Book Report #105 - Buddha

Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment by Deepak Chopra

When I saw this at a bookstore I felt joy wash over me. I had to get it even if I had already read Siddhartha and felt the territory had been covered. I'd never read a book by Chopra and really wanted to give it a shot.

I just finished it this morning and am reeling from it. I was disappointed a lot of the way through because I felt that Guatama's (Buddha name as a prince) coming-of-age story was largely irrelevant. What I really wanted to know were the details of how he became enlightened. There was so much darkness and disappointment for him, not the way I'd previously imagined, and it got me down.

When he became awakened I was even more depressed. It seemed joyless to break out of the cycle of samsara (suffering) and reach Nirvana. This is allegedly a point where good and bad no longer exist. At that point Buddha could choose whether he would stay in this world or go. He chose to stay and help people.

Therein lies my question. If there is no good or bad why choose a life of compassion, kindness and non-violence? What does it matter? The writing after the awakening seemed inconsistent and therefore frustrating, especially when Deepak acknowledged that he is not a Buddhist or Buddhist scholar. Where's his credibility supposed to come from?

I'm confused, profoundly affected and more confused. The Epilogue answered some of my questions but not enough. That's fine because Deepak is probably not the best source for the answers. I'm sure they come from looking within although I'm convinced a Master is pretty necessary for an awakening.

General consensus: I'm still unclear on what I read. Trying to figure it out.