← 10% Happier with Dan Harris

Russell Simmons, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Author and Activist

Apr 26, 2017 26m 40s 8 insights
Def Jam music label founder Russell Simmons had his first experience with stillness at a yoga class -- which he admits he took because girls were there. "I went to class because of a lot of hot chicks. It's true," Simmons says in our interview. Simmons, who practices and teaches Transcendental Meditation, has worked to bring meditation to schools to help lower their violence levels and increase students' learning abilities. He explains why being a vegan has dramatically changed his health for the better and what his relationship with President Donald Trump is like today.
Actionable Insights

1. Practice Daily Meditation

Engage in meditation for 20 minutes twice a day, repeating a mantra silently, or use the free ‘Meditation Made Simple’ app with the collective mantra ‘rum.’ This practice is key to quieting the mind, achieving happiness, and making choices informed by your inner spirit.

2. Adopt a Vegan Diet

Eliminate animal products from your diet to prevent sickness, avoid contributing to animal abuse and factory farming, and significantly reduce your environmental impact. The transcript states that milk destroys calcium and factory-farmed meat is ‘poison.’

3. Practice Yoga for Stillness

Regularly practice yoga (asana) to quiet your mind, which is crucial for fostering creativity and achieving a state of inner presence and happiness. The Tantris school emphasizes a compassionate practice beyond just physical postures.

4. Embrace Giving Without Expectation

Cultivate a mindset of giving what you wish to receive, operating without expectation, as ‘good givers are great getters.’ This practice, exemplified by starting with small acts of service, is presented as a path to ascension and abundance.

5. Reframe Failure as Learning

View struggles and setbacks not as failures, but as valuable learning experiences that provide context and direction. The speaker emphasizes that you only truly fail if you quit; otherwise, you are simply learning.

6. Make Spirit-Informed Choices

Utilize meditation and personal research to critically evaluate societal norms and advice, enabling you to make choices that are aligned with your inner spirit and well-being. This is particularly highlighted for decisions regarding diet and lifestyle.

7. Utilize Plant-Based Alternatives

Actively choose plant-based alternatives for meat and dairy, such as the Beyond Burger, to enjoy similar food experiences without the associated health risks like cholesterol and cancer, or the ethical concerns of animal products.

8. Meditate with Erect Posture

When practicing sitting meditation, maintain an erect posture, imagining a string pulling you upwards, as this yogic instruction helps you sit comfortably and focus without affliction.