A time will
come, a state of awareness will grow , that transcends the suffering. Spirit
will dominate the mind instead. By bringing compassion to you, I can
reassure you that you are not abandoned; you are just at a difficult
crossroads on the journey of love. At every stage of love the goal should be kept in mind. Uniting romance,
relationship, and ascension is a code of compassion, which goes as follows:
Be kind to yourself and others. Come from love every moment you can. Speak of love with others. Remind each other of your spiritual purpose. Never give up hope. Know that you are loved. If you practice these few things,  you will be open to receive every lesson on
the path in the spirit in which it is given—as an expression of divine love. The horrors of the world are undeniable, and few people even dream that
they will go away. But they will, because love is the supre me reality ,
compared to which all else is temporary , fleeting, and unreal. The love you seek is seeking you at this moment. Your longing, your
deep fantasies about being loved are mere shadows of the meltingsweetness that makes spirit want to love you. Be honest about your seeking,
and be alert to the moments when love is showing itself to you. You are the
only means that love has for conquering its opposition; theref ore you are
infinitely precio us in the eyes of spirit. The messages of love may not be
clear to anyone else around you, even those most intimate to you. That
doesn’ t matter; they are meant for you and you alone. Be assured of that. And above all, be like Laurel. Keep looking for clues. OceanofPDF .comINDEX
The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from
which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the
index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader . Acceptance:
and allowing, 203
and equality , 77–78
Action:
of God, 244, 247
and karma, 35
and kriya, 239, 242
Afflatus, 293
Allowing, and control, 197–201, 203
All this is That, 275
Ambiguity , 73, 74–78
Ananda, 66–68, 70
Ananda Shakti, 238–41
Angels, 15, 276
Archetypal ecstasy , 285–86
Artha, 131
Ascension, 272–73, 274, 326
Associations, 1 17–20
Attachment, 189–224
allowing and control in, 197–201
and dependency , 192
and detachment, 192
and exclusivity , 190
and fear , 201–4
and karma, 193–97loving practice, 205–17
and need, 190, 204, 205, 208
and nonattachment, 192, 197–201, 204
in our lives, 218–24
spiritual, 193–97
and survival fear , 214–15
and unity , 191
Attention, 52
on the heart, 53–54
second, 244–47, 251, 259
Attraction, 64, 66–87
and authenticity , 72–73
fantasy and fear in, 68–70
and lovability , 70–73
loving practice, 74–78
meaning in, 66
in our lives, 79–86
search and, 68–70
Attractiveness, and deservedness, 82
Authenticity , 72–73
Awareness, 105, 106, 1 12, 170, 327
and ecstasy , 294, 295
and passion, 249
and reality , 251
as Shiva and Shakti, 242, 243, 249
and sutra, 305–6
Balance, homeostatic, 42
Being, 239, 295
Beliefs, 48
Bhagavad-Gita , 11–12, 13, 195–96, 243, 275–76
Bhakta, 87, 88
Bhakti, 35, 36
Black holes of fear , 212–15
Bliss, 92, 242
and ananda, 66–68, 239–41
consciousness, 66–68Bondage, 193
Bonding, 129
Boredom, 261–71
Boundaries, 265–68, 271
ego, 291
and sex, 136–37
Brahma, 243
Brain, physiology of, 244
Chakras, 317
Chastity , 139
Chitta Shakti, 238–40
Civilization and Its Discontents  (Freud), 10
Clarity , 299
Cloud of Unknowing, The  (Anonymous), 196–97
Commitment, 100, 108–9, 157, 160
Communication, and courtship, 129–30
Communion, and kriya, 242
Compassion, 326–28
Competition, 129
Concealment, and Shiva, 247, 248
Consciousness:
bliss, 66–68
expansion of, 290–92
Control:
allowing and, 197–201, 203
ego and, 199–200
of fear , 199–200, 201–4
and happiness, 40
separation and, 202–3
sex and, 134
Courtship, 64, 106–30
and commitment, 108–9
and communication, 129–30
defenses dismantled in, 1 15–16
and equality , 127, 129–30and false love, 1 12–14
and fear , 110–1 1, 115
love vs. ego in, 107–1 1, 116
loving practice, 1 17–22
and need, 108, 109
in our lives, 123–30
and projection, 1 13–14
and sensitivity , 128–29
and trust, 109–1 1
truth vs. falsity in, 1 11–16
Creation:
divine, 1 1, 225–26
and five cardinal beliefs, 251–52
and Shakti, 227–28, 229, 240, 242, 249
and Shiva, 247, 248
Creative ener gy, 230
Creative potential, 237
Creativity:
and second attention, 251
and sex, 149–50, 226, 237
Death:
anticipation of, 222
dying unto, 218–24
fear of, 221–22
God’ s presence in, 247
as healing, 9
peacefulness of, 247
as transition, 222
Defenses, dismantling of, 1 15–16
Dendrites, 90–91
Deservedness, 82
Desire:
denial of, 267–68
and icha, 241
and intimacy , 131–34, 135and passion, 227, 269–71
and religion, 133
sexual, 229
suppression of, 139–40
Despair , 213
Destruction, and Shiva, 247, 248
Devotion, 35,36, 87–88, 274
Dharma, 131, 158–63, 166–68
choosing your own, 167–68
and free will, 167
meanings of, 160–61
power of, 166–67
and spiritual equality , 163
Dionysus, 285–86
DNA, 244
Duality , 24–28
and dharma, 166
and self-love, 103–4
Ecstasy , 272–321
as ananda, 66–68
and ascension, 272–73, 274
and ego sur gery, 279–82
