From troublemaker teenager to monk to influencer: Jay Shetty’s unique journey

How many times have you come across a life coach who has spent his life as a monk? How many times did you hear about a British-Indian teen following a monk to India? How many times have you seen a monk turn into a media mogul? And it’s this rarity that makes Jay Shetty a prominent face in the personal growth industry.

An award-winning storyteller, podcaster, former monk, life coach, author – the 33-year-old juggles several hats. But it’s his purpose to inspire people and help them find their calling that has made him popular across the globe. 

It’s personal transformation that’s Shetty’s dharma. He made a 180-degree shift in his life more than once and now he’s on a mission to transform others’ lives. But his journey hasn’t been a bed of roses.

The rebellious kid

London was Jay’s playground for the first two decades of his life. Born and brought up in a Tulu family in North London, Shetty was the perfect child, until he decided to go rogue in his teens. From drugs to violence, Shetty dabbled in all and was thrown out of his school three times. At 16, he lost two of his closest friends – one in a car accident and another in gang violence. It was a confusing period for him as the tragic events made him do some deep soul searching.

“I was lost at that time; I really didn’t know what I valued. The troublemaking wasn’t fun – it was full of fear and guilt,” he said in an interview.

He soon enrolled in a business school and was keen to make it big. Inspired by the stories of self-made entrepreneurs and the CEOs, it was the success that Shetty was chasing after. However, a chance encounter with a monk changed it all for an 18-year-old Shetty.

A college graduate who traded his suit for robes

It was a regular day at college when his friend invited him to attend a talk by a monk. A reluctant Shetty was armed with enough excuses to turn the offer down, but it was the promise of a pub night later that cajoled him into giving in. The monk, Gauranga Das, was the complete opposite of everything that Shetty held valuable at that time. Dressed in robes, the monk was an image of austerity. He had shunned every material thing that Shetty was feverishly chasing. He was so captivated by the monk’s message on service that he followed him around the UK on his speaking tour and spent the next few summers at an ashram in India. Read More