Dr Deepak Chopra explores joy, meditation and AI with Singapore audience: 'AI may become super intelligent; it will never achieve consciousness'
Here are some notes from the teachings of Chopra shared last March.
Additional notes by: Laura Zaccaria
Holistic health advocate and bestselling author Dr Deepak Chopra, 77, is no stranger when it comes to advocating for alternative medicine, meditation and mindfulness. Chopra is also famous for coaching Hollywood bigwigs like talk show host Oprah, singers Lady Gaga and even Madonna. So when Singapore-based sustainability lifestyle brand Green is The New Black announced that they were hosting Chopra as part of their Conscious Festival at members-club 1880, we jumped at the chance to hear the guru speak.
Chopra stayed in town for three charitable events benefiting the Chopra Foundation. This gathering also marked the inauguration of the Conscious Leaders Circles community, spearheaded by The Conscious Festival.
Held on March 27th and 28th, 2024 at the prestigious 1880 Singapore, the talks and dinners aimed to support The Chopra Foundation's mission of enhancing health, expanding consciousness, and fostering global peace. Through a series of unique sessions, attendees had the privilege of delving into the profound wisdom of Deepak Chopra, marking a significant milestone for The Conscious Leaders Circles—an initiative focused on global healing and nurturing a new wave of conscious leadership.
Reflecting on the journey of The Conscious Festival, Stephanie Dickson, its founder, remarked, "The Conscious Festival was born out of a realization in 2015 that true healing of the world begins with our individual journeys. Consciousness empowers us to recognise the interconnectedness of our decisions with our environment and surroundings. Leaders, in particular, wield significant influence and responsibility. After nine years of organising festivals, our community is poised to embark on a new phase of awakening and activation—ushering in an era of conscious leadership and holistic healing."
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Here are some notes from the teachings of Chopra shared last March:
Consciousness is what makes experience possible
"The origin and nature of consciousness remain a mystery, with neuroscientists debating its relation to the brain and its true essence. Scientific models, while useful, are limited in capturing the full complexity of reality, and consciousness plays a central role in the scientific process. There are profound mysteries surrounding the nature of the universe and consciousness, as well as the limitations of human understanding in grasping their true essence."
"Science creates models of reality. There is no experience outside of senses, sensations, feelings, thoughts. Anything else is a story. There’s no such thing as the universe; it’s a human story. Science is a methodology: experiment, observation, and theory, and it requires consciousness, like art and music. Scientism is a religion: a belief that the scientific method is the only way to know the truth," Chopra shared.
He also added: "What’s the point of being conscious if you don’t have experiences. Can’t have one without the other: pain without pleasure, hot without cold… exposure to the opposite."
Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness
"Our emotional and spiritual intelligence hasn't kept pace with our technical advancements. While artificial intelligence may become super intelligent; it will never achieve consciousness. However, AI can serve as a research assistant, enhancing creativity and alleviating mundane tasks."
Power of Meditation and Consciousness
"Meditation is praised for its ability to quiet the mind and provide access to higher consciousness, leading to a more beautiful and fulfilling life experience. A mindfulness meditation practice involving self-inquiry, reflecting on identity, desires, purpose, and gratitude, provides a deeper understanding of consciousness and reality."
Embracing Joy and Innocence
"Returning to joy and embracing innocence, similar to the playfulness of children, is proposed as a pathway to happiness and fulfilment in life. In terms of success, joy is the ultimate measure, highlighting the importance of focusing on happiness."
Chopra then asked the attendees to consider: "Am I with people who are joyful, or are we alleviating suffering? A good business is when you have a team with shared visions, spiritual bonding, and a maximum diversity of creative people. Joy should be the only measure of success. Create joy for others."
He continued: "Ask yourself a question before you sleep. Let go of the day. You’ll have the answer the next day."
Call for a New Story
"There is a call for a new narrative that emphasises peace, justice, sustainability, health, and joy to counteract the current trajectory towards extinction. The environment is metaphorically linked to our extended body, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life forms. Solutions to global issues are seen as achievable through shared vision and diversity, underlining the importance of building ecosystems for peace."
Upcoming events:
The Conscious Festival
Happening over two weekends, 31 May - 2 June and 7 - 9 June 2024, in Singapore - a three-day immersive event supporting the sustainability journey by reconnecting with ourselves, others, and the planet. It is a B2B2C celebration that explores the future of technology and living through the lenses of climate, impact and consciousness. Where music, art, talks, and workshops converge to expand our minds and ignite action.
Conscious Journey - Mission Mastery & Manifestation Retreat
Happening between 7-22 June 2024 in Bali – designed for changemakers and leaders. Set in Ubud, Bali, this 6-day retreat fuses ancient wisdom and modern science in a tranquil environment. Led by renowned healers, seize the opportunity to align with purpose and unleash potential.
For further information on the event, refer to the website.
While you're here, shop for Deepak Chopra's bestselling books:
1. Quantum Healing (Revised and Updated): Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine
S$25.15 S$38.63 at Amazon Singapore
More than twenty-five years ago, Quantum Healing helped transform Deepak Chopra into a cultural phenomenon. Now Dr. Chopra, hailed by Time as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine,” returns to this groundbreaking exploration of consciousness and the power of mindfulness, adding the latest scientific research as well as expanded thoughts on the connection between body and mind.
2. Quantum Body: The New Science of Living a Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life
In an unprecedented collaboration between three of today's most powerful minds, Deepak Chopra, M.D., teams up with physicist Jack Tuszynski, Ph.D., and endocrinologist Brian Fertig, M.D., to bring readers a visionary work that delves into the innovative world of quantum science and shows how unlocking its secrets can revolutionize how we live and age—and, ultimately, how we can eradicate disease. The key is the quantum body.
3. Abundance: The Inner Path to Wealth
S$37.27 S$49.95 at Amazon Singapore
An enlightening guide to success, fulfillment, wholeness, and plenty, offering practical advice on how to cultivate a sense of abundance in times of fear and insecurity, from New York Times bestselling author Deepak Chopra.
4. The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success: Seven simple guiding principles to help you achieve your dreams
A 25th-anniversary edition of the perennial bestseller that has helped millions of readers fulfil their dreams and find success. Deepak Chopra, the undisputed master of modern spirituality, has written a brand new preface reflecting on the book 25 years later.
5. You Are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters
What happens when modern science reaches a crucial turning point that challenges everything we know about reality? In this brilliant, timely, and practical work, Deepak Chopra and Menas Kafatos tell us that we've reached just such a point. In the coming era, the universe will be completely redefined as a "human universe" radically unlike the cold, empty void where human life is barely a speck in the cosmos.
