Melbourne’s Crossways restaurant  manager and Hare Krishna monk Manmohana Das hasn’t always lead a life of spiritual servitude, in a previous life he was a corporate high flyer.

Born in India, Manomhana had little time for philosophic endeavors.

“I was very logical and analytical. I wanted everything to be black and white.”

Growing up in South India, the home and heartland of Hare Krishna, he would walk past his neighborhood Hare Krishna temple on a daily basis, unaware that it would one day become his spiritual and physical home.

His spiritual awakening didn’t come until he left homeland to study a business degree in Melbourne, Australia.

“Perhaps it was fate or destiny. I had left the small shell I lived in and found freedom to explore who I really was.”

His early days in Melbourne as an international student were difficult. He worked nights and stayed in backpackers to pay his way in the expensive city.

He felt lonely and living was a day-to-day struggle. It was during this period that he stumbled across Crossways, an inner city not-for-profit restaurant that serves wholesome student meals for $5.50 (full price is $7.50).

Gradually, he started to become involved in the community at Crossways and was introduced to the Hari Krishna philosophy.

The path from corporate business analyst to Hare Krishna monk wasn’t easy.

Manomhana had financial obligations to his family back home in India. At first, they were not happy with his decision.

Over the next couple of years, Manomhana undertook what he refers to as a “shedding” process, a period of deep reflection where he concluded that his obligations and future trajectory lay in service to the larger community.

These days, he has traded his corporate suits for orange roles, his days start at 4am with meditation, reflection and charity work and he follows a strictly vegetarian diet.

His business training is still put to good use and he is now manager of Crossways a registered not-for-profit that feeds an estimated 450 people per day.