What do you think?
Rate this book
Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day
Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the #1 podcast ‘On Purpose�, distils the timeless wisdom he learned as a practising monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.
Over the past three years, Jay Shetty has become a favourite in the hearts and minds of millions of people worldwide. One of his clips was the most watched video on Facebook last year, with over 360 million views. His social media following totals over 32 million, he has produced over 400 viral videos, which have amassed more than 5 billion views, and his podcast, ‘On Purpose�, is consistently ranked the world’s #1 health-related podcast.
In this inspiring, empowering book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk in the Vedic tradition to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Drawing on ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us.
The lessons monks learn are profound but often abstract. Shetty transforms them into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve focus, improve relationships, identify our hidden abilities, increase self-discipline and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can � and should � think like a monk.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2020
22.9k people are currently reading
139k people want to read
About the author
Jay Shetty
22books2,796followersJay Shetty is a storyteller, podcaster, and former monk. Shetty’s vision is to Make Wisdom Go Viral. He is on a mission to share the timeless wisdom of the world in an accessible, relevant, and practical way. Shetty has created over 400 viral videos with over 5 billion views, and hosts the #1 Health and Wellness podcast in the world, On Purpose. Learn more at JayShetty.me.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,395 reviews
April 19, 2025
Summary
This book delineates the experiences that Jay Shetty learned in his three years of monk life in India. He tries to convey the wisdom gathered through the ancient scriptures and monks in a palatable practical manner.
What I learned from this book
1) The monk mindset and the monkey mindset
Mr. Shetty says that in order to train your mind to find peace, calm and purpose you have to have the monk mindset. He also depicts the differences between the monk mindset and the monkey mindset
2) Why most of us study better in libraries, work better in offices, and workout better in gyms?
The author tells us the importance of the locations in building up our routines. He says that every location has its own energy. If a particular place is devoted to a particular purpose with the least amount of distractions, the probability of us doing it is more. It will be easier for us to build up a routine if we visit those places regularly rather than trying to do it alone in our house.
3) Never go to gym to build a revenge body to make your ex jealous after breakup
Exercise is something vital in our life. Never tie it to any external factors like provoking your ex. There is a chance that it can add extra salt to your wound.
4) Pranayama and Cardiovascular health
This is a topic that always fascinated me. I have been thinking about doing Medical research on this topic. I am delighted to see the author mentioning the same in this book.
5) Do I have to become a better human being or a better student?
This is the question which I tried to find an answer to throughout my teenage years. I opted for becoming a better human being than a better student. The author is answering a similar question in this book. This is my favorite line from this book
6) Sleep and Hustle culture
The author is perfectly describing the problems associated with the hustle culture and sleep deprivation. It is actually the business tycoons and the self-help gurus who made this culture so popular. I am pleased to see a business giant like Mr. Bill Gates and a new age motivational speaker like Mr. Jay Shetty really acknowledging the problems associated with it and trying to find the solutions for it.
7) Is Micro meditation effective?
Mr. Shetty tells us the problems associated with the modern trend of micro meditation.
8) Is social media pushing you down a rabbit hole?
This relevant topic is thoroughly discussed in this book
9) How can we find out our best friend, colleague, or romantic partner?
We all might have at least one instance to share when a person didn't reciprocate the care and love we gave them. Is it because we are expecting too much? Is it because we are a failure in understanding others? This book gives a perfect answer to it.
The author mentions four types of trust to understand why we are attracted to a person. We can determine whether they are compatible with us by finding out whether their values and trust correspond with us.
My favourite three lines from this book
What I didn’t like in this book
It is mentioned in this book that after three years, one of his teachers told the author that he would have more impact on the world if he left the monk's path to share his experience and wisdom with others. He moved back home in north London with his parents. This portion, which has a pivotal part in this book, should have been written a little more vividly as we can't fully understand what exactly happened and why the author decided to leave his path of becoming a monk all of a sudden.
It is disheartening to see the way the author indirectly criticized Marie Kondo. Many people in the USA, including some talk show hosts, indeed find enjoyment in making fun of Marie Kondo. But I didn't expect it inside a book which was written with the sole aim of making us think like a monk.
Rating
3/5 There are indeed many haters for the author, and there are some accusations of plagiarism against him. But I think I am not eligible enough to comment on it as I don't know the author personally and don't follow him on social media.
This book might keep you enlightened and answers at least some of your questions regarding your life. There might be certain parts of it that might make us confused and make us question the author. Still, I have to admit that this book is packed with a lot of information that might help most of you in one way or the other.
This book delineates the experiences that Jay Shetty learned in his three years of monk life in India. He tries to convey the wisdom gathered through the ancient scriptures and monks in a palatable practical manner.
What I learned from this book
1) The monk mindset and the monkey mindset
Mr. Shetty says that in order to train your mind to find peace, calm and purpose you have to have the monk mindset. He also depicts the differences between the monk mindset and the monkey mindset
2) Why most of us study better in libraries, work better in offices, and workout better in gyms?
The author tells us the importance of the locations in building up our routines. He says that every location has its own energy. If a particular place is devoted to a particular purpose with the least amount of distractions, the probability of us doing it is more. It will be easier for us to build up a routine if we visit those places regularly rather than trying to do it alone in our house.
“Location has energy; time has memory. If you do something at the same time every day, it becomes easier and natural. If you do something in the same space every day, it becomes easier and natural."
3) Never go to gym to build a revenge body to make your ex jealous after breakup
Exercise is something vital in our life. Never tie it to any external factors like provoking your ex. There is a chance that it can add extra salt to your wound.
"If your ex doesn't notice or care, you will still feel the same frustration and loneliness. However, if you start going to the gym because you want to feel physically strong after your breakup, or if, in the course of working out, your intention shifts to get fit, you will get in shape and feel emotionally satisfied."
4) Pranayama and Cardiovascular health
This is a topic that always fascinated me. I have been thinking about doing Medical research on this topic. I am delighted to see the author mentioning the same in this book.
"For millennia, yogis have practiced breathing techniques called pranayama to do things like stimulate healing, raise energy and focus on the present moment. In the Rig Veda, it's written that "breath is the extension of our inmost life," and it describes breath as the path beyond the self to consciousness. Modern science backs up the effectiveness of pranayama for myriad effects including improving cardiovascular health, lowering overall stress, and even improving academic test performance. �
5) Do I have to become a better human being or a better student?
This is the question which I tried to find an answer to throughout my teenage years. I opted for becoming a better human being than a better student. The author is answering a similar question in this book. This is my favorite line from this book
"To build your competence without regard for character is narcissistic, and to build character without working on skills is devoid of impact. We need to work on both in order to serve our souls and a higher purpose."
6) Sleep and Hustle culture
The author is perfectly describing the problems associated with the hustle culture and sleep deprivation. It is actually the business tycoons and the self-help gurus who made this culture so popular. I am pleased to see a business giant like Mr. Bill Gates and a new age motivational speaker like Mr. Jay Shetty really acknowledging the problems associated with it and trying to find the solutions for it.
"We tend to wear our ability to get by on little sleep as some sort of badge of honor that validates our work ethic. But what it is a profound failure of self-respect and of priorities."
7) Is Micro meditation effective?
Mr. Shetty tells us the problems associated with the modern trend of micro meditation.
"There are plenty of articles that encourage you to meditate for five minutes a day. I m not against that, but I m also not surprised if it does nothing for you. The truth is you achieve very little in five minutes. The ocean is full of treasures, but if you swim on the surface, you won't see them all. If you start a meditation practice with the idea that you can instantly clear your mind, you'll soon learn that immersion takes time and practice."
8) Is social media pushing you down a rabbit hole?
This relevant topic is thoroughly discussed in this book
"Let us say that whenever you go on YouTube to watch one video, you end up going down a rabbit hole. Senses recklessly transport our minds away from where we want them to be. Don't tease your own senses. Don't set yourself up to fail. A monk doesn't spend time in a strip club. We want to minimize the mind's reactive tendencies, and the easiest way to do that is for the intellect to proactively steer the senses away from stimuli that could make the mind react in ways that are hard to control. It's up to the intellect to know when you are vulnerable and to tighten the reins, just as a charioteer does when going through a field of tasty grass."
9) How can we find out our best friend, colleague, or romantic partner?
We all might have at least one instance to share when a person didn't reciprocate the care and love we gave them. Is it because we are expecting too much? Is it because we are a failure in understanding others? This book gives a perfect answer to it.
The author mentions four types of trust to understand why we are attracted to a person. We can determine whether they are compatible with us by finding out whether their values and trust correspond with us.
My favourite three lines from this book
“Salt is so humble that when something goes wrong, it takes the blame, and when everything goes right, it doesn’t take credit.�
�Schadenfreude doesn't last long. The more we define ourselves in relation to the people around us the more lost we are.�
“Revenge is the mode of ignorance—it’s often said that you can’t fix yourself by breaking someone else.�
What I didn’t like in this book
It is mentioned in this book that after three years, one of his teachers told the author that he would have more impact on the world if he left the monk's path to share his experience and wisdom with others. He moved back home in north London with his parents. This portion, which has a pivotal part in this book, should have been written a little more vividly as we can't fully understand what exactly happened and why the author decided to leave his path of becoming a monk all of a sudden.
