The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari (English Book)/ Ferrarisini Satan Bilge (Türkçe Kitap)

[_Eddy_]

you have felt. Yet I have learned that everything happens for a
reason," offered Yogi Krishnan sympathetically. "Every event has
a purpose and every setback its lesson. I have realized that failure,
whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind, is
essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a
whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather,
embrace it as the teacher that it is."
After hearing these words, Julian told me that he felt great
exultation. Perhaps, in Yogi Krishnan, he had found the mentor he
was searching for. Who better than another former hotshot
lawyer who, through his own spiritual odyssey, had found a better
way of living to teach him the secrets of creating a life of more
balance, enchantment and delight?
"I need your help, Krishnan. I need to learn how to build a
richer, fuller life."
"I would be honored to assist you in any way that I can,"
offered the yogi. "But may I give you one suggestion?"
"Sure."
"For as long as I have been caring for this temple in this little
village, I have heard whisperings of a mystical band of sages
living high in the Himalayas. Legend has it that they have discovered
some sort of system that will profoundly improve the quality
of anyone's life — and I don't just mean physically. It is supposed
to be a holistic, integrated set of ageless principles and timeless
techniques to liberate the potential of the mind, body and soul."
Julian was fascinated. This seemed perfect.
"Just exactly where do these monks live?"
"No one knows, and I regret that I'm too old to start searching.
But I will tell you one thing, my friend; many have tried to find
them and many have failed — with tragic consequences. The
higher reaches of the Himalayas are treacherous beyond compare.
Even the most skilled climber is rendered helpless against their
natural ravages. But if it is the golden keys to radiant health, lasting
happiness and inner fulfillment that you are searching for, I do
not have the wisdom you seek — they do."
Julian, never one to give up easily, pressed Yogi Krishnan
again. "Are you certain that you have no idea where they live?"
"All I can tell you is that the locals in this village know them as
the Great Sages of Sivana. In their mythology, Sivana means 'oasis
of enlightenment'. These monks are revered as if they are divine
in their constitution and influence. If I knew where they could be
found, I would be duty-bound to tell you. But honestly, I do not
know — no one does, for that matter."
The next morning, as the first rays of the Indian sun danced
along the colorful horizon, Julian set out on his trek to the lost
land of Sivana. At first he thought about hiring a Sherpa guide to
aid him in his climb through the mountains, but, for some
strange reason, his instincts told him that this was one journey
he would have to make alone. So instead, for perhaps the first
time in his life, he shed the shackles of reason and placed his
trust in his intuition. He felt he would be safe. He somehow knew
he would find what he was looking for. So, with missionary zeal,
he started to climb.
The first few days were easy. Sometimes he would catch up to
one of the cheerful citizens of the village below who happened to be
walking on one of the footpaths, perhaps searching for just the
right piece of wood for a carving or seeking the sanctuary that this
surreal place offered to all those who dared to venture this high
into the Heavens. At other times he hiked alone, using this time to
silently reflect on where he had been in his life — and where he
was now headed.

[_Eddy_]

