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

The Rich Roll Podcast

Rich Roll

Health & Fitness, Education, Self-improvement, Society & Culture

4.8 • 12.9K Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2020

⏱️ 125 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We are all wired to serve. Naturally as children, as kids, as people, as humans,
0:08.0	service is also serving through your calling, your talents, your skills, your purpose that
0:13.4	benefits other people. But we've been educated for greed. When I was 18 I'd met people who
0:19.5	were beautiful. I'd met people who were rich. I'd met people who were strong. I'd met
0:25.2	people who were powerful. But I don't think I'd ever met anyone who was truly happy. But because I
0:31.1	met these incredibly powerful people who wanted nothing from me, but just to give, it changed my
0:36.2	life. And that's the opportunity I want. And for people it may not be a monk. But when you think
0:41.3	like a monk, you recognize that actually am I exposing myself to as many alternative methods
0:46.9	of thought? Am I really allowing myself to experience everything the world has to offer? Because if I'm
0:52.2	not, I'm already limiting myself in a world that's actually unlimited. And that's the challenge
0:56.9	I see is that we are living at a time when you have the most choice available. You have the most
1:01.4	experiences available. But we still put ourselves in these prisons. And there's a seat with your name
1:06.0	on it in the theater of happiness. There are infinite number of seats. And just because I'm already
1:10.7	in there, it doesn't mean you can't be in there. Just because you're in there, it doesn't mean I can't
1:13.8	be in there. And as soon as you realize that, you free yourself and realizing there is a seat with
1:18.4	your name on it. And all you've got to do is claim your own seat. And no one else can take that seat
1:23.4	from you. That's Jay Shetty. And this is episode 544 of the Retro podcast.
1:40.1	The Retro podcast.
1:49.1	In the last episode, we went deep with an actual monk, Rodna Swamy. And today, we extend this
1:55.9	exploration by convening with a former monk. His name is Jay Shetty. And given that he has amassed
2:04.2	a social media following in excess of 20 million people, I wouldn't be surprised if that name rings
2:10.5	a bell, a cultural social media luminary with a knack for sharing wisdom that goes viral. I suspect
	...

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