It is disheartening to see the way the author indirectly criticized Marie Kondo. Many people in the USA, including some talk show hosts, indeed find enjoyment in making fun of Marie Kondo. But I didn't expect it inside a book which was written with the sole aim of making us think like a monk.
Rating
3/5 There are indeed many haters for the author, and there are some accusations of plagiarism against him. But I think I am not eligible enough to comment on it as I don't know the author personally and don't follow him on social media.
This book might keep you enlightened and answers at least some of your questions regarding your life. There might be certain parts of it that might make us confused and make us question the author. Still, I have to admit that this book is packed with a lot of information that might help most of you in one way or the other.
September 17, 2020
I feel this man is a biggest fraud internet has seen.
November 29, 2020
What a phoney dude and what a phoney book. A friend gifted this to me, despite knowing how not fond of self-help books I am.
I couldn't finish this book so maybe I am not qualified to write a review, but whatever. His introduction starts with a quote that he cannot even place right. Funny, because he loves plagiarising and not attributing.
Shetty starts the book with saying how he fell in love with the story of a monk and his riches-to-rags story. Right then I thought "what a bullshitter". Don't tell me to think like a monk if you are gonna work like a entrepreneur.
I couldn't finish this book so maybe I am not qualified to write a review, but whatever. His introduction starts with a quote that he cannot even place right. Funny, because he loves plagiarising and not attributing.
Shetty starts the book with saying how he fell in love with the story of a monk and his riches-to-rags story. Right then I thought "what a bullshitter". Don't tell me to think like a monk if you are gonna work like a entrepreneur.
September 8, 2020
*Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Jay Shetty for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 9.8.20!*
Jay Shetty has found great exposure through the YouTube community and came highly recommended to me from professionals in the healthcare industry, so I was intrigued to pick this book up and learn more about Shetty's philosophies. Think Like A Monk explores some of the basic principles of his faith through examinations of negative thoughts and their impact on everyday life, the ego and its positive and negative implications, the benefits of service, the importance of gratitude, and the possibilities in life that can be explored through meditation.
While I found this book interesting, I can't say I read any advice that I haven't personally read or heard before. I think this is the sort of self-help book that would befit someone who is new to introspection or self-exploration more than someone who has already discussed or reflected on these topics at length (through faith, therapy, or other avenues) The handwritten charts in the book also disrupted the flow at times, in my opinion, and made the book feel less professional, detracting from the overall benefits of the messages being delivered.
Rather than a more traditional self-help book, I think I was anticipating more of a memoir feel to this book, and the anecdotes from Shetty's time as a monk are hands-down the most interesting parts of the book and my greatest takeaway. I would still recommend this book to anyone interested in an introduction to monks and their way of thinking or to anyone who has been impacted positively by Shetty's YouTube shorts, podcasts, or seminars. 3.5 ⭐️
Jay Shetty has found great exposure through the YouTube community and came highly recommended to me from professionals in the healthcare industry, so I was intrigued to pick this book up and learn more about Shetty's philosophies. Think Like A Monk explores some of the basic principles of his faith through examinations of negative thoughts and their impact on everyday life, the ego and its positive and negative implications, the benefits of service, the importance of gratitude, and the possibilities in life that can be explored through meditation.
While I found this book interesting, I can't say I read any advice that I haven't personally read or heard before. I think this is the sort of self-help book that would befit someone who is new to introspection or self-exploration more than someone who has already discussed or reflected on these topics at length (through faith, therapy, or other avenues) The handwritten charts in the book also disrupted the flow at times, in my opinion, and made the book feel less professional, detracting from the overall benefits of the messages being delivered.
Rather than a more traditional self-help book, I think I was anticipating more of a memoir feel to this book, and the anecdotes from Shetty's time as a monk are hands-down the most interesting parts of the book and my greatest takeaway. I would still recommend this book to anyone interested in an introduction to monks and their way of thinking or to anyone who has been impacted positively by Shetty's YouTube shorts, podcasts, or seminars. 3.5 ⭐️
April 2, 2024
How would you respond at your Ashram when your guru tells you to write about an undeserved experience? I know when the author, Shetty, asked that question my mind immediately jumped to 20 items all of them for me were along the lines of how the universe had shed its unearned favors through time and chance upon me such as meeting my wife 40 years ago and having her fall in love with me, or how my parents were better than the parents on “Leave it to Beaver�, or being granted the unearned favor of having a twin brother and an older brother who have always had my back, or about 17 other items came in to my mind. It never even dawned on me, as it did with the author when he was at the Ashram as a novice with twenty other monks in training to think of negative experiences as he and all the other novices did. That’s the problem I had with this book. I have never thought about my negative experiences as being underserving while I did think of my undeserving experiences as blessings from the universe, and therefore there was no lesson for me. That was the lesson Shetty was trying to give, but I already have that ingrained with in me through my life experiences, and for that, and many other teachings in this book I felt they were superfluous for me.
At the heart of this book is a self-help manual for those who see the world differently than me. I am never a target audience for self-help books. I understand that there are many people who suffer from a host of maladies such as addictions, depression, unsatisfactory work, or are unsatisfied with their life and need a book such as this. For them, this book can be worthwhile.
Shetty makes love foundational for our meaning through out our journey. I always have a problem with that as a standard in it by itself. I’ll give a reason why. Trump’s recent Covid-19 swap meet Nuremburg rallies are filled with love. He’ll tell his mask-less crowds how much he loves them and they shout their love right back at him. Love without knowledge or with willful ignorance is dangerous. Love by itself is not a sufficient standard. We need love with knowledge and a willing of the Good.
The very first aphorisms Shetty gives is if you want to learn something new, read an old book, I concur. That gives me a chance to recommend a bunch of old books that do way better than Shetty does. Though, I want to be kind to Shetty because he really does write a good book for some people who haven’t yet had a chance to read the old books.
Shetty does lay out the case how our life’s meaning is best served by pursuing the Good. I will say one should not stumble over that word Good. Everyone has a general idea in what it means. Thomas Aquinas will lay it out in his Summa Theologia (old book alert) and he makes our highest meaning the contemplation of the Good. That is discovering what is true, what is ethical, and what is beautiful.
The section Shetty wrote on fear and anxiety reminded me of Thucydides� History of the Peloponnesian War when the Athenians are ready to attack Syracuse and the Captain gives the speech on how to proceed and tells them not to let their fears, anxieties and dread overcome them. Really, I wish that whenever I got the urge to read a modern self-help book, I wish I would just reread Thucydides, because he said it all and he said it over two thousand years ago and he said it better. For those who have not read that book, I want to note that the real theme in that book is how the particular makes up the universal and how us humans find meaning through our self, our community, and our culture. That’s actually a theme within Shetty’s book too (I’m not judging Shetty’s book, I fully understand that this book is useful for a large swath of audiences, I’m just not its target group).
I think the finest self-help book ever is Spinoza’s Ethics. Yes, the first two sections are devilishly complex because he writes axiomatically and the reader needs to understand their Aristotle. The last two sections are mostly a self-help book that covers most of what was in this book, and Spinoza does it better. After all, if one wants to learn something new read an old book. Also, since I’ve mentioned Aristotle, I want to mention his Ethics. Aristotle will tell his reader that ethos means habit and that our good habits make for a Good ethos. I would say that Shetty had that as a theme in this book too.
There’s one more old book I would recommend instead of this one, Boethius� Consolation of Philosophy. There’s a reason that book was in more home libraries in the 17th century than any other book except for the bible. He reconciles Plato with Aristotle and gives meaning to our significance by emphasizing the Good in the manner of Plotinus by pointing out evil is the absence of the Good and that the Universe does not have evil as such, and that is our lack of knowledge (wisdom) that leads to our dread, and the truly vile among us are the least among us because they never get to learn or grow and they are worthy of our empathy and consideration.
I would say that all of the books I mentioned covered most of the material presented in this book and they each did it in a more highly original manner. There really is not anything unique within the mostly Buddhist/Hindu traditions presented in this book.
I want to emphasize that this book definitely can appeal to a host of others. I would say that if you thought in terms of negative response to the challenge ‘describe an undeserving experience�, and if you have not read much on this topic previously, and if you just don’t have the time to read those older better books, this book would be worthwhile if you are in need of a self-help book.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable for some people to rate this book five stars. I would say this book just was not my cup of tea.
At the heart of this book is a self-help manual for those who see the world differently than me. I am never a target audience for self-help books. I understand that there are many people who suffer from a host of maladies such as addictions, depression, unsatisfactory work, or are unsatisfied with their life and need a book such as this. For them, this book can be worthwhile.