and inspiration, 299–306
and intimacy with yourself, 273–76
loving practice, 299–313
in our lives, 314–21
reaching, 290–98
as sacred journey , 285
and silence, 290, 294–95
as spiritual release, 286–90
and transformation, 293, 295
varieties of, 283–86
and wholeness, 289–90
Ego:
boundaries of, 291and control, 199–200
cosmic, 275, 276
and equality , 127
vs. falling in love, 24, 1 16, 165
isolation of, 165
vs. love, 107–1 1, 116, 161
and marriage, 159, 162
needs of, 108, 1 16, 190, 204
and or gasm, 135
and sensitivity , 128–29
and separation, 162
signals from, 259
vs. spirit, 157, 164, 168, 204
and surrender , 156–57, 163–64, 168, 169
Ego sur gery, 279–81
Emotions, 263–69
Energy:
creative, 230
renewal of, 49
sexual, 142, 146, 229, 284
of Shakti, 239
spiritual, 228
Enlightenment, 135
Equality:
and acceptance, 77–78
and courtship, 127, 130
spiritual, 163
Evolution, personal, 167, 168
Expectations:
in ‘I love you,” 1 13
and sex, 142–49
Falling in love:
vs. being in love, 5
blessed state of, 23–24
and desire, 269–71
ego vs., 24, 1 16, 165and escape, 1 15, 1 16
healing via, 215
needs and, 102
as opening, 62–63
and psychology vs. spirit, 91–93
relationship and, 159
and soul, 66, 71
surrender in, 163–64, 165
False love, 1 13–15, 120–22
Fantasy:
and courtship, 109
and false love, 1 13–14
and fear , 68–69
and infatuation, 89, 99
and sex, 135–36
Fatalism, 194
Fear:
black holes of, 212–15
of commitment, 100
control of, 199–200, 201–4
and danger , 111
of death, 221–22
and fantasy , 68–70
about for giveness, 280
healing of, 215–16
of life, 268, 269–70
and memory , 110–1 1
of risk, 22–24
and selfishness, 1 15
survival, 214–15
Fragmentation, 103–4, 191
Freedom, and intimacy , 137–41
Freud, Sigmund, 10, 12, 37
God:
action of, 244, 247in the beloved, 37
devotion to, 87–88
knowledge of, 247
as love’ s source, 9, 62, 84–85, 86, 249
mirror of, 1 1
as present in death, 247
relationship with, 5
separation from, 191, 205
and soul, 275
Spirit as, 13
as within, 243
Grain of sand, 301–3
Growth, and love, 42
Gyana, 35
Gyana Shakti, 238–40, 241–42
Happiness, 227, 282
achievement of, 39–41, 105
and control, 40
as pleasure response, 40–41
Healing:
death as, 9
defined, 43
by falling in love, 216
of fear , 215–16
of love, 16, 27, 41–43
of separation, 205
Heart:
attention on, 53–55
as center , 51
chakra of, 317
expansion of, 292
meditating on, 52–55
purification of, 51–55
Human nature:
as mirror of God, 1 1spiritual vision of, 10–15
I am enough, 212–17, 321
I am love, 1–3, 33
spiritual tradition of, 5, 1 1–12
I am loved, 322–28
I am That, 274
Icha Shakti, 238–40, 241
Illusion:
and need, 108
vs. reality , 14–15
“I love you”:
emotions in, 1 17
hidden meanings in, 1 12, 1 17, 200–1
and passion, 270
Immanence, 92
Immune response, 88
Independence, and aloneness, 58
Infatuation, 64, 87–105
between two worlds, 89–93
and fantasy , 89, 99
and innocence, 90
loving practice, 94–97
in our lives, 98–105
and perception, 91–92
regression in, 91
and transcendence, 92–93, 94
Infinity , 250
In our lives:
but never the bride, 98–105
Cinderella for sale, 123–30
dying unto death, 218–24
house of light, 314–21
somebody out there, 20–28
what about me?, 179–88
what’ s a little gray?, 79–86who will rescue me?, 56–61
wooing the goddess, 261–71
worn-out lover , 151–55
Insight, 299
Inspiration:
cultivating, 299–313
infinite moment in, 300–3
threads in fabric of, 303–13
Intimacy , 64, 131–55
as agreement, 135–36
and desire, 131–34, 135
and freedom, 137–41
loving practice, 142–50
in our lives, 151–55
and resistance, 139–40
with the self, 134–35, 273–76
and shared self-expression, 135
see also  Sex
Intuition, 244–47
Isolation, 27, 57, 165
Joy, pure, 295
Judgment, 45–46
Kali, 228
Kama, 131–34
Karma, 35, 193–97, 223, 242
Knowledge:
of God, 247
and gyana, 35, 241–42
as love of truth, 1 1–12
Kriya Shakti, 238–40, 242
Letting go, 25, 169–78
and awareness, 170
emotionally , 175–78mentally , 174–75
physically , 173–74
times for , 170–71
and voice of spirit, 258–60
ways of, 173
of what, 172
Liberation, 276
Life:
fear of, 268, 270
as love, 1 1–12
passion for , 227, 229, 234, 237
perfection of, 131
spiritual goal of, 3
Loneliness, 26, 58, 165
Lovability , 70–73
Love:
ability to receive, 84
absence of, 47–50
alignment with, 19
and balance, 42
divine revealed in, 250
vs. ego, 107–1 1, 116, 161
falling in, see Falling in love
false, 1 13–14, 120–22
giving and receiving, 44
God as source of, 9, 62, 84–85, 86, 249
and growth, 42
healing of, 16, 27, 41–43
importance of, 9–10
life as, 1 1–12
messages from, 96–97
vs. non-love, 1 1
path to, see Path to love
and power within, 29
as protection, 202reality as, 14, 16, 27
and relationship, 46
and religion, 12, 36–37, 88
of Self, 216
Self as source of, 14, 33, 46, 65
and sex, 136
social pattern of, 4
and soul bar gain, 17–19
and spirit, 2–3, 1 1–12, 23–24, 29, 33, 37, 39, 65
spiritual meaning of, 3–6, 12, 39
unconditional, 327
and unity , 35
universal, 14, 282, 292
and wholeness, 250
Love story:
with God, 9
living, 43–46
loving practice, 17–19
in our lives, 20–28
revival of, 7–9, 14
Loving practice:
accepting ambiguity , 74–78
cultivating inspiration, 299–313
