Deepak Chopra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deepak Chopra
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Chopra in 2019
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| Born | October 22, 1946 New Delhi, British India
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| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi |
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| Spouse(s) |
Rita Chopra
(m. 1970) |
| Children |
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| Relatives | Sanjiv Chopra (brother) |
Deepak Chopra (born October 22, 1946) is an Indian-American author and public speaker. He is a well-known supporter of alternative medicine, which includes health treatments and beliefs that are not part of standard Western medicine.
Originally trained as a medical doctor, Chopra became famous for his ideas about health and wellness. He combines ideas from his Hindu background with Western medicine. He promotes practices like yoga, meditation, and special diets. His books and videos have made him one of the most famous and wealthy figures in alternative medicine. However, many scientists and doctors disagree with his teachings.
Contents
Life and Career
From India to America
Deepak Chopra was born in New Delhi, India. His father was a well-known heart doctor, or cardiologist. Following in his father's footsteps, Chopra studied medicine and graduated from a top medical school in India in 1969.
In 1970, he and his wife moved to the United States. He worked as an intern at a hospital in New Jersey. He then completed his medical training in Boston, specializing in internal medicine and endocrinology (the study of hormones). By 1973, he was a licensed doctor in Massachusetts.
A Change in Direction
Chopra taught at several universities and became the Chief of Staff at a hospital in Massachusetts. During this time, he began to feel that he was prescribing too many medications to his patients.
In 1981, he started to explore Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine from India. He also began practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM). In 1985, he met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the leader of the TM movement. The Maharishi asked him to open a health center based on Ayurvedic ideas.
Chopra left his hospital job to start the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center. The center offered treatments like massages and oil baths. He also became a spokesperson for the TM movement.
Gaining Fame
In 1993, Chopra appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to talk about his books. The interview made him very famous. Soon after, he moved to California and left the TM movement. He said he was uncomfortable with the "cultish atmosphere" around the Maharishi.
In 1996, he co-founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. His business became very successful, earning millions of dollars each year from books, courses, and health products.
Chopra's Ideas and Teachings
What is Quantum Healing?
Chopra's most famous idea is something he calls "quantum healing." He believes that the human mind has the power to heal the body from any illness. He says our bodies are made of energy and information, not just physical matter.
He teaches that people can achieve "perfect health," a state where they don't get sick or feel pain. He also claims that aging can be slowed down, stopped, or even reversed based on a person's mindset.
Why Scientists Disagree
Many scientists and doctors strongly criticize Chopra's ideas. They call his teachings pseudoscience, which means they sound scientific but are not based on actual scientific evidence.
Physicists, who study quantum mechanics, say that Chopra uses scientific terms incorrectly. They argue that the principles of quantum physics apply to tiny particles like atoms, not to the human body. They call his use of these terms "technobabble"—words that sound scientific but don't have a clear meaning in the way he uses them.
Critics also say that any positive effects from his treatments are likely due to the placebo response. This is when a person feels better simply because they believe a treatment is working, even if it has no real medical effect. They worry that sick people might choose his methods instead of getting proven medical treatments.
Other Work and Personal Life
Besides his health centers, Chopra has been involved in many other projects. He has taught at business schools and founded several organizations, including the Chopra Foundation, which raises money to research alternative health. In 2006, he started a comic book company called Virgin Comics with his son and businessman Richard Branson.
Chopra and his wife have two adult children, Mallika and Gotham. He became a U.S. citizen and lives in New York City.
See also
In Spanish: Deepak Chopra para niños
- Celebrity doctor
- Hard problem of consciousness
- Punjabi Americans
- Indian Americans
- Indians in the New York City metropolitan area
- List of people in alternative medicine
- Panpsychism
- Spiritual naturalism
