How to Approach Religion: Laugh and Laugh Again

To all(except you!, video),

I loved reading through the original comment by Mr. Chopra and the rest of you: Thanks! Any comdedy that pricks the balloons of self importance, vanity, and political correctness deserves an audience.

To those of you that 'hear' the insults and feel the hatred when no such insult or emotion is the true intent, I say: Hold your fire until you recognize the enemy! Pick your battles better in the future, lest you waste your voice crying foul over some triviality.

JJ, "Orginally Posted & Photographed & Videotaped"

Hope you photographd and videotape were consent driven, otherwise leaves the door open for criminal and civil proceedings.

Just found this

Dr Deepak Chopra in his own wordss about the film Love Guru

http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/deepak-chopra-says-the-jokes-on-him/2008/06/03/1212258816753.html

VICTORIA :

how folks can continue to have mindless knee jerk reactions and opinions on a film they have not actually seen is a total mystery to me-

June 22, 2008 10:33 AM

Victoria

You are absolutely right! I should never have written a comment without actually seeing the film. But as you can see it is all a bit too late now and it is not possible for me to delete my posts.

I was merely concerned about the premature overreaction of some Hindus as highlighted with Mr Zed's response. I contributed my own share of ignorance with a premature reaction.

Thanks for highlighting a very important point: never jump into conclusions without sufficient information.

I just thought of that phony baloney guru out there in Antelope, OR - Sri Bhagwan Rajneesh....what a con artist! Too much kundalini power for that old boy. Some of these native born American-style gurus bear much closer scrutiny too...it seems to me they're cleaning up right handsomely with books, lecture tours, rich donors & followers that give up their life savings and so forth - the cash register never stops ringing from the misplaced generosity of a steady stream of gullible folks just looking for the bliss of Nirvana and the facile presence of the finger-pointing Master.

Well, the would-be gurus found it alright...or at least they stumbled on to Cash-Cow Heaven - but without tendering nearly as much heavenly delight to their erstwhile and cash depleted followers.

Haven't these characters ever heard of bad Karma!?

What about a really big movie lampooning Scientology. Many Hollywood stars know the religion better than any poor mortal who can't pay for its "wisdom." No, better not. Non-Scientology producers and directors would have billion dollar law suits and an army of lawyers on their trail.

Deepok Chopra has the right take on this farcical rendering. Hinduism and Mike Myers will live to see another day, no doubt. While it's true that the Hare Krishna movement has largely died out in the USA, years ago they really used to irritate folks in airports and other such public venues with their obnoxious begging, chanting, and generally disruptive behavior. The Scientology movement of the 1970s would be a pretty good description. This is not and never was Hinduism, and of that I'm quite sure. Yoganonda and Vivekananda, on the other hand, were the real thing......

Maharishi Mahesh of meditating Beatles fame had more credibility, and we see elsewhere on the blog that Claire Hoffman has considerable direct knowledge and first hand experience with this movement. This has turned into a very big operation - transcendental meditation has probably done a lot of people a lot of good!

Or how about that failed swami guy out in Antelope, Oregon some years back - wrote some popular books (I bought one myself) on Hindu spiritualism and then started a cult, collecting a harem of young beauties which he transported about via his Mercedes Benz fleet - anyway, he got in trouble with the IRS and they deported him back to India, I do believe, where he died broke and deeply embarrassed. Fame is a double-edged sword, they say.

And hey, how about a Moonies movie?! Now that whole operation is absolutely hillarious, and still thriving! Great material there - but whoooooooops, Sunyong Moon owns the joint, so maybe we can't discuss that On Faith.

On the other hand, had the movie been about Islam, Mike Myers would probably have a Fatwa on his head in the same fashion as Salmon Rushdie of some years back. And I bet they won't try that movie making Muslim schtick in the Netherlands anytime soon. Nope, that would not be so funny, I'm betting .....

soja- not even mr chopra would try to take credit for introducing ayurvedic medicine to america-
the 60's exploded with indian culture, when prabhupada (he started iskcon)came to the american shores in 66 with his message of vaisnava hinduism- many many many other gurus followed suit-

you couldnt swing a dead cat in california without running inot a guru and his devotees-

you have a funny idea about america-

here is what srila prabhupada had to say about the hare krishnas-

and a really fuThere is a misconception," wrote His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1977 in Science of Self Realization, "that the Krishna consciousness movement represents the Hindu religion. Sometimes Indians both inside and outside of India think that we are preaching the Hindu religion, but actually we are not."

you also have funny ideas about iskcon-
which has fallen into basic disrepair and disrepute after many many scandals and has sunk to basic ignominy at this point-
especially hilarious is the linethat hare krishna's are an ethnically diverse group- yes- if you go to brazil maybe-
here in the usa they are upper middle class white people- and there numbers have dwindled to almost nothing-

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness expresses its views in a way that is characteristic of the true Hindu spirit of generosity and tolerance.

http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/06/love-guru-movie-may-be-more-of.html

Anil

Dr Deepak Chopra has become a global legend and has rightly earned that place with his great intelligence and hard work.