It didn't take long before the village below was nothing more
than a tiny speck on this marvellous canvas of natural splendor.
The majesty of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas made his
heart beat faster and, for one long moment, took his breath away.
He felt a oneness with his surroundings, a kind of kinship that two
old friends might enjoy after many years spent listening to each
other's innermost thoughts and laughing at each other's jokes.
The fresh mountain air cleared his mind and energized his spirit.
Having travelled the world many times over, Julian had thought he
had seen it all. But he had never seen beauty like this. The
wonders of which he drank at that magical time were an exquisite
tribute to the symphony of nature. At once he felt joyous, exhilarated
and carefree. It was here, high above the humanity below,
that Julian slowly ventured out of the cocoon of the ordinary and
began to explore the realm of the extraordinary.
"I still remember the words that were going through my mind
up there," said Julian. "I thought that, ultimately, life is all about
choices. One's destiny unfolds according to the choices one makes,
and I felt certain that the choice I had made was the right one. I
knew my life would never be the same and that something marvellous,
maybe even miraculous, was about to happen to me. It was an
amazing awakening."
As Julian climbed into the rarified regions of the Himalayas,
he told me that he grew anxious. "But it was those good kind of
jitters, like the ones I had on prom night or right before an exciting
case began and the media was chasing me up the courtroom
steps. And even though I didn't have the benefit of a guide or a
map, the way was clear and a thin, lightly travelled path led me
higher into the deepest reaches of those mountains. It was like I
had some sort of inner compass, nudging me gently towards my
destination. I don't think I could have stopped climbing even if I
had wanted to," Julian was excited, his words spilling out like a
gushing mountain stream after the rains.
As he travelled for two more days along the route that he
prayed would take him to Sivana, Julian's thoughts wandered
back to his former life. Though he felt entirely liberated from the
stress and strain that personified his former world, he did wonder
whether he could really spend the rest of his days without the
intellectual challenge that the legal profession had offered him
since he left Harvard Law School. His thoughts then wandered
back to his oak-paneled office in a glittering downtown skyscraper
and the idyllic summer home he had sold for a pittance. He
thought about his old friends with whom he would frequent the
finest of restaurants in the most glamorous locales. He also
thought about his prized Ferrari and how his heart would soar
when he gunned the engine and all its ferocity sprang to life with
a roar.
As he ventured deeper into the depths of this mystical place,
his reflections of the past were quickly interrupted by the stunning
marvels of the moment. It was while he was soaking in the
gifts of nature's intelligence that something startling happened.
From the corner of his eye he saw another figure, dressed
strangely in a long, flowing red robe topped by a dark blue hood,
slightly ahead of him on the path. Julian was astonished to see
anyone at this isolated spot that had taken him seven treacherous
days to reach. As he was many miles away from any real civilization
and still uncertain as to where his ultimate destination of
Sivana could be found, he yelled out to his fellow traveller.
The figure refused to respond and accelerated his pace along
the path they were both climbing, not even giving Julian the courtesy
of a backward glance of acknowledgement. Soon the mysterious

[_Eddy_]

traveller was running, his red robe dancing gracefully behind
him like crisp cotton sheets hanging from a clothesline on a windy
autumn day.
"Please friend, I need your help to find Sivana," yelled Julian,
"I've been travelling for seven days with little food and water. I
think I'm lost!"
The figure came to an abrupt stop. Julian approached
cautiously while the traveller stood remarkably still and silent. His
head did not move, his hands did not move and his feet kept their
place. Julian could see nothing of the face beneath the hood but
was struck by the contents of the small basket in the hands of the
traveller. Within the basket was a collection of the most delicate
and beautiful flowers Julian had ever seen. The figure clutched the
basket tighter as Julian drew nearer, as if to display both a love of
these prized possessions and a distrust of this tall Westerner,
about as common to these parts as dew in the desert.
Julian gazed at the traveller with an intense curiosity. A quick
burst of a sunbeam revealed that it was a man's face under the
loosely-fitting hood. But Julian had never seen a man quite like
this one. Though he was at least his own age, there were very striking
features of this person which left Julian mesmerized and caused
him to simply stop and stare for what seemed like an eternity. His
eyes were catlike and so penetrating that Julian was forced to look
away. His olive-complexioned skin was supple and smooth. His
body looked strong and powerful. And though the man's hands
gave away the fact that he was not young, he radiated such an
abundance of youthfulness and vitality that Julian felt hypnotized
by what appeared before him, much like a child watching the
magician at his first magic show.
'This must be one of the Great Sages of Sivana,' Julian thought
to himself, scarcely able to contain his delight at his discovery.
"I am Julian Mantle. I've come to learn from the Sages of
Sivana. Do you know where I might find them?" he asked.
The man looked thoughtfully at this weary visitor from the
West. His serenity and peace made him appear angelic in nature,
enlightened in substance.
The man spoke softly, almost in a whisper, "Why is it that you
seek these sages, friend?"
Sensing that he had indeed found one of the mystical monks
who had eluded so many before him, Julian opened his heart and
poured out his odyssey to the traveller. He spoke of his former life
and of the crisis of spirit he had struggled with, how he had traded
his health and his energy for the fleeting rewards that his law
practice brought him. He spoke of how he had traded the riches of
his soul for a fat bank account and the illusory gratification of his
'live fast, die young' lifestyle. And he told him of his travels in
mystical India and of his meeting with Yogi Krishnan, the former
trial lawyer from New Delhi who had also given up his former life
in the hope of finding inner harmony and lasting peace.
The traveller remained silent and still. It was not until Julian
spoke of his burning, almost obsessive desire to acquire the
ancient principles of enlightened living that the man spoke again.
Placing an arm on Julian's shoulder, the man said gently: "if you
truly have a heartfelt desire to learn the wisdom of a better way,
then it is my duty to help you. I am indeed one of those sages that
you have come so far in search of. You are the first person to find
us in many years. Congratulations. I admire your tenacity. You
must have been quite a lawyer," he offered.
He paused, as if he was a little uncertain of what to do next,
and then went on. "If you like, you may come with me, as my guest,
to our temple. It rests in a hidden part of this mountain region, still

