Golf for Enlightenment: The Seven Lessons for the Game of Life

by Deepak Chopra, Jesper Parnevik (Foreword)

Deepak Chopra has discovered the delights—and frustrations—of golf, and he is passionate about the game. Confronted by the wild ups and downs of his own play, he consulted with golf professionals and developed a new approach to the game that any golfer can follow—from the novice to the expert. The results can be measured not only in increased enjoyment and skill, but also in greater wisdom about life beyond the 18th hole.

Chopra’s own game has improved dramatically since incorporating the elements of his program. Instead of focusing on the mechanics of a “perfect” swing, Chopra reveals how golf can be mastered through mindfulness, a form of awareness that combines sharp focus and relaxation at the same time. Expanded awareness, he tells us, can accomplish much more than external mechanics to improve one’s game.

But Golf for Enlightenment is also an engrossing story about Adam, an Everyman who is playing a terrible round of golf when he meets a mysterious young teaching pro named Leela. In seven short but profound lessons detailing spiritual strategies, she teaches Adam the essence of a game that has much to explain about life itself.
Chopra has spent the last year taking the unique message in Golf for Enlightenment nationwide, teaching the essential tenets of his program at lectures and seminars to golfers everywhere. His message continues to help players turn an obsession into a positive life path.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Self Help, Sports

200 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2003

About the author

Deepak Chopra, MD serves as the Founder and Chairman of The Chopra Foundation, and Co-Founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.

As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Chopra transforms the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. Known as a prolific author of eighty books books with twenty-two New York Times best sellers in both fiction and non-fiction, his works have been published in more than forty-three languages.

Chopra’s medical training is in internal medicine and endocrinology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Dr. Chopra serves as Co-Founder and Chairman of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Founder of The Chopra Well on YouTube, Adjunct Professor of Executive Programs at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, Columbia University, Assistant Clinical Professor, in the Family and Preventive Medicine Department at the University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, Faculty at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Senior Scientist with The Gallup Organization.

GlobeIn acknowledges Chopra as "one of top ten most influential spiritual leaders around the world." TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as "one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century and credits him as "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine."

Reviews

[erikaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is both about golf and also not about golf.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golf insruction books can be a msssive waste of time. Trying to translate well-intentioned tips and shortcuts to your golf game and actually cutting your storkes can be futile. Having read Carl Hiassen's hilarious, frustrated paen to the sport (Fairway to Hell), I thought something more serious was in order. This book was a quick, simple read that focused more on the mental or inner game and pretty much ignored the mechanics of golf. No analysis of swings, grips, stances et al. Just basic, obvious advice ... think positive, clear your mind, let yourself go. Part of the book read like a parable. Whether or not it was true or even plausible didn't really matter. It left some impressions that actually found their way into my regular golf routine. And my handicap dropped by three strokes. Most importantly, after liberating myself from the anguish and anxiety of missed shots, hooks and slices, I actually started found myself enjoying the game more. As the saying goes, a bad day on the course is better than a good day at the office. Every golfer should take a peak at this book.

[Zurino · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way Dr. Chopra writes is so clear and concise, you can't help but understand what he is trying to put across. This man speaks so clearly that I find myself rereading this book for the simple pleasure of reading his words.

That, and I find his perspective rather brilliant.
Its not that I fully endorse his way of thinking or beliefs, its that I find this work of value in providing a clear succinct perspective on a life well lived.

Surrender is the dominant theme of the book, and is the only thing that makes any sort of sense to me. That is one thing even from my religious childhood that I feel they got right. Not much else, but that one stuck.

Over the years, I must have read this book at least a dozen times now, probably more. Each time is just as profound. The constant reminder is timeless. And as the intro says, this book is more about the game of life, and less about the game of golf. Enjoy good people, enjoy.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw similarities between yoga and golf. Someone recommended this. Good to provoke some thought. I shake my head at some of the people I see at the driving range who show their frustrations audibly. There are many similarities between golf and life. I think this book does a nice job of reminding us of what is and is not in our control.

