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Unknown Host
Those are all very specific examples.
Brian Mast
That's not a godly thing to say in the church. Such a body mouth in the church.
Unknown Host
So that right there was MAGA Republican Congress member Brian Mast at a town hall that he held. And get this Jupiter, Florida red area MAGA Republican Congress Member. Yeah, those people weren't paid to be there. They were booing because they recognize that the tariff policies by Donald Trump, like most of the policies by this Trump regime, have been just bad for the people. Set politics aside, these are bad policies. As I saw Claude Taylor post this morning, I just hate the United States being the bad guys. We're better than this. You see these posts of these migrants who are being sent to these camps in El Salvador. Andre Romero, a gay makeup artist sent to El Salvador sobbing and praying as guards shave his head and the United States government is making videos gloating over the people suffering. And you know, when you go back to Trump's speeches, we tried to point this out as well during the campaign. You know, when Donald Trump would continually echo the types of language that we heard from authoritarian leaders of the past. I mean, take a Look at this video that we did. Here's Trump echoing. You know, it sounded like Adolf Hitler during his rally during the campaign.
Brian Mast
Play this clip today, especially in honor of our great veterans. On Veterans Day, we pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country, that lie and steal and cheat on elections and will do anything possible. They'll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America and to destroy the American dream.
Unknown Host
The real legally or illegally. When they do things legally, you're going to do. I mean, he was saying that during the campaign. I mean, now you're seeing right wing papers like the New York Post say, Mr. Trump saved my business. Small companies plead rel. Plead for relief from crushing tariff costs. We see this Trump, this is from right wing writer Rich Lowry, who would post things during the election like Joe Biden will never be normal again. And on August 26, 2024, this guy wrote, trump can win on character. This right wing writer goes, trump will destroy a world economy that has us at the apex and only getting stronger. We see Trump denying FEMA aid in North Carolina from Hurricane Helene. He did the same thing in Georgia. Farmers are suffering. You get it? There's, there's a lot of suffering taking place. So I want to do this differently right now because we all know the suffering taking place. I want to talk about the mindset right now, though, about moving outside of this pain and suffering and resisting in a mindful way. Let's bring in Deepak Chopra right here. Deepak, they used to be bringing in politicians. You're not a politician, you're not a political guy, but you're someone who certainly doesn't like to see people suffering. That's not a political thing. So, you know, just, just people who are going through this. What, what, what, what, what are you, what are you seeing right now? What, what are you, what's your guidance to people?
Deepak Chopra
Well, first of all, thanks for acknowledging that I'm not a political guy, even though I've had and political opinions. And I am enormously affected by the suffering that's happening. And I have great empathy for people who are suffering. Empathy simply means you feel what they feel and when you feel what they feel. And empathy is a natural human response to suffering. Every child reacts viscerally. Even if you hurt an animal, you hurt a pet dog or a cat, and the child will start to cry because it feels viscerally the suffering of the other. And that suffering leads to compassion, which is the desire to alleviate that suffering. Because when you alleviate the suffering of another person, you feel better. And then that compassion ultimately leads to love and kindness and joy and pe and equanimity and healing for yourself and for the other. So that's been my life's goal. I would say mission, pursuit, whatever you can. Now, having said that, looking at the current situation in the world and in America, but also in the world and having, you know, I'm 78 years old now, plus how old are you, by the way?
Unknown Host
I am 39.