Shetty makes love foundational for our meaning through out our journey. I always have a problem with that as a standard in it by itself. I’ll give a reason why. Trump’s recent Covid-19 swap meet Nuremburg rallies are filled with love. He’ll tell his mask-less crowds how much he loves them and they shout their love right back at him. Love without knowledge or with willful ignorance is dangerous. Love by itself is not a sufficient standard. We need love with knowledge and a willing of the Good.
The very first aphorisms Shetty gives is if you want to learn something new, read an old book, I concur. That gives me a chance to recommend a bunch of old books that do way better than Shetty does. Though, I want to be kind to Shetty because he really does write a good book for some people who haven’t yet had a chance to read the old books.
Shetty does lay out the case how our life’s meaning is best served by pursuing the Good. I will say one should not stumble over that word Good. Everyone has a general idea in what it means. Thomas Aquinas will lay it out in his Summa Theologia (old book alert) and he makes our highest meaning the contemplation of the Good. That is discovering what is true, what is ethical, and what is beautiful.
The section Shetty wrote on fear and anxiety reminded me of Thucydides� History of the Peloponnesian War when the Athenians are ready to attack Syracuse and the Captain gives the speech on how to proceed and tells them not to let their fears, anxieties and dread overcome them. Really, I wish that whenever I got the urge to read a modern self-help book, I wish I would just reread Thucydides, because he said it all and he said it over two thousand years ago and he said it better. For those who have not read that book, I want to note that the real theme in that book is how the particular makes up the universal and how us humans find meaning through our self, our community, and our culture. That’s actually a theme within Shetty’s book too (I’m not judging Shetty’s book, I fully understand that this book is useful for a large swath of audiences, I’m just not its target group).
I think the finest self-help book ever is Spinoza’s Ethics. Yes, the first two sections are devilishly complex because he writes axiomatically and the reader needs to understand their Aristotle. The last two sections are mostly a self-help book that covers most of what was in this book, and Spinoza does it better. After all, if one wants to learn something new read an old book. Also, since I’ve mentioned Aristotle, I want to mention his Ethics. Aristotle will tell his reader that ethos means habit and that our good habits make for a Good ethos. I would say that Shetty had that as a theme in this book too.
There’s one more old book I would recommend instead of this one, Boethius� Consolation of Philosophy. There’s a reason that book was in more home libraries in the 17th century than any other book except for the bible. He reconciles Plato with Aristotle and gives meaning to our significance by emphasizing the Good in the manner of Plotinus by pointing out evil is the absence of the Good and that the Universe does not have evil as such, and that is our lack of knowledge (wisdom) that leads to our dread, and the truly vile among us are the least among us because they never get to learn or grow and they are worthy of our empathy and consideration.
I would say that all of the books I mentioned covered most of the material presented in this book and they each did it in a more highly original manner. There really is not anything unique within the mostly Buddhist/Hindu traditions presented in this book.
I want to emphasize that this book definitely can appeal to a host of others. I would say that if you thought in terms of negative response to the challenge ‘describe an undeserving experience�, and if you have not read much on this topic previously, and if you just don’t have the time to read those older better books, this book would be worthwhile if you are in need of a self-help book.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable for some people to rate this book five stars. I would say this book just was not my cup of tea.
May 2, 2022
My mind is like my internet browser�19 tabs open, 3 of them are frozen and I have no idea where the music is coming from. (A seen on Pinterest)
Is it any wonder why I seek out books about serenity? Even if I can’t reach it, I’d like to carve out a meandering path to it. And when Jay Shetty leads the way, I take note. I love his easy-going style and his ability to distill spiritual concepts into ideas we can incorporate into our daily lives without having to don a saffron robe.
Is there much new here? Likely not for those who’ve been on their own spiritual journey, but just because it’s been said before, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth repeating. Or for some us, beaten into our brains until we finally surrender.
Is it any wonder why I seek out books about serenity? Even if I can’t reach it, I’d like to carve out a meandering path to it. And when Jay Shetty leads the way, I take note. I love his easy-going style and his ability to distill spiritual concepts into ideas we can incorporate into our daily lives without having to don a saffron robe.
Is there much new here? Likely not for those who’ve been on their own spiritual journey, but just because it’s been said before, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth repeating. Or for some us, beaten into our brains until we finally surrender.
Read
September 8, 2020 Think Like a Monk
I just finished this book, and I have mixed feelings about it.
after reading many nonfiction books, I realized most books talk about the same stuff. ( sadly that is true with this book)
This book is basically summarizing jay's all youtube/Facebook videos.
Its an average read.
This book is divided into 3 parts basically,
1. Let go
2. Grow
3. Give
Then all parts are divided into further subchapters. Talking about fear, pain, ego, purpose, etc. all those emotional words you can say.
If you are an avid reader of self-help books then you will find much reparative stuff in it.
We all know in anger try to breathe. How meditation and breath are connected.
These books just explain all the stuff we know in different words.
At the end of every chapter, there are tips or exercises to work on. That's the only helpful stuff.
This book is more about understanding our genuine power. how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lies within all of us.
How we can all apply this method to reduce stress, improve focus.
jay also talks about improving relationships, identify our hidden abilities, increase self-discipline.
At the end of the book, all the references give if you want to dive deep into the topic.
It's a good book for beginners only. If you are an avid reader then, probably it's not for you.
I just finished this book, and I have mixed feelings about it.
after reading many nonfiction books, I realized most books talk about the same stuff. ( sadly that is true with this book)
This book is basically summarizing jay's all youtube/Facebook videos.
Its an average read.
This book is divided into 3 parts basically,
1. Let go
2. Grow
3. Give
Then all parts are divided into further subchapters. Talking about fear, pain, ego, purpose, etc. all those emotional words you can say.
If you are an avid reader of self-help books then you will find much reparative stuff in it.
We all know in anger try to breathe. How meditation and breath are connected.
These books just explain all the stuff we know in different words.
At the end of every chapter, there are tips or exercises to work on. That's the only helpful stuff.
This book is more about understanding our genuine power. how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lies within all of us.
How we can all apply this method to reduce stress, improve focus.
jay also talks about improving relationships, identify our hidden abilities, increase self-discipline.
At the end of the book, all the references give if you want to dive deep into the topic.
It's a good book for beginners only. If you are an avid reader then, probably it's not for you.
June 12, 2024
"Monkey mind: Overwhelmed by multiple branches.
Monk mind: Focused on the root of the issue.
Monkey mind: Overthinks and procrastinates.
Monk mind: Analyzes and articulates.
Monkey mind: Distracted by small things.
Monk mind: Disciplined.
Monkey mind: Multitasking.
Monk mind: Single-tasking.
Monkey mind: Looks for pleasure.
Monk mind: Looks for meaning."
Jay Shettyreveals what he learned as a young man during three years living as a Hindu monk in India. He brought home the fruits of his daily meditation practice to England and shared them with college friends who were already experiencing a lot of stress in their work. His goal was to make the monk's life practical and relevant to today's world.
Honestly, I don't think I read anything new. There was a lot of repeated content but there were some valid points that he raised and shared. If you are a beginner in the self-help genrethis book is packed with a lot of information that might help most of you in one way or the other, otherwise reading this book won't be a good idea.
You might like to check out more similar books
Monk mind: Focused on the root of the issue.
Monkey mind: Overthinks and procrastinates.
Monk mind: Analyzes and articulates.
Monkey mind: Distracted by small things.
Monk mind: Disciplined.
Monkey mind: Multitasking.
Monk mind: Single-tasking.
Monkey mind: Looks for pleasure.
Monk mind: Looks for meaning."
Jay Shettyreveals what he learned as a young man during three years living as a Hindu monk in India. He brought home the fruits of his daily meditation practice to England and shared them with college friends who were already experiencing a lot of stress in their work. His goal was to make the monk's life practical and relevant to today's world.
Honestly, I don't think I read anything new. There was a lot of repeated content but there were some valid points that he raised and shared. If you are a beginner in the self-help genrethis book is packed with a lot of information that might help most of you in one way or the other, otherwise reading this book won't be a good idea.
You might like to check out more similar books
September 26, 2020
After the Nicole Arbour exposure, I just can't with Jay Shetty. There are many other books in this genre that do a better job from people who actually walk the walk.
October 14, 2020
“Before judging others, pause for a moment and ask: am I finding fault in order to distract myself or others from my own insecurities? Am I projecting my own weakness onto them? And even if I’m doing neither of those things, am I any better than the person I’m criticizing?
I can’t say what the answers to the first two questions will be in every case, but the answer to the third question is always no.�
This is one of themost enlightening and empoweringbooks Ihave ever read. One read isn’t enough, and I’ve just ordered a physical copy so I can revisit it with a pen at hand. Jay reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us - if there was ever a time to read this book, it’s now.