[Ed Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same Characters, Different Costumes. If you are a fan of Deepak Chopra’s more spiritual writings, and you’re a golfer, you’ll find the message here resonant with your experience. It is fundamentally an easy read, as is typical of Chopra’s writings, with the veneer of golf over his message of the unity of the universe, the absence of the other, and the need to embrace the now. A niche read that doesn’t particularly do golf or spirituality well - but is readable nonetheless.

[Rob McClintock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not exactly what I thought it would be. There was too much of a fable-like quality to the book and the lessons all seem a bit mystical to me. Nevertheless, there were a few nuggets about staying in the moment and not looking ahead that can help keep a golfer centered on what the current shot needs to be. Was there some subconscious element that led me to cut my score yesterday by 9 strokes from last week's score?

[Jose Antonio La Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermoso!

Es un libro corto, bello y muy valioso sobre la iluminación.
Todos podemos iluminarnos poco a poco en la medida que lo deseemos y manifestemos.
Pocos libros son tan valiosos como este.
Gracias Deepak Chopra.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book, though I probably would have liked it more if I understood the philosophy on a more fundamental level. It certainly didn't hurt my golf game!

[Bob Adolfson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't go wrong with Deepak and couple that with a sport I love ..... I have enjoyed my golf game more and in turn my scores have improved

[Mark Holencik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can be applied to anything you are doing.

[Jason Stuyvesant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the perspective in this book and it's already helped me on the course. Would definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys the game!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped after reading this book, my golf game would improve. Still working on it!!!

[Vicente Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó! Aunque me es difícil de aplicar.

[Gregg Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't draw a bead on Deepak. I think he's sincere, but he writes so much on so many subjects (from spirituality to weight loss) I can't help but be a little skeptical. His main interest no doubt is spirituality, though, and that's the basis for Golf for Enlightenment. Now full disclosure is probably in order here. I admit it—I am a golfer. I know that means that half of you will automatically think that I am a moron and you're probably right, but I play on—I am addicted.

Okay, glad I got that out of the way. Back to the book. First of all, reading this book I could tell very early-on that Deepak is a very new golfer. You can see from the book jacket photo that he doesn't look natural even holding a golf club. I mean, this is the kind of guy that could hit you in the head with a golf ball if you weren't careful.

And his golf advice isn't much better. It's basically,'Just let go and let your natural instincts take over when you swing.' As if that's something new. Well, he dresses it up a bit in some new age lingo but that's what it boils down to.

So there, the book stunk, right? Not so fast.

The dude (me and Deepak are pretty tight. I don't think he'd mind me calling him that) manages to hit on some stuff that leaves you wondering if it's unutterably profound or mumbo-jumbo. With a lot of his stuff I wish what he was saying was true, but I'm just not so sure it is. Okay, on with the profundity/mumbo-jumbo.

Anyone who truly desires to take nothing from others will have the whole universe at his disposal.

I mean, to me that's like George Carlin's bit about 'every word in the English language has been said before but certain words have never been said in phrases, like no one has ever said, "please saw off my legs."' It just seems odd. But it also seems like it could be true (and is inspiring). Next up.

Receive whatever is trying to come in. Messages are everywhere. Your next step doesn't have to be thought out. It will simply appear before you at the right time.

Okay, that's a good one for 'I wish that was true.'

What happens to your score is left to the unknown (which is not like giving up on your score—the unknown can accomplish anything).

Say what, dude? I'd like to have the unknown do my laundry and house cleaning then. (But it is kind of Zen-y when applied to golf.)

And then there's this one (it's actually the 7th lesson from the book's subtitle if you're keeping track):

Let the game play you.

Sounds a little like the game is related to the unknown now, doesn't it? I don't know. It's like I said before, you end up wondering if this stuff is profound or mumbo-jumbo.