Deepak Chopra
Okay. So when I was 39, I was actually even ahead of where you are now. So when I came to this country, I was 22. I'm now 78. So, you know, I came to the United States when I was 22 at the, in 1970, in the midst of Watergate, in the midst of the women's movement, in the midst of Greenpeace, in the midst of the anti Vietnam War. And I participated in all of that. I was the most ardent activist at the age of 22, 23, and I marched the streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts. I campaigned for Governor Dukakis. The only state he won was in Massachusetts, and he lost in every other state. And I went through all that where you are angry activism. But I used to talk to my dad, and my dad was a very well known cardiologist from England before he came back to India. And he used to talk about the Holocaust, he used to talk about the second World War, he used to talk about the immense suffering that was happening. My grandfather used to talk about World War I, the pandemic, the Great Depression. And so I realized this is part of humanity. We have not moved from being medieval minds, and now we have modern capacities. Our minds are still medieval, which means driven by fear, greed, the need for revelance, power, influence, peddling, corruption, cronyism and money. And it hasn't changed. But what has changed is modern capacities. We have nuclear weapons, we have biological warfare, we have Internet cyber warfare. The Houthis have the same capacities almost as we have. And soon everybody will have. So those medieval emotional and lack of spiritual development coupled with modern capacities for destruction, we are sleepwalking to extinction. And that's a fact, we can't deny it. Either we jump start into a new mindset, be the change we want to see in the world, or, you know, we can walk to extinction. We are now told there are 2 trillion galaxies, 700 sextillion stars, uncountable trillions of planets. Our planet is not even a grain of sand. In all the beaches of the world. So maybe nature might say to itself, the human species was an interesting experiment in evolution. Didn't work. Let's try something else. Dinosaurs were wiped out. We emerged and we might get wiped out. Something maybe better with emerge. I don't know.
Unknown Host
Well, let's see if something better will emerge. You know, it's interesting because when we built this network, we actually didn't build the Midas Touch network on politics, which is a surprise for a lot of people. We built it on values and principles. And in the hierarchy of values and principles, empathy, respect, equality, decency, compassion was number one. My philosophy was always, if you start from there, the politics then fall in place because you go, who's fighting more for those things and who's fighting against those things? And people can decide. So when people see my perspectives, they'll go, well, you seem to be supporting certain types of candidates. And I go, well, because they seem to be the most aligned with the hierarchy of values that this network stands for versus us, kind of chasing politicians. So look, you've had an incredible career. I mean, 95 books that you've written. Time magazine named you one of the top 100 influencers over the past century. Your latest book, Digital Dharma, analyzing how AI can actually revolutionize spirituality and vice versa. Tell us for people, though, who are struggling in this moment right now, who are scared, what, what, what do you suggest people do? I mean, it's rare that they get to ask Deepak Chopra, what should I, what should I do right now? I'm scared, I'm nervous. You know, I don't know what this guy is going to post on any given day. And if that's going to impact me, what do I do in my. It's a big existential question, but what do I do?
Deepak Chopra
So, you know, I'm a fan of your show. I enjoy your show, I enjoy your perspective, and I share your values. Now, having said that, does activism, particularly strident activism, or what I should say, angry activism, even for peace, you know, it's kind of a contradiction. Hangry peace activists, and they end up getting Nobel Prizes. The angry peace activists end up end up getting Nobel prizes for peace, and they are totally not at peace with themselves. So I question whether that kind of activism actually works. And I'm not sure it does to some extent. I mean, had we not had the anti Vietnam War movement, the peace movement, the green movement and all of that, we would not be in the place we are now. Notwithstanding all the, you know, the backward trend we've Taken recently. So it does work, it does bring more awareness. But in the long term, for those who are listening, I'm not at peace, okay? And I will share with them this very simple idea that you will never be at peace if you are, if you are wedded to your ideology as the only right thing. Because we are all part of a conditioned mind. And we are conditioned by religion, we are conditioned by politics, we are conditioned by our parents, we are conditioned by economics, we are conditioned by our tribe. And it's very difficult to get past that conditioning to a creative solution. I don't even like the phrase how do we fight? Because, you know, that's another phrase that's very common in our society. The fight