[_Eddy_]

many hours away from here. My brothers and sisters will welcome
you with open arms. We will work together to teach you the
ancient principles and strategies that our ancestors have passed
down through the ages.
"Before I take you into our private world and share our
collected knowledge for filling your life with more joy, strength and
purpose, I must request one promise from you," requested the
sage. "Upon learning these timeless truths you must return to
your homeland in the West and share this wisdom with all those
who need to hear it. Though we are isolated here in these magical
mountains, we are aware of the turmoil your world is in. Good
people are losing their way. You must give them the hope that they
deserve. More importantly, you must give them the tools to fulfill
their dreams. This is all I ask."
Julian instantly accepted the sage's terms and promised that
he would carry their precious message to the West. As the two men
moved still higher up the mountain path to the lost village of Sivana,
the Indian sun started to set, a fiery red circle slipping into a soft,
magical slumber after a long and weary day. Julian told me he has
never forgotten the majesty of that moment, walking with an
ageless Indian monk for whom he somehow felt a brotherly love,
travelling to a place he had longed to find, with all its wonders and
many mysteries.
"This was definitely the most memorable moment of my life,"
he confided in me. Julian had always believed that life came down
to a few key moments. This was one of them. Deep inside his soul,
he somehow sensed that this was the first moment of the rest of
his life, a life soon to be much more than it had ever been.


CHAPTER FOUR
A Magical Meeting with
The Sages of Sivana

After walking for many hours along an intricate series of paths
and grassy trails, the two travellers came upon a lusty green
valley. On one side of the valley, the snow-capped Himalayas
offered their protection, like weather-beaten soldiers guarding
the place where their generals rested. On the other, a thick forest
of pine trees sprouted, a perfectly natural tribute to this
enchanting fantasyland.
The sage looked at Julian and smiled gently, "Welcome to the
Nirvana of Sivana."
The two then descended along another less-travelled way and
into the thick forest which formed the floor of the valley. The smell
of pine and sandalwood wafted through the cool, crisp mountain
air. Julian, now barefoot to ease his aching feet, felt the damp moss
under his toes. He was surprised to see richly colored orchids and
a host of other lovely flowers dancing among the trees, as if
rejoicing in the beauty and splendor of this tiny slice of Heaven.
In the distance, Julian could hear gentle voices, soft and
soothing to the ear. He continued to follow the sage without
making a sound. After walking for about fifteen more minutes, the
two men reached a clearing. Before him was a sight that even the
worldly wise and rarely surprised Julian Mantle could never have
imagined—a small village made solely out of what appeared to be
roses. At the center of the village was a tiny temple, the kind
Julian had seen on his trips to Thailand and Nepal, but this temple

