Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment

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Editorial Reviews
Product Description

Bestselling author Deepak Chopra brings the Buddha back to life in this gripping novel of the young prince who abandoned his inheritance to discover his true calling. This iconic journey changed the world forever, and the truths revealed continue to influence every corner of the globe today.

A young man in line for the throne is trapped in his father's kingdom and yearns for the outside world. Betrayed by those closest to him, Siddhartha abandons his palace and princely title. Alone and face-to-face with his demons, he becomes a wandering monk and embarks on a spiritual fast that carries him to the brink of death. Ultimately recognizing his inability to conquer his body and mind by sheer will, Siddhartha transcends his physical pain and achieves enlightenment.

Although we recognize Buddha today as an icon of peace and serenity, his life story was a tumultuous and spellbinding affair filled with love and sex, murder and loss, struggle and surrender. From the rocky terrain of the material world to the summit of the spiritual one, Buddha captivates and inspires—ultimately leading us closer to understanding the true nature of life and our selves.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Read, 2008-10-20
This book is a more current version of the classic story of Buddha. It really helped me to get into and understand spirituality.

A great book and highly recommended.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Deepak Chopra succeeds in putting his own spin on this ancient story., 2008-10-09
In this challenging task to fictionalize the story of the Buddha, Chopra sets up an engaging plot full of suspense. There are many characters in the book that make the Buddha story a much broader experience than one would think. Chopra's incorporation of the evil spirits that challenge the Buddha make for an interesting spin. The Buddha must have encountered many people who taught and inspired him, and this book fills out that aspect of his life quit well. Thus, the Buddha is portrayed as the human being that he was, not so much as the god he became regarded as after his enlightenment. This is what makes Buddha such a great experience; it gives the reader a chance to experience the Buddha's enlightenment while he was still searching for it, the side of this ancient story that is rarely told.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4 out of 5 stars

Enchanting, 2008-07-31
I found this novel by Depok Chopra about the life of Budha to be enlightening. As a novel, I expected certain literary license to be taken, and was not distressed by the fictional story that was created. The life of Budha was amazing and the essence of the book is the true story of that life. Depok's novels are as interesting if not more entertaining than his non-fiction works. I've passed this book on to several friends and have received rave reviews from most of them.

As a beginner on a spirtual path to explore the teachings of Budha, this book is an introduction that got my imagination soaring and ready to learn more about the Budha nature in us all.

It is clearly not meant for everyone -- but if you're just starting out, its a great way to begin your journey.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Inspirational Fiction, 2008-07-18
This book reads like a travel guide through portions of the life that the Buddha experienced. With a little imagination, one can experience his pain, joy, wisdom and enlightenment at the same time. It's a valuable look for many of us Westerners who know there's something we may be missing in the Spiritual world.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2 out of 5 stars

It Falls Short of What it Promises, 2008-07-17
I give it two stars, instead of one, because of my respect for Deepak. His non-fiction books have been an inspiration to a countless number of people on this planet.
This book, however, reads like a B-grad teen/pre-teen novel. It leans more on fantasy details about 'The Adventures of Buddha' than on the more essential insight that would inspire many to buy the book in the first place. Even if you choose to read the book, in spite of it all, the storyline breaks up or changes scenes quite often, which left me with a sense of frustration.
I got to page 222 - out of a feeling of guilt, for being disappointed in a fictional book about Buddhism by a famous author - but common sense now tells me to stop, drop it off at the second-hand store, and find a better book.
The intention of Deepak was good, but the content falls very short.
Still...Namaste!

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