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:::If Chopra doesn't like the label "guru" then we shouldn't be trying to use it. ] (]) 23:35, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
:::If Chopra doesn't like the label "guru" then we shouldn't be trying to use it. ] (]) 23:35, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
::::Why not? Does Chopra have special authority over this page? -] (]) 23:37, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
::::Why not? Does Chopra have special authority over this page? -] (]) 23:37, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
::::The Deepak Chopra website states "Chopra, who was accompanied by fellow '''New Age guru''' Gabrielle Bernstein and American singer India Arie, had aimed to bring together a “critical mass” of about 100,000 meditators to set the shared intention for peace."
::::As of September 17 2014, the Deepak Chopra website states "Chopra, who was accompanied by fellow '''New Age guru''' Gabrielle Bernstein and American singer India Arie, had aimed to bring together a “critical mass” of about 100,000 meditators to set the shared intention for peace."
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From what I can tell, outside of the lead sentence, the only mention of public speaking is a brief mention of how much he makes per lecture. Should we have more on this, or should we remove it from the lead? Adam Cuerden00:13, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
From what I understand, Chopra has a substantial following in India. Therefore, I would presume that there are more sources about his work published in India. If I understand correctly, many major Indian publishing companies do not distribute a great portion of their materials outside of India or South Asia. Could any of the editors here who reside, or have resided, in India confirm if this is true? Cla68 (talk) 00:41, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
Table Of Contents?
Every time I try to skip the cruft at the top of this page via the handy skip link up there, nothing happens, probably because Deepychops sabotaged the page to annoy me (For clarity, that was an innocent joke, not a personal attack on Dr. C.)
I have no idea of how to fix this depressing issue. Could a maven help? Pretty please? -Roxy the dog™ (resonate) 09:38, 1 October 2014 (UTC)
I asked "What source says he is a new age teacher?" No specific answer to my question was given. Is the word guru disputed according the WP:V policy or is this a dispute with V policy? According to which reliable source the term is racist? The source does not say he is a "controversial" Indian-American author. I recently explained it in my edit summary and I previously explained it in my edit summary. Try to collaborate. QuackGuru (talk) 21:48, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
You are arguing for the most insulting word possible. There are scads of sources that describe him in other ways. You are not trying to avoid the problematic term, but simply arguing for it. If you don't have other sources, and are unwilling to look, then you have said your piece; you are unwilling to be part of the solution. So be it. Jytdog (talk) 22:04, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
forbes: "Deepak Chopra ... is acknowledged as one of the master teachers of Eastern philosophy in the Western world. " That is Forbes, hardly a purveyor of woo. That is strict support for "teacher"
skeptics dictionary does not even stoop to calling him a "guru": "Dr. Chopra has done more than any other single person to popularize the Maharishi's Ayurvedic medicine in America, including some New Age energy concepts" (one can argue without stretching that for adult education, teaching = popularizing.)
I am not advocating that we call him a "genius" or anything but "guru" is ... icky and racist. in this context. WP is better than that.
I have previously argued for re-insertion of the word "guru" as it accurately pinpoints how Deepak is perceived. I have never seen it called a racist term before, and I am not persuaded it is. -Roxy the dog™ (resonate) 22:19, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
I've only now looked at the article, and I am not going to bang this drum for long, but I feel strongly that if the term guru is to be removed from the article there needs to be more than just a claim by a respected editor that the word is racist, but some justification by way of evidence, and a solid reason why the source which uses the words "new age guru" isn't acceptable. -Roxy the dog™ (resonate) 22:33, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
a Hindu or Sikh religious teacher or leader, giving personal spiritual guidance to his disciples
(often derogatory) a leader or chief theoretician of a movement, esp a spiritual or religious cult
(often facetious) a leading authority in a particular field "
He is not teaching hinduism or Sikhism... so... are we being derogatory or facetious? Neither is good. (and if you don't see the racism in pinning a hindu-derived honorific used in a derogatory way on an indian scientist-turned-new-age-teacher (who this article correctly portrays as making a mess of the boundary between science and religion), I don't know what to tell you. I have offered alternative sources for using "teacher"; that is all we need per BLP to remove this derogatory "guru" thing. Jytdog (talk) 23:11, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
As of September 17 2014, the Deepak Chopra website states "Chopra, who was accompanied by fellow New Age guru Gabrielle Bernstein and American singer India Arie, had aimed to bring together a “critical mass” of about 100,000 meditators to set the shared intention for peace."
websters:
1 a personal religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism
2
a : a teacher and especially intellectual guide in matters of fundamental concern
b : one who is an acknowledged leader or chief proponent
c : a person with knowledge or expertise : expert
oxford american dictionary
1: Hindu spiritual teacher or head of a religious sect
2a influential teacher
2b revered mentor
oxford dictionary of word origins
guru: This is from Hindi and Punjabi, from Sanskit guru'weighty, grave, dignified'... this led to 'elder, teacher'
American Heritage Dictionary
an acknowledged and influential advocate, as of a movement or idea”.