I can’t say what the answers to the first two questions will be in every case, but the answer to the third question is always no.�
This is one of themost enlightening and empoweringbooks Ihave ever read. One read isn’t enough, and I’ve just ordered a physical copy so I can revisit it with a pen at hand. Jay reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us - if there was ever a time to read this book, it’s now.
January 17, 2024
Decent book on being a decent person 👍 Reads slow, as most these books tend to� good insights on self awareness and appreciation/gratitude ☝️
January 26, 2024
The best part of this book was when it ended. I'm not going to lie, by chapter 6 I just hardcore skimmed through this. I only didn't DNF it since it's a book club pick.
First of all, this book is BORING. It's like a patchwork of different quotes from various sources put together but isn't very interesting to read. Shetty's writing is not engaging on all. It was like "ancient quote" + "okay remember to turn off you phone" + "more modern quote". I would honestly rather see these as individual quotes on instagram then in a book. Also like half this book is from the Bhagavad Gita so I'm confused how he even monetized this content.
I feel like every single quote I highlighted (from the first 6 chapters) wasn't an original Jay Shetty quote. It feels like it's either generically human or from someone else.
Secondly this is marketed as a self-help book. Part of accepting help from someone is believing they are worthy of advising you because they've been through some kind of experience. Honestly Shetty is not a compelling author. Sure, he was a monk but so what? It's described in a couple of pages and we are then supposed to look at his quilt of quotes? He was a pretty well off 2nd gen Indian-British person, went to college, worked for a consulting firm...and so what? He didn't convince me at all that he was worth taking advice from. (Advice copy and pasted from ancient scripts!) Like I don't really appreciate a book preaching to me about I spend too much time on my phone/gossiping.
Also a lot of this material is recycled from what I've heard from elders. And it's more legit coming from an old person bc presumably they made it to that age for a reason. It's very hard to have someone who is in their 30s (with a 2.5M!!! net worth) tell me how to be a better person. I have no issue with Jay Shetty spending money and living really well but somehow I was unable to connect that to this mindful monk material. Also I am confused, if the monk mindset was so great why did he decide to go back to being a regular person? Can you even truly be a "former monk"?
This was boring, preachy, and unoriginal.
First of all, this book is BORING. It's like a patchwork of different quotes from various sources put together but isn't very interesting to read. Shetty's writing is not engaging on all. It was like "ancient quote" + "okay remember to turn off you phone" + "more modern quote". I would honestly rather see these as individual quotes on instagram then in a book. Also like half this book is from the Bhagavad Gita so I'm confused how he even monetized this content.
I feel like every single quote I highlighted (from the first 6 chapters) wasn't an original Jay Shetty quote. It feels like it's either generically human or from someone else.
Secondly this is marketed as a self-help book. Part of accepting help from someone is believing they are worthy of advising you because they've been through some kind of experience. Honestly Shetty is not a compelling author. Sure, he was a monk but so what? It's described in a couple of pages and we are then supposed to look at his quilt of quotes? He was a pretty well off 2nd gen Indian-British person, went to college, worked for a consulting firm...and so what? He didn't convince me at all that he was worth taking advice from. (Advice copy and pasted from ancient scripts!) Like I don't really appreciate a book preaching to me about I spend too much time on my phone/gossiping.
Also a lot of this material is recycled from what I've heard from elders. And it's more legit coming from an old person bc presumably they made it to that age for a reason. It's very hard to have someone who is in their 30s (with a 2.5M!!! net worth) tell me how to be a better person. I have no issue with Jay Shetty spending money and living really well but somehow I was unable to connect that to this mindful monk material. Also I am confused, if the monk mindset was so great why did he decide to go back to being a regular person? Can you even truly be a "former monk"?
This was boring, preachy, and unoriginal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2021
The book version of “that meeting could’ve been an email�
January 24, 2021
DNF. This is not for me. I finished chapter 1 and am already overwhelmed by Shetty’s writing which feels dull and sexist (just stop buying so many shoes and spending so long getting ready, ladies!) and classist (really think about if those daily $4 lattees are worth it!). It’s all about how spending 3 whole years as a monk gave him the great insight to write this book to share with us! It doesn’t appear much of the rest of the book is much of a memoir of his monk times though but more a cobbling together of Bhagavad Gita quotes and smug assertions that just putting down the iPhone will solve your woes. Perhaps there are ideas in here that will help some folks but for me I’m tapping out.
It reads how I imagine the book written by Tahani Al-Jamil (the self-absorbed character from the Good Place) after her short stint in a monastery would read...
It reads how I imagine the book written by Tahani Al-Jamil (the self-absorbed character from the Good Place) after her short stint in a monastery would read...
January 1, 2022
Because of this book I....
- have a goal to give up social media on weekdays
- looked and continue to search for my life’s purpose
- dug to the root of why I want material things in life just to realize that they do not matter
- am getting on a weekly meditation/breathing/visualization schedule
- dove into what I fear most in life and reflected on why they are scare me
- spend 3 nights a week thinking/writing down everything I am thankful for
- learned the difference between attraction and deep connection in relationships
- am working to detach from my ego. I am not my successes or my failures
- have learned life’s highest purpose (read to find out)
If you want to seriously change your outlook on life, this is a must read. You have to take the exercises seriously though, this book is not meant to be read fast. Deeply contemplate your life when reading this, and you can get as much out of this book as I did. Happy reading!
- have a goal to give up social media on weekdays
- looked and continue to search for my life’s purpose
- dug to the root of why I want material things in life just to realize that they do not matter
- am getting on a weekly meditation/breathing/visualization schedule
- dove into what I fear most in life and reflected on why they are scare me
- spend 3 nights a week thinking/writing down everything I am thankful for
- learned the difference between attraction and deep connection in relationships
- am working to detach from my ego. I am not my successes or my failures
- have learned life’s highest purpose (read to find out)
If you want to seriously change your outlook on life, this is a must read. You have to take the exercises seriously though, this book is not meant to be read fast. Deeply contemplate your life when reading this, and you can get as much out of this book as I did. Happy reading!
March 22, 2021
“Becoming a monk is a mindset that anyone can adopt.�
Why would anyone want to do that? To find a peaceful mind “and build lives that brim with purpose and meaning.� You can have a usual life � getting a job, getting married, and maybe having a family. But there is something deeper. Thus, the search for something deeper is explored in this book.
Interesting � “We experience every emotion with the change of the breath. When you learn to navigate and manage your breath, you can navigate any situation in life.�
Good point � “…the only thing that stays with you from the moment you’re born until the moment you die is your breath.� That’s why controlling your breath is very important.
How do you control it? Through meditation.
What are the benefits of meditation? To clear your mind and to make better decisions.
- Clearing away distractions, thus to be able to focus on what matters most � finding meaning in life. The cleansing process includes external influences for example negativity and internal obstacles for example fear.
- Growth � to “reshape your life so that you can make decisions with intention, purpose, and confidence.�
- Giving � “looking to the world beyond ourselves, expanding and sharing our sense of gratitude, and deepening our relationships.�
Thus resulting in “the true joy and surprising benefits of service.�
I’ve read many books in this genre and was very excited about this book when I learned about the author and his transformative journey. I thought that the story would be focused on his life, his journey, and his transformation. Instead, it turns out to be a pretty technical book at times, which involves subjects that were discussed in many other books. The part that pertains to the author is the most interesting part.
If you haven’t done much reading in this genre, then you may feel differently about this book.
Why would anyone want to do that? To find a peaceful mind “and build lives that brim with purpose and meaning.� You can have a usual life � getting a job, getting married, and maybe having a family. But there is something deeper. Thus, the search for something deeper is explored in this book.
Interesting � “We experience every emotion with the change of the breath. When you learn to navigate and manage your breath, you can navigate any situation in life.�
Good point � “…the only thing that stays with you from the moment you’re born until the moment you die is your breath.� That’s why controlling your breath is very important.
How do you control it? Through meditation.
What are the benefits of meditation? To clear your mind and to make better decisions.
- Clearing away distractions, thus to be able to focus on what matters most � finding meaning in life. The cleansing process includes external influences for example negativity and internal obstacles for example fear.
- Growth � to “reshape your life so that you can make decisions with intention, purpose, and confidence.�
- Giving � “looking to the world beyond ourselves, expanding and sharing our sense of gratitude, and deepening our relationships.�
Thus resulting in “the true joy and surprising benefits of service.�
I’ve read many books in this genre and was very excited about this book when I learned about the author and his transformative journey. I thought that the story would be focused on his life, his journey, and his transformation. Instead, it turns out to be a pretty technical book at times, which involves subjects that were discussed in many other books. The part that pertains to the author is the most interesting part.
If you haven’t done much reading in this genre, then you may feel differently about this book.
April 3, 2021
Wow! A new instafav!!!
Passion + Skill = Talent (Varna)
Skill + Usefullness = Occupation
Usefullness + Compassion = Servise (Seva)
Compassion + Passion = Charity
Varna + Seva + Occupation + Charity = (?) Passion + Expertise + Usefulness = Dharma
Now that's some formulaic Buddhism!
