A photo of Mehul Patel

Mehul Patel

Mumbai, India

'LA DOLCE VITA' AS A SPIRITUAL PATH

I’m the craziest spiritual person in the world when it comes to spirituality. I’m as crazy as a person who can go tonight to Shiro, a club in Bombay, and dance on the DJ cabin’s roof with five friends after six vodkas. But that does not mean that I’m a bad person. I’m extremely spiritual and focused on my work as well, so I think I enjoy all aspects of life. I do not believe in living a very quiet, non-social, ‘hidden in a meditation room or temple’ life. I am an extremely social animal. I need to go out and meet people no matter where I am. I need to work a lot and work out a lot. After Monday to Friday of a very powerful week or a fruitful week, I love meeting friends and family to just party with them. 

I’ve had a discussion with my wife about what to do when I die. There was a place in Bombay that was very popular when we were in college. It shut down, but it was called Insomnia in Taj. So my only wish is that when I die, my funeral should be in Insomnia at Taj. And everybody should be treated to the most expensive malt and the best vodka in the house for free. And they should dance for like three hours, so I will achieve nirvana instantly, or you know, ‘moha,’ or whatever you call it. 

My friends say, “Oh my God, you have some screwed up ideas in your head!” 

I say, “Trust me, I need to do this when I’m dead. People need to celebrate because I celebrated all my life. I’m happy, I’m enjoying all my life. If you guys cry or feel bad when I’m gone, then I’m screwed. So all of you have to unite and at least have one decent, big party and really go wild and remember me in that party, and that’s it. That’s fantastic. I don’t want anything else. That’s the greatest achievement.”

Daniel’s Reflection

Many years have passed since I interviewed Mehul (Mike) Patel in Mumbai. At the time, I was amused that we made his portrait outside with him at a punching bag to reflect his passion for physical exercise, and that his interview was filled with references to a partying life—a life filled with business, art, single-malt, and cigars. So what are the spiritual lessons to be learned from Mike Patel and his life of la dolce vita? 

What I have picked up on my spiritual journey is that I must strive to do no harm, to be helpful to others, to let go of self-limiting attachments, and to be present. I too have been fortunate to experience the world’s pleasures through business travel, for which I am very grateful. This Portraits in Faith journey alone has taken me to 30 countries as of 2025. I see nothing inconsistent with a pleasurable life as long as I am not engaging in harm and not holding back from helping others. But if I am hoarding and not sharing with others then la dolce vita is not so sweet. 

There was a time in my life before I experienced prosperity when I was worried and self-focused. While I am not a fan of prosperity theology, I do see that as I have become a more giving and others-focused person that my own prosperity in life—financially and spiritually–has increased.  

So I celebrate Mike Patel’s love of business, art, single-malt, and cigars if that is part of how he most fully engages in life and with others. And especially if it is part of a life devoted to giving back to others. Quite frankly, I love his dying wish to have a funeral at a big club in Mumbai filled with the “most expensive malt and the best vodka”…and dancing for three hours. Why not? Who am I to judge?

I am also deeply moved by Mike’s story of his relationship with his grandfather and the pain of him dying years before he was ready to let him go. In some ways, it is a metaphor for wealth and the fruits of wealth that are temporary and must be appreciated in the moment for they may not endure, and will end when life itself ends. And the friends and family that gathered around Mike and helped him heal after his grandfather died is what I must remember is what ultimately makes life sweet.

Thank you, Mehul Patel, for these timely lessons.

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