In It Together
Orange robes are loud, and when you’re six feet tall, there’s really no hiding. “Why become a monk?” students ask. Instead of a fixed response, I try tuning into the intent behind the question, seeking a point of connection or an aspect of my story that may resonate. Most assume I was an inquisitive soul looking for God. Definitely not. I was a young man sitting with a big fear: the future. Time passes quickly, crossroads appear, decisions are to be made, and we soon create a life—no turning back. But what kind of life? Is it a prison or a playground? Confinement or empowerment? I feared the future, what direction to take, clueless about what success was, and to find real answers, I had to retrace my steps. I found myself reverting to deeper, bigger, more fundamental, existential questions. While backtracking, at one point, you confront the biggest question. You can’t avoid it. What to do with God?
I wanted answers. I also wanted authenticity. If I failed to exit the theatre of performances, I knew life would become too tiring. It’s amazing—being yourself is life’s simplest aspiration and its most formidable challenge. Simultaneously the easiest and hardest thing in the world. I didn’t want to be myself for part of the week—the whole week, every day, and nothing less. Finally, I wanted adventure. A monk told me early on, “either you fill your life with things to show, or with stories to tell.” It’s a big world out there, full of people and places, and a limitless world inside, just close your eyes and dive in. Adventuring into these spaces moved me more than the metrics of position, power, prestige and profit. We lose it all, ruthlessly stripped, leaving only that which resides in the innermost chambers. Finding that treasure—now that’s real adventure.
I became a monk—I found answers, authenticity, and adventure. I still do, and so I’m still a monk, because for me, these three constitute the most powerful life compass. Yet I take no credit, because alone I would have been a lost cause—everything unfolded in community. The people around me were my saving grace, for no one is self-made. These gracious souls wanted me to be better than them, though they were way wiser and more spiritually accomplished. They could have sped ahead and left me behind; instead, they stayed back, took me with them, and reminded me, “We’re in it together.” Community and kindness don’t just guide your journey; they carry you the whole way and beyond.
Let’s create community—to find answers, authenticity and adventure, whatever life path we’re on. If we find good coaches, sincere explorers, and a mission worth losing sleep over, the magic unfolds. This is the vision behind Wisdom that Breathes—a space to learn together, unleash our potential, and launch initiatives that bring spiritual beauty back to the world. Let’s become conscious changemakers. Who knows how far the vision will reach? We may not change the entire world, but perhaps we can change one person’s world. That would mean the world to them. We’ll try to create a space, inspired by the great teacher Śrīla Prabhupāda, which is inclusive, inspiring, empowering and accessible. We’re in it together. If you feel moved to, you’re welcome to join us: