Ready to discover your 'Dharma', your true purpose in life? How about reshaping your relationship with fear to serve as a motivator rather than a hindrance? Are you seeking the secret to monks' happiness and profound wisdom? Ever wondered how to cultivate an 'attitude of gratitude' and live a life of service to others? Dive in to explore these captivating concepts!

Think Like a Monk

Imagine being an 18-year-old college student, attending a talk by a monk and experiencing a profound shift in your perspective of success. That's what happened to Jay Shetty, the author, and it set him on a path of self-discovery and transformation. He was intrigued by the monk's principle of "selfless sacrifice" and his joyous demeanor despite renouncing worldly achievements. 

This monk, Gauranga Das, had walked away from a prestigious education at IIT Bombay to embrace monkhood, something that turned Shetty's definition of success. He was used to rags-to-riches stories, but here was a man who had willingly chosen riches-to-rags, and yet seemed happier than most people.

So, what makes monks the happiest people on earth? Is it their secluded and serene lifestyle? Or is it the principles they live by? Monks come from diverse backgrounds, and they choose to transform themselves. They are experts in finding peace, calm, and purpose. They practice gratitude, service, and mindfulness, principles that are not only relevant but necessary in our modern world. 

Monks focus on the root of the issue, live consciously, and commit to a mission. They manage their energy wisely and seek self-control and meaning. This ‘monk mindset’ is about rebellion, detachment, rediscovery, purpose, focus, discipline, and service. It's about living a life free of ego, envy, lust, anxiety, anger, bitterness, baggage. 

There are three stages of adapting the monk mindset. First is about letting go, removing external influences and internal obstacles. Second is about growing, reshaping our lives to make decisions with intention and confidence. Finally, the third stage is about giving, expanding our sense of gratitude and deepening our relationships. 

Getting in touch with our breath is the first step towards adopting the monk mindset. Breathwork, visualization, and sound meditation are the three types of meditation recommended. The entire book is a meditation, a reflection on our beliefs and values. By the end of it, you'll find yourself asking, "How would a monk think about this?" 

Can Adopting a 'Monk Mindset' Unlock True Happiness and Purpose in Your Life?

Do you ever feel like you're wearing different masks, trying to fit into various roles - at work, at home, in social settings? If so, you're not alone. In a world shaped by opinions, expectations, and obligations (OEOs), it's easy to lose sight of our true selves. 

A memorable quote by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley states, "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." This captures the essence of our struggle - our identity is often shaped by what we think others think about us. 

Consider actor Daniel Day-Lewis. Known for his method acting, he fully immerses himself in his characters, to the point where he sometimes loses himself. We all do this to some extent, playing different personas in different settings. But in doing so, we risk losing ourselves. 

So, how do we reclaim our identities? It starts with understanding our values, those guiding principles that are most important to us. Are we living our lives based on values we've consciously chosen, or are we just re-acting to the twice-reflected image of who we think we should be? Are we living our lives according to our own values or are we being swayed by the OEOs of the world?

To discover our true values, we need to create space for self-reflection, and filter out the noise of external influences. This involves auditing our time, our spending habits, and our relationships to see if they genuinely align with our values. 

Negative influences can also deter us from our true selves. Whether it's in the form of complainers, cancelers, casualties, critics, commanders, competitors, or controllers, negativity can be toxic. Yet, it's essential to remember that negativity often stems from fear. By learning to spot, stop, and swap negative emotions, we can cultivate a more positive mindset.

Reclaiming Your Identity: Living Authentically in a World of Opinions, Expectations, and Obligations

Imagine you're on a battlefield, surrounded by thousands of warriors, the air thick with anticipation. You're Arjuna, a fierce archer in the epic tale of Mahabharata, paralyzed by fear. This scene from Bhagavad Gita is an illustration of how fear disconnects us from our abilities. We have so much to offer the world, but fear and anxiety often prevent us from tapping into our potential.

What if we could flip the switch? What if fear could serve us instead of holding us back? It's possible, and the key lies in understanding and reshaping our relationship with fear. It's not about eliminating fear, but rather about using it as a warning signal. Fear alerts us when something might go wrong, allowing us to motivate ourselves to develop solutions or take necessary actions.