Love the 'VISUALIZATION FOR TOMORROW' routine!
'TRANSFORM THE MUNDANE'
Q:
In 1902, the sociologist Charles Horton Cooley wrote: “I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am. (c)
Q:
Unconsciously, we’re all method acting to some degree. We have personas we play online, at work, with friends, and at home. These different personas have their benefits. They enable us to make the money that pays our bills, they help us function in a workplace where we don’t always feel comfortable, they let us maintain relationships with people we don’t really like but need to interact with. But often our identity has so many layers that we lose sight of the real us, if we ever knew who or what that was in the first place. We bring our work role home with us, and we take the role we play with our friends into our romantic life, without any conscious control or intention. However successfully we play our roles, we end up feeling dissatisfied, depressed, unworthy, and unhappy. The “I� and “me,� small and vulnerable to begin with, get distorted. (c)
Q:
Every year since I was eighteen I’d spent part of the summer interning at a finance job in London and part of the year training at the ashram in Mumbai. (c) Now, that's a clash, if ever!
Q:
They clamor with opinions and expectations and obligations. Go straight from high school to the best college, find a lucrative job, get married, buy a home, have children, get promoted. Cultural norms exist for a reason—there is nothing wrong with a society that offers models of what a fulfilling life might look like. But if we take on these goals without reflection, we’ll never understand why we don’t own a home or we’re not happy where we live, why our job feels hollow, whether we even want a spouse or any of the goals we’re striving for. (c)
Q:
The only way to build a meaningful life is to filter out that noise and look within. (c)
Q:
If you go to a networking event every day and have to tell people what you do for a living, it’s hard to step away from that reduction of who you are. If you watch Real Housewives every night, you start to think that throwing glasses of wine in your friends� faces is routine behavior.
When we fill up our lives and leave ourselves no room to reflect, those distractions become our values by default. (c)
Q:
filter out the noise of opinions, expectations, and obligations (OEOs) (c)
Q:
Every day we are assaulted by negativity. No wonder we can’t help but dish it out as well as receive it. We report the aches and pains of the day rather than the small joys. We compare ourselves to our neighbors, complain about our partners, say things about our friends behind their backs that we would never say to their faces, criticize people on social media, argue, deceive, even explode into anger. (c)
Q:
We have three core emotional needs, which I like to think of as peace, love, and understanding (c)
Q:
Stanford psychologists took 104 subjects and assigned them to one of two groups—one told to write a short essay about a time they were bored, and the other to write about a time when life seemed unfair or when they felt “wronged or slighted by someone.� Afterward, the participants were asked if they wanted to help the researchers with an easy task. Those who’d written about a time they’d been wronged were 26 percent less likely to help the researchers. In a similar study, participants who identified with a victim mindset were not only more likely to express selfish attitudes afterward, they were also more likely to leave behind trash and even take the experimenters� pens! (c)
Q:
We’re social creatures who get most of what we want in life—peace, love, and understanding—from the group we gather around us. Our brains adjust automatically to both harmony and disagreement. We’ve already talked about how we unconsciously try to please others. Well, we also want to agree with others. (c)
Q:
Complainers, like the friend on the phone, who complain endlessly without looking for solutions. Life is a problem that will be hard if not impossible to solve.
Cancellers, who take a compliment and spin it: “You look good today� becomes “You mean I looked bad yesterday?�
Casualties, who think the world is against them and blame their problems on others.Critics, who judge others for either having a different opinion or not having one, for any choices they’ve made that are different from what the critic would have done.
Commanders, who realize their own limits but pressure others to succeed. They’ll say, “You never have time for me,� even though they’re busy as well.
Competitors, who compare themselves to others, controlling and manipulating to make themselves or their choices look better. They are in so much pain that they want to bring others down. Often we have to play down our successes around these people because we know they can’t appreciate them.
Controllers, who monitor and try to direct how their friends or partners spend time, and with whom, and what choices they make.
...
Once you recognize a complainer isn’t looking for solutions, you realize you don’t have to provide them. If a commander says, “You’re too busy for me,� you can say, “Should we find a time that works for both of us?� (c)
Q:
Don’t judge someone with a different disease. Don’t expect anyone to be perfect. Don’t think you are perfect. (c)
Q:
Dharma, like many Sanskrit terms, can’t be defined by a single English word, though to say something is “your calling� comes close. My definition of dharma is an effort to make it practical to our lives today. I see dharma as the combination of varna and seva. Think of varna (also a word with complex meanings) as passion and skills. Seva is understanding the world’s needs and selflessly serving others. When your natural talents and passions (your varna) connect with what the universe needs (seva) and become your purpose, you are living in your dharma.
When you spend your time and energy living in your dharma, you have the satisfaction of using your best abilities and doing something that matters to the world. Living in your dharma is a certain route to fulfillment.
...
Passion + Expertise + Usefulness = Dharma (c)
Q:
One professor didn’t realize that there was a fire extinguisher just inches from the office he’d occupied for twenty-five years. (c)
Q:
Location has energy; time has memory.If you do something at the same time every day, it becomes easier and natural.If you do something in the same space every day, it becomes easier and natural. (c)
Q:
Studies have found that only 2 percent of us can multitask effectively; most of us are terrible at it, especially when one of those tasks requires a lot of focus. When we think we’re multitasking, what’s usually happening is that we’re shifting rapidly among several different things, or “serial tasking.� (c)
Q:
Routines become easier if you’ve done something immersively. If you want to bring a new skill into your life, I recommend that you kick it off with single-pointed focus for a short period of time. (c)
Q:
Monks try to do everything immersively. Our lunches were silent. Our meditations were long. We didn’t do anything in just five minutes. (Except for showering. We weren’t showering immersively.) We had the luxury of time, and we used it to single-task for hours on end. That same level of immersion isn’t possible in the modern world, but the greater your investment, the greater your return. If something is important, it deserves to be experienced deeply. And everything is important.
We all procrastinate and get distracted, even monks, but if you give yourself more time, then you can afford to get distracted and then refocus. In your morning routine, having limited time means that you’re one phone call or spilled coffee away from being late to work. If you’re frustrated with learning a new skill, understanding a concept, or assembling a piece of Ikea furniture, your instinct will be to pull away, but go all in and you’ll accomplish more than you thought possible.
As it turns out, periods of deep focus are also good for your brain. When we switch tasks compulsively (like the multitaskers who showed poor memory and focus in the Stanford study), it erodes our ability to focus. We overstimulate the dopamine (reward) channel. (c) Gosh, I need to write it on my wall or something!
Q:
In the Hitopadeśa, an ancient Indian text by Nārāyana, the mind is compared to a drunken monkey that’s been bitten by a scorpion and haunted by a ghost. (c) It probably is, in our digital age!
Q:
Another option is to simply repeat an ancient samurai saying that the monks use: “Make my mind my friend,� over and over in your head. When you repeat a phrase, it quiets the default mode network—the area of the brain associated with mind wandering and thinking about yourself. The monkey will be forced to stop and listen. (c)
Q:
The crane stands still in water, ignoring the small fish as they pass by. Her stillness allows her to catch the bigger fish. (c)
Passion + Skill = Talent (Varna)
Skill + Usefullness = Occupation
Usefullness + Compassion = Servise (Seva)
Compassion + Passion = Charity
Varna + Seva + Occupation + Charity = (?) Passion + Expertise + Usefulness = Dharma
Now that's some formulaic Buddhism!
Love the 'VISUALIZATION FOR TOMORROW' routine!
'TRANSFORM THE MUNDANE'
Q:
In 1902, the sociologist Charles Horton Cooley wrote: “I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am. (c)
Q:
Unconsciously, we’re all method acting to some degree. We have personas we play online, at work, with friends, and at home. These different personas have their benefits. They enable us to make the money that pays our bills, they help us function in a workplace where we don’t always feel comfortable, they let us maintain relationships with people we don’t really like but need to interact with. But often our identity has so many layers that we lose sight of the real us, if we ever knew who or what that was in the first place. We bring our work role home with us, and we take the role we play with our friends into our romantic life, without any conscious control or intention. However successfully we play our roles, we end up feeling dissatisfied, depressed, unworthy, and unhappy. The “I� and “me,� small and vulnerable to begin with, get distorted. (c)
Q:
Every year since I was eighteen I’d spent part of the summer interning at a finance job in London and part of the year training at the ashram in Mumbai. (c) Now, that's a clash, if ever!
Q:
They clamor with opinions and expectations and obligations. Go straight from high school to the best college, find a lucrative job, get married, buy a home, have children, get promoted. Cultural norms exist for a reason—there is nothing wrong with a society that offers models of what a fulfilling life might look like. But if we take on these goals without reflection, we’ll never understand why we don’t own a home or we’re not happy where we live, why our job feels hollow, whether we even want a spouse or any of the goals we’re striving for. (c)
Q:
The only way to build a meaningful life is to filter out that noise and look within. (c)
Q:
If you go to a networking event every day and have to tell people what you do for a living, it’s hard to step away from that reduction of who you are. If you watch Real Housewives every night, you start to think that throwing glasses of wine in your friends� faces is routine behavior.