against war, the war against war, the war against cancer, the war against, you know, whatever. It's always a war. Star Wars. Now, why don't we engage in creative solutions? And that's why today I think we have an opportunity. And that's why I'm such a big fan of what we call artificial intelligence. So actually I, as you just mentioned the book AI for spiritual intelligence and personal well being, I frequently go and use AI which has access to all the creativity of humanity. In fact, AI has more access to the knowledge and database and information and even wisdom of the ages than any single human being can ever access. So why not access our current technologies for creative solutions instead of saying we have to fight this? What is a creative solution for Gaza? What is a creative solution for, for climate change? What is a creative solution for social, economic justice? I believe that if we are creative as a collective with shared vision, maximum diversity. I know diversity is not a good word these days, but shared vision, maximum diversity, ethnic diversity, racial diversity, gender diversity, diversity of talent, diversity of storytellers. And then if we complement each other's strengths and we create a spiritual or emotional connection with each other, we can solve any problem. And it's always been my dream to see a world that is more peaceful, more just, more sustainable and more healthy and more joyful. And I think we have creative solutions for all of that. But, but the problem is that those that we call leaders in the world today, without naming any names, but those that we call leaders in the world are basically interested in their power and cronyism and influence peddling and enrichment monetarily. So you want to know what's going on? Follow the money. There's a war going on. Lots of people are going to make money. Climate change, the only reason we are against it is there are special interest groups that are making Money without addressing these big issues. So without taking sides. And I know ideologically I'm on your side, but I think we need creative solutions and conversations like this can help us say, how can I participate in a creative solution with me being the change that I want to see in the world? If I want peace, how can I be peaceful? If I want to have a sustainable planet, how can I live sustainably myself? I go to the World Economic Forum and people are discussing climate change and they all come on private planes to discard, you know, so I see a lot of cunning, hypocrisy. Both, both sides. You know, whether you're a democrat or you're, you're a Republican or you're independent, you're a communist, you're a socialist, you're an oligarch, it's all about you and it's not about the rest of the world.
Unknown Host
You know, what's interesting is you talk about still having a medieval mindset. What was interesting actually in medieval times with the medieval mindset is there was this great disparity in the access of information where the feudal lords would have the information and the serfs would not have the information. That disparity of information also created some of the issues of subjugation. You fast forward to the future. The Internet was supposed to be this great equalizer where everybody had access to all the world's knowledge. You can Google it, you can do all of these things. But what it ended up being used by the modern day versions of the oligarchs and feudal lords was a way to manipulate that. So they injected bad information in the veins of people. So more information actually led to less information. So if AI is going to be a path forward to actually help people, how do you ensure it? And this may be another interview that we have that it's not going to be abused though by the same bad actors who we see abuse this great information revolution with the Internet.
Deepak Chopra
So, you know, look at yourself. You have become a very powerful influencer in the world because you have, you have a podium now and we're using it right now. And you can reach the globe. In those medieval times or even later in times of colonialism and others, there were a few people in the village square who had the loudspeaker, but now you have the loudspeaker too. So you can influence a very significant part of the world's population. So we have made progress, okay, The Internet has made progress, notwithstanding the special interest groups that control it. AI very interesting. And just in historical context, if you look at the period between 1887 and 1903. Less than 20 years, humanity discovered four things that changed the world. The light bulb, the automobile, the airplane, and the telephone in less than 20 years. So had you been deserted or shipwrecked in an island, say, in 1885, and you were rescued in 1905, 20 years later, you would see a world that you wouldn't recognize. You know, when you left New York City, perhaps all you saw was horses and carriages. And then 1905, you see these little boxes, iron boxes, people inside them pouring kerosene to make these boxes move. And a few years later, you know, people are flying planes and sophisticated automobiles. And then now we today we have, you know, all these probes going into outer space. Less than 20 years, the world leapfrogged into a new humanity. AI