Sadhus: Going Beyond the Dreadlocks

There are millions of them – these Indian wandering renunciants, begging monks, mystical walkers, roaming philosophers, miracle-workers, hashish smokers, holy men... but little is known about them. They are often photographed, yet their words are seldom heard.

Some began this way of life from childhood. Others were civil servants, shopkeepers, real estate agents, even thieves. They left their families and jobs to become renunciants — sadhus. They refuse to work and vow not to accept any wages. They pursue the path of liberation.

A few accomplish rigorous austerities, but most of them dedicate themselves to non-action. In a world verging on short-term ecological doom and demographic tsunami, the sadhus are messengers of a kind of freedom and moderation that our commercial civilization has forgotten — with its preaching of labour, consumption, economic growth, and competition.

Patrick Levy recounts their everyday lives, the respect they are given and how they make use of it, their teachings, their philosophy, and the way they transform it into a lifestyle.

'Sadhus' is a novel written in the form of a road movie. It is a spiritual journey into the world of the sadhus.

• Rare Insight into a Hidden World: Offers an intimate, firsthand look into the everyday lives of India's sadhus—wandering monks rarely heard in their own voices.
• Spiritual Travel Meets Real-Life Encounters: Written like a spiritual road movie, blending narrative adventure with deep philosophical reflection.
• Unfiltered Portraits of Modern-Day Renunciants: Explores how former civil servants, shopkeepers, and even criminals renounced society for a life of spiritual freedom.
• A Counter-Narrative to Modern Consumerism: Presents the sadhu lifestyle as a powerful contrast to today's fast-paced, materialistic world.
• Rich Cultural and Philosophical Exploration: Delves into Hindu spiritual traditions, non-action (inaction as a form of action), and ideas of liberation (moksha).
• Written by a Western Observer with Deep Immersion: Patrick Levy brings an outsider's perspective shaped by real connection, respect, and lived experience with the sadhus.
• Perfect for Readers of Spiritual and Cultural Non-Fiction: Appeals to fans of Indian mysticism, slow travel, asceticism, and seekers of meaning beyond the conventional.

"Patrick Levy is a French writer who lives six months a year in Uttar Pradesh, India – ‘ his second mother ’ as he likes to say.A strange phenomenon amongst authors on the spirituality scene, Patrick claims to be an atheist but is greatly interested in religions and spirituality. “ Everything that belongs to humanity, belongs to me,” he says to justify his broad curiosity.He has travelled the world in search of spiritual masters and experiences, practiced Kabbalah, Sufism, Buddhism and Vedanta, and has published books about his explorations.Does God believe in God?, his first book, established the direction of this spiritual globetrotter’ s atypical course. His previous book, The Kabbalist, (also translated in Hebrew) is a best-seller in France and was awarded a special distinction by the panel of judges of ‘ Spirituality Today’ prize in 2002. "