woman who tries to cheat death. Stick with it, though, and you will be rewarded because the text picks up speed at the book's mid point, and ends up offering a wealth of ideas to consider regarding post-death survival.

Great product

Deepak Chopra is so amazing to me. He manages to merge spirituality, ancient folklore and science together to make a substantial book on life after death. In fact, he really explains what life means. He brings in Eastern religions to help drive home his ideas, and it becomes very easy to understand the likelihood of life after life. I am someone who needs more than theories to believe something. I need proof, at least some level of it. As I read more and more about this subject matter, however, my mind is opening to the idea that belief is half the battle. We need to simply experience what is around us to know--really know--that there is no out there out there. There is virtually no materialism in the way that we believe there is. And there is no separation between me and you. Not being completely versed in eastern religions, this book manages to bring in the ones that discuss their very persuasive ideas that there is indeed a life beyond what we see before out eyes. You really begin to understand just how temporary everything is anyways. Even our thoughts! They come and go, flitting in and out of existence as we know it. I strongly recommend this book for anyone in need of understanding if there is more to this life than the life we live on automatic everyday. This will make you stop and consider a grander possibility. It will make you look larger than just with your eyes. If you have ever lost anyone in your life, this will help bring peace in knowing that they aren't really "lost" at all. What a great book.