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Dec 19, 2010

Harun Harahap rated it:

Namaste *Aku menyapa apa yang suci dalam dirimu*

Berikut ajaran Buddha yang terdapat dalam bab Epilog:
Kebenaran Mulia Pertama : Kehidupan mengandung penderitaan
Kebenaran Mulia Kedua : Penderitaan memiliki sebab, dan sebabnya dapat diketahui.
Kebenaran Mulia Ketiga : Penderitaan dapat diakhiri.
Kebenaran Mulia Keempat : Jalan untuk mengakhiri penderitaan ada delapan ruas.

Lalu apakah delapan ruas tersebut?
Pandangan Benar, Pikiran Benar, Perkataan More...

15 comments like (14 people liked it)

Oct 08, 2008

Theresia rated it:

First thing first, I honestly have no idea of what to call this book with.

I broke the spin of my copy, fyi, for I read and reread it. I was moved, I admit, as much as I was shaken by the message.

In the first part, Chopraji managed to sow the story of feral, raw, ancient India so well, so unbelievably human, Siddhartha included. It wasn't difficult to, say, picture the characters. Unfortunately, it degrades in the second part, "Gautama the Monk." Chopraji said in More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jan 30, 2011

Shawn rated it:

A fascinating, readable fictionalized account of Buddha's life, conveniently broken into three sections: prince, monk, Buddha. We learn that Buddha's mission was to conquer fear and desire and live in total freedom - and that this was his calling from an early age. We learn that he gave up the life of prince and husband and father to live alone in the mountains - and survived an encounter with an enraged serial killer in the woods by simply walking away. We learn that Buddha avoided thinking More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 17, 2009

htanzil rated it:

Siddharta Gautama adalah salah seorang tokoh sejarah yang juga dikenal sebagai pendiri salah satu agama tertua yang masih dianut di dunia hingga kini. Melalui dirinya yang telah mengalami pencerahan sejati, ia mengajar dan melahirkan sebuah keyakinan yang kini disebut agama Buddha.

Bagi para penganutnya riwayat hidup pangeran Siddharta yang kemudian menjadi Sang Buddha tentu sudah hafal diluar kepala. Namun bagi sebagian lainnya mungkin hanya mereka ketahui secara singkat lewat pelaja More...

8 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 14, 2008

Roos rated it:

Dah lama selesai nih buku...

Mengutip kata-kata Deepak Chopra...bahwa kehidupan Buddha itu adalah D.R.A.M.A yaitu Distraction, Regression, Adjusment, Maturity and Action , setuju gak yah?
Dalam buku ini memang Deepak lebih dalam mengungkapkan apa yang terjadi terhadap Sidharta...perang batinnya menghadapi Devadatta, Ayahnya, orang-orang yang mempunyai expectasi lebih terhadapnya, Setan Mara bahkan perang melawan dirinya sendiri...Awal hidup sebagai pangeran, lalu hidup sebagai More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Aditya rated it:

One major reason I liked this book is because it takes a 'what-if' approach to the story of Gautam Buddha and presents an alternative explanation of events. I also liked the last part where the author discusses the teachings of Buddha in a Q&A section. I think this should have been put in the narrative itself coming directly from Buddha. That said, there were some of the teachings in his conversations with his new disciples. The writing/language was pretty ordinary, compared to books like Siddha More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 02, 2007

Paul rated it:

This was a very entertaining and inspiring fictional account of the life of the Buddha. Most of the characters and events of the novel are from the passed down story of Buddha, but it is the depiction of his inner experience that is imagined. The scope of the novel is wonderful in that it starts with his life as Prince Siddartha, moves next into his years as Gautama the monk, then to his enlightenment and subsequent transformation into the Buddha. He was truly an Everyman, and his story demon More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 08, 2008

Roniq rated it:

This book was wonderful!! A tale of Buddha as imagined by Deepak Chopra. We learn of Siddartha's birth, His relationship to all those around him and about his life protected from the world behind walls of the kingdom while trying to find his own true path. A tale full of war, love, Jealousy, death, passion and following ones true Soul calling. This book is a great descriptive read full of fantasy, adventure and spirituality. Included are Buddha's life after enlightenment and a breakdown of the e More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Feb 08, 2009

Ita rated it:

Kerajaan Sakya, 563 SM. Istana Kapilavastu, Nepal.