When we fill up our lives and leave ourselves no room to reflect, those distractions become our values by default. (c)
Q:
filter out the noise of opinions, expectations, and obligations (OEOs) (c)
Q:
Every day we are assaulted by negativity. No wonder we can’t help but dish it out as well as receive it. We report the aches and pains of the day rather than the small joys. We compare ourselves to our neighbors, complain about our partners, say things about our friends behind their backs that we would never say to their faces, criticize people on social media, argue, deceive, even explode into anger. (c)
Q:
We have three core emotional needs, which I like to think of as peace, love, and understanding (c)
Q:
Stanford psychologists took 104 subjects and assigned them to one of two groups—one told to write a short essay about a time they were bored, and the other to write about a time when life seemed unfair or when they felt “wronged or slighted by someone.� Afterward, the participants were asked if they wanted to help the researchers with an easy task. Those who’d written about a time they’d been wronged were 26 percent less likely to help the researchers. In a similar study, participants who identified with a victim mindset were not only more likely to express selfish attitudes afterward, they were also more likely to leave behind trash and even take the experimenters� pens! (c)
Q:
We’re social creatures who get most of what we want in life—peace, love, and understanding—from the group we gather around us. Our brains adjust automatically to both harmony and disagreement. We’ve already talked about how we unconsciously try to please others. Well, we also want to agree with others. (c)
Q:
Complainers, like the friend on the phone, who complain endlessly without looking for solutions. Life is a problem that will be hard if not impossible to solve.
Cancellers, who take a compliment and spin it: “You look good today� becomes “You mean I looked bad yesterday?�
Casualties, who think the world is against them and blame their problems on others.Critics, who judge others for either having a different opinion or not having one, for any choices they’ve made that are different from what the critic would have done.
Commanders, who realize their own limits but pressure others to succeed. They’ll say, “You never have time for me,� even though they’re busy as well.
Competitors, who compare themselves to others, controlling and manipulating to make themselves or their choices look better. They are in so much pain that they want to bring others down. Often we have to play down our successes around these people because we know they can’t appreciate them.
Controllers, who monitor and try to direct how their friends or partners spend time, and with whom, and what choices they make.
...
Once you recognize a complainer isn’t looking for solutions, you realize you don’t have to provide them. If a commander says, “You’re too busy for me,� you can say, “Should we find a time that works for both of us?� (c)
Q:
Don’t judge someone with a different disease. Don’t expect anyone to be perfect. Don’t think you are perfect. (c)
Q:
Dharma, like many Sanskrit terms, can’t be defined by a single English word, though to say something is “your calling� comes close. My definition of dharma is an effort to make it practical to our lives today. I see dharma as the combination of varna and seva. Think of varna (also a word with complex meanings) as passion and skills. Seva is understanding the world’s needs and selflessly serving others. When your natural talents and passions (your varna) connect with what the universe needs (seva) and become your purpose, you are living in your dharma.
When you spend your time and energy living in your dharma, you have the satisfaction of using your best abilities and doing something that matters to the world. Living in your dharma is a certain route to fulfillment.
...
Passion + Expertise + Usefulness = Dharma (c)
Q:
One professor didn’t realize that there was a fire extinguisher just inches from the office he’d occupied for twenty-five years. (c)
Q:
Location has energy; time has memory.If you do something at the same time every day, it becomes easier and natural.If you do something in the same space every day, it becomes easier and natural. (c)
Q:
Studies have found that only 2 percent of us can multitask effectively; most of us are terrible at it, especially when one of those tasks requires a lot of focus. When we think we’re multitasking, what’s usually happening is that we’re shifting rapidly among several different things, or “serial tasking.� (c)
Q:
Routines become easier if you’ve done something immersively. If you want to bring a new skill into your life, I recommend that you kick it off with single-pointed focus for a short period of time. (c)
Q:
Monks try to do everything immersively. Our lunches were silent. Our meditations were long. We didn’t do anything in just five minutes. (Except for showering. We weren’t showering immersively.) We had the luxury of time, and we used it to single-task for hours on end. That same level of immersion isn’t possible in the modern world, but the greater your investment, the greater your return. If something is important, it deserves to be experienced deeply. And everything is important.
We all procrastinate and get distracted, even monks, but if you give yourself more time, then you can afford to get distracted and then refocus. In your morning routine, having limited time means that you’re one phone call or spilled coffee away from being late to work. If you’re frustrated with learning a new skill, understanding a concept, or assembling a piece of Ikea furniture, your instinct will be to pull away, but go all in and you’ll accomplish more than you thought possible.
As it turns out, periods of deep focus are also good for your brain. When we switch tasks compulsively (like the multitaskers who showed poor memory and focus in the Stanford study), it erodes our ability to focus. We overstimulate the dopamine (reward) channel. (c) Gosh, I need to write it on my wall or something!
Q:
In the Hitopadeśa, an ancient Indian text by Nārāyana, the mind is compared to a drunken monkey that’s been bitten by a scorpion and haunted by a ghost. (c) It probably is, in our digital age!
Q:
Another option is to simply repeat an ancient samurai saying that the monks use: “Make my mind my friend,� over and over in your head. When you repeat a phrase, it quiets the default mode network—the area of the brain associated with mind wandering and thinking about yourself. The monkey will be forced to stop and listen. (c)
Q:
The crane stands still in water, ignoring the small fish as they pass by. Her stillness allows her to catch the bigger fish. (c)
July 14, 2022
Didn't work for me. I wanted to DNF the book multiple number of times. So. Yes, moving on to other books.
March 1, 2021
Ask yourself: in what monk’s mindset is it okay to put your own face on your book?
It’s like reading a Pinterest board of motivational quotes. All the “wisdom� in here is rehashed from other people’s work. I really recommend that you look elsewhere to gain insights about spirituality, mindfulness, or self-reflection. Don’t waste your time on this.
It’s like reading a Pinterest board of motivational quotes. All the “wisdom� in here is rehashed from other people’s work. I really recommend that you look elsewhere to gain insights about spirituality, mindfulness, or self-reflection. Don’t waste your time on this.
January 31, 2021
Jay Shetty is the narrator of Think Like a Monk and it truly feels like we are having a conversation in my living room. Shetty shares many personal stories of his three years spent training as a monk in an ashram in India. He shares the way a monk thinks (monk mind) and the ancient techniques still used today to have a more joyful, peaceful, purposeful life. I didn't think I wouldn’t be able to do any of this in my own life because I don’t have the years of experience Shetty has, but through Shetty’s masterful story-telling, he gives you everyday examples and “try this� exercises that you can do easily with practice. As Shetty says, “You don’t have to be a monk to think like a monk!!�
Jay has a very soothing voice and I looked forward to the hour or two of "me time� with Jay!!! Yes, we are on a first name basis now!! I also found that when I had to miss a day of listening, I felt a little off. I’ll be listening to the audio again many times in the future.
Since listening, I now use a mantra that keeps me centered when I feel anxiety coming on. Although I may not be feeling the positive effects of all of the exercises yet, I can hear Jay telling me to keep practicing. These methods have also helped me to feel more in the present, calmer and more reflective which was a goal of mine.
If you've read a lot of self-help books, a lot of what Jay shares will not be new. However, the way that it is presented is new and fresh! A different perspective and way of looking at these ancient methods. I highly recommend the audio to anyone that wants to live a more purposeful balanced life.
A few of Jay's Quotes that resonate with me:
“Remember, saying whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want, is not freedom. Real freedom is not feeling the need to say these things.�
“Detachment is not that you own nothing, but that nothing should own you.�
“When your present in gratitude, you can’t be anywhere else.�
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.�
“If we try to be problem-solvers, then we become frustrated when people don’t take our brilliant advice. The desire to save others is ego-driven.�
“Failures are only failures when we don’t learn from them , because when we learn from them they become lessons.�
Jay has a very soothing voice and I looked forward to the hour or two of "me time� with Jay!!! Yes, we are on a first name basis now!! I also found that when I had to miss a day of listening, I felt a little off. I’ll be listening to the audio again many times in the future.
Since listening, I now use a mantra that keeps me centered when I feel anxiety coming on. Although I may not be feeling the positive effects of all of the exercises yet, I can hear Jay telling me to keep practicing. These methods have also helped me to feel more in the present, calmer and more reflective which was a goal of mine.
If you've read a lot of self-help books, a lot of what Jay shares will not be new. However, the way that it is presented is new and fresh! A different perspective and way of looking at these ancient methods. I highly recommend the audio to anyone that wants to live a more purposeful balanced life.