It is *not* fair to mock his contribution to humanity by claiming he has done no more than pass off the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita as his own. His greatest contribution is that of a medical doctor who integrated Indian traditional medicine Ayurveda (which Dr Chopra prefers to call by the name Ayur-Veda) into classical Western allopathic medicine and has created a holistic system of medical treatment that integrates other traditional medical systems and alternative therapies. To me he will always remain a hero for that pioneering work. He has achieved many other things.

As to wisdom, you would notice that there is more to Dr Chopra's work than wisdom taken from the Bhagavad Gita. Wisdom as he has integrated them from various traditions and thoughts both religious and otherwise, is wisdom in itself. Dr Chopra has presented wisdom in a way that lay people all over the world can understand. Remember Mahatma Gandhi who said the truth is as old as the hills, one just rediscovers them over and over again in new ways relevant to a particular people at a particular time in history. That is what Dr Chopra has done. His teachings are his own experience and interpretation of wisdom. Many millions find a resonance in them. I have found much value in his wisdom although I do not agree with each and every one of his insights. Nobody is perfect.

Even Jesus and other religious figures have been mocked in comedies. That is what a comedy is about. If the film in fact does happen to be about Dr Chopra (not having seen the movie it is impossible for me to be certain), then one can see he is laughing and laughing...

Anil

Dr Deepak Chopra has become a global legend and has rightly earned that place with his great intelligence and hard work.

It is *not* fair to mock his contribution to humanity by claiming he has done no more than pass off the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita as his own. His greatest contribution is that of a medical doctor who integrated Indian traditional medicine Ayurveda (which Dr Chopra prefers to call by the name Ayur-Veda) into classical Western allopathic medicine and has created a holistic system of medical treatment that integrates other traditional medical systems and alternative therapies. To me he will always remain a hero for that pioneering work. He has achieved many other things.

As to wisdom, you would notice that there is more to Dr Chopra's work than wisdom taken from the Bhagavad Gita. Wisdom as he has integrated them from various traditions and thoughts both religious and otherwise, is wisdom in itself. Dr Chopra has presented wisdom in a way that lay people all over the world can understand. Remember Mahatma Gandhi who said the truth a

I think the Mike Meyers joke is on Chopra. Love Gurue seems to be the real world caricature of Chopra. Fake, jealous, and materialistic in nature while he preaches the opposite just like in the movie.

While Chopra has lifted his "wisdom" from Gita, and made millions marketing that knowledge as his creativity. Anybody can get better wisdom from Barabara Stole Miller's translation of Bhagwad Gita for $5.

Rajan Zed is an authentic Hindu guru who walks the talk unlike Chopra. Chopra is just jealous of the respect Rajan engenders.

I mean, in like wise, yes, I think from the commercials I've seen, the movie's about a (probably well-intentioned) false guru from the West, but it still plays into a lot of prejudices and stereotypes Westerners *have* about Hindu belief and anything that comes from the East. I doubt it's anything for anyone to freak out about, on its own merits, but how it's *read* by some in this political climate? Well. Some may see it as reinforcing some all-too-prevalent prejudices.

Just like some guy might think he's making fun of some 'truth' he thinks he knows about bisexuals, when it's really just a common prejudice that we're fickle, promiscuous, confused, or go for 'anthing that moves.' He was so confident on that he didn't even stop to think what gender I might be when he claimed he knew 'Truth' about how I'd spend 'half a movie.'

His 'Truth' came from jokes and derision.

I could see people being a bit wary about that, but that's different than people screaming bloody murder cause they think their God is insulted by a movie.

*scrolling through some nice comments.*

It's good we're seeing some reasonable amount of maturity about this, from the posters.

Well, except (another?) insightful comment from brave Anonymous says:

"And your bi so your bending over for part of the movie I presume. The truth always comes out. YUK!)"

Thanks for sharing whatever you thought about what you imagined, but I'm a girl, been with the same other girl for a number of years, and this doesn't involve a particular lot of 'bending over,' to my recollection, somehow.

I haven't seen the movie at *all,* as yet, and the *movie* doesn't relate to whatever you imagined, anyway, but you kind of prove my point, there. I was making *analogies* about how satirizing something that the audience doesn't understand in the first place can give the wrong idea, even if it's not intended to be defamatory.

Of course, in your case, you've gone right ahead and 'made fun' of an erroneous presumption that bisexuals have sex with both sexes *all the time.*

Maybe you think it's funny, (and 'yucky,' of course,) but that's a prime example how some people are ignorant enough to get their education about others from low humor.

