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Last week I was walking by the Hudson River here in New York, when I got a text telling me that a young member of my community back at Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hertfordshire, had passed away. He was just 36.Ìý

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He called himself, with a laugh, an ‘urban monk’. He wore the customary orange robes, and followed the monk’s daily schedule of early rising and meditation but that was about the most serious and formal thing about him! He could commonly be found with his baseball cap on top of his shiny shaved head, practising new magic tricks to illustrate spiritual concepts. He was always buzzing with energy, and with his disarmingly sunny smile, and natural tolerance, compassion and simple heart, he seemed to make friends with just about everyone he met. His spiritual name was Janakinath Das, but a lot of people called him JD – theÌýsadhuÌýfrom Stonebridge.Ìý

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The three days of online memorial services that followed his passing had me riveted and often emotional. This young man inspired in his short life, an outpouring of over ten hours of heartfelt tributes from all different sections of the community and more from around the world. Each memorial went way overtime to accommodate the seemingly endless stories of his kindness, care and irrepressible spirit. Tears flowed along with laughter as people recounted his jokes and adventures.Ìý

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Four years ago he’d been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. By the time he passed he’d had over twenty rounds of chemotherapy and was taking 30 pills a day. But he’d kept fighting, not only with bravery and optimism, but with a deep commitment to serving others despite his own suffering. He never complained or criticised; he just tried to keep using his life energy to help others while rooting his deepest aspirations in spiritual growth.Ìý

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I’ll admit that sometimes I find hearing about such people intimidating. JD’s spirit of adventure and childlike curiosity left me simply humbled and in awe, and yet he was so down to earth, so just like me and you – that his way of being seemed attainable… he helped me understand that saints live among us, and often in disguise.

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JD loved life because he knew how to live life. And I pray I never forget his example.

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