[_Eddy_]

was made of red, white and pink flowers, held together with long
strands of multi-colored string and twigs. The little huts which
dotted the remaining space appeared to be the austere homes of
the sages. These were also made of roses. Julian was speechless.
As for the monks who inhabited the village, those he could see
looked like Julian's travelling companion, who now revealed that
his name was Yogi Raman. He explained that he was the eldest
sage of Sivana and the leader of this group. The citizens of this
dreamlike colony looked astonishingly youthful and moved with
poise and purpose. None of them spoke, choosing instead to
respect the tranquility of this place by performing their tasks in
silence.
The men, who appeared to number only about ten, wore the
same red-robed uniform as Yogi Raman and smiled serenely at
Julian as he entered their village. Each of them looked calm,
healthy and deeply contented. It was as if the tensions which
plague so many of us in our modern world had sensed that they
were not welcome at this summit of serenity and moved on to
more inviting prospects. Though it had been many years since
there had been a new face amongst them, these men were
controlled in their reception, offering a simple bow as their
greeting to this visitor who had travelled so far to find them.
The women were equally impressive. In their flowing pink silk
saris and with white lotuses adorning their jet black hair, they
moved busily through the village with exceptional agility.
However, this was not the frantic busyness that pervades the lives
of people in our society. Instead, theirs was of the easy, graceful
kind. With Zen-like focus, some worked inside the temple,
preparing for what appeared to be a festival. Others carried
firewood and richly embroidered tapestries. All were engaged in
productive activity. All appeared to be happy.
Ultimately, the faces of the Sages of Sivana revealed the power
of their way of life. Even though they were clearly mature adults,
each one of them radiated a child-like quality, their eyes twinkling
with the vitality of youth. None of them had wrinkles. None of
them had gray hair. None of them looked old.
Julian, who could scarcely believe what he was experiencing,
was offered a feast of fresh fruits and exotic vegetables, a diet that
he would later learn was one of the keys to the treasure trove of
ideal health enjoyed by the sages. After the meal, Yogi Raman
escorted Julian to his living quarters: a flower-filled hut containing
a small bed with an empty journal pad on it. This would be his
home for the foreseeable future.
Though Julian had never seen anything like this magical world
of Sivana, he somehow felt that this had been a homecoming of
sorts, a return to a paradise that he had known long ago. Somehow
this village of roses was not so foreign to him. His intuition told him
that he belonged here, if only for a short period. This would be the
place where he would rekindle the fire for living that he had known
before the legal profession stole his soul, a sanctuary where his
broken spirit would slowly start to heal. And so began Julian's life
among the Sages of Sivana, a life of simplicity, serenity and
harmony. The best was soon to come.

[_Eddy_]

CHAPTER FIVE
A Spiritual Student
of the Sages

Great dreamers' dreams are never fulfilled, they
are always transcended.
Alfred Lord Whitehead
It was now 8:00 p.m. and I still had to prepare for my court
appearance the next day. Yet I was fascinated by the experience of
this former legal warrior who had dramatically transformed his life
after meeting and studying under these marvellous sages from
India. How amazing, I thought, and what an extraordinary
transformation! I secretly wondered whether the secrets Julian
had learned in that far off mountain hideaway could also elevate
the quality of my life and replenish my own sense of wonder for the
world we live in. The longer I listened to Julian, the more I came to
realize that my own spirit had become rusty. What had happened
to the uncommon passion I brought to everything I did when I was
younger? Back then, even the simplest of things filled me with a
sense of joy. Maybe it was time for me to reinvent my destiny.
Sensing my fascination with his odyssey and my eagerness to
learn the system of enlightened living that the sages had passed on
to him, Julian quickened the pace as he continued with his tale. He
told me how his desire for knowledge, coupled with his sharp
intellect—refined through many years of battles in the courtroom
had made him a well-loved member of the Sivana community. As a
mark of their affection for Julian, the monks eventually made him
an honorary member of their band and treated him like an integral
part of their extended family.
Eager to expand his knowledge of the workings of the mind,
body and soul, and to attain self-mastery, Julian spent literally
every waking moment under the tutelage of Yogi Raman. The sage
became more like a father to Julian than a teacher, though they
were separated in age by only a few years. It was clear that this
man had the accumulated wisdom of many lifetimes and, most
happily, he was willing to share it with Julian.
Beginning before dawn, Yogi Raman would sit with his
enthusiastic student and fill his mind with insights on the meaning
of life and little-known techniques that he had mastered for living
with greater vitality, creativity and fulfillment. He taught Julian
ancient principles which he said anyone could use to live longer,
stay younger and grow far happier. Julian also learned how the
twin disciplines of personal mastery and self-responsibility would
keep him from returning to the chaos of crisis that had
characterized his life in the West. As the weeks slipped into
months, he came to understand the treasure-trove of potential
sleeping within his own mind, waiting to be awakened and used for
higher purposes. Sometimes the teacher and his student would
simply sit and watch the blazing Indian sun rising from the deep
green meadows far below. Sometimes they would rest in quiet
meditation, savoring the gifts that silence brings. Sometimes they
would walk through the pine forest, discussing points of
philosophy and enjoying the pleasures of each other's company.
Julian said that the first indications of his personal expansion
came after only three weeks in Sivana. He started noticing the
beauty in the most ordinary of things. Whether it was the marvel
of a starry night or the enchantment of a spider's web after it had
rained, Julian absorbed it all. He also said that his new lifestyle

