The Two Key Messages I Took From My Time with the Monks

The Pursuit of the Spiritual?or and the Material

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” [Steve Jobs]

Sometimes I think back and recall just how much I'd learnt through hearing from the monks in India, and how I've both consciously and unconsciously adjusted my behaviour and the way I apply myself in daily routines.

While I was gaining this knowledge, one line of thought consistently cropped up, and it centred around how could I apply these principles and the 'monk mindset' into my existing duties and responsibilities, so that I don't feel like I'm choosing between these two 'worlds'.

And this was the first time I really understood how many of our modern day 'heroes' and pillars of inspiration seemed to derive a lot of their theories and practices of what it took them to be successful right from the principles I was learning in India. Which lead to my first realisation: These core principles are timeless.

On the podcast with Sina, I speak about one of the verses from the Bhagavad Gita; and I compare it to a quote that Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, is well recognised for saying. In chapter 18, verse 47 (which you can read a bit more about here) it translates to an almost identical message to the Steve Jobs quote I started this article with.

Closely tied to this was my second takeaway: It’s not about existing in two separate worlds. Just because you are interested in understanding your spiritual journey, does not mean you have suddenly halt your material pursuits in life. Much like a Company Policy in your job / place of work, there are guidelines you are advised to follow in order to succeed. But what my time with the monks taught me is the understanding of how to integrate these philosophies and principles, so that your daily actions and whatever you are chasing to succeed at (work, relationships, etc.) can align with them. Much like how you'd want to work for a company who's principles and morals reflect those of your own - so that your professional and personal 'belief systems' are in sync - spirituality can be regarded in a similar light; with the added bonus that you don't have to go through an arduous job application process!

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In the next article, I cover a question that Sina has asked to a number of guests on his podcast: 'What is a fulfilled life?'

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