freeing sexual blocks, 142–50
healing our inner needs, 205–17
heeding spirit, 251–60
letting go, 169–78
purifying the heart, 51–55
seeing beyond, 94–97
soul bar gain, 17–19
unpeeling layers of love, 1 17–22
Maharaj, Nisar gadatta, 12, 296–97
Marriage:
and ego, 159, 162
fading of passion in, 227, 268as mirror , 166
and nonattachment, 192
as play of the divine, 225–26
as sacred, 160, 236, 237, 239, 244, 249
and surrender , 162
as testing ground, 166
and trust, 160
Materialism, 15, 92
Maya, 14
Meditation:
and ecstasy , 290
on the heart, 52–55
Metaphysics, 92
Miracle, 298
Moksha, 131, 274–76
Mystery , 158
Mystical redemption, 276
Mythic ecstasy , 285–86
Need, 58–59, 164–65
and attachment, 190, 204, 205, 208
and courtship, 107–108
deepest, mirror of, 102
ego, 108, 1 16, 190, 204
healing of, 215–16
and illusion, 108
inner , 209–12
vs. play , 225–26
in relationships, 225
Negativity , 85–86
Neuropeptides, 88
Nonresistance, 203
Objectivity , 299
Orgasm, 134–35, 137–38, 143, 284Passion, 225–71
from the ashes, 230–36
and awareness, 249
blocking of, 262, 268–69
and desire, 227, 269–71
expression of, 225–26, 227
fading of, 227, 268
for life, 227, 229, 234, 237
loving practice, 251–60
in nonsexual terms, 227
in our lives, 261–71
renewal of, 232
of Shakti and Shiva, 228, 237, 239, 271
source of, 230, 265
surrender to, 134
as universal, 227
Path to love, 4–5, 29–61, 298
and absence of love, 47–50
and faith, 295
fulfillment as goal in, 35
and karma, 196–97
loving practice, 51–55
in our lives, 56–61
relationships and, 36, 38–46
and spiritual potential, 33, 34–38
surrender to, 157–58
see also  Sadhana
Perception:
and ecstasy , 285
and infatuation, 91–92
and infinite moment, 300
and projection, 1 13–14
of reality , 304
Phenomenon, whispered truth in, 97
Pleasure:
and happiness, 40–41and neuropeptides, 88
sensual, 283–84
and sex, 138, 140
Power:
of Dharma, 167–68
and sex, 135, 237
of Shiva, 241–42
and silence, 129, 249
of soul, 227–28
and spirit, 227, 239
Powerlessness, 267
Prana, 316
Projection, 1 13–14, 120–22
Protection:
love as, 202
and Shiva, 247, 248
Psychology , vs. spirit, 89–93
Purification, 51–55
Reality:
and awareness, 251
vs. illusion, 14–15
and letting go, 169, 171, 177
as love, 14, 16, 27
miracle of, 298
mystery of, 38
perception of, 304
vs. role, 195
vs. shadows, 325
and soul, 14
and spirit, 14–15, 23–24, 38
Redemption, 276
Relationships, 64
cosmic dimension of, 225
difficulty of, 158–59
and falling in love, 159with God, 5
and love, 46
need in, 225
and path to love, 36, 39–46
and romance, 158, 159
search for , 68–70
with self/Self, 70, 216–17
separation healed by , 205
surrender in, 158–62
Religion:
and desire, 133
and devotion, 87–88
and love, 12, 36–37, 88
Resistance, 140, 176, 203, 232
Revelation:
and Shiva, 247, 248–49
and sutras, 304–13
Rig V eda, 10–1 1, 87
RNA, 244
Romance, 62–155
and attraction, 64, 66–87
and authenticity , 72–73
and bliss, 66–68
and courtship, 64, 106–30
and infatuation, 64, 87–105
and inner truth, 38
and intimacy , 64, 131–55
phases of, 63–64
and relationship, 159, 160
Rumi, 158, 227, 325
Sadhana, 16, 34–35, 43
Sadhus, 34
Saints, 31–33
Sand, grain of, 301–3
Sat chit ananda, 66, 70Satsang, 106, 107, 127–30
Second attention, 244–47, 251, 259
Self:
acceptance of, 74–75
fulfillment through, 217
and infatuation, 89
inner voice of, 253–58
intimacy with, 134–37, 273–76
as love’ s source, 14, 33, 46, 65
path to, 34
as real experience, 13–14
relationship with, 46, 70–71, 216–17
vs. self, 12, 158, 292
and spirit, 12–13, 33
value of, 48
Self-condemnation, 45–46
Self-expression, shared, 135
Self-image, see Ego
Self-love, 103–4, 216
Self-realization, 292
Self-worth, 212
Sensitivity , and courtship, 128–29
Separation, 25–28, 208, 252
anxiety of, 212
and control, 202–3
and dharma, 162
and ego, 161
from God, 191, 205
healing of, 205
and insecurity , 209–12
and karma, 242
Serotonin, 41, 88
Sex:
and boundaries, 136
and control, 134
and creativity , 149–50, 226, 237and divine creation, 225–26
and emotions, 263
energy in, 142, 145, 229, 284
and expectations, 142–49
and fantasy , 135
and hidden agenda, 135
and love, 135–36
and or gasm, 134–35, 137, 143, 284
and passion, 134
and performance, 137–38, 143, 149
and pleasure, 138, 139–40
and power , 135, 237
and spontaneity , 137
and suppression of desire, 139–40
and surrender , 136–37
Shadows:
filling in, 75–78
vs. reality , 325
Shakti, 227–30, 235
as feminine, 236–42
five powers of, 238–42
and passion, 270–71
and Shiva, 227, 228, 234, 236–42, 243, 249, 271
Shiva:
actions of, 247–49
and Shakti, 228, 229, 234, 236–42, 243, 249, 271
silence of, 242–50
Silence:
and creation, 241, 249
deep, 295
and ecstasy , 290, 294–95
and peace, 216
and power , 129, 249
of Shiva, 242–50
Soul:
bargain with love, 17–19and falling in love, 65, 71
and God, 275
and infatuation, 89
power of, 227–28
and reality , 14
Shiva and Shakti in, 236–37
and spirit, 12, 14
Spirit:
being attuned to, 97
direct experience of, 10–14, 23–24
vs. ego, 156, 164, 168, 204
as God, 13
heeding, 251–60
and inner truth, 38
and love, 2–3, 1 1–12, 23–24, 29, 33, 37, 39, 65
play in, 225–26
and power , 227, 238
vs. psychology , 89–93
