Winnipeg enlightened by Deepak Chopra

I really didn't know what to expect when heading to the Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall to listen to Deepak Chopra speak. Without having read any of his books, and only seeing a couple of interviews on Larry King Live and Oprah, I knew the gist of his teachings, but not much more. So...with open mind and open heart I sat in my chair prepared for enlightenment. Was I?

He started by first talking about his past, and the moment that turned him writing more medical, academic books to one's focused on spirituality. From there, he talked about the current state of science and it's views on the mind and soul and their relationship with the body. Basically, the message has changed in that the view is no longer that our body houses our mind/soul, but that our mind/soul houses our body. Of course, there is more to it than just this, but that was the overall gist of the current theory.

In closing the first half, the audience was asked to partake in a group meditation. He asked everyone to close their eyes, feel their hearts and think about things that make us grateful. Once we spent a couple of minutes in silence doing this, he than had us repeat the mantra "I am" outloud. We were than asked to continue this silently in our heads - or is it in my consciousness? Anyway... after about 7 or 8 minutes of this some music comes on and - of all people - Madonna starts talking about healing the mind and other new age stuff. Why not use a voice people have no connection with? Next, I was expecting Morgan Freeman to fill in as the voice of God.

The second half went much deeper into the theories Deepak has developed in respect to the relationship between the physical world and the spiritual world. I found it all to be very interesting, and very thought provoking. The idea that the two worlds work in a discontinual relationship, where one is "on" and the other is "off." He used the example of watching a movie. The human eye is only able to process about 24 frames a second, so as the projector flicks still images to us, they appear to be continuous when the reality is that its a series of 'ons' and 'offs.' Therefore, in life, the physical world is the 'on' which are vibrations that our brain absorbs, at the speed of light, to produce sounds, smells, images, textures and tastes. The "consciousness" is the off, which we are unable to process. The question what is the off? Get it? I could try and explain this further, but I'm far from guru status, so I would suggest either buying a book or checking out his website www.deepakchopra.com. This, to me, is when things got sour.

At almost 3 hours in, Deepak began to fast forward through the slides he was using to allow enough time to push his upcoming book, upcoming conference in Whistler, BC and his various websites. I realize this is going to part of things, but considering there were exhibits throughout the Concert Hall, and mention of all these things at the beginning by the emcee, Robert Cloutier, it came off as very self promotional.

Overall, the event left me with lots to think about, good and bad. I just wish I didn't leave feeling so sold because of all the self-promotion. Oh well, if I'm really that upset, I guess I can just meditate. "Umm..buy my books...um...go to my website...um...um..um

Winnipeg's "Bleeding Hearts"

Bleeding Hearts, written by Winnipeg playwright and actor Kevin Klassen, closes the MTC Warehouse 08 - 09 season with plenty of sex, drugs and rock n' roll. The play looks at the relationship between three estranged brothers, formerly of the rock group "The Brothers Grimm," who are forced to reunite and write a song for their recently deceased mother.

As the story unfolds, you sense the passion the three brothers had for the music they performed and how family issues ripped their rock dreams apart. The musical score is as much a part of the play as the actors and script, setting the mood for the opening of each scene. And though you expect it never to happen, you also get an opportunity to finally hear all three brothers live, in unison, strumming and singing after a very emotional exchange regarding their parents' past.

As a Winnipegger, the play is very easy to feel attached to, between the set props and the sarcastic dialogue. No performance particularly stands out over the other, which allows the audience to empathize with each character equally. There is a point in the play that was quite comical when Ainslee - a full-time phone sex operator - provides as example of her expertise with her sister's husband. The funniest part being how quiet the crowd becomes as she describes exactly what she would do to her brother-in-law if given the sexual freedom.

All in all the 08 - 09 MTC warehouse season ends strong with a local flare the audience can appreciate, likely leading to many renewals for the next season.