The Buddha-Elon Musk Paradox

Mike Fishbein, July 12, 2015 (medium.com); Amber Larson (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

Should I save up some money and just move to Thailand -- chill out and lay on the beach like the Buddha? Is that the meaning of life? Is that how I’ll find true happiness?

Elon Musk says Hertz deal not signed yet

Or should I be like Elon Musk and hustle -- start companies, work around the clock, [get co-opted by the CIA, NSC, NSA...], make a ton of money, and help build a better tomorrow for the world?

Is my career worthwhile? Am I passionate about my work? Am I wasting my time? How can I achieve happiness?

All of these questions are symptoms of striking a balance between the Buddha and Elon Musk, between being zen (peacefully "absorbed") and being a shark (fitfully aggressive), between complacency and ambition, between meditation retreats and work binges trying to solve the world’s problems.

There are many uncertainties people have about their life that are rooted in finding a balance between “the Buddha” and “Elon Musk.” Below is part one of a three part series.

The Buddha vs. Elon Musk

“Failing is an option here. If you’re not failing, you’re not innovating enough.”

— Elon Musk Elon

• Elon Musk and girlfriend Grimes break up after three years

Musk sold his first company, Paypal, for over a billion dollars. That’s enough to retire on and save enough money so his grandkids never have to work a single day. But he didn’t retire.

Instead, he used all of his proceeds to start three more companies. Now, he’s [allegedly] working on taking humans to Mars. To be like Elon Musk is to be ambitious and have a mindset that anything is possible.

Elon musk will always push for a better tomorrow and never be satisfied, but always be stressed, striving to get better.

The Buddha, on the other hand, spent 49 days meditating at the age of 35. It was then that he discovered enlightenment and dedicated the rest of his life to teaching others how to discovery the same freedom and bliss.

Being like the Buddha is accepting reality and having the mindset that everything is always good no matter what.

Being the Buddha means seeing the positive in all the situations and generally being happy and content no matter what -- always having enough, always thinking positively, always thinking the glass is half full and taking pleasure in small things. More