Siddharta, yang dalam bahasa Sansekerta berarti dia yang tercapai segala cita-citanya, dilahirkan secara darurat di Hutan Lumbini yang dingin dan sunyi. Waktu itu musim gugur. Ayahnya, Raja Suddhodana sedang sibuk perang. Ia adalah raja ambisius yang berperang bagaikan dewa. Ibunya, Ratu Maya Devi, ratu yang lembut hati dan diberkati dewa-dewa, meninggal seminggu setelah melahirkan.

Di tengah kedukaan dan kemarahan kare More...

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Feb 04, 2009

Uma rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 22, 2009

Jason rated it:

Having been interested in Buddhism and Buddhist principles for many years, I was excited to read this fictionalized account of Siddhartha's life. I got the audio version of the book for my commute, which is read by Chopra himself. Unfortunately, I found myself really struggling to get in to the story. Chopra has a heavy accent which seemed pretty distracting from the storyline because I often wasn't able to understand something he'd just said. The first half of the story seemed a bit slow, which More...

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Dec 16, 2011

Library added it

Buddha portrays the life of Indian Prince, Siddhartha, and his epic journey to becoming the enlightened one, the Buddha. Although Deepak Chopra is known for his non-fiction self-help books, here he tells us a beautiful and inspiring fictional story. It begins with a sheltered Prince whose first glimpse of the suffering in the outside world leads him to abandon his inheritance, wife, and child to follow a spiritual path. He becomes a wandering monk putting his mind and body to every spiritual tes More...

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Jul 18, 2009

Rachel rated it:

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 enlighte More...

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May 11, 2008

Natali rated it:

This book is a great personification of a historical figure. I really enjoyed reading it and can see myself referring to it again in my lifetime.

Following the story, Chopra offers a synthesis of the Buddhist doctrines that he hopes you will learn from the novel. This explanation leaves a little to be desired but I think his intention is that the reader use the story as a springboard to deeper exploration of Buddhism.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 20, 2010

Ann rated it:

The life of the Buddha is far too long & complicated to put down easily in such a small volume but overall good starts for those who want to read & learn how Buddhism come about. It is light and easy to read. Since this partly fictionalized version, the historical backgrounds have to be taken as just that while the fictional part lacks interesting quality in my opinion. Buddha's life can be concluded in three phases: the Prince, the Monk, and the Enlightened Buddha. I like the way Deepak throw i More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 20, 2012

Frankie rated it:

This book was a lot different than I thought it was going to be. It's separated into three parts, his early life as a prince, his life as a wondering monk, and finally his life as a Buddha. It was hard to tell what parts of this book were actually historical fact, and which were allegories of his life made to represent different parts of him. In the epilogue Chopra says that that the characters were real (like his cousin, who I didn't know existed before this book) but it doesn't say whether the More...

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Sep 01, 2010

Angie rated it:

For you interested in spirituality and/or Buddhism:

Deepak Chopra’s version of Buddha’s story is wonderful; the Indian accent reading it to me also made me smile. I don’t think this book would be my first choice for an introduction to the story of Buddha, but I do think it would be my 2nd. Ha, ha. No really. It is like many of the stories I’ve heard before but also extremely different. He goes into great depth with the story so the book is not full of Buddhism but story of the p More...

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Aug 07, 2011

Sara rated it:

Well, it's fiction, so that's disappointing. I must say, I have a much darker view of Buddha after reading this and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth for Chopra. I know Chopra is supposed to be a great spiritual teacher but I think he did a poor job of carrying the story and his journey to enlightenment in an understandable and valuable way. He made the error of assuming the reader had his knowledge of the subject and didn't take the lead to unfolding Buddha's enlightenment. More of a bystande More...

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Nov 12, 2011

John rated it:

Deepak Chopra tells the story of Prince Siddhartha, later known as Buddha, in the illuminating style the author has become known for. Chopra uses language as soft as the tale he tells, creating a smooth and transcending tone. A practicing Buddhist himself, Chopra's insight is evident in the quality of this book, and the reader will be able to see how important getting the Buddha's story right was to the author. As an aspiring writer, I am always told to write what I know, and while reading th More...

