Think Like A Monk: Jay Shetty On Purpose, Compassion & Happiness

4 snips

Sep 7, 2020

Jay Shetty, a former monk turned social media influencer, shares his journey from a life of austerity in India to becoming a viral wisdom guru. He discusses the deep insights from spiritual teachings and the importance of compassion and genuine connections in finding purpose and happiness. Listeners will be intrigued by his reflections on balancing modern life with spiritual practices, the pitfalls of material success, and the transformative power of service. Jay's experience emphasizes the value of self-discovery and the joy of prioritizing relationships.

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ANECDOTE

Steak Houses and Robes

After the pivotal encounter, Jay Shetty's lifestyle remained unchanged, but his curiosity grew.
He spent the following four years splitting his time between interning at financial companies and living with monks in India.

ANECDOTE

The Scorpion and the Monk

Jay Shetty recounts a story of a monk repeatedly saving a scorpion that stings him each time.
The monk explains his actions by saying his nature is to save, highlighting the innate human wiring for service.

INSIGHT

Service vs. Greed

Jay Shetty believes humans are naturally wired to serve, but societal conditioning fosters greed.
He suggests auditing how much time we spend helping others selflessly, revealing how little we actually practice service.

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Last week we went deep with an actual monk. Today we extend this exploration with a former monk -- a renounced renunciant who returned to relate the wisdom gleaned for the betterment of all.

Meet Jay Shetty.

If that name rings a bell, it's likely due to his social media omnipresence. With a global following in excess of 20 million people, Jay has a knack for creating what he calls viral wisdom -- snackable videos based on ancient tenets that have surpassed 7 billion views -- making him one of the most viewed people on the internet.

A graduate of Cass Business school with an honors degree in Behavioral Science, Jay has been named one of Forbes magazine’s 30-under-30. He's been invited to keynote at companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. He is the host of the popular On Purpose podcast. And the occasion for today’s conversation is Jay’s new book, Think Like A Monk --- a distillation of the timeless wisdom learned during his ascetic days on an ashram into practical tools we can all use to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.

Today the man Russell Brand (RRP 448) calls 'a cat-eyed mystic' shares his story.

This is a conversation about Jay's most unusual journey. His decision to shirk the predictable post-college path and instead move to India. The three-year exploration of austerity that indelibly changed his worldview. His decision to return home, fueled by a desire to make an impact. And the most remarkable path that followed.

We discuss the insights he gleaned along the way -- and the many tools freely available to underscore our lives with greater meaning and purpose.

Among many other subjects, we explore the plausibility of conscious capitalism. The double-edged sword of social media. And how to use commerce and attention for good. To spread love. Encourage laughter. And arouse souls from the waking dream that defines the lives of far too many.

Note: This was taped pre-pandemic over 6 months ago, when the world was a very different place. Coronavirus delayed the original release of Jay’s book from Spring to Fall, so I agreed to hold on publishing this episode until now.

You can watch it all go down (in my original home studio) on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This conversation is more than just whimsical ramblings. Jay’s methods for mindfulness and self-actualization are evidence-based and platitude-free. Just perceptions and practical takeaways you can adopt right now that will positively reconfigure your reality.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange.

Peace + Plants,

Rich