Dear Dr Chopra

I wish this movie great success! On visiting the gur u Pikta website briefly I realize my initial impression of the movie was completely wrong. My sincere apologies for the knee jerk analysis.

I recognized your voice in Guru Pikta.

I see absolutely no reason for any anger on the part of over zealous Hindus who have been protesting about the movie even before seeing it. The joke is going to be on them when the movie is released!

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

Re Movie Love Guru on further exploration of the movie website:

I get the impression that the movie is not about a Hindu guru or Hinduism at all, but indirectly about Dr Deepak Chopra and his wisdom being portrayed as fictional comedy! TM is introduced in the movie guru's teachings at a subliminal level. Dr Deepak Chopra seems to have lent his voice to Guru Pikta!

For more visit

http://www.thegurupitka.com/

Victoria:

wow- is this passive aggressive behavior adding to anything?

June 19, 2008 1:58 PM

Ask yourself this question Victoria after rereading the comment you posted about me.

VICTORIA:

first soja gets in a dig painting all muslims with the same brush of foolishness-

June 19, 2008 1:58 PM

Huh????

If a film offends you- turn it off.

But if this OFFENDS you- do not stop speaking against it until it ends..

"Hindu man set on fire in East London for dating Muslim girl"

"Police were appealing for witnesses today following the attempted murder of a man who was doused in petrol and set on fire in east London.

The 20-year-old, who is fighting for his life in hospital, was torched as he sat in his car in Forest Gate.

It is believed the Hindi victim, who suffered 65 per cent burns in the attack, was targeted because he was dating a Muslim girlfriend.

He had just parked his car, a green Honda Prelude, in St George’s Road when he was approached by the suspect or suspects and had petrol poured over him before being set alight.

He managed to get out of the vehicle and was discovered nearby before being taken to hospital and transferred to a specialist burns unit where he remains in a critical condition."

http://www.thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/news/article/1157152774143?packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria,

Hmmm, indeed Mike does do that and he will be featuring a Victoria look-alike spewing Islam "facts" from Hirsi Ali's Infidel.

And in the film one scene will have you sitting at a table near The Jihadist and Daisy Khan. They will be eating barbecue pork ribs and drinking Jack Daniel chasers. You will be eating porkchops and downing a Bud. You will then join the gals for a big Cuban cigar compliments of the atheist, Fidel Castro and "babetist" Bill Clinton.

mike calls you and bounces his upcoming projects off you, eh lib?

wow- you're in like flint- i had no idea you were on the A list...

Scroll down to see that famous synopsis of the flaws and errors of contemporary religions. Said synopsis reduces these religions to include Hinduism to the laughable relics that they are.

I believe Mike Myers has sequels in the works lampooning Christianity and then Islam in these future movies.

one of my favoritest ever (pronounced fave or RITE est) scenes from a movie is when brian opens the shutters and tells his followers "you are all individuals" and they say, "we are all individuals" and the one guy says real small, "i'm not"

first soja gets in a dig painting all muslims with the same brush of foolsihness- and then DIM says,
"Please do not imitate our "religion of peace" followers who resorted to killing and burning on the 'cartoon" issue."

wow- is this passive aggressive behavior adding to anything?

one prejudice at a time please!

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I plan to. I always find Mike Meyer's comedy to be somehow gentle and sensitive, even when he's engaging in schoolboy potty humor (or beating up little people...how is that possible?!). So I can't believe that he would maliciously mock any religion. And surely a gentle humorous poke is helpful to make any of us re-examine ourselves - be we individuals or institutions.

And by the way, I'm a Monty Python fan, and a Christian, and I really don't think Life of Brian mocks or satirizes Christianity. It mocks people who blindly follow just because they need someone/something to follow ("it's his shoe! He has given us his shoe!"), which might apply to people who engage in any religion as a way to avoid dealing with themselves and the real world, but needn't be taken to refer to people who sincerely engage in a faith journey. It also mocks people who engage in sectarianism (in the movie, the various "liberation fronts") - and those folks need mocking! Christ is referenced in only two scenes - at his birth in the stable next to Brian's birth stable - with no question of His divinity (there's even a holy light shining out of the stable), and in the distance giving the Sermon on the Mount - presented as a dignified presence who is woefully misunderstood by silly people too far away to understand Him ("What? Blessed are the cheesemakers?").

The Brian character is presented as a gentle, intelligent soul, with important and insightful things to say, who is set upon and frustrated by the pettiness and stupidity of those around them, and finally killed by the same pettiness and stupidity. Without getting too philosophical (something Monty Python would surely lampoon), if we draw any message relating to Christianity from the movie, perhaps it should be to see that the same pettiness and stupidity that defeated Brian, reflects the pettiness, stupidity and sectarianism that to this day, prevents people - even Christians - from hearing and acting upon the message of Christ.