as we know it, as a large language model is only available since 2012. We are in 2025, it's not even 15 years. And we are now leapfrogging into a new cultural and global civilization and might I say, a new biological evolution. Because every time, you know, you gain new knowledge, a new understanding of things, neural networks in your brain reshape, genes get activated. Even now, as we are speaking, the genes and people who are listening to our conversation in their frontal cortex, if they're thinking about this, are getting activated globally. So we are leapfrogging not only to new cultural and biological evolution and social evolution, but a biological evolution, developing new capacities for creativity, insight, intuition, imagination, and problem solving. Now, you say that AI is controlled by a few people, but right now, by the way the way AI is programmed is even though it has selection bias, because after all, is programmed by human beings, it yet doesn't have political bias. So you can go on Grok Elon's AI and ask Grok to create a personality profile of Elon, or you can go on ChatGPT or any of the other AI platforms other than mine, because I don't answer political questions. And you can say, give me a personality profile of Mr. Trump or, you know, whoever, Modi or Putin or anybody, and it will give you at the moment a very honest evaluation based on all the in chatter on the Internet, all the social platforms. And actually Elon's is even more neutral because it uses the chatter on the. On Twitter, his own, you know, his own business to create these answers, much to the distress of the people who created these platforms. Where this is going to go in the future is that I think, just like anything else, any technology can be used for what I call divine purposes, but also for diabolical purposes. You know, fire burns down the city, but had we not discovered fire, we wouldn't have the steam engine. Had we not discovered the steam engine, we wouldn't have the industrial age then the age of technology and the age of today technology and AI So everything finds its own resolution. AI will be used for diabolical purposes. But then there are people, and I know enough people to know that they're using AI to actually bring about creative solutions for all the things that we're discussing, including racism and bigotry and hatred and prejudice and social injustice and all the things that are troubling you. But let's get rid of this idea. We have to fight. We have to fight. No, we have to find creative solutions. Fighting is a medieval mind.
Unknown Host
There you have it. We start with Jupiter, Florida Town Hall. We end with AI Deepak Chopra. I want to remind everybody your AI twin, Deepak Chopra. AI Digital Deepak AI and also your 95th book, Digital Dharma, came out in September on how AI can revolutionize spiritual well being and open new horizons for personal development. Thanks, Deepak.
Deepak Chopra
Thank you for having me, everybody.
Unknown Host
Hit subscribe. Let's get to 5 million subscribers. Can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas plus substack for ad free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free now at Midas+com.
The MeidasTouch Podcast: Deepak Chopra on Navigating Uncertain Times Release Date: April 20, 2025
In this insightful episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas engage in a profound conversation with renowned spiritual leader and author Deepak Chopra. The discussion delves into navigating the complexities of modern society, emphasizing empathy, activism, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering global harmony and personal well-being.
The episode opens with the hosts addressing recent political tensions, particularly highlighting remarks made by Congressman Brian Mast during a town hall in Jupiter, Florida. Mast's aggressive stance against the radical left and his comparisons of political opponents to authoritarian leaders set the stage for a broader conversation about the current state of American politics.
Quote:
"Brian Mast... pledged to root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country."
[03:02]
The hosts express frustration with the prevailing political rhetoric, emphasizing the detrimental impact of policies from the Trump administration on various sectors, including international relations and domestic economic conditions.
Transitioning from the heated political discourse, the hosts introduce Deepak Chopra as a guest who embodies a non-political perspective focused on empathy and healing. They seek his guidance on managing fear and uncertainty in tumultuous times.
Quote:
"Let’s bring in Deepak Chopra right here... he certainly doesn't like to see people suffering. That's not a political thing."
[04:28]
Chopra begins by underscoring the fundamental human capacity for empathy. He explains that empathy is a natural response to witnessing suffering, which then blossoms into compassion—the desire to alleviate that pain.
Quote:
"Empathy is a natural human response to suffering... Compassion ultimately leads to love and kindness and joy and healing for yourself and for the other."
[05:01]
He highlights that fostering empathy not only benefits those in distress but also contributes to personal well-being and societal harmony.