and reality , 14–15, 23–24, 38
as Self, 12–13, 33
surrender to, 159, 160–63
as truth, 97
voice of, 258–60
wholeness of, 243
Spiritual master , 38
Stillness, and ecstasy , 290, 294–95
Stress, release of, 173–74
Support, 59–60
Surrender , 156–88, 189
and being in love, 4
and commitment, 157, 159
and dharma, 158–63, 166–68
and ego, 156–57, 163–64, 168, 169
and faith, 156
and falling in love, 164, 165
loving practice, 169–78and marriage, 162–63
and need, 164–65
in our lives, 179–88
to passion, 134
to the path, 157–58
in a relationship, 158–63
and sex, 136–37
to the spirit, 160, 161–63
struggle against, 165–66
and “the W ay,” 163–68
Sutra, 304–13
Sutras, writing, 305–13
Symeon the New Theologian, 287–88
Tagore, Rabindranath, 131–32
Tao, 161
Teresa, Saint, 286–87
Thou art That, 275
Tolerance, 203
Transcendence, 92–93, 94
Transformation, 293, 295
Trust:
and courtship, 109–1 1
and marriage, 160
Truth:
vs. falsity , 111–16
inner , 38
and knowledge, 1 1–12
in phenomenon, 97
spirit as, 97
Veda as, 1 1
Unity:
and attachment, 191
and healing, 43
and love, 35Unreality , and false love, 1 13–14
Upanishads, 274–75, 291, 292
Veda, 10–1 1
Vedic scriptures, 10–15, 36, 195, 225–26, 242
Vishnu, 243
“The W ay”:
and surrender , 163–68
Tao as, 161
Whitman, W alt, 103, 105, 217, 226, 282
Will, 242
Willingness, 59–60
Wordsworth, W illiam, 89–90, 91
Worship, and bhakti, 35, 36, 87–88
You are loved, 322–28
OceanofPDF .comACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a book about love is a unique challenge, in both heart and mind,
and from the outset I realized that it would have to be born in an
atmosphere of love. Some other people understood this as well,  and it is to
them in particular that I owe deepest gratitude. To Peter Guzzardi, whose sensi tivity and nurturing went far beyond the
duties of an editor—you opened the way and kept it open against all odds. To Patty  Eddy and Tina Cons table, who stand behind the scenes at
Harmony Books and accomplish wonders. To my agent Muriel Nellis, godmother to my whole career as a writer . To my support staff at The Chopra Center for Well Being and Infinite
Possibilities International, especially to David Simon, Richard Perl, Deepak
and Geeta Singh, Roger Gabriel, and Arielle Ford Ford—without your
loyalty and immense enthusiasm , I would not have found the opportunity to
write this book at all. And, as ever, to my family , who walk the path to love with me, no matter
what turn it takes. OceanofPDF .comDeepak Chopra and The Chopra  Center for Well Being at La Costa Resort
and Spa, Carlsbad, California, offer a wide range of seminars, products and
educational programmes, worldwide. The Chopra Center offers revitalizing
mind/body programmes, as well as day spa services. Guests can come to
rejuvenate, expand knowledge or obtain a medical consultation. For information on meditation classes, health and well-being courses,
instructor certification programmes, or local classes in your area, contact
The Chopra Center for Well Being at La Costa Resort and Spa, 2013 Costa
Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, CA 92009, USA. By telephone: 001-888-424-
6772, or 001-760-931-7566. For a virtual tour of the Center , visit the
Internet website at www .chopra.com . If you live in Europe and would like more information on workshops,
lectures or other programmes about Dr. Deepak Chopra or to order any of
his books, tapes or products, please contact: Contours, 44 Fordbridge Road,
Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 2SJ (tel: +44 (0) 208 564 7033; fax (0) 208 897
3807; email: info@spiritualityworks.com; website:
www .spiritualityworks.com ). If you live in Australia and would like more information on workshops,
lectures, or programmes presented by Dr. Deepak Chopra, please contact
What’ s On The Planet Pty Ltd, PO Box 161, Brighton Le Sands, NSW
2216, Australia, or email deepak@theplanet.com.au. Rider books are available from all good bookshops or by ordering direct on
01624 677237. Or visit our website at www .randomhouse.co.uk . OceanofPDF .comThis ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced,
transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in
any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as
allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as
strictly permitted by applic able copyright law. Any unauthorised
distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author ’s
and publisher ’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law
accordingly . Epub ISBN: 9781409023890
Version 1.0
www .randomhouse.co.uk
Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following for permission to
reprint copyrighted material: For Birdsong  by Rumi, translated by Coleman
Barks. Copyright © 1993,
Coleman Books, Maypop. • From Rabindranath T agore; The Myriad-
Minded Man  by Krishna Dutta and Andrew Robinson. Copyright © 1995
by Krishna Dutta and Andrew Robinson. Reprinted by permission of St. Martin’ s Press Paperbacks. • From Crazy as
We Are by Rumi, translated by Dr . Nevit O. Er gin. Published by Hohm