Hinduism has been mocked & misrepresented in much worse way than this movie would possibly do!
Remember toilet seats bearing images of Ganesha in the UK? Or beach shoes with Aum and other Hindu symbols?
Hindus do not need to become paranoid and overreact!
In fact, here is an idea, do not see the movie! It will make you richer by atleast 8 buck!

Give your philosophy some credit guys ( and gals) Hindusim survived and thrived through much much much worse!
Since we believe in the freedom of speech, the movie makers have every right to poke fun at whatever they deem funny. By the same token the protesters can bring forth their point and air out their displeasure!

Please do not imitate our "religion of peace" followers who resorted to killing and burning on the 'cartoon" issue.

DIM

PS: Interestingly, I think more people will try to find out what "Guru" really means after seeing this movie or hearing about it.. so it is a net gain for Hinduism.. No publicity is bad publicity!

I never heard of the movie and now I'm eager to see it.

There's a spoof on Christianity coming out in the fall. It's Bill Maher's "Religulous."

since soja brought up bjagwan shree rajnessh- in the 80's i was traveling through northern california and came upon the smoking heap of the ashram remains of the last of rajneesh's devotees-

what a mess- those poor clueless people-

(meanwhile the bhagwan was caught at an airport in north carolina with a bagful of diamonds and precious gems)

reminds me of eric burden's song where he sings 'gotta get a guru'
or how about steely dan's boddhisatva-

we have sri prapupadhas palace of gold in moundsville west virginia- new vrindavan- where keith ham (sri bhaktipa) was indicted for mismanangement of funds, and murder (but not convicted)- not to mention the child abuse charges brought against the community-
those wacky hare krisnhas-

we have the dentists wife j.z. knight who believes she is channeling a 35,000 year old entity called ramtha who spews tired recycled 'wisdom' in between crying to j.z.'s mom in the audience, why dont you love me?

sri satchitananda whose devotees follow him endlessly to his annoyance-

then there guru maharaj ji- who apparently inherited his enlightnement from his dad-and the divine light mission- his premies have all but disappeared (and so has he but not before making a very very good living from donations-

out of cuiosity i just googled him, his website ends with the statement-
'your infusions will be greatly appreciated'
somehow i doubt he means infusions of love energy-
the list goes on and on and on-

i havent seen the movie- but i'm surprised there havent been more-
from the small bits ive seen it doesnt seem to be a comment upon hinuds- but on stupid americans and their proclivity for heaping mounds of cash on any one who comes down the pike in saffron-

but it's mike meyers- is anyone seriously going to look to him for info about the religion?

you cant swing a dead cat in california without meeting ex-devotees of various charlatans-

california is where they make movies-
mike meyers makes funny movies-
it was bound to happen one day-

i'll probably end up renting it when it comes out on dvd- if he makes a movie about the taliban or muslim extremists ill rent that one too-

and laugh and laugh because, even though he really is juvenile- i think he's funny-

I'm glad to note that Dr Chopra and Jai Kosla (a pious Hindu) have taken the movie lightheartedly. As a Christian (even born and raised in India) I do not after all have any right to speak on behalf of Hindus. I posted the following on Mr Rajan Zed's blog:

Dear Mr Zed

As a Christian who grew up in India, I cannot say for certain how my Hindu friends would react to this movie. My hope however is that they will not take offense and exhibit the generosity and tolerance that Hinduism at its best is known for.

I doubt too if great Hindus like Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda would have taken offense at a movie that portrays *false gurus* in a funny light. They, as Hindus themselves, did not withhold criticism about aspects of Hinduism they did not approve of.

The movie "Love Guru," from what I understand, is about a *false Hindu guru.* It is the equivalent of making a movie about a bad Catholic priest. As you are well aware, "Bhagavan" Rajneesh later known as Osho, was one such false Hindu guru. In India even Hindus referred to him as a "sex-guru" and had great fun laughing at Westerners who treated him like god and about how they gave up all their money to worship him in his Ashram. The opinion of the ordinary Hindu in India at the height of his fame was that Westerners were spiritually open but not discerning at all when dealing with gurus from India.

Hinduism is five thousand years old. It is a con-federation of religions. It has no proselytizing element. It is hardly likely that Hindus would abandon their faith because of a movie about a false Hindu guru. Every real Hindu knows that there are false gurus because real guru have warned them. So I do hope you would not feel overly concerned about the impact of a movie on a religion such as Hinduism. Those who are genuinely interested in Hindu philosophy would seek it in great spiritual works like the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita etc.

No, Brahman the Absolute, is not going to be harmed by this movie or any movie, not what I understand of Brahman and Hinduism anyway.