[_Eddy_]

and the new habits associated with it started to have a profound
effect on his inner world. Within a month of applying the principles
and techniques of the sages, he told me that he had begun to
cultivate the deep sense of peace and inner serenity that had
eluded him in all the years he had lived in the West. He became
more joyful and spontaneous, growing more energetic and
creative with each passing day.
Physical vitality and spiritual strength followed the changes in
Julian's attitude. His once overweight frame grew strong and lean
while the sickly pallor which had characterized his face was
replaced by a splendid shimmer of health. He actually felt as if he
could do anything, be anything and unlock the infinite potential
that he learned was inside every one of us. He started to cherish
life and to see the divinity in every aspect of it. The ancient system
of this mystical band of monks had started to work its miracles.
After pausing as if to express disbelief at his own tale, Julian
grew philosophical. "I've realized something very important, John.
The world, and that includes my inner world, is a very special
place. I've also come to see that success on the outside means
nothing unless you also have success within. There is a huge
difference between well-being and being well-off When I was a
hotshot lawyer, I used to snicker at all those people who worked at
improving their inner and outer lives. 'Get a life!' I thought. But I
have learned that self-mastery and the consistent care of one's
mind, body and soul are essential to finding one's highest self and
living the life of one's dreams. How can you care for others if you
cannot even care for yourself? How can you do good if you don't
even feel good? I can't love you if I cannot love myself," he offered.
Suddenly Julian grew flustered and slightly uneasy. "I've
never opened my heart to anyone like this before. I apologize for
this, John. It is just that I experienced such a catharsis up in those
mountains, such a spiritual awakening to the powers of the
universe, that I feel others need to know what I know."
Noticing that it was getting late, Julian quickly told me he
would take his leave and bid me adieu.
"You can't leave now, Julian. I'm really pumped to hear the
wisdom you learned in the Himalayas and the message you
promised your teachers you would bring back to the West. You
can't leave me in suspense — you know I can't stand it."
"I'll be back, rest assured, my friend. You know me, once I
start telling a good story I just can't stop. But you have your work
to do, and I have some private matters that need to be taken care of."
"Just tell me one thing then. Will the methods you learned in
Sivana work for me?"
"When the student is ready, the teacher appears," came the
swift reply. "You, along with so many others in our society, are
ready for the wisdom I now have the privilege of holding. Every
one of us should know the philosophy of the sages. Every one of us
can benefit by it. Every one of us must know of the perfection that
is their natural state. I promise I will share their ancient
knowledge with you. Have patience. I will meet you again
tomorrow night, this time at your house. Then I'll tell you all that
you need to know to put far more living into your life. Is that fair?"
"Yeah, I guess if I've done without it all these years, waiting
another twenty-four hours won't kill me," I responded with
disappointment.
And with that, the master litigator turned enlightened yogi of
the East was gone, leaving me with a mind full of unanswered
questions and unfinished thoughts.
As I sat in my office quietly, I realized how small our world
really was. I thought about the vast pool of knowledge that I had

[_Eddy_]

not even begun to dip my fingers into. I thought about how it
might feel to regain my own zest for living, and about the curiosity
I had had when I was younger. I would love to feel more alive and
to bring unbridled energy to my days. Maybe I too would leave the
legal profession. Maybe there was a higher calling for me as well?
With these weighty considerations on my mind, I turned out the
lights, locked the door to my office and walked out into the thick
heat of another summer's night.