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Mar 02, 2011

Melanie rated it:

The opening section was interesting and kept me reading wanting to know more about the special boy. It read like a fantasy, which is the genre I usually read, which was a pleasant surprise. But then I reached the end and one of the plot lines just stopped before I expected it to be resolved and that killed a lot of my enthusiasm. In the beginning of the second part, where Siddhartha is older and known as Gautama the monk, a summary of events is given. It's a disappointment since the least the au More...

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Dec 01, 2008

Christy rated it:

While this book is technically fiction, it is a great account of how Prince Siddhartha became the Buddha that we all know...or wish to have known. I chose this particular book because of Chopra's vast experience in spirituality and philosophy. I trusted that his book would be based on the real foundations of Buddhism, not just an exaggerated tale created for the sole purpose in keeping me entertained.

It is broken up into the three main parts of his life: 1) Prince, 2) Monk and 3) B More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 13, 2009

Richard rated it:

This is the first time I have read a book by Deepak Chopra so I thought it was appropriate to get right to the source and read something he wrote about one of the foremost leaders of Buddhism. I was surprised about the very cinematic nature of the story. It had a great balance of drama and action with spiritual elements weaved quite nicely throughout. Of course, I was very excited to get the part of the enlightenment and it didn't disappoint. The only reason I gave this story four stars was beca More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Emily rated it:

I read this book because I was looking to learn a little more about Buddhism. The story was well-written, and the Practical Guide to Buddhism at the end summed everything up very well.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 07, 2011

John rated it:

I love this book. Simple but by no means shallow, this book effectively takes you along the Buddha's journey from birth to enlightenment. It's a history lesson and novel combined. Chopra's storytelling is vivid and engaging. This is really not a book for scholars or Buddhists but for all people to read and enjoy. It answers the questions, Who was the Buddha and what happened to this young man that I should care? Deepak Chopra's book is an entertaining voyage into the essence of awakening witho More...

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Oct 31, 2010

Tad added it

This book is the story of how an Indian prince, who was trapped within his own kingdom became enlightened, and the path he took to get there. After escaping he lives the life of a monk. Throughout his travels he does many things to reach enlightenment, one of which almost brings him to the brink of death. After that, he realizes his harmful ways andgains enlightenment in one night under a tree.
This book I would reccomend to anyone who is interested in Buddhism or just wants to know more More...

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Jan 16, 2009

Erika rated it:

Eric got me this book for Christmas b/c I have been looking to learn more about Buddhism. While it was a SUPER easy read and is a fictionalized version of Buddha's life, one might get the impression that this book is all fluff. In fact, it was actually really nuanced and interesting and served as a great introduction to Buddha and Buddhism. The discussion and the Q&As at the end by Deepak Chopra were particularly interesting to me. I definitely recommend this book to someone who is trying to lea More...

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Mar 27, 2011

Jlbarkey rated it:

Chopra, who is apparently a guru of some renown, novelized the life of Buddha into a most palatable narrative. I found it intriguing, having been accused from time to time of Buddhist sentiments by some of my friends. I get where they're coming from, and I get Buddha's appeal, but it still seems to be lacking that one, perfect element... Grace, without which all is futility.

After reading this, I can't help but feel that Buddha was a sincere, loving guy who came up with some nifty, tru More...

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Feb 27, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

from the library c2007
An elegant retelling of the story of Siddhartha. I will have to reread Hesse to know how different the message is. The story is very different. Siddhartha Hermann Hesse

This story is so different from what I thought the Siddartha story was. In both cases the experience of desire is a major focus. In this story Siddartha tries to outlast his body, to erase desire, in order to elevate his spiritual strength. Fortunately he learns that this is wrongheaded, alth More...

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Dec 05, 2011

Raji rated it:

It started off slow and awkward for me, but picked up as I read along. I had a hard time focusing on the various characters, the roles they played, and in keeping with the "fictionalized" aspect of the story. It took me nearly 4 days to absorb Part 1. As I dove into Part 2, I began to identify with Mara -- the demon that lives in us and among us. Mara made me reflect on my life and some of the not-so-great choices that I made as a result of succumbing to the devil's arguments. I was ab More...

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Nov 04, 2011

Naomi rated it:

I was wanting an account of the actual life of the man that became known as Buddha! This book was not that book. Deepak Chopra should have written this under the guise of fantasy or "here convert to my religion" because that is what it was, he took what little is know about the man Buddha was and added all these demons and gods interplay in his life it was no wonder the man went to a mountain top and tried to commit suicide through meditation by meditating for weeks on end without fo More...

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