This is a moment of reckoning for the global consciousness movement. One of our most visible leaders, Deepak Chopra, now stands deeply implicated—through troubling new revelations in the Epstein files—in a pattern of behavior that contradicts the ethical foundation of the very movement he helped shape.
The recently released Epstein files have many additional references (one writer counted 3466) to Deepak Chopra and include comments that are clearly problematic and which are now the subject of many critical articles.
To summarize, it appears that between 2016 and 2019—well after Epstein’s 2008 conviction—Chopra attended at least a dozen documented meetings with Epstein, including private gatherings and intimate dinner parties and the recent messages imply more than 20 such meetings. In one 2017 exchange, Chopra joked with Epstein about “cute girls” being more real than God. In another, he invited Epstein to “relax and have fun… bring your girls,” and accepted an offer to have “two girls” sent to one of his meditation events. One exchange between the two is from November 2016, when Chopra sent Epstein a news article about a woman taking back a lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of sexual abuse at an event linked to the Epstein. Chopra asked Epstein whether the case against him had also been dropped. When Epstein confirmed it was, Chopra replied, "Good.”
It is worth noting that the 700+ messages themselves do not prove wrongdoing on Chopra’s part. What they do show is that this was a very close relationship and that Chopra engaged in a lot of banter that is ethically problematic. According to Scott Mills thorough review, they both made connections for each other. They were engaged financially, with Epstein writing him about term sheets. Chopra met a Qatari contact at Epstein’s Palm Beach estate and followed up with a business pitch, copying Epstein on the emails. In July 2016. Chopra to Epstein: “Anything we share is between us. I share nothing with anyone but trust you.” That statement of trust says a lot about the depth of their connection.
Chopra previously insisted that Epstein was a patient and that the details of the relationship falls under doctor–patient confidentiality. But the nature of these voluminous exchanges suggests many other levels of connection. It’s also unclear how a professional relationship as a doctor would apply to joking about cute girls as regularly as they did, in ways that were clearly demeaning to women, especially with a man already convicted as a sexual offender.
In light of this wave of new information, my company, The Shift Network, decided to remove Chopra’s previously featured content and stop promoting his work. While no criminal conviction has been made, the ethical breakdowns appear to be substantial enough—coupled with evasive and misleading responses—to put him out of alignment with commitments.
It appears he:
Misled people publicly about the extent of his relationship and ties to Epstein. He said previously “our meetings, focused solely on practicing meditation, lasted about 30 minutes each contact was limited to 30 minute meditation sessions.” (CBS news)
Maintained and chose to deepen a personal relationship with a visible, convicted sexual offender and engage in highly suggestive language that appeared to condone or encourage the solicitation of “girls” and objectification of women.
Used the pretext of doctor-patient privilege in what appears to be a misleading way
His public response to the latest disclosures on February 5, 2026 was:
“I am deeply saddened by the suffering of the victims in this case, and I unequivocally condemn abuse and exploitation in all forms.
I want to be clear: I was never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct. Any contact I had was limited and unrelated to abusive activity. Some past email exchanges have surfaced that reflect poor judgment in tone. I regret that and understand how they read today, given what was publicly known at the time.
My focus remains on supporting accountability, prevention, and efforts that protect and support survivors.”
It is unclear to me how encouraging, supporting, and joking with a convicted sex offender about sexy girls is aligned with condemning abuse and exploitation in all forms. It’s also clear that while Chopra insists he did not participate in any criminal activity, he does leave open the door that he participated in legal but problematic forms of engagement (such as engaging with older than 18 years old “girls” associated with Epstein) and that he knew of things Epstein or others did.
It is noteworthy that he does not apologize in his statement and his response sidesteps the core issue: complicity by association and silence in the face of egregious harm.
However, the point of this article is not to condemn Chopra. I have met him quite a number of times and have found value in his insights, perspectives, and projects. He has made real contributions in his books and evolved our perspective in many areas.
