This syllabus outlines a course on meditation and mindfulness as it relates to investment reflections from a hedge fund career. The course consists of 10 classes that will include meditation exercises, assigned readings on meditation and investing topics, and guest speakers. Class topics range from the benefits of meditation to investment case studies and career paths in investing. Readings include books and articles on meditation practices, investing strategies, and behavioral finance.
This syllabus outlines a course on meditation and mindfulness as it relates to investment reflections from a hedge fund career. The course consists of 10 classes that will include meditation exercises, assigned readings on meditation and investing topics, and guest speakers. Class topics range from the benefits of meditation to investment case studies and career paths in investing. Readings include books and articles on meditation practices, investing strategies, and behavioral finance.
This syllabus outlines a course on meditation and mindfulness as it relates to investment reflections from a hedge fund career. The course consists of 10 classes that will include meditation exercises, assigned readings on meditation and investing topics, and guest speakers. Class topics range from the benefits of meditation to investment case studies and career paths in investing. Readings include books and articles on meditation practices, investing strategies, and behavioral finance.
Syllabus: Investment Reflections from a Hedge Fund Career: Mindset and Meditation as Competitive
Advantage (7/7/14 Version, Approved)
1. Sept 25: The Big Myth of Reality
● Meditation exercise: natural object as support ● Text: The Art of Power - Chapter 1. Thich Nhat Hanh (2007, HarperCollins). ● Media: Ray Dalio on Meditation: http://vimeo.com/50999847
2. Oct 2: An Investment Case from Scout Capital [STZ]– Part I
● Meditation exercise: breath as support ● Text: “The Superinvestors of Graham and Doddsville” – Warren Buffett (1984, Columbia Business School Magazine).
3. Oct 9: An Investment Case from Scout Capital [STZ] - Part II
● Meditation exercise: breath as support (variations) ● Text: “The Great Divide over Market Efficiency” – Asness/Liew (2014, Institutional Investor).
4. Oct 16: How Good Investors Address Their Shortcomings
● Meditation exercise: body scan ● Text: Scout Capital Letter to Investors - Q1 2009 ● Media: “Happiness, free enterprise, and human flourishing: A special online event featruring His Holiness the Dalai Lama – Panel 1: Moral Free Enterprise : Economic perspectives in business and politics (Dan Loeb Panelist) - http://www.aei.org/events/2014/02/20/happiness-free-enterprise-and-human- flourishing-a-special-online-event-featuring-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/ (PART 1)
5. Oct 23: What Do We Know About Meditation?
● Meditation exercise: body scan (variations) ● Text: Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom – Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Rick Hanson (2009, New Harbinger). ● Media: “Magic of Awareness – Awakening our True Nature” – Anam Thubten, Talk http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/335/talk/20645
6. Oct 30: How, Exactly, Does Meditation Help with Investing?
● Meditation exercise: tbd. ● Text: The Art of Power - Chapter 3. Thich Nhat Hanh (2007, HarperCollins). 7. Nov 6: Case: Mastercard Investment ● Meditation exercise: tbd. ● Text: The Outsiders – Chapter [tbd]. Will Thorndike (2012, Harvard Business Review Press). 8. Nov 13: Career Paths in Investing - no assignment ● Meditation exercise: tbd. ● Text: “A Lesson on Elementary, Worldly Wisdom as it Relates to Investment Management & Business “– Charles Munger. Speech to USC Business School, 1994. ● Guest Speaker: [David Sanford. ]
9. Nov 20: Deep Dive Into Meditation
● Meditation exercise: compassion practice, led by Guest speaker: Leah Weiss, PhD. ● Text: [Pema Chodron tbd Leah] ● Media: [Pema Chodron tbd Leah] 10. Dec 4: Class Reflection ● Meditation exercise: meditation without a support
OUTTAKES: OPTIONAL READING AND THINGS I CONSIDERED INCLUDING BUT DIDN’T
11. Meditation Books:
● The Magic of Awareness, Anam Thubten (2012, Snow Lion) ● complete reading of The Art of Power, Thich Nhat Hanh ● Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, Daniel Goleman (2013, Harper)
12. Investing: The Berkshire Hathaway Investor Letters, by Warren Buffett
13. Random Walk ● Text i. A Random Walk Down Wall Street – Preface, Chapter 1, Chapter 6, Chapter 7. Burton G. Malkiel (2012, Tenth Edition, W. W. Norton)
14. Behavioral Finance
● Text i. “Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases” – Tversky and Kahneman (Science, New Series, Vol. 185, No 4157; Sep.. 27, 1974; pp. 1124-1131). ii. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion – Chapter 3. Robert Cialdini (2006, Collins). iii. “Charlie Munger on the Psychology of Human Misjudgment” – Harvard 1995