But fear isn't always a sign of danger. Sometimes, it's just anxiety related to everyday concerns about money, jobs, and relationships. Ignoring or burying fear can lead to a toxic buildup of these everyday fears. To address this, we need to face our fears, explore them, and establish a new relationship with them. 

Experiencing freezing in fear or feeling the urge to run away from your fears is not uncommon. However, instead of seeing fear as a negative, view it as an opportunity for growth. For instance, consider the trees in a windless Biosphere 2 experiment in Arizona. They fell over because they lacked the wind, the stress and challenge that would have made them stronger. Like these trees, we too need challenges to grow stronger.

Interestingly, dealing with intermittent stressors contributes to better health and greater feelings of accomplishment and well-being. It gives us the confidence that we can handle adversities. Isn't it empowering to know that you can handle whatever life throws at you?

Finding the root of our fear is critical to dealing with it effectively. It's not about aggressively interrogating ourselves, but rather about sincerely questioning ourselves. For instance, fear of exams could lead to the root fear of being judged by others.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that we have four emotional reactions to fear: panic, freeze, run away, or bury. To transform our relationship with fear, we need to change our perception of it. We can do this by recognizing our reaction pattern to fear and committing to addressing it every time it appears.

Are You Ready to Turn Your Fear into a Powerful Tool for Growth and Fulfillment?

Living a fulfilling life begins with understanding our dharma, a Sanskrit term that translates to “purpose" or "calling". It's the intersection of our passion, skills, and the world’s needs. Discovering our dharma means identifying what we love to do and what we're good at, then aligning that with what the world needs. 

In an ashram, monks are encouraged to explore a breadth of activities to find their dharma. They learn that each person has natural affinities and strengths. The key is to experiment, study, and reflect on where our passions lie.

A monk's dharma is not about abandoning the world but rather engaging in it with purpose and passion. It's about serving others with our natural talents. Like a scorpion, we should be compelled to act according to our nature, even if it brings discomfort.

The journey to finding our dharma requires patience and exploration. We live in a world that pressures us to achieve early success, but many of us don't hit our stride until later in life. By cultivating self-awareness and feeding our strengths, we can find our way.

However, finding our dharma is not about pursuing selfish interests. It's about using our passions and skills to serve others. We should feel passionate about the process of our work, and others should find it useful. This is the formula for dharma: Passion + Expertise + Usefulness equals Dharma.


Discovering Dharma: A Monk's Guide to Unleashing Your Purpose and Passion

Imagine you're journeying through India as a monk, amidst the pouring rain. You're battling two voices in your head, one complaining about the mud and filth, the other urging you on. This is a classic example of the "Charioteer's Dilemma", a concept from the Katha Upanishad, illustrating the daily battles we face in our minds. 

In this analogy, the chariot is our body, the horses are our senses, and the reins our mind. The driver is our intellect. In a trained state, the driver is awake and attentive, steering the chariot along the right path. In an untrained state, the horses control the reins and lead the chariot wherever they please, veering off the path and towards temporary pleasure.

We all have similar internal dialogues from time to time, illustrating that the mind can be both our best friend and greatest enemy. But how can we train it to be our ally at all times?

The key to this is understanding the different voices in our heads. The monks teach that the mind is like a child, impulsive and reactive, while the intellect is like an adult, judicious and pragmatic. The child mind reacts immediately to external stimuli while the adult mind pauses, assesses the situation and makes rational decisions. 

So, in order train our minds, we need to create a dialogue between the child and adult mind. Imagine the adult mind as a parent, guiding the child mind, teaching it to differentiate between what it wants and what it needs. The more we engage in this interaction, the more we understand and strengthen our minds.

The monks also practice detachment, a form of self-control that connects us to our true selves. It's about doing the right thing for its own sake, without worrying about success or failure. It's about realising that we are not our minds or our thoughts. We are much more than that.

Remember, training our minds is an ongoing process. Every day is a new opportunity to engage, understand, and strengthen our relationship with our minds. 

Are You Ready to Train Your Mind Like an Indian Monk?

Gratitude is a powerful tool that can reshape our perception of life and foster a positive mindset. It's not about grand gestures, but appreciating the little things and the everyday occurrences. It's about acknowledging everything we've received, from the words of a friend to a new opportunity or even a simple act of kindness. 

