This series is an attempt to document one of the most transformative periods of my life.
For seven years, I lived as a monk. During those years, I experienced discipline, doubt, silence, devotion, friendship, loss, and a way of living that was radically different from the modern world. Many of the lessons that shape my life today were born during that time.
These writings are not meant to be a perfect historical record. Memory is a living thing. Some details have softened with time, while others have become clearer. What follows is my sincere recollection of events, conversations, emotions, and insights from that journey.
I have chosen to tell these stories as they are remembered—through moments, reflections, and experiences that left a lasting imprint on me. The names of some individuals and certain identifying details may be changed to respect privacy, but the essence of the journey remains true.
This is not a book about becoming a monk.
It is a story about seeking meaning, confronting oneself, and discovering how inner transformation often begins where certainty ends.
Whether you have walked a spiritual path or are simply searching for a deeper understanding of life, I hope these pages offer something valuable.
Welcome to 7 Years of Monkhood.
— Hitesh Mandavi