The conversation shifts to the role of activism in societal change. Chopra reflects on his own activism during the 1970s, participating in movements against the Vietnam War and for environmental causes. He acknowledges the positive impact of activism in raising awareness but questions the long-term efficacy of "angry activism."
Quote:
"Angry peace activists end up getting Nobel Prizes for peace... I question whether that kind of activism actually works."
[11:39]
Chopra advocates for a shift from confrontational approaches to creative solutions, emphasizing collaboration and shared vision over ideological battles.
Addressing broader societal issues, Chopra draws parallels between medieval mindsets and contemporary challenges. He argues that human emotions—driven by fear, greed, and the quest for power—remain unchanged despite advancements in technology, leading to potential self-destruction through modern warfare and environmental degradation.
Quote:
"Our minds are still medieval, which means driven by fear, greed, the need for relevance, power, influence, peddling, corruption, cronyism and money."
[06:40]
Chopra warns of the dangers posed by the combination of these entrenched human behaviors with modern destructive capabilities, emphasizing the urgent need for a paradigm shift.
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Chopra envisions AI as a tool to unlock collective creativity and address complex global issues such as climate change, social injustice, and economic disparities.
Quote:
"AI has access to all the creativity of humanity... why not access our current technologies for creative solutions instead of saying we have to fight this?"
[16:15]
He posits that AI can facilitate innovative problem-solving by aggregating diverse perspectives and knowledge bases, thereby enabling more effective and compassionate solutions.
Chopra also touches on the dual nature of AI, acknowledging its potential for both benevolent and malevolent uses. He stresses the importance of guiding AI development towards "divine purposes" rather than allowing it to be exploited by those seeking power and control.
Looking ahead, Chopra draws an analogy between the rapid technological advancements of the late 19th century and the current AI revolution. He suggests that AI is ushering in a new phase of cultural, biological, and social evolution, enhancing human capacities for creativity, intuition, and problem-solving.
Quote:
"We are now leapfrogging into a new cultural and global civilization and might I say, a new biological evolution."
[18:43]
Chopra emphasizes that embracing AI as a collaborative partner can lead humanity towards a more peaceful, sustainable, and joyful existence.
In his closing remarks, Chopra reiterates the importance of moving beyond conflict-driven mindsets. He encourages listeners to engage in creative and compassionate actions, leveraging both human empathy and technological advancements to build a better future.
Quote:
"We have to find creative solutions. Fighting is a medieval mind."
[24:28]
The hosts commend Chopra for his visionary perspectives and highlight his latest work, "Digital Dharma," which explores the intersection of AI and spirituality.
This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast offers a thought-provoking exploration of how empathy, innovative thinking, and technology can intersect to address the pressing challenges of our time. Deepak Chopra’s insights provide a beacon of hope, urging individuals and societies to adopt a more compassionate and creative approach in navigating uncertain times.
Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their roles in fostering positive change and to consider how embracing new technologies like AI can amplify their efforts towards a more equitable and harmonious world.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
Deepak Chopra on Empathy:
"Empathy simply means you feel what they feel... Compassion ultimately leads to love and kindness and joy and healing for yourself and for the other."
[05:01]
On Medieval Mindsets:
"Our minds are still medieval, which means driven by fear, greed, the need for relevance, power, influence, peddling, corruption, cronyism and money."
[06:40]
AI as a Creative Tool:
"AI has access to all the creativity of humanity... why not access our current technologies for creative solutions instead of saying we have to fight this?"
[16:15]
Evolution through AI:
"We are now leapfrogging into a new cultural and global civilization and might I say, a new biological evolution."
[18:43]
Call for Creative Solutions:
"We have to find creative solutions. Fighting is a medieval mind."
[24:28]
This episode serves as a compelling reminder of the power of empathy and creativity in overcoming societal challenges, offering listeners both inspiration and practical guidance for fostering positive change in their communities and beyond.