CHAPTER SIX
The Wisdom of
Personal Change

I am an artist at living — my work of art is my life.
Suzuki
True to his word, Julian showed up at my home the next evening.
At about 7:15 p.m., I heard four quick knocks on the front door of
my house, a Cape Cod design with awful pink shutters that my
wife believed made our house look like something out of
Architectural Digest. Julian himself looked strikingly different
than he had the day before. He still embodied radiant health and
exuded a wonderful sense of calm. It was what he was wearing that
made me a little uncomfortable.
Adorning his obviously supple body was a long red robe
topped by an ornately embroidered blue hood. And though it was
another sticky night in July, the hood covered his head.
"Greetings my friend," Julian offered enthusiastically.
"Greetings."
"Don't look so alarmed, what did you expect me to wear —
Armani?"
We both started to laugh, softly at first. Soon our giggles had
turned to guffaws. Julian certainly had not lost that wicked sense
of humor that had kept me entertained so long ago.
As we relaxed in my cluttered but comfortable living room, I
couldn't help but notice the ornate necklace of wooden prayer
beads dangling from his neck.
"What are those? They're really beautiful."
"More about these later," he said, rubbing some of the beads
with his thumb and index finger. "We have much to talk about
tonight."
"Let's get started. I could hardly get anything done at work
today I was so excited about our meeting."
Hearing his cue, Julian immediately started to reveal more
about his personal transformation and the ease with which it
was effected. He told me of the ancient techniques he had
learned for mind control and for erasing the habit of worry
that was consuming so many in our complex society. He spoke
of the wisdom that Yogi Raman and the other monks had
shared for living a more purposeful and rewarding life. And he
spoke of a series of methods to unleash the wellspring of
youthfulness and energy he said every one of us has
slumbering deep inside of us.
Though the conviction with which he spoke was clear, I began
to grow skeptical. Was I the victim of some prank? After all, this
Harvard-trained lawyer was once widely known within the firm
for his practical jokes. As well, his story was nothing less than
fantastic. Think about it: one of this country's best known trial
lawyers throws in the towel, sells all his worldly goods and treks

[_Eddy_]

off to India on a spiritual odyssey, only to return as a wise
prophet from the Himalayas. This could not be real.
"C'mon Julian. Stop pulling my leg. This whole story is
starting to smack of one of your gags. I'll bet you rented that robe
from the costume shop across the street from my office," I
suggested, breaking into my best fear grin.
Julian was quick to respond, as if my disbelief was something
he had expected. "In court, how do you prove your case?"
"I offer persuasive evidence."
"Right. Look at the evidence that I have offered you. Look at
my smooth, lineless face. Look at my physique. Can't you sense
the abundance of energy I have? Look at my peacefulness. Surely
you can see that I have changed?"
He had a point. This was a man who, only a few years ago, had
looked decades older.
"You didn't go to a plastic surgeon did you?"
"No," he smiled. "They only focus on the outer person. I
needed to be healed from within. My unbalanced, chaotic lifestyle
left me in great distress. It was much more than a heart attack
that I suffered. It was a rupture of my inner core."
"But your story, it's so . . . mysterious and unusual."
Julian remained calm and patient in the face of my persistence.
Spotting the pot of tea I had left on the table next to him, he
started to pour into my waiting cup. He poured until the cup was
full—but then he kept on pouring! Tea started to trickle down the
sides of the cup and into the saucer, then onto my wife's prized
Persian rug. At first I watched silently. Then I couldn't take it any
more.
"Julian, what are you doing? My cup is overflowing. No matter
how hard you try, no more will go in!" I yelled impatiently.
He looked at me for a long moment. "Please don't take this the
wrong way. I really respect you, John. I always have. However,
just like this cup, you seem to be full of your own ideas. And how
can any more go in. . . until you first empty your cup?"
I was struck by the truth of his words. He was right. My many
years in the conservative legal world, doing the same things every
day with the same people who thought the same thoughts every
day had filled my cup to the brim. My wife Jenny was always
telling me that we should be meeting new people and exploring
new things. "I wish you were just a little more adventurous, John,"
she would say.
I couldn't remember the last time I had read a book that didn't
deal with law. The profession was my life. I began to realize that
the sterile world I had grown accustomed to had dulled my
creativity and limited my vision.
"Okay. I see your point," I admitted. "Perhaps all my years as
a trial lawyer have made me a hardened skeptic. From the minute
I saw you in my office yesterday, something deep inside me told me
that your transformation was genuine, and that there was some
sort of lesson in it for me. Maybe I just didn't want to believe it."
"John, tonight is the first night of your new life. I simply ask
that you think deeply about the wisdom and strategies that I will
share with you and apply them with conviction for a period of one
month. Embrace the methods with a deep trust in their
effectiveness. There is a reason why they have survived for
thousands of years — they work."
"One month seems like a long time."
"Six hundred and seventy-two hours of inner work to
profoundly improve every waking moment of the rest of your life
is quite a bargain, don't you think? Investing in yourself is the best
investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life,

