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

[_Eddy_]

over many years of silent contemplation will live on within you."
I looked at Julian and noticed that his eyes were now shut, as
if he were transporting himself back to this fairy-tale land that had
showered the blessing of knowledge on him.
"Yogi Raman told me that the seven virtues for a life
overflowing with inner peace, joy and a wealth of spiritual gifts
were contained within a mystical fable, this fable was the essence
of it all. He asked me to shut my eyes as I have now done, here on
the floor of your living room. He then told me to picture the
following scene in my mind's eye:
You are sitting in the middle of a magnificent, lush, green
garden. This garden is filled with the most spectacular
flowers you have ever seen. The environment is supremely
tranquil and silent. Savor the sensual delights of this
garden and feel as if you have all the time in the world to
enjoy this natural oasis. As you look around you see that
in the center of this magical garden stands a towering, red
lighthouse, six stories high. Suddenly, the silence of the
garden is disturbed by a loud creaking as the door at the
base of the lighthouse opens. Out stumbles a nine-foot-tall,
nine-hundred-pound Japanese sumo wrestler who
casually wanders into the center of the garden.
"It gets better," chuckled Julian. "The Japanese sumo
wrestler is naked! Well, actually he is not totally naked. He has a
pink wire cable covering his private parts."
As this sumo wrestler starts to move around the garden,
he finds a shiny gold stopwatch which someone had left
behind many years earlier. He slips it on, and falls to the
ground with an enormous thud. The sumo wrestler is
rendered unconscious and lies there, silent and still. Just
when you think he has taken his last breath, the wrestler
awakens, perhaps stirred by the fragrance of some fresh
yellow roses blooming nearby. Energized, the wrestler
jumps swiftly to his feet and intuitively looks to his left.
He is startled at what he sees. Through the bushes at the
very edge of the garden he observes a long winding path
covered by millions of sparkling diamonds. Something
seems to instruct the wrestler to take the path, and to his
credit, he does. This path leads him down the road of
everlasting joy and eternal bliss.
After hearing this strange tale high atop the Himalayas,
seated next to a monk who had seen the torchlight of
enlightenment first-hand, Julian told me that he was disappointed.
Quite simply, he said that he thought he was going to hear
something earth-shattering, knowledge that would stir him to
action, perhaps even move him to tears. Instead, all he heard was
a silly story about a sumo wrestler and a lighthouse.
Yogi Raman detected his dismay. "Never overlook the power
of simplicity," Julian was told.
"This story may not be the sophisticated discourse that you
expected," said the sage, "but there is a universe of sensibility in
its message and a purity in its purpose. From the day you arrived,
I have thought long and hard as to how I would share our
knowledge with you. At first I considered giving you a series of
lectures over a period of months but realized that this traditional
approach was ill-suited to the magical nature of the wisdom you
are about to receive. I then thought of asking all of my brothers
and sisters to spend a little time with you every day tutoring you
in our philosophy. However, this too was not the most effective way
for you to learn what it is we have to tell. After great deliberation,
I finally arrived at what I thought was a very creative yet highly

[_Eddy_]

effective way to share the entire system of Sivana with its seven
virtues. . . and that is this mystical fable."
The sage added: "At first it might seem to be frivolous and
perhaps even childish. But I assure you that every element of the
fable embodies a timeless principle for radiant living and has great
depth of meaning. The garden, the lighthouse, the sumo wrestler,
the pink wire cable, the stopwatch, the roses and the winding path
of diamonds are symbols of the seven timeless virtues for an
enlightened life. I can also assure you that if you remember this
little story and the fundamental truths that it represents, you will
carry within you all that you need to know to raise your life to its
highest level. You will have all the information and strategies you
will need to profoundly influence the quality of your life and the
lives of all those you touch. And when you apply this wisdom on a
daily basis, you will change—mentally, emotionally, physically and
spiritually. Please write this story deep into your mind and carry it
within your heart It will only make a dramatic difference if you
embrace it without reservation."
"Luckily John," said Julian, "I did embrace it. Carl Jung once
said that 'your vision will become clear only when you can look into
your heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside,
awakens.' On that very special night, I looked deep into my heart