I was in the Oxfordshire area with a friend on a day trip when we met Martin, an English gentleman in his late sixties. Tall, with grey hair, strongly built, and of very jolly nature. Accompanied by two dogs, a two-month-old Labrador Retriever and an older mixed-breed dog, he approached us, keeping an eye on the dogs so they didn’t jump on us.
He was surprised to meet monks in his area.
After the initial exchange, I asked him if he had met monks before.
“When I was young,” he began, “I travelled all the way to India and met many yogis and holy people there.”
He shared with us various adventures he had gone through, including meeting with various groups of monks, ascetics, and saintly people.
His wife joined the conversation and was also fascinated with us.
“We don’t meet monks every day, do we!” She said, whilst shaking our hands and asking where we lived.
Martin’s journey very much reminded me of the story in Radhanath Swami’s book, Journey Home. We later gifted him a copy of the book.
They invited us to visit St. Mary’s Church, built in the late 12th century.
“We are not practising any religion, but if you enter that church, you will feel a great spiritual vibe and peace,” Martin said, whilst lifting his restless furry friend on his chest.
After exchanging our contact details, we visited the church and the surrounding forest area before driving back to the temple.
A month later, I received a message from Martin:
“Thank you very much for the book you sent me…I am reading it with great interest.
Having travelled a good part of the same route, it brought back memories of the smells and sights that I experienced along the way.
I am at the stage where he has just met the Nagas (naked hermits), and I do remember seeing them and wondering who on earth they were.
It has been particularly interesting reading about all the different types of Sadhus as I saw many during my travels.
Thank you, and we hope to see you again.”
Martin unknowingly began a spiritual journey in the mid-70s when he, for the first time, visited India and met with monks and yogis. At that time, all he wanted was an adventure and to explore new places. Little did he know that once you begin the journey, it is a matter of time before you are pulled deeper.
Even though fifty years later he is still not interested in spiritual practice, Krishna hadn’t given up on him. He made arrangements for him to meet devotees and receive a book.
Perhaps all of us can relate to Martin’s story. Even though we may not be very serious about our spiritual practice, Lord Krishna never gives up on us. He constantly makes arrangements to uplift us and brings us closer to Him.
Nectar of Instruction verse 3 purport: Devotional service is so pure and perfect that once one has begun it, one is forcibly dragged to ultimate success.
Ananta Gopal Das
17.07.2025
Bhakti Wisdom 