Here a few words of wisdom from Guru "Pikta" (the guru in the movie in question).

My only concern about the words of wisdom is that guru Pikta has plagiarised them.

1. Into me I see

2. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind (well known saying of Mahatma Gandhi)

3. When love goes wrong nothing goes right

4. First reduce the greed, then reduce the need

5. There is no failure only early attempts at success

6. Go from nowhere to Now here

The Guru Pikta

June 19, 2008 4:38 AM

Sager

Regarding Hinduism not being polytheistic, we do not address this issue of how many gods as we do not know. Some Hindus are polytheistic, most I guess are monotheistic, others agnostic or atheistic. It is not important to us in the same manner it is to Jews and the religions that came out of Judaism, C and I.

We believe in Divinty we call Brahman . It is the same as the quality of sweetness that pervades all things sweet, There is no one sweetness. One, two and three were made by humans.

This devout Hindu dont mind at all. We make fun of our gods all the time. Let me have the high honor of telling you a joke, more a limerick, i heard it first when I was 14. You will probably miss the sarcasm if you do not know Hindi, much is lost in translation, but those of us who do found it hilarious until we lost our childhood, at least the less sophisticated amongst us.

Ram Ram sabhi kahay
Dasrat kahay naa koyi
Dasrat kasrat naa karay
To Ram kahaan say hoye.

Dasrat was Ram's father. Ram is the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayan which started as as a story, was rewritten many times and along the way Hindus elevated Ram into an incarnation of God on earth much the same way Christians did to Jesus or Muslims elevated the Arabic family idol of Muhammad, Allah, into the sole owner of Godhood.

kasrat means exercise, in this case the calisthenics of sexual intercourse.

Everybody praises Ram and chants his name, Ram Ram.

But nobody remembers Dasrat.

If Dasrat had not done kasrat, then would there be a Ram?

Paganplace: ""Personal disclosure: I am lampooned in the movie much more than Hinduism. You might catch me at a screening. I'm the man in the aisle seat laughing loudly.""
>>>>>>>>

And your bi so your bending over for part of the movie I presume. The truth always comes out. YUK!

"Personal disclosure: I am lampooned in the movie much more than Hinduism. You might catch me at a screening. I'm the man in the aisle seat laughing loudly."

Ha. That's... good to hear. I tended to presume that was more what goes on in that film, ....as much as I can understand traditional Hindu people being nervous about what people who don't know better might take away from that film.

Fact is that as the social climate has grown more intolerant under Fundie influence, though, people are right to be worried how they might be portrayed. A bigot might laugh as hard as you, Dr. Chopra, but for very different reasons.

If you've been reading these comments, I'm sure you can see what I mean.

In an America where most folks really have no clue about Hinduism, save as some kind of 'Godless idolaters' and probably some other notion combining Mahareeshi Maresh and Temple of Doom, well, this movie's probably not so much the problem as the movies we *don't* see. The ones which could put all this in context.

Probably Baliwood ought to make something expressly for the american market, on that count, I should think. I mean, I'm sure the movie has some subtleties about it, but in it, apparently someone shoots 'Mini Me' across a hockey rink with a defibrullator, (I've seen commercials,) so this probably isn't the best thing to be Americans' only understanding of Hinduism, even if trying to relate based on what a farce is being farcical about probably isn't the best idea.

it is impossible to speak 4 God or to even understand sum of the deepier nuances as they pertain to human existannce and moral conduct and just what it is that is expected of the human race but......any diety that created and animal that looks like the duckbilled platypus and has the charictaristics that make fun or normal animal classification.. after all who heard of a mammal that actually lays eggs and the way the animal looks.. if i had to guess i wood guess that God had a very good sense of humor and doesn't mind expressing it in his world. there are certain aspects of my own life that are truely stranger than fiction so i myself have for sumtyme thought humour is part of spirituality. i'm reminded of a friend of mine wo was taking communion at the local methodist church in tallahasse and her husband was the one givng out the eucerest.. well when she reached for the bread several peiecs clung together and she was horrified to see she had picked up a large clump of bread and froze .. her loving husband defused and made the momement memorable by quiety asking the simple question .. are you hungry....to every ones releif that was waiting in line muffled gigles and laughter were nearly unanimous.. there was no sacreligious meaning or intent and i have the feeling that maybe some of the silent prayers given after the comunnion wee maybe better than useual.. when religions of anykind have to resort to violence to answer even poor attemps at humaour or speech of others of anykind .. i would assume they have lost thier way from thier own ideals and actual religious tenennents and intended social conduct

The ironic thing is all these religions are out dated they have not evolved. They were a good fit for a primitive conciouness.

God is on the planet now writing and speeking and communicating through many people.