Press 1992 • From W.H. Auden: Collected Poems  by W . H. Auden. Copyright © 1940 and renewed 1968 by W . H. Auden. Reprinted by
permission of Random House, Inc., and Faber and Faber Ltd. • From
Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion  by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks. Copyright © 1991. Reprinted by permission of Threshold Books, R.D. 4,
Box 600, Putney , VT 05346 • Excerpts from “The Upanishads,” “The Odes
of Solomon,” and “Symeon the New Theologian” from The Enlightened
Heart  by Stephen Mitchell. Copyright © 1989 by Stephen Mitchell. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. • Excerpt from
page 122 (“The Cloud of Unknowing”) from The Enlightened Heart  by
Stephen Mitchell. Copyright © 1991 by Stephen Mitchell. Reprinted by
permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. • The Acorn Press, Durham,
N.C., for permission to quote from I Am That: T alks with Sri Nisar gadatta
Maharaj, translated by Maurice Frydman, edited by Sudhakar S. Dikshit
(9th printing, 1996).19 20 18
This edition published in 2000
Published in Great Britain in 1997 by Rider Books,
an imprint of Ebury Publishing,
A Random House Group company
First published in the USA in 1997 by Harmony Books, a division of
Crown Publishers Inc., 201 East 50th Street, New Y ork, NY 10022
Copyright © Deepak Chopra 1997
Deepak Chopra has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this
Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the copyright owner
The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009
Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at:
www .randomhouse.co.uk
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780712608800
OceanofPDF .com
The_Path_to_Love_by_Deepak_Chopra.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        A time will
come, a state of awareness will grow, that transcends the suffering. Spirit
will dominate the mind instead. By bringing compassion to you, I can
reassure you that you are not abandoned; you are just at a difficult
crossroads on the journey of love. At every stage of love the goal should be kept in mind. Uniting romance,
relationship, and ascension is a code of compassion, which goes as follows:
Be kind to yourself and others. Come from love every moment you can. Speak of love with others. Remind each other of your spiritual purpose. Never give up hope. Know that you are loved. If you practice these few things,  you will be open to receive every lesson on
the path in the spirit in which it is given—as an expression of divine love. The horrors of the world are undeniable, and few people even dream that
they will go away. But they will, because love is the supre me reality,
compared to which all else is temporary, fleeting, and unreal. The love you seek is seeking you at this moment. Your longing, your
deep fantasies about being loved are mere shadows of the meltingsweetness that makes spirit want to love you. Be honest about your seeking,
and be alert to the moments when love is showing itself to you. You are the
only means that love has for conquering its opposition; theref ore you are
infinitely precio us in the eyes of spirit. The messages of love may not be
clear to anyone else around you, even those most intimate to you. That
doesn’ t matter; they are meant for you and you alone. Be assured of that. And above all, be like Laurel. Keep looking for clues. OceanofPDF. comINDEX
The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from
which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the
index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader. Acceptance:
and allowing, 203
and equality, 77–78
Action:
of God, 244, 247
and karma, 35
and kriya, 239, 242
Afflatus, 293
Allowing, and control, 197–201, 203
All this is That, 275
Ambiguity, 73, 74–78
Ananda, 66–68, 70
Ananda Shakti, 238–41
Angels, 15, 276
Archetypal ecstasy, 285–86
Artha, 131
Ascension, 272–73, 274, 326
Associations, 1 17–20
Attachment, 189–224
allowing and control in, 197–201
and dependency, 192
and detachment, 192
and exclusivity, 190
and fear, 201–4
and karma, 193–97loving practice, 205–17
and need, 190, 204, 205, 208
and nonattachment, 192, 197–201, 204
in our lives, 218–24
spiritual, 193–97
and survival fear, 214–15
and unity, 191
Attention, 52
on the heart, 53–54
second, 244–47, 251, 259
Attraction, 64, 66–87
and authenticity, 72–73
fantasy and fear in, 68–70
and lovability, 70–73
loving practice, 74–78
meaning in, 66
in our lives, 79–86
search and, 68–70
Attractiveness, and deservedness, 82
Authenticity, 72–73
Awareness, 105, 106, 1 12, 170, 327
and ecstasy, 294, 295
and passion, 249
and reality, 251
as Shiva and Shakti, 242, 243, 249
and sutra, 305–6
Balance, homeostatic, 42
Being, 239, 295
Beliefs, 48
Bhagavad-Gita, 11–12, 13, 195–96, 243, 275–76
Bhakta, 87, 88
Bhakti, 35, 36
Black holes of fear, 212–15
Bliss, 92, 242
and ananda, 66–68, 239–41
consciousness, 66–68Bondage, 193
Bonding, 129
Boredom, 261–71
Boundaries, 265–68, 271
ego, 291
and sex, 136–37
Brahma, 243
Brain, physiology of, 244
Chakras, 317
Chastity, 139
Chitta Shakti, 238–40