But I also don’t believe he is navigating this situation with wisdom, ethics, or the kind of leadership being an authentic spiritual teacher requires. From my perspective, he has fallen from the pedestal we have often put him on as a leading light in our movement.
Given that the Epstein case, in my opinion, is at the heart of healing American democracy and that Chopra considers himself an evolutionary leader and advocate for consciousness, the way he has approached this situation is problematic. So far, he is defending his reputation and evading the subject rather than choosing the harder path of transparent truth, healing, and accountability.
His own rigorously honest public testimony could contribute to the healing of a rot of corruption and predation at the core of elite circles in our country, and to become a catalyst for the healing of the myriad Epstein victims. If they saw even one of the powerful, wealthy men implicated in Epstein files do the real work of owning and repairing the damage from their direct or indirect support of Epstein and their participation in his web of darkness, it would make a substantial difference.
The Epstein victims have been harmed in myriad ways and for him, as a visible spiritual leader, to be one of the people who does not fully own his role - even if it damages his reputation or puts him in legal jeopardy - reveals to me that he is not (yet) the leader of conscience he claimed to be.
With that said, I do want to emphasize that there is a pathway in which Chopra can turn this ethical breakdown into a moment for collective healing. I believe crises like this have the opportunity for real transformation and healing.
Specifically, I would like to see him:
Engage in public testimony under oath about his participation in and knowledge of any misdeeds with Epstein during the period of their connection. This means taking the reputational hit from his own mistakes, even where they might be technically legal. For example, did Epstein provide “girls” at any point, even if not underaged? The point is to come fully clean, not hide behind legalese.
Name specifically what he witnessed or heard about other Epstein associated elites. What crimes or forms of abuse did he choose to remain silent about? What does he know about how the whole web of darkness operated?
Engage in real repair work, such as contributing a sizable sum for the healing still required for the victims of Epstein. He is a wealthy man (Wikipedia estimates his net worth at $80M) and $1M towards an Epstein Victim Trauma Healing Fund would strike me as a powerful way to contribute to real healing for the victims. They have all had their lives shattered and a sizable fund from which to continue the repair of their lives would help.
If Chopra continues to invoke doctor-client privilege as a shield, his career and work will be remain badly tarnished and I personally will never endorse or promote his work again or platform him in any way.
It is better, in my opinion, for him to come fully clean, humbly acknowledge each and every mistake he made with Epstein publicly, name the deeds of others and financially support victims to heal so as to make a positive contribution to the wave of healing the full Epstein revelations truly demands.
He could take this moment to be an evolutionary leader by helping to lead the way out of the darkness that Epstein created. He could make it his legacy work to help the thousands of victims heal and for the truth about everything to be fully witnessed.
This is a crucible moment—for Chopra, for the victims, and for all of us who seek to stand for justice in a world where power has too often shielded abuse.
What is most needed now is not non-dual platitudes, but courageous truth-telling, deep accountability, and humble repair.
That is what leadership in an age of awakening truly demands.
As a footnote, I emailed a draft of this article to Chopra before publication and received a similar evasive statement to the one that he's given publicly. When I pressed him more pointedly on the need for real accountability, he did not reply. Perhaps those who know him better can call him out further.
This says to me that he is choosing reputation management over genuine leadership and our industry, as a whole, should rethink our relationship to him as he is not embodying our values and therefore undermining the rest of us by association.
Wow...well, let the Firehorse run!...it also makes me think those of us who want to put people on pedestals might want to reconsider that tendency which is actually not healthy for maintaining integrity, truth and equanimity. Even a Chief in an indigenous tribe sits in the circle at the same level as everyone else.
Thank you for this Stephen...as always, your thorough and thoughtful sharing is deeply appreciated and welcome - even when (or especially when) a cherished idea or person is being challenged.
Excellent commentary. Thank you Stephen....all of our leaders in every community must be accountable.