The religions are no longer needed when God is here and now.

It's funny that so many would try to cling to the old consciouness.

This is probably why there is a wave of Apostasy.

From the divine perspective this is nothing but a dream, the experience is real yet it is all nature aside a big fictional framework.

I just want to add a voice of support to all that Deepak Chopra said. I have seen and enjoyed all the movies mentioned. It is so good to laugh! I can't wait to see the Love Guru. I am a lover of God (by whatever name or face). And if we can't laugh at ourselves, if we can't laugh at life, we are certainly missing a great portion of the gift of what life is. And that is just an insult, to not laugh at the host/hostess's comedy. Thank you, Deepak, for saying what you say in such a clear and articulate way. You are a wonderful role model.

Hmmm, time for that famous synopsis of the flaws and errors of contemporary religions. Said synopsis reduces these religions to include Hinduism to the laughable relics that they are. I believe Mike Myers has sequels in the works lampooning Christianity and then Islam in these future movies.

The Said Flaws and Errors:

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was either the embellishment of the lives of three different men or a mythical character as was Moses, the "Tablet-Man" who talked to burning bushes and made much magic in Egypt.

Many of the 1.5 million Conservative Jews and many of their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.

simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

2. Jesus was an illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter/simple preacher man who suffered from hallucinations and who has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth to a mamzer from Nazareth (Professor Bruce Chilton, in his book Rabbi Jesus). Analyses of Jesus’ life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists, amazon.com) via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.

The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics. earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

For added "pizzazz", Catholic/Christian theologians divided god the singularity into three persons and invented atonement as an added guilt trip for the "pew people" to go along with this trinity of overseers. By doing so, they made god the padre into god the "filicider". (See Professor JD Crossan's book Who is Jesus)

3. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingie thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions). (wikipedia.com, and graduate theology studies at many large Catholic universities)

4. Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/ plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers. (Karen Armstrong's books, Ms. Armstrong is an On Faith Panelist, the Encyclopedia Britannica and wikipedia.com)

This agenda continues as shown by the assassination of Bhutto, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/ mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”. (cnn.com)

And who funds this terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia. (cnn.com)

5. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) - "Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centered and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’."

The caste/laborer system and cow worship/reverence are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism." (Encyclopedia Britainnica)

6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."
"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):" (wsu.edu/~dee/BUDDHISM/SIDD.HTM)

Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circumstances of his life. e.g. Buddha by one legend was supposedly talking when he came out of his mother's womb.

Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations, embellishments, lies, and myths surrounding the founders and foundations of said rules of life.

Albert Brooks’ "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World."?

The funniest thing in that movie is the Indian call centre and the reactions of the Pakistani and Indian bureaucrats to his visit because that is something believable, we have seen happen and is happening. Even Indians and Pakistanis laugh at those parts. The best humour is based on recognised truths in content.

Cheers
"J"

What a fantastic article. I approach life with a smile on my face and laughter in my soul, and I seek to surround myself with people who do the same.

Let's hope this sort of thinking is infectous.

just watch the movie and "Laugh".

I do not know of any Hindu's protesting other than the so called Hindu leader Rajan Zed...he represents himself NOT hindus or Hinduism...

Deepak Chopra sez, "But God isn't two years old, and he /she doesn't need taking care of."

There you go using the dictionary, again. Jehovah, Trinity and Allah all three are so weak they can't wipe their own noses. Hindu gods different? Jesus is God is a laugher all by Him self being crucified by Jews. Maybe Almighty God, "isn't two years old, and he /she doesn't need taking care of" but that's just the dictionary talking. Almighty God gets everything Almighty God wants by just willing it. Without protection all those other Gods will be laughed out of existence. Woe be it to the minister who's God is a joke and his flock starts laughing.

There's a simple solution for all who find laughing at anything offensive - If it hurts when you laugh stop laughing. And if you can stop laughing then see your mental health professional before it's too late.

The funniest part of religious or political satires is seeing the reactions of the over-sensitive, less-understanding "haters".

Trust me, the so-called "mockery" is not what makes these types of entertainment funny. The funny part comes when people can't realize that the "mockery" itself is a satire on the ignorance of the people who actually believe that's the way Hinduism is. When you overreact and attack the movie, you're just playing to the heart of the creators.

I believe Hindus do have the right to peaceful protests or boycotts, if that is what they want to do (although being a Hindu myself, my God is strong enough to withstand this comedy).

But I do not believe that Hindus have the right to violent riots or bombings (like the Muslims over the cartoons, or Pope's statement).

Nice, Mr. Chopra. It's always great to hear your wisdom. It even makes me want to see the movie!

Sudhir:

A tiny detail that may have escaped you is that Da Vinci code etc were not made by Hindus.

