John North Editor & Publisher

Deepak Chopra could be considered the quintessential “New Age guru” in America.

What with his numerous speaking engagements, best-selling books — and thousands of devotees— some have nicknamed him “Deep Pockets” Chopra.

I remember a while back when some conservative radio talk-show hosts mocked Chopra for his proclivity to drive around in shiny exotic sports cars, accompanied by winsome young women, in seeming contradiction to his self-proclaimed spiritual depth.

But Chopra recently won my respect with his response to fundamentalist Hindu opposition to Mike Myers’ new movie “The Love Guru.” The film satirizes “gurus on the make,” and some Hindu organizations have demanded that the film be reviewed or remade — or even censored — because of content that they feel mocks the sanctity of the guru-disciple relationship.

Indeed, Chopra is one of the movie’s prime targets for satire.

Myers plays a wannabe self-help guru who dreams of being the next Deepak Chopra. Of course, his main interest is in a young America heiress — played by the lovely Jessica Alba — who approaches him for spiritual advice in running her failing company.

Deepak Chopra

Seldom, if ever, has a New Age guru accepted criticism or ridicule lightly, as God-like egotism seems to go with the job.

However, to my surprise and delight, Chopra showed what I feel is genuine spiritual maturity and wisdom in his response.
Specifically, Chopra wrote in an on-line essay, “The premature outcry against the movie is itself religious propaganda.” He noted that protesters based their views on the film’s 2-1/2-minute trailer.

“As viewers will find out when the movie is released this summer, no one is more thoroughly skewered in it than I am — you could even say that I am made to seem preposterous.”

True, Chopra may be taking the tack that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but I still am impressed that he would be so willing to laugh at himself — and to allow others to laugh at him. That, in itself, might be considered a characteristic of someone who has at least some degree of enlightenment and self-awareness.

The fact is, there often is a kernel of truth in a satirical stereotype, which is why Myers’ send-up of a womanizing guru hit a raw nerve in certain circles.