A few of Jay's Quotes that resonate with me:
“Remember, saying whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want, is not freedom. Real freedom is not feeling the need to say these things.�
“Detachment is not that you own nothing, but that nothing should own you.�
“When your present in gratitude, you can’t be anywhere else.�
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.�
“If we try to be problem-solvers, then we become frustrated when people don’t take our brilliant advice. The desire to save others is ego-driven.�
“Failures are only failures when we don’t learn from them , because when we learn from them they become lessons.�
Read
January 19, 2022Going against the grain here. I can’t even give this a star rating. It falls outside the border of what I am comfortable with since I didn’t read enough to be able to give an informed review, but I read enough to know that I can’t read this. The description alone “Jay Shetty, social media superstar and podcast host� haha and monk? No, just no. Going from England to visiting ashrams in India to move to LA and hang out with Kardashians, this smells of hypocrisy. I also don’t believe that the monks told him to do it. Isn’t their motto to not want, but to serve? It feels a little too self serving to me to release a book with your face on it, and post meme’s on instagram to 7+ millions followers.
With this high a rating, I’m sure people are finding some sort of peace and enlightenment and learning something, but I can’t get past how wrong it is to try and fit this holy lifestyle into a social media box.
With this high a rating, I’m sure people are finding some sort of peace and enlightenment and learning something, but I can’t get past how wrong it is to try and fit this holy lifestyle into a social media box.
February 4, 2022
Ironically, this was my "break book" at the halfway point (or close) through The Brothers Karamazov. I say ironically because monks figure prominently in Bros. K, so what exactly am I escaping? Apples and oranges. Russian Orthodox Church and Hindu monks.
I don't go in much for self-help books, but this is a special case of sorts, using as it does a liberal dose of spirituality the author based on his own extended stays at ashrams in India. Some of that experience is leavened into this bread, but most of it is how to apply monk-like values in the modern-day world (vs. wearing a robe with a shaved head).
The LET GO section includes chapters on "Identity," Negativity," "Fear," and "Intention." The GROW part: "Purpose," "Routine," "The Mind," and "Ego." And the final GIVE part: "Gratitude," "Relationships," and "Service."
I was most impressed with the range of quotes and anecdotes Shetty included in the book. As you would expect, there is a lot from Vedic sources, but he's also happy to tap into Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sources as well as some modern self-help guru stuff (how he can read so many of these sorts of books without going nutz is beyond me... so many of them seem to recook each others' leftovers).
On the positive side, there's a lot of useful advice, doable goals you can set, and meditation/breathing tips. I say "doable," but some people might not think that refraining from gossiping, criticizing or comparing yourself to others for a week (then reflecting on how you feel) is easy. Depends on the person, I guess.
On the slightly negative side is the book lost a bit of "oomph" in the last parts, even though he saved the most important (SERVICE!) for last. I kind of liked the "Death Meditation" where you imagine yourself on your death bed at age 90 and ask yourself the following:
1. What do I wish I'd done?
2. What experiences do I wish I'd had?
3. What do I regret not giving more attention?
4. What skills do I wish I'd worked on?
5. What do I wish I'd detached from?
As you can see, answering the questions in the here and now can serve as a motivation to change a few answers before you're actually there (or to the point where little can be done to change the answers). He suggests this exercise at the first of the year, but I see it as an "any time" meditation, leading to a "to do" list.
A little research on-line shows me that Jay Shetty, a name previously unknown to me, has quite an online presence and following. A blog. A podcast (called "On Purpose" and airing on Spotify...er, for now). I listened to one podcast (not something I do) and was put off by the ads for health pills and drinks and stuff. Kind of takes the sheen off this book. But who knows? Maybe all podcasts have gaudy ads where the podcaster recites the capitalist junk. Or maybe JS is using his big bucks for charity (SERVICE).
I hope so. Otherwise, he's wandered farther from his ashram and the precepts of his book than I'd like to think. But, I'll trust him, because I'm cutting my critical stuff down, you see.
Om....
I don't go in much for self-help books, but this is a special case of sorts, using as it does a liberal dose of spirituality the author based on his own extended stays at ashrams in India. Some of that experience is leavened into this bread, but most of it is how to apply monk-like values in the modern-day world (vs. wearing a robe with a shaved head).
The LET GO section includes chapters on "Identity," Negativity," "Fear," and "Intention." The GROW part: "Purpose," "Routine," "The Mind," and "Ego." And the final GIVE part: "Gratitude," "Relationships," and "Service."
I was most impressed with the range of quotes and anecdotes Shetty included in the book. As you would expect, there is a lot from Vedic sources, but he's also happy to tap into Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sources as well as some modern self-help guru stuff (how he can read so many of these sorts of books without going nutz is beyond me... so many of them seem to recook each others' leftovers).
On the positive side, there's a lot of useful advice, doable goals you can set, and meditation/breathing tips. I say "doable," but some people might not think that refraining from gossiping, criticizing or comparing yourself to others for a week (then reflecting on how you feel) is easy. Depends on the person, I guess.
On the slightly negative side is the book lost a bit of "oomph" in the last parts, even though he saved the most important (SERVICE!) for last. I kind of liked the "Death Meditation" where you imagine yourself on your death bed at age 90 and ask yourself the following:
1. What do I wish I'd done?
2. What experiences do I wish I'd had?
3. What do I regret not giving more attention?
4. What skills do I wish I'd worked on?
5. What do I wish I'd detached from?
As you can see, answering the questions in the here and now can serve as a motivation to change a few answers before you're actually there (or to the point where little can be done to change the answers). He suggests this exercise at the first of the year, but I see it as an "any time" meditation, leading to a "to do" list.
A little research on-line shows me that Jay Shetty, a name previously unknown to me, has quite an online presence and following. A blog. A podcast (called "On Purpose" and airing on Spotify...er, for now). I listened to one podcast (not something I do) and was put off by the ads for health pills and drinks and stuff. Kind of takes the sheen off this book. But who knows? Maybe all podcasts have gaudy ads where the podcaster recites the capitalist junk. Or maybe JS is using his big bucks for charity (SERVICE).
I hope so. Otherwise, he's wandered farther from his ashram and the precepts of his book than I'd like to think. But, I'll trust him, because I'm cutting my critical stuff down, you see.
Om....
October 19, 2020
Nu sunt un fan al cărților de dezvoltare personală, fie ele scrise de foști călugări sau adevărați guru, ori titani, cum se intitulează o colecție de la noi, ai acestui domeniu, însă trebuie să recunosc că volumul de față nu l-aș putea încadra la categoria pierderi de timp.
E drept, înaintează foarte greu, m-a scos complet din ritmul meu și adesea mi-a venit greu să țin pasul cu toate informațiile și ideile prezentate în carte.
E drept că sunt ele multe, cum e drept și că sunt de acord cu majoritatea, dacă stau să mă gândesc mai bine, dar lucrul care îi iese cel mai bine lui Jay Shetty, fost londonez cu o potențială lume la picioare plecat să facă foamea și să îndure frigul și lipsurile într-un ashram aflat la dracu-n praznic în India, fost călugăr, și actual influencer cu milioane de adepți care se simt fericiți dacă-i urmează cu sfințenie sfaturile (cu condiția să le și respecte pe termen lung) este o sistematizare a aproape tuturor lucrurilor care ne fac grea viața de zi cu zi, pe care, dacă le-am evita, iar Shetty ne oferă câteva alternative interesante, poate că n-am mai fi atât de stresați, de încruntați, de obosiți și de sictiriți de viața asta petrecută mereu pe fugă.
Poate că dacă aș fi descoperit această carte acum vreo douăzeci de ani, mi-ar fi schimbat viața. Desigur, niciodată nu este prea târziu, dar cine să mai aibă acum timp să citească asemenea sfaturi, darămite să le mai și urmeze, care îl îndeamnă să se odihnească suficient, să lase telefonul deoparte când mănâncă sau petrece timpul cu familia, să fie mereu bun cu ceilalți, neașteptând nimic în schimb, să încerce să facă opere de binefacere, să nu se răzbune imediat cum prinde momentul, să nu mai fie rău, să doarmă cât trebuie, să mănânce cât trebuie, să petreacă timp de calitate cu familia, să facă zilnic exerciții de respirație și să ducă o viață sănătoasă și tot așa.
Am zis destule, nu? Nu știu ce altceva aș mai avea de zis, dar poate, dacă mai las nițel aceste idei să dospească, cine știe, poate iese și de-un articol.
PS: volum oferit în avanpremieră de editura Litera, căreia îi mulțumesc încă o dată pe această cale!
Mai multe, pe Biblioteca lui Liviu: .
E drept, înaintează foarte greu, m-a scos complet din ritmul meu și adesea mi-a venit greu să țin pasul cu toate informațiile și ideile prezentate în carte.