The science behind gratitude is fascinating. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can lead to better mental health, improved relationships, and a sense of fulfillment. For example, one study found that people who kept gratitude journals had lower stress levels and were more optimistic. 

But gratitude isn't just about feeling thankful; it's about expressing it. It's about recognizing the value of what we've been given and expressing that appreciation to others. It's about acknowledging the kindness and efforts of others and reciprocating with our own acts of gratitude. 

Think about your own life. Do you start your day with gratitude? Do you express your gratitude to others? If not, it's never too late to start.

Monks, for instance, believe in the power of daily gratitude. They start their day by giving thanks to the universe for everything it provides - the air we breathe, the ground we walk on, the light that allows us to see. They believe in acknowledging the gifts of the universe and turning that appreciation into a daily habit. 

But practicing gratitude isn't always easy. It's easy to overlook the good things in our lives and focus on the negatives. That's why it's important to intentionally cultivate gratitude in our lives.  

Choosing Gratitude: Harnessing the Power of Thankfulness in Everyday Life

In his days as a novice at the ashram, Shetty and others faced a 30-day challenge with no money and no food, left to fend for themselves in a village. At first, they were driven by fear, resorting to begging to survive. By the second week though, they realized they could earn provisions by helping villagers. 

This act of giving sparked a sense of communal compassion and generosity within them. As the weeks passed, the monks started noticing the less fortunate villagers - the elderly, the children, the disabled. They realized they could do more than just survive; they could serve. This realization led them to share their resources with those less able.

This transformative experience teaches us that we can always give more, even when we have little. It's a microcosm of the entire monk experience: letting go of the ego, recognizing our value in service, and continually striving for a higher level of service. 

The highest purpose in life is to live in service. This might seem a challenging idea, given our personal pressures and needs. Yet, selflessness is the surest route to inner peace and a meaningful life. When we serve, we connect, amplify gratitude, increase compassion, and build self-esteem. 

Service fulfills us on many levels as it's innate in us to care for others. It is woven into the classic story structure as a key part of a happy ending. It gives back to us, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. In fact, studies show that those who help others tend to live longer, be healthier, and have a better overall sense of well-being. 

Service is always the answer. It fixes a bad day, it tempers our burdens, it helps others, and it helps us. Through service, we feel a sense of meaning and gratitude that is powerful and enduring. So, ask yourself: How am I serving the people around me—at work, at home, in my community? How can I use my talents to serve others and make a difference? And always remember, there is always room to rise, there is always more to give!

Can You Survive 30 Days in an Indian Village with No Money, Just Like These Monks Did?

Inner peace, fulfillment and transformation come from adopting a "monk mindset". This involves self-awareness, detachment from societal pressures, and embracing principles such as gratitude, service, and mindfulness. Their philosophy of ‘selfless sacrifice’ redefines success not as worldly achievements, but as a life of joy, peace, calm, and purpose. 

This ‘monk mindset’ is about living consciously and committing to a mission, managing energy wisely, seeking self-control and meaning, and aspiring to live a life free of ego, envy, lust, anxiety, anger, bitterness, and baggage. 

The process of adopting the monk mindset involves three stages: letting go of external influences and internal obstacles; growing by reshaping lives to make decisions with intention and confidence; and giving, by expanding a sense of gratitude and deepening relationships. This mindset, based on principles of gratitude, service, and mindfulness, is not only relevant but necessary in the modern world.

On the journey of self-discovery and transformation, it is also essential to understand and reshape our relationship with fear, to reclaim our identities and live according to our values, and to discover our purpose or ‘dharma’. 

Fear can serve as a warning signal, alerting us when something might go wrong, but it can also stem from everyday anxieties about money, jobs, and relationships. It's important to face our fears, explore them, and establish a new relationship with them.

In order to reclaim our identities, it is important to understand our values, to create space for self-reflection, and to filter out the noise of external influences. Finding our dharma means identifying what we love to do and what we're good at, then aligning that with what the world needs. This is not about pursuing selfish interests, but using our passions and skills to serve others. 

The key to this journey is to cultivate self-awareness and patience, and to engage in constant training of the mind to differentiate between what it wants and what it needs.

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