[_Eddy_]

it will improve the lives of all those around you."
"How's that?"
"It is only when you have mastered the art of loving yourself
that you can truly love others. It's only when you have opened your
own heart that you can touch the hearts of others. When you feel
centered and alive, you are in a much better position to be a better
person."
"What can I expect to happen in those six hundred and
seventy-two hours that comprise one month?" I asked earnestly.
"You will experience changes within the workings of your
mind, body and even your soul that will astonish you. You will have
more energy, enthusiasm and inner harmony than you have had in,
perhaps, your entire life. People will actually begin telling you that
you look younger and happier. A lasting sense of well-being and
balance will swiftly return to your life. These are just some of the
benefits of the Sivanan System."
"Wow."
"All of what you will hear tonight is designed to improve your
life, not just personally and professionally but spiritually as well.
The advice of the sages is just as current today as it was five
thousand years ago. It will not only enrich your inner world, it will
enhance your outer world and make you far more effective in all
that you do. This wisdom is truly the most potent force I have ever
encountered. It is straightforward, practical and has been tested
in the laboratory of life for centuries. Most importantly, it will work
for anyone. But before I share this knowledge with you, I must ask
you for a promise."
I knew there would be strings attached. "There are no free
lunches," my loving mother used to say.
"Once you see the power of the strategies and skills shown to
me by the Sages of Sivana and observe the dramatic results they
will bring to your life, you must make it your mission to pass this
wisdom on to others who will benefit from this knowledge. This is
all that I ask of you. By agreeing to this, you will help me fulfill my
own pact with Yogi Raman."
I agreed without reservation, Julian began to teach me the
system he had come to consider as sacred. While the techniques
that Julian had mastered during his stay were varied, at the heart
of the Sivanan System were seven basic virtues, seven
fundamental principles which embodied the keys to selfleadership,
personal responsibility and spiritual enlightenment.
Julian told me that Yogi Raman was the first to share the seven
virtues with him after a few months in Sivana. On a clear night,
when all the others had drifted off into deep slumber, Raman
knocked softly on the door of Julian's hut. In the voice of a gentle
guide, he spoke his mind: "I have observed you closely for many
days now Julian. I believe that you are a decent man who deeply
desires to fill his life with all that is good. Since you have arrived
you have opened yourself up to our traditions and embraced them
as your own. You have learned a number of our daily habits, and
have seen their many salutary effects. You have been respectful of
our ways. Our people have lived this simple, peaceful life through
countless ages and our methods are known to but a few. The
world needs to hear our philosophy on enlightened living. Tonight,
on the eve of your third month in Sivana, I will begin to share the
inner workings of our system with you, not only for your benefit
but for the benefit of all those in your part of the world. I will sit
with you daily as I sat with my son when he was a child. Sadly, he
passed on a few years ago. His time had come and I do not question
his exit. I enjoyed our time together and cherish the memories. I
now see you as my son and I feel grateful that all I have learned