Civilization and Its Discontents  (Freud), 10
Clarity, 299
Cloud of Unknowing, The  (Anonymous), 196–97
Commitment, 100, 108–9, 157, 160
Communication, and courtship, 129–30
Communion, and kriya, 242
Compassion, 326–28
Competition, 129
Concealment, and Shiva, 247, 248
Consciousness:
bliss, 66–68
expansion of, 290–92
Control:
allowing and, 197–201, 203
ego and, 199–200
of fear, 199–200, 201–4
and happiness, 40
separation and, 202–3
sex and, 134
Courtship, 64, 106–30
and commitment, 108–9
and communication, 129–30
defenses dismantled in, 1 15–16
and equality, 127, 129–30and false love, 1 12–14
and fear, 110–1 1, 115
love vs. ego in, 107–1 1, 116
loving practice, 1 17–22
and need, 108, 109
in our lives, 123–30
and projection, 1 13–14
and sensitivity, 128–29
and trust, 109–1 1
truth vs. falsity in, 1 11–16
Creation:
divine, 1 1, 225–26
and five cardinal beliefs, 251–52
and Shakti, 227–28, 229, 240, 242, 249
and Shiva, 247, 248
Creative ener gy, 230
Creative potential, 237
Creativity:
and second attention, 251
and sex, 149–50, 226, 237
Death:
anticipation of, 222
dying unto, 218–24
fear of, 221–22
God’ s presence in, 247
as healing, 9
peacefulness of, 247
as transition, 222
Defenses, dismantling of, 1 15–16
Dendrites, 90–91
Deservedness, 82
Desire:
denial of, 267–68
and icha, 241
and intimacy, 131–34, 135and passion, 227, 269–71
and religion, 133
sexual, 229
suppression of, 139–40
Despair, 213
Destruction, and Shiva, 247, 248
Devotion, 35,36, 87–88, 274
Dharma, 131, 158–63, 166–68
choosing your own, 167–68
and free will, 167
meanings of, 160–61
power of, 166–67
and spiritual equality, 163
Dionysus, 285–86
DNA, 244
Duality, 24–28
and dharma, 166
and self-love, 103–4
Ecstasy, 272–321
as ananda, 66–68
and ascension, 272–73, 274
and ego sur gery, 279–82
and inspiration, 299–306
and intimacy with yourself, 273–76
loving practice, 299–313
in our lives, 314–21
reaching, 290–98
as sacred journey, 285
and silence, 290, 294–95
as spiritual release, 286–90
and transformation, 293, 295
varieties of, 283–86
and wholeness, 289–90
Ego:
boundaries of, 291and control, 199–200
cosmic, 275, 276
and equality, 127
vs. falling in love, 24, 1 16, 165
isolation of, 165
vs. love, 107–1 1, 116, 161
and marriage, 159, 162
needs of, 108, 1 16, 190, 204
and or gasm, 135
and sensitivity, 128–29
and separation, 162
signals from, 259
vs. spirit, 157, 164, 168, 204
and surrender, 156–57, 163–64, 168, 169
Ego sur gery, 279–81
Emotions, 263–69
Energy:
creative, 230
renewal of, 49
sexual, 142, 146, 229, 284
of Shakti, 239
spiritual, 228
Enlightenment, 135
Equality:
and acceptance, 77–78
and courtship, 127, 130
spiritual, 163
Evolution, personal, 167, 168
Expectations:
in ‘I love you,” 1 13
and sex, 142–49
Falling in love:
vs. being in love, 5
blessed state of, 23–24
and desire, 269–71
ego vs. , 24, 1 16, 165and escape, 1 15, 1 16
healing via, 215
needs and, 102
as opening, 62–63
and psychology vs. spirit, 91–93
relationship and, 159
and soul, 66, 71
surrender in, 163–64, 165
False love, 1 13–15, 120–22
Fantasy:
and courtship, 109
and false love, 1 13–14
and fear, 68–69
and infatuation, 89, 99
and sex, 135–36
Fatalism, 194
Fear:
black holes of, 212–15
of commitment, 100
control of, 199–200, 201–4
and danger, 111
of death, 221–22
and fantasy, 68–70
about for giveness, 280
healing of, 215–16
of life, 268, 269–70
and memory, 110–1 1
of risk, 22–24
and selfishness, 1 15
survival, 214–15
Fragmentation, 103–4, 191
Freedom, and intimacy, 137–41
Freud, Sigmund, 10, 12, 37
God:
action of, 244, 247in the beloved, 37
devotion to, 87–88
knowledge of, 247
as love’ s source, 9, 62, 84–85, 86, 249
mirror of, 1 1
as present in death, 247
relationship with, 5
separation from, 191, 205
and soul, 275
Spirit as, 13
as within, 243
Grain of sand, 301–3
Growth, and love, 42
Gyana, 35
Gyana Shakti, 238–40, 241–42
Happiness, 227, 282
achievement of, 39–41, 105
and control, 40
as pleasure response, 40–41
Healing:
death as, 9
defined, 43
by falling in love, 216
of fear, 215–16
of love, 16, 27, 41–43
of separation, 205
Heart:
attention on, 53–55
as center, 51
chakra of, 317
expansion of, 292
meditating on, 52–55
purification of, 51–55
Human nature:
as mirror of God, 1 1spiritual vision of, 10–15
I am enough, 212–17, 321
I am love, 1–3, 33
spiritual tradition of, 5, 1 1–12
I am loved, 322–28
I am That, 274
Icha Shakti, 238–40, 241
Illusion:
and need, 108
vs. reality, 14–15
“I love you”:
emotions in, 1 17
hidden meanings in, 1 12, 1 17, 200–1
and passion, 270
Immanence, 92
Immune response, 88
Independence, and aloneness, 58
Infatuation, 64, 87–105
between two worlds, 89–93
and fantasy, 89, 99
and innocence, 90
loving practice, 94–97
in our lives, 98–105
and perception, 91–92
regression in, 91
and transcendence, 92–93, 94
Infinity, 250
In our lives:
but never the bride, 98–105
Cinderella for sale, 123–30
dying unto death, 218–24
house of light, 314–21
somebody out there, 20–28
what about me. , 179–88
what’ s a little gray. , 79–86who will rescue me. , 56–61
wooing the goddess, 261–71
worn-out lover, 151–55
Insight, 299
Inspiration:
cultivating, 299–313
infinite moment in, 300–3
threads in fabric of, 303–13
