SOAKING UP ANOTHER PERSON'S POSITIVE ENERGY: A LESSON FROM DEEPAK CHOPRA ABOUT 'DARSHAN'

A literal translation of darshan simply means “to see” in Sanskrit. However, a more expanded understanding of darshan involves seeing by placing oneself in the presence of someone or something which exhibits higher consciousness. “Someone” usually involves being in the presence of a person known for his or her spirituality such as Mother Teresa, a Pope, the Dalai Lama or other spiritual master. “Something” includes being in the presence of a sacred place known for it’s strong

Dr. Deepak Chopra, a Western trained physician and Vedic teacher grew up in India and often experienced darshan when his uncle would take him to visit various gurus and teachers. Dr. Chopra says his uncle’s “real purpose” for visiting sages “was to soak up the person’s energy. As a ten year old boy, Dr. Chopra also experienced spiritual energy of evolved persons describing the effect these ways:

• some sages made him feel “buoyant and carefree”;
  
• others made his mind become quiet, still, peaceful;
  
• sometimes the darshan felt highly feminine “as if my mother were smiling at me” in spite of the fact the sage was a man.
  

In a more general but realistic way, darhsan is experienced daily in this way: there are persons in whose presence one feels secure and safe, accepted and affirmed. Those are the individuals with whom it is worth spending more time with.