Metahuman

1

We Are Entangled in an Illusion

Somewhere in prehistory Homo sapiens crossed over into virtual reality, when a mind-made simulation became essential in our evolutionary path. The exact era will never be known, or the reason, if any, why one species should acquire such powers and know that it had them. No other creature consciously shapes its future. No other species tells stories and convinces itself that they are true. There are many mysteries in our past. Somehow, following whatever tortuous path, we managed to make our simulation so convincing that we got lost in it.

Although this simulation is very convincing, on a daily basis it breaks down. There are times when life goes out of kilter and the world doesn t seem real and substantial anymore. Such experiences occur regularly, either to ourselves or to other people. For example, when there s a sudden death in the family or a catastrophe like a tornado or the house burning down, we may go into shock. With a blank stare we reveal how dislocated our existence suddenly feels, saying things like This can t be happening. It s unreal or Nothing matters anymore.

Normally, this dissociated state will pass, and in time reality feels real again. But some people never return after a psychotic break, for example, a percentage of mental patients become chronically schizophrenic and have hallucinations, seeing images or hearing voices for the rest of their lives. But the feeling of This can t be happening; it s like a dream doesn t have to be triggered by shock. Countless people engage in personal fantasies of fame, wealth, or some other dream that feels totally real to them and drives them all their lives. When someone is suddenly ecstatically happy, for whatever reason, everything can seem surreal, too.

However, the physical world out there feels real and substantial a lot more than 99 percent of the time, which is proof enough, one would think, that we aren t under some kind of

Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, is a world renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, the founder of the Chopra Foundation, and cofounder of Jiyo and Chopra Global. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as "One of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century." Dr. Chopra is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Clinical Professor in Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. He hosts the #1 health and wellbeing podcast Deepak Chopra's Infinite Potential and Daily Breath. The World Post and The Huffington Post global internet survey ranked "Chopra #17 influential thinker in the world and #1 in Medicine." In conjunction with his medical achievements, he is recognized as a prolific author of more than 86 books translated into over forty-three languages, with twenty-six New York Times bestsellers.

Our world is preoccupied with material progress, yet too often we overlook the miracle of our very existence. In this remarkable book, Deepak Chopra reminds us not to be distracted by the idols of our age but to marvel at the deep truths of being. Metahuman is a handbook to becoming fully alive. Arthur C. Brooks, PhD, professor, Harvard Kennedy School and author of Love Your Enemies

Metahuman is a wonderful explanation and exploration of the very highest and ultimate potentials that human beings possess, known around the world as Enlightenment, Awakening, the Great Liberation. What is not generally known is the secret revealed at the very heart of the great wisdom traditions namely, that you already possess this ultimate potential; it is fully and totally present in you, right here and right now. All you have to do is recognize this ever present reality. If you would like to know exactly how to do this, Metahuman is a terrific place to begin! Ken Wilber, author of The Integral Vision and The Religion of Tomorrow

We might suppose that the vastness of space-time, with its myriad stars and planets, comprises the preexisting stage for a ceaseless drama of life in which we are bit players. In Metahuman, Deepak Chopra persuasively invites us to turn this supposition on its head. We are the authors of space-time; we can wake up to our impressive stagecraft and embrace our true role. Donald Hoffman, professor of cognitive sciences, University of California, Irvine, author of The Case against Reality

In Metahuman, Deepak exposes us to a new and exciting reality where we are all infinitely free to create the lives we yearn for. There is no better guide to lead us to this phenomenal way of being. Bruce Vaughn, CEO, Dreamscape Immersive and former chief creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering 

Deepak Chopra successfully argues that consciousness is the