AMERICAN BUDDHIST CONGRESS
BODHI AWARD PRESENTATION TO
DR. DEEPAK CHOPRA
April 28, 2003, at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, California

In honoring Dr. Chopra, ABC Executive
President Rev. Henry Shinn
offered the following remarks:

In Buddhism we learn that the essence of the Eightfold Path and the Six Paramitas is the practice of loving kindness and compassion. An individual who tries to follow such a Path is called a Buddhist, a person in search of enlightenment. 2500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, sat beneath the Bodhi tree and became enlightened-- he became a Buddha. Through his enlightenment he transcended suffering and was no longer subject to karma. If you are searching for enlightenment, and practicing loving kindness and compassion, then you too can be called a Buddhist, even if you are a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Hindu, or a practitioner of any of the world's great religions.

In 1987, the American Buddhist Congress was founded. Our goals and objectives are to encourage cooperation, appreciation, and understanding among the various Buddhist traditions; to address cultural, social and religious issues; and to cooperate with other religions and religious organizations in the promotion of peace, harmony and more kindness and compassion in America.

In order to assist the Congress in reaching its objectives, it was decided that whenever appropriate, we would select an individual to be recognized and honored for his or her exceptional, distinctive and effective contributions to the encouragement of enlightenment and the advancement of wisdom in America; an individual who exemplifies Buddhist ideals and who is dedicated to helping others follow the path of loving kindness and compassion leading to spiritual enlightenment. In 1999, the American Buddhist Congress presented it's first such award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Today, Dr. Deepak Chopra is considered one of the world's great spiritual leaders. While he may not call himself a Buddhist, through his many books, personal appearances and activities, he reflects the basic Buddhist principals of loving kindness and compassion. We know, as does he, that to make this a better world, we must make a better society. In his book, "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success," Dr. Chopra defines success in life as "the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals." To help us do that, he teaches us - and I quote: "that there are saints living among us. When we meet them, we are reminded, not just of the presence of pure divinity right here on earth, but also of our own potential, and of the responsibility we have to try to live up to it, for our own sakes and for the very future of this planet."

Dr. Chopra, you have quoted the Buddha, who said about life, "This is a precious moment, but it is transient. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. If we share with caring, lightheartedness, and love, we will create abundance and joy for each other. And then this moment will have been worthwhile." That is what we are here to do tonight. Dr. Chopra, it is in this recognition and appreciation of your many outstanding contributions in the promotion of spiritual enlightenment, not only in the United States, but throughout the world, for your interpreting and exemplifying the characteristics of compassion, equanimity and loving kindness so central to Buddhist teachings, and for your efforts in leading us all toward the path of spiritual enlightenment, that we now present you with the American Buddhist Congress Bodhi Award.