E drept că sunt ele multe, cum e drept și că sunt de acord cu majoritatea, dacă stau să mă gândesc mai bine, dar lucrul care îi iese cel mai bine lui Jay Shetty, fost londonez cu o potențială lume la picioare plecat să facă foamea și să îndure frigul și lipsurile într-un ashram aflat la dracu-n praznic în India, fost călugăr, și actual influencer cu milioane de adepți care se simt fericiți dacă-i urmează cu sfințenie sfaturile (cu condiția să le și respecte pe termen lung) este o sistematizare a aproape tuturor lucrurilor care ne fac grea viața de zi cu zi, pe care, dacă le-am evita, iar Shetty ne oferă câteva alternative interesante, poate că n-am mai fi atât de stresați, de încruntați, de obosiți și de sictiriți de viața asta petrecută mereu pe fugă.
Poate că dacă aș fi descoperit această carte acum vreo douăzeci de ani, mi-ar fi schimbat viața. Desigur, niciodată nu este prea târziu, dar cine să mai aibă acum timp să citească asemenea sfaturi, darămite să le mai și urmeze, care îl îndeamnă să se odihnească suficient, să lase telefonul deoparte când mănâncă sau petrece timpul cu familia, să fie mereu bun cu ceilalți, neașteptând nimic în schimb, să încerce să facă opere de binefacere, să nu se răzbune imediat cum prinde momentul, să nu mai fie rău, să doarmă cât trebuie, să mănânce cât trebuie, să petreacă timp de calitate cu familia, să facă zilnic exerciții de respirație și să ducă o viață sănătoasă și tot așa.
Am zis destule, nu? Nu știu ce altceva aș mai avea de zis, dar poate, dacă mai las nițel aceste idei să dospească, cine știe, poate iese și de-un articol.
PS: volum oferit în avanpremieră de editura Litera, căreia îi mulțumesc încă o dată pe această cale!
Mai multe, pe Biblioteca lui Liviu: .
February 26, 2025
Books read & reviewed: 8️⃣3️⃣🥖4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣
╔Ũ�
5️⃣🌟, cutesy cozy book that features the many lessons that jay shetty learned as his experience as a monk, :))
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️�
This book is like so goofy haha, and one that is full of advices, this is exactly what i am looking for when it's just a journey probably a memoir of a person and his experiences as a monk. In one way or another this book will surely help you even on the little things, this is so jampacked with information and advices unlike OTHER SELF HELP BOOKS (that claim to have the solution to everything, the answer to the entire world) this is just a book describing the things he learned, and i absolutely lovely easily palatable writing style and is can be easily understood and thought of! 💗, it's not taking itself that seriously. It is just a good vibe in itself which i really enjoyed while reading 🥳. Goes very well with my milk tea/boba 🧋
✧･�: *✧･�:*Pre-Read✧･�: *✧･�:*
Judging this book by its cover cuz damn this cover looks like he just found the answers to life's every question,. Bro might even solve the math millennium prize problems
╔Ũ�
5️⃣🌟, cutesy cozy book that features the many lessons that jay shetty learned as his experience as a monk, :))
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️�
This book is like so goofy haha, and one that is full of advices, this is exactly what i am looking for when it's just a journey probably a memoir of a person and his experiences as a monk. In one way or another this book will surely help you even on the little things, this is so jampacked with information and advices unlike OTHER SELF HELP BOOKS (that claim to have the solution to everything, the answer to the entire world) this is just a book describing the things he learned, and i absolutely lovely easily palatable writing style and is can be easily understood and thought of! 💗, it's not taking itself that seriously. It is just a good vibe in itself which i really enjoyed while reading 🥳. Goes very well with my milk tea/boba 🧋
✧･�: *✧･�:*Pre-Read✧･�: *✧･�:*
Judging this book by its cover cuz damn this cover looks like he just found the answers to life's every question,. Bro might even solve the math millennium prize problems
September 13, 2020
This is a fantastic book, its everything I expected and more. There are so many useful and practical take aways that you can begin to apply straight away. It is like having Jay as a personal coach. In Chapter 1 , I learned about values and Jay takes you through exercises which can help you understand and identify where these have come from, which is an important exercise. I especially love the part about knowing the difference between what we think our values are and our actions. This is vital to be aware of. So many of us live life and do things that do not align with our values. And, in order to live a life and have a mind that is at peace, we must know what our values are and live accordingly. Jay breaks this process down in an easy step by step guide so that anyone can understand what their values truly are and begin living life accordingly. In Chapter 2 Jay talks about forgiveness as a two way street snd what this mean as well as forgiving ourselves and takes us through a great exercise to navigate through forgiveness. Overall this is a fantastic book that keeps you engaged and focused throughout, needless to say, when I pick it up I cant put it down. If you are new to self-development or continuing your journey, I highly recommend this book, it really teaches you to dive deep and give you the practical tools to get to know yourself, change your mindset and live a happier and peaceful life
January 15, 2021
As someone who was a fan of Jay Shetty, I was really really disappointed by this book. Content aside, I was mostly disappointed by the snake oil salesman technique of writing a book just to plug your online courses at the end. Makes the book feel like one big lead to secure a sale. I picked up this book hoping to learn from a once-monk, but all I got was a sales pitch from a businessman. A shame.
On to the content: there are some good takeaways and ideas here, however, there is nothing at all original, and nothing that you haven’t read (in better books) if you have ever read any personal development books. I almost knew everything that was going to be said as soon as I read the chapter title. The book was jammed with cringe-like clichés, and I feel like I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know.
I have been one of Jay’s defenders online when seeing people throw him hate about plagiarism and being a sleazy salesman, and now I understand where they are coming from.
It has truly put me off of his work.
😔
On to the content: there are some good takeaways and ideas here, however, there is nothing at all original, and nothing that you haven’t read (in better books) if you have ever read any personal development books. I almost knew everything that was going to be said as soon as I read the chapter title. The book was jammed with cringe-like clichés, and I feel like I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know.
I have been one of Jay’s defenders online when seeing people throw him hate about plagiarism and being a sleazy salesman, and now I understand where they are coming from.
It has truly put me off of his work.
😔
March 19, 2021
So happy I listened to this as an audiobook as Jay read it SO well. Normally I prefer having self-help books as paperback so I can highlight text, but I definitely felt I got more from this book through his voice and animation otherwise I might have skimmed a lot of passages as the “I’ve read this before.� But while a lot of the lessons were things I had heard before (especially the science and evidence of the benefits of mindfulness etc), hearing everything through him and his own voice just helped bring a different light to it.
My favourite part of this book was by far the purpose and desire side of things. I really loved the exploration of the intention of things and “what I need to be� vs “what I need to do� the most. Almost wish the whole book had completely focused on this as it felt a lot more unique and not something I’ve heard/read before!
My favourite part of this book was by far the purpose and desire side of things. I really loved the exploration of the intention of things and “what I need to be� vs “what I need to do� the most. Almost wish the whole book had completely focused on this as it felt a lot more unique and not something I’ve heard/read before!
July 23, 2021
Tīri sakarīga pašizaugsmes grāmata, kurā apkopotas sen, sen zināmas patiesības no dažādiem laikiem, dažādiem autoriem, kultūrām, tikai autors pievienojis tam visam savu mūka kontekstu, ierādot kā mums visiem ikdienā noderētu mūku mierīgā, nesavtīgā un pozitīvā domāšana.
Taisnība jau viņam ir, ja mēs mazāk domātu par to, ko citi par mums domā, ja mēs vairāk laika veltītu sev un nodarbēm, kas mūs dara laimīgus, mēs dzīvotu labākā, veselīgākā sabiedrībā.
Ļoti iesaku audiogrāmatu autora balsī, un pat mazā paātrinājumā, jo tad viņš izklausās munds, super pozitīvs, apņēmīgs, un kripata viņa entuziasma pielips arī jums.
Taisnība jau viņam ir, ja mēs mazāk domātu par to, ko citi par mums domā, ja mēs vairāk laika veltītu sev un nodarbēm, kas mūs dara laimīgus, mēs dzīvotu labākā, veselīgākā sabiedrībā.
Ļoti iesaku audiogrāmatu autora balsī, un pat mazā paātrinājumā, jo tad viņš izklausās munds, super pozitīvs, apņēmīgs, un kripata viņa entuziasma pielips arī jums.
July 14, 2022
I read very few self-help books, but as I'm trying to expand my genre's, I thought I would give this one a try. I liked his writing and especially the examples he used to explain terms and themes. It took me forever to finish it though, as it's quite densely packed with activities you can do to get to know yourself and to help you train yourself to think more like a monk.
For me the breathing exercises and the focus on daily gratitude are definitely the elements that have made an impact on my daily life.
The Book: The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the #1 podcast 'On Purpose', distils the timeless wisdom he learned as a practicing monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.
For me the breathing exercises and the focus on daily gratitude are definitely the elements that have made an impact on my daily life.
The Book: The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the #1 podcast 'On Purpose', distils the timeless wisdom he learned as a practicing monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.
November 23, 2022
Jay Shetty seems like the type of person who would listen to his own audio book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,395 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.