The Way of the Monk

What can a member of a Mumbai ashram offer the modern world? Gaur Gopal Das shows that a monk still has much to teach about living a happy and balanced life.

In contemporary culture, the popular conception of a “monk” is often of a dour ascetic who lives apart from society and never engages with the day-to-day problems of humanity. Gaur Gopal Das, a monk from an ashram in Mumbai, shows that this image couldn’t be further from the truth.

In The Way of the Monk, Gopal Das presents a guide to navigating some of the contemporary world’s most fundamental questions. How can we achieve peace when the world is so full of noise and conflict? How do we learn to let go of attachment when consumer culture constantly tells us that we are unfulfilled? How can we embody love when our interactions with others are so fraught with old wounds and misunderstanding?

According to Gopal Das, the keys to unraveling these dilemmas have existed for thousands of years throughout the world's great wisdom traditions. Structured around the four “wheels” of behavior that support a healthy, balanced life, The Way of the Monk teaches fundamental skills of mindfulness, self-inquiry, positive communication, and more. Gopal Das writes from the perspective of a trusted friend, weaving tales he's encountered over the years into a single, overarching teaching story.

Already a bestseller in India, The Way of the Monk is an ideal entry point for those who are just stepping onto the spiritual path. Here you will find a humorous and profound journey into truths that exist beyond the boundaries of geography, tradition, and nationality.