You are just proving my point-A hindu by merely raising his voice defending his faith and beliefs is immediately castigated as Fundamentalist, intolerant etc. Can you imagine what would happen if a hindu tried to make a movie mocking other faiths?

Tolerance and mockery are 4 lane highways going both ways.

Mockery out of shear ignorance is offensive.
For example
Since when flying carpets became part of hindu mythology or yoga? Dimwits can't even tell the difference between Hindus beliefs and middle Eastern folklore. Reminds me of Tyra Banks' model TV show where in one episode theme was supposed to be Indian fashion and so naturally one of the model was dressed like Egyptian queen.

this reminds me of ellsworth toohey's speech on how to rule a society- "Kill by laughter. Laughter is an instrument of human joy. Learn to use it as a weapon of destruction. Turn it into a sneer. It's simple. Tell them to laugh at everything. Tell them that a sense of humour is an unlimited virtue. Don't let anything remain sacred in a man's soul, and his soul won't be sacred to him. Kill reverence and you've killed the hero in man. One doesn't reverence with a giggle. He'll obey and he'll set no limits to obedience- anything goes - nothing is too serious."

Dear Deepak Chopra:

Can you laugh or make a farce/mockery of yourself and what you wrote and preached? if you can then your comments are appropriate otherwise it seems you are taking yourself too seriously not knowing that all teachings are the product of mind and worth nothing and can be laughed at.

Please guys! Give this a break! It's just a movie and no movie can alter the religion, rite?

I believe anyone should have the right to interpret/make fun of anything. The problem is that certain groups cannot stomach such humor/criticism and even resort to violence to display their disapproval.
That is uncivilized and I hope Hindus are not like that - Hindus are open minded enuff.

Sager- there are many books/movies which christians find offensive ( Last Temptation of Christ/ Da Vinci Code etc.) Nobody in the west went for the author/movie maker's heads. They criticize within the realms of civilized dialogue.
So please take back your comments, it does not behoove you.

btw I am a Hindu.

Sudhir

I'm probably going to offend just about everyone in here but...offending religious people is like shooting fish in a barrel. A Dutch cartoon insites riots among Muslims, Teletubbies offend the homophobic sensiblities in fundmentalist Christians, this dumb tongue in cheek movie is offending Hindus, the Passion of the Christ offended Jews...Give me a break!

GET OVER YOURSELVES! If God was so offended by these minor things we'd all be drowning in another flood by now.

Sager asks:

"Why is it that Hindus are always at the receiving end of the freedom of speech? Why is it that all freedom of speech paper tigers (pun intended) go in a "very mildly" mode when it comes to some other religions?"

Apparently you managed to miss Monty Python's "The Life Of Brian", Scorsese's "The Last Temptation Of Christ", Serrano's "Piss Christ", and numerous other works of art, some good and some awful, which have had Christianity as a theme.

Confident people and confident religions don't take umbrage at every slight and don't whine when their religion is ridiculed or criticized. I'm a Hindu. You don't speak for me or other Hindus, and your self-pity reflects badly on the rest of us. Quite honestly, hyper-sensitive self-appointed defenders of Hinduism like you do more damage to our image than any movie ever could. Lighten up and learn to take a joke.

Guys, please note that Hinduism is the funniest religion. Jews are funny, Christians can be made fun of, Muslims surreptitiously have fun but Hinduism--funny funny funny!

It is a lot better than boring. I am laughing at a lot of the pompous comments too--these guys are a blast. Join me.

Some of these attacks on Deepak Chopra are truly shameful.....
What kind of belief calls for such hostility.

I think Gezelda has it. Such come from people who are under-educated, ill, hungry, and destitute. People who have suffered abusive treatment, physically or psychologically. People who have lost hope in this life.

There is a quote by Tennesse Williams that I love and it goes:

"If He the Creator did not order all things well, He conferred one inestimable benefit in the animal kingdom when He deprived all but man of the disquieting faculty of examining the future."

This goes to Mr. Deepak's comment about the difference between the upbrining of a lion cub and a human.

Those with biblical knowledge will link both to the story of Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge. Now as a god fearing man myself, the emergence of conscious (i.e. free will) may indeed be hell on earth, because ignorance is certainly bliss.

Of course Deepak Chopra would laugh at the movie, since it is about religious fraud and fakery, and Freud tells us that people only laugh when the joke touches on their anxieties.

I totally agree. Having to look at comedy through religion and also culture should be embraced. Having an open mind to laugh at ourselves is how this country has evolved in the last 30 years! Comedians and actors alike know what they are saying are borderline but at the same time they know what not to say or do to offend people’s beliefs.

