Think Like A Monk

Think Like A Monk Full Book Introduction

The media constantly tries to let us know what a successful life should be like and what manner of person we should best strive to be, but when we follow their “guidance”, we find that our lust for fame, money, sex, and influence is insatiable. Temptation is endless, and the relentless pursuit of these desires means that we end up in a constant state of disappointment and dissatisfaction. It’s exhausting. Think Like a Monk offers other ways of engaging with the world and living a better life. Following the example of monks enables us to become more focused, self-disciplined, purposeful, and altruistic. The monks’ lifestyle leads to peace, tranquility, and serenity.

Author : Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty is a New York Times bestselling author as well as an award-winning podcast host. In 2020 he was selected by Yahoo Finance as one of their 10 most influential people. A few years before, in 2017, he made it into the Forbes 30 under 30 elite list. In 2019, Shetty launched his On Purpose lifestyle podcast, and it soon became the world’s top-ranking healthy living podcast. Celebrity guests on the show have included Kobe Bryant, Ray Dalio, and Yuval Harari.

Overview | Chapter 1

Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day.

But why should you think like a monk? Well, if you want to learn how to play basketball, you would probably want to train with Michael Jordan. Or, if you’re trying to get in touch with your creative side, Elon Musk is your man. What if you want to learn how to put on an unforgettable performance? Beyoncé can definitely give you some pointers there. Now, if you’re looking to train your mind to find peace, serenity, and purpose, then learning from a monk would be an excellent place to start. Why is that, you say? Let’s begin by exploring Jay Shetty’s own experience.

At the age of 18, Shetty was a freshman at the Cass Business School in London. A friend of Shetty’s asked him to hear a monk give a lecture, but Shetty was skeptical and turned down the invitation. At this time in his life, Shetty was only interested in people who made their own opportunities and their success stories. Despite Shetty’s reluctance, finally, his friend convinced him to go to the lecture. Later, Shetty described the experience as feeling like he “fell in love.”

Gauranga Das was the monk’s name. He was in his mid-30s, an Indian who had dropped out of the Indian Institute of Technology, regarded as India’s MIT. He had given up the very life many people desperately strive for. Yet, he appeared happy, happier than other people enjoying high prestige, status, or good looks.

Monks like Das claim to enjoy elevated mental states, and science backs them up. In a study of the Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard’s brain, researchers found that the level of his gamma waves, which are associated with attention, memory, learning, and happiness, was the highest they had ever observed. He became known as “the World’s Happiest Man.” Brain scans of 21 other meditating monks similarly revealed enhanced brain activity associated with these functions. Even after meditation, it was considerably elevated and sustained compared to a control group of subjects who did not meditate.

Like many people, Shetty’s goal in life was to get married and earn a fortune. It was not until he heard Das’ speech that he found his true path. He is determined to explore new ideas and ways of living, practicing humility, compassion, empathy, and other altruistic qualities. After several twists and turns in his life, finally, he joined a monastery and became a monk. According to Shetty, if he can learn to think like a monk, anyone can.

If you cannot or would rather not join a monastery, at least not right now, you can always begin your journey by reading this book. In it, Shetty shares what he has learned in his life. If you take his advice seriously and put it into practice, you will find meaning, truth, passion, and purpose in your life. We will all learn how to follow his example through the following three parts:

Part One: Avoid External and Internal Influences

Part Two: Reshape Your Life to Achieve Growth

Part Three: Keep an Open Mind to the World