Intimacy, 64, 131–55
as agreement, 135–36
and desire, 131–34, 135
and freedom, 137–41
loving practice, 142–50
in our lives, 151–55
and resistance, 139–40
with the self, 134–35, 273–76
and shared self-expression, 135
see also  Sex
Intuition, 244–47
Isolation, 27, 57, 165
Joy, pure, 295
Judgment, 45–46
Kali, 228
Kama, 131–34
Karma, 35, 193–97, 223, 242
Knowledge:
of God, 247
and gyana, 35, 241–42
as love of truth, 1 1–12
Kriya Shakti, 238–40, 242
Letting go, 25, 169–78
and awareness, 170
emotionally, 175–78mentally, 174–75
physically, 173–74
times for, 170–71
and voice of spirit, 258–60
ways of, 173
of what, 172
Liberation, 276
Life:
fear of, 268, 270
as love, 1 1–12
passion for, 227, 229, 234, 237
perfection of, 131
spiritual goal of, 3
Loneliness, 26, 58, 165
Lovability, 70–73
Love:
ability to receive, 84
absence of, 47–50
alignment with, 19
and balance, 42
divine revealed in, 250
vs. ego, 107–1 1, 116, 161
falling in, see Falling in love
false, 1 13–14, 120–22
giving and receiving, 44
God as source of, 9, 62, 84–85, 86, 249
and growth, 42
healing of, 16, 27, 41–43
importance of, 9–10
life as, 1 1–12
messages from, 96–97
vs. non-love, 1 1
path to, see Path to love
and power within, 29
as protection, 202reality as, 14, 16, 27
and relationship, 46
and religion, 12, 36–37, 88
of Self, 216
Self as source of, 14, 33, 46, 65
and sex, 136
social pattern of, 4
and soul bar gain, 17–19
and spirit, 2–3, 1 1–12, 23–24, 29, 33, 37, 39, 65
spiritual meaning of, 3–6, 12, 39
unconditional, 327
and unity, 35
universal, 14, 282, 292
and wholeness, 250
Love story:
with God, 9
living, 43–46
loving practice, 17–19
in our lives, 20–28
revival of, 7–9, 14
Loving practice:
accepting ambiguity, 74–78
cultivating inspiration, 299–313
freeing sexual blocks, 142–50
healing our inner needs, 205–17
heeding spirit, 251–60
letting go, 169–78
purifying the heart, 51–55
seeing beyond, 94–97
soul bar gain, 17–19
unpeeling layers of love, 1 17–22
Maharaj, Nisar gadatta, 12, 296–97
Marriage:
and ego, 159, 162
fading of passion in, 227, 268as mirror, 166
and nonattachment, 192
as play of the divine, 225–26
as sacred, 160, 236, 237, 239, 244, 249
and surrender, 162
as testing ground, 166
and trust, 160
Materialism, 15, 92
Maya, 14
Meditation:
and ecstasy, 290
on the heart, 52–55
Metaphysics, 92
Miracle, 298
Moksha, 131, 274–76
Mystery, 158
Mystical redemption, 276
Mythic ecstasy, 285–86
Need, 58–59, 164–65
and attachment, 190, 204, 205, 208
and courtship, 107–108
deepest, mirror of, 102
ego, 108, 1 16, 190, 204
healing of, 215–16
and illusion, 108
inner, 209–12
vs. play, 225–26
in relationships, 225
Negativity, 85–86
Neuropeptides, 88
Nonresistance, 203
Objectivity, 299
Orgasm, 134–35, 137–38, 143, 284Passion, 225–71
from the ashes, 230–36
and awareness, 249
blocking of, 262, 268–69
and desire, 227, 269–71
expression of, 225–26, 227
fading of, 227, 268
for life, 227, 229, 234, 237
loving practice, 251–60
in nonsexual terms, 227
in our lives, 261–71
renewal of, 232
of Shakti and Shiva, 228, 237, 239, 271
source of, 230, 265
surrender to, 134
as universal, 227
Path to love, 4–5, 29–61, 298
and absence of love, 47–50
and faith, 295
fulfillment as goal in, 35
and karma, 196–97
loving practice, 51–55
in our lives, 56–61
relationships and, 36, 38–46
and spiritual potential, 33, 34–38
surrender to, 157–58
see also  Sadhana
Perception:
and ecstasy, 285
and infatuation, 91–92
and infinite moment, 300
and projection, 1 13–14
of reality, 304
Phenomenon, whispered truth in, 97
Pleasure:
and happiness, 40–41and neuropeptides, 88
sensual, 283–84
and sex, 138, 140
Power:
of Dharma, 167–68
and sex, 135, 237
of Shiva, 241–42
and silence, 129, 249
of soul, 227–28
and spirit, 227, 239
Powerlessness, 267
Prana, 316
Projection, 1 13–14, 120–22
Protection:
love as, 202
and Shiva, 247, 248
Psychology, vs. spirit, 89–93
Purification, 51–55
Reality:
and awareness, 251
vs. illusion, 14–15
and letting go, 169, 171, 177
as love, 14, 16, 27
miracle of, 298
mystery of, 38
perception of, 304
vs. role, 195
vs. shadows, 325
and soul, 14
and spirit, 14–15, 23–24, 38
Redemption, 276
Relationships, 64
cosmic dimension of, 225
difficulty of, 158–59
and falling in love, 159with God, 5
and love, 46
need in, 225
and path to love, 36, 39–46
and romance, 158, 159
search for, 68–70
with self/Self, 70, 216–17
separation healed by, 205
surrender in, 158–62
Religion:
and desire, 133
and devotion, 87–88
and love, 12, 36–37, 88
Resistance, 140, 176, 203, 232
Revelation:
and Shiva, 247, 248–49
and sutras, 304–13
Rig V eda, 10–1 1, 87
RNA, 244
Romance, 62–155
and attraction, 64, 66–87
and authenticity, 72–73
and bliss, 66–68
and courtship, 64, 106–30
and infatuation, 64, 87–105
and inner truth, 38
and intimacy, 64, 131–55
phases of, 63–64
and relationship, 159, 160
Rumi, 158, 227, 325
Sadhana, 16, 34–35, 43
Sadhus, 34
Saints, 31–33
Sand, grain of, 301–3
Sat chit ananda, 66, 70Satsang, 106, 107, 127–30
Second attention, 244–47, 251, 259
Self:
acceptance of, 74–75
fulfillment through, 217
and infatuation, 89
inner voice of, 253–58
intimacy with, 134–37, 273–76
as love’ s source, 14, 33, 46, 65
path to, 34
