I've just finished reading Deepak Chopra:
The Third Jesus (Rider, 2008). I think he has a nice idea when he identifies the third Jesus as the one we receive and understand in contrast to the first or historical Jesus and the second Jesus of theological dogma. Chopra understands this third Jesus a little more specifically as a teacher wishing to show others the path to God-consciousness. So Jesus as Chopra's hero is clearly Chopra himself.
I found the endless talk of God-consciousness a little tedious by about a quarter of the way through the book but I plowed ahead to give the author his due. In the end he was not convincing, not to me. I think it comes down to a question of language. Does the expression "God-consciousness" really lead us to a greater clarity as to what Jesus was trying to teach? For me, no. It's too cumbersome an expression. I think I know Chopra better from reading the book but I don't believe I know Jesus better.
I would like to see what Chopra makes of Mohammad. I guess he'll get around to that sooner or later.
Labels: Chopra, Jesus