Still it's interesting, isn't it? I mean, it's not the typical 'keep your head down' golf tip mumbo-jumbo like you find in most golf instruction books. It's a different kind of mumbo-jumbo, a unique kind of mumbo-jumbo (but it's mumbo-jumbo that might be profound too).

[Carolyn Kost · Rating 2 out of 5]

Superstar spiritual entrepreneur and prolific bestselling author Chopra successfully translates Hindu philosophy into language that appeals to Western masses. The core Hindu teaching that humans already know perfection, but illusion masks it means that we need only "align ourselves with our etheric senses," to achieve mastery of all things, including golf. At its best, golf can be a journey toward mastery, which, when attained, will result in growth in one's entire life. (Golf widows and widowers may take issue with the very premise). Each chapter features a fabled encounter between the hapless Adam, who fails to control either his emotions or his golf swing, and the mysterious golf pro, Wendy, who becomes his guru. The fable is then applied to golf and to life in agonizing clichés, i.e. "Play each game as though it were the first;" "The all already exists in the now." Regarding an improvement to his swing, Adam asks, "How did I do it?" to which Wendy replies, "You didn't do it. You allowed it." Groan. Readers who have spent too much time on the links to have encountered Chopra's other work might be initiated with this volume, but even diehard fans will find greater satisfaction in his earlier titles.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Golf for Enlightenment offers a unique perspective on the game by matching some universal tenets on the balance of life to a balance in one's game. Chopra does well in creating an outline of the important actions one would take to achieve balance in their lives and distills them into seven lessons in a Covey-esque manner. The book is well-organized and easily applicable to one's own game.

Each lesson begins with a story involving a player (Adam) and his teacher (Leela) and is then followed by Chopra's interpretation on the situation, pulling from recent golf anecdotes and literary sources such as the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. The stories are sometimes a little trite, but the accompanying analysis by Chopra is truly enlightening and very useful.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

...Having finished up Chopra’s Golf for Enlightenment, I really like the book. Toward the its conclusion, he said, “Golf is like life and life is like golf.” At face value it seems almost cliché until I realize, Chopra’s argument is not that far off; there are lessons to be learned and the biggest one for me is that of detachment which I believe is confused with ‘not caring’ – but in reality, it means not holding onto anything- either hate or love. My mentor and academic guide, Juan told me a couple of days ago that the opposite of love is not hate. It is detachment – which makes sense to me.

Pick this book up even if you have never swung a club, because Chopra has boiled down Buddhism to its essence.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deepak Chopra unravels the mystery of golf and why some of us get so frustrated with our progress or lack there of. he uses eastern philosophy to link our emotions and mental affairs to the game. i'm not sure how this book relates to the game of life except that "the game - given the personality and name of Leela" is ever-present. A good read for disgruntled golfers looking for a different approach.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the part on relating a golf shot with Karma. It is a relatively easy read. Nothing extraordinary but I feel that it can be beneficial to someone who lives and breathes golf and would like to find higher meaning and justification to devoting so much time to the game of golf. It is most probably a reference book for a professional or serious amateur of the game.

[Manne Necker · Rating 1 out of 5]

No me gustó el método que usó el autor para describir las situaciones del golf con la vida real. Quizá se deba a que el golf me aburre enormemente, y además también porque su estilo es demasiado lento para mí, lo terminé a duras penas y con el compromiso de no dejar más libros a medias... esa es la verdad.

[D. Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is far more than a book about golf. It is indeed about life and the problems, anxieties, attitudes, strengths, spiritualities, hopes, and aspirations we golfers put on display every time we tee up that devilish little ball.

[James Willey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a book for serious golfers. 275 (large print) pages that could be condensed to seven or less. A lot of flowery fluff about an angel guiding an emotional, angst ridden golfer to enlightenment with many pretty metaphors which don't make sense.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

golf is a 'spiritual' game, forget about being technical...leave the results to God and enjoy the game.

[Carleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The greatest joy in life comes when inner and outer experiences match each other." - Deepak Chopra

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me dio una idea de como disfeutar del golf y de la vida.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may make more sense after studying eastern religions more.