People who are politically controlled find it hard to laugh. People who are under-educated, likewise. People who are ill, hungry, destitute the same. People who have suffered abusive treatment, physically or psychologically. People who have lost hope in this life. No wonder laughter has become difficult for millions. No wonder they cling to religious doctrines that promise "pie in the sky" and are sanctified by a "priesthood of believers" -- whoever that is.

I think the sensitivity/insecurity is not God's, but the believers'. Faith inherently requires a suspension of reason/rational thinking, which is a tremendous personal challenge; because of its difficulty, the believer is more sensitive to the lampooning of their leap of faith. I don't think this movie or any other pseudo-religious satire intends to directly mock God; I do think, however, there is an intent to mock belief, and that's a trickier target for comedy.

If only all religious zealots stop thinking that God---their God---needs any sort protection! Do they think that a mere movie, painting, article, written word can do any harm to God --any body's God? Does one really need to believe in such a weak God? May be they need to have more faith than they seem to exhibit!

Bollywood may not have made a movie making fun of Christianity with a central character but it takes a lot of pot shots. One religious character that is constantly lampooned in Bollywood movies is a Sikh, of all ages and gender. I am sure there was an issue in the late 90's about a Sikh kid in one of Shahrukh Khan movies.

If the movie is funny, I'm watching! Is Mike Myers playing a "Dhani" sadhu, that would be an interesting depiction.

Basic needs of life are: food, clothing, and housing. And one more: Entertainment. Well Entertainment is more important than the other three. If religion can provide that too, it has served at least one good purpose!

All too often, we tend to get lost in OUR little god story, which is able to help us find our basic goodness and compassion for others.
It is a gift to see as little children. This is how a stranger to our belief might "see" our "faith". Be thankful to the giver of such gifts..

Laughter is a sign of openness. If we become hostile as a result of this fun poking, we have surely missed the point somewhere. I don't think that pride, hatred and arrogance are virtues in any god story. Non-virtue destroys the heart.

I for one would love to see a Hindu movie lampooning Christianity. Nothing offers a window into the collective mind of a group of people better than it's comedy.

Dr. Chopra

Do you really think you will be laughing aloud during this movie's screening? From whatever I have seen, this movie's comic taste is so inanely poor and is nothing more than slapstick - been there, seen that!

I agree with you that lightening up religion with humor is taking a walk on the lighter side of life (if you get my python drift), but I wouldn't in a million years watch gibberish paraded as comedy such as this movie is attempting to do.

Very interesting. Thank you.

Dr. Chopra:

With all your Hollywood and Bollywood connections and knowledge in mind and almost a century of movie history- can you name any mainstream movie by a Hindu that has made fun of Christianity, Judaism or Islam?
Why is it that Hindus are always at the receiving end of the freedom of speech? Why is it that all freedom of speech paper tigers (pun intended) go in a "very mildly" mode when it comes to some other religions?
Why "Third Jesus" why not "Third you know who"?
Just wondering!

Dr. Chopra couldn't have said it any better. I am an American born 28 year old male of Indian descent and was brought up in a devoted Hindu family. Recently with my family having ice cream at Carvel we saw the poster for the Love Guru and all of us chuckled and thought - this is pretty funny - we should go see it. It's amazing to me that in everyday life people always tell one another - dont' take yourself so seriously - chill out, have a beer, take a load off, and relax. So why must we act so differently in the name of religion - Hinduism above all, I think - holds this belief in particular regard as it teaches that religion is more than a blind faith in the unknown but rather a personal relationship/journey with the divine. So if it offends some - so be it - but let others choose if it offends them. The last thing that I need is a another religious zealot telling me what's good for me or not. If I was that determined to be told what to do and when - I probably would have jumped off the Hindu boat and swam to another religion (Islam?) by now. Life is short - laugh at yourself and God forbid at your religion. If you think about it, Hinduism is pretty outrageous anyway - think of all the Gods and Goddesses we have. Hanuman (monkey God), Shiva (lord of destruction (he's blue colored), Kali (she has multiple arms and kills devils). It sounds more like the Fantastic Four than a portrayal of God. But that is the point - Hinduism believes that people need images to believe (there is a belief in Hinduism that seeing an "image" of God helps humans bring God closer to themselves). And it is not to be taken literally, the images manifest a story and all the Gods and Goddesses are just various forms of the one true divine God. A common misconception is that Hinduism is polytheistic (it is mono). Anyway, before I get too far ahead - I hope everyone can just enjoy the movie and take a little time to laugh at Mr. Meyers.

If anyone is going to do it, the Mike Myers is the man for the job!

Dr. Chopra:

What would happen if a Hindu made a movie ridiculing Christianity, Judaism or Islam? Would he survive even a single day on this God's green earth? You would be first in line calling him a "Hindu Fundmentalist".
Does the protection of your free speech extends just to non-hindus making fun of Hindus or does it work other way round too?
Just wondering!