as real experience, 13–14
relationship with, 46, 70–71, 216–17
vs. self, 12, 158, 292
and spirit, 12–13, 33
value of, 48
Self-condemnation, 45–46
Self-expression, shared, 135
Self-image, see Ego
Self-love, 103–4, 216
Self-realization, 292
Self-worth, 212
Sensitivity, and courtship, 128–29
Separation, 25–28, 208, 252
anxiety of, 212
and control, 202–3
and dharma, 162
and ego, 161
from God, 191, 205
healing of, 205
and insecurity, 209–12
and karma, 242
Serotonin, 41, 88
Sex:
and boundaries, 136
and control, 134
and creativity, 149–50, 226, 237and divine creation, 225–26
and emotions, 263
energy in, 142, 145, 229, 284
and expectations, 142–49
and fantasy, 135
and hidden agenda, 135
and love, 135–36
and or gasm, 134–35, 137, 143, 284
and passion, 134
and performance, 137–38, 143, 149
and pleasure, 138, 139–40
and power, 135, 237
and spontaneity, 137
and suppression of desire, 139–40
and surrender, 136–37
Shadows:
filling in, 75–78
vs. reality, 325
Shakti, 227–30, 235
as feminine, 236–42
five powers of, 238–42
and passion, 270–71
and Shiva, 227, 228, 234, 236–42, 243, 249, 271
Shiva:
actions of, 247–49
and Shakti, 228, 229, 234, 236–42, 243, 249, 271
silence of, 242–50
Silence:
and creation, 241, 249
deep, 295
and ecstasy, 290, 294–95
and peace, 216
and power, 129, 249
of Shiva, 242–50
Soul:
bargain with love, 17–19and falling in love, 65, 71
and God, 275
and infatuation, 89
power of, 227–28
and reality, 14
Shiva and Shakti in, 236–37
and spirit, 12, 14
Spirit:
being attuned to, 97
direct experience of, 10–14, 23–24
vs. ego, 156, 164, 168, 204
as God, 13
heeding, 251–60
and inner truth, 38
and love, 2–3, 1 1–12, 23–24, 29, 33, 37, 39, 65
play in, 225–26
and power, 227, 238
vs. psychology, 89–93
and reality, 14–15, 23–24, 38
as Self, 12–13, 33
surrender to, 159, 160–63
as truth, 97
voice of, 258–60
wholeness of, 243
Spiritual master, 38
Stillness, and ecstasy, 290, 294–95
Stress, release of, 173–74
Support, 59–60
Surrender, 156–88, 189
and being in love, 4
and commitment, 157, 159
and dharma, 158–63, 166–68
and ego, 156–57, 163–64, 168, 169
and faith, 156
and falling in love, 164, 165
loving practice, 169–78and marriage, 162–63
and need, 164–65
in our lives, 179–88
to passion, 134
to the path, 157–58
in a relationship, 158–63
and sex, 136–37
to the spirit, 160, 161–63
struggle against, 165–66
and “the W ay,” 163–68
Sutra, 304–13
Sutras, writing, 305–13
Symeon the New Theologian, 287–88
Tagore, Rabindranath, 131–32
Tao, 161
Teresa, Saint, 286–87
Thou art That, 275
Tolerance, 203
Transcendence, 92–93, 94
Transformation, 293, 295
Trust:
and courtship, 109–1 1
and marriage, 160
Truth:
vs. falsity, 111–16
inner, 38
and knowledge, 1 1–12
in phenomenon, 97
spirit as, 97
Veda as, 1 1
Unity:
and attachment, 191
and healing, 43
and love, 35Unreality, and false love, 1 13–14
Upanishads, 274–75, 291, 292
Veda, 10–1 1
Vedic scriptures, 10–15, 36, 195, 225–26, 242
Vishnu, 243
“The W ay”:
and surrender, 163–68
Tao as, 161
Whitman, W alt, 103, 105, 217, 226, 282
Will, 242
Willingness, 59–60
Wordsworth, W illiam, 89–90, 91
Worship, and bhakti, 35, 36, 87–88
You are loved, 322–28
OceanofPDF. comACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a book about love is a unique challenge, in both heart and mind,
and from the outset I realized that it would have to be born in an
atmosphere of love. Some other people understood this as well,  and it is to
them in particular that I owe deepest gratitude. To Peter Guzzardi, whose sensi tivity and nurturing went far beyond the
duties of an editor—you opened the way and kept it open against all odds. To Patty  Eddy and Tina Cons table, who stand behind the scenes at
Harmony Books and accomplish wonders. To my agent Muriel Nellis, godmother to my whole career as a writer. To my support staff at The Chopra Center for Well Being and Infinite
Possibilities International, especially to David Simon, Richard Perl, Deepak
and Geeta Singh, Roger Gabriel, and Arielle Ford Ford—without your
loyalty and immense enthusiasm, I would not have found the opportunity to
write this book at all. And, as ever, to my family, who walk the path to love with me, no matter
what turn it takes.
The ultimate goal of love is to transcend suffering and find a state of awareness that is beyond the limitations of the mind.
What is the ultimate goal of love, according to the author?
The author states that the reality is temporary, fleeting, and unreal, and that love is the supreme reality.
What is the author's message about the nature of reality?
The ego is not a part of the spiritual journey and must be surrendered in order to achieve true love and connection.
What is the role of the ego in relationships?
Surrender is essential in relationships, as it allows for the true self to emerge and for the heart to be open to love and connection.
What is the importance of surrender in relationships?
The author does not explicitly mention God, but implies that the concept of a higher power or divine is present throughout the text, and that it is the source of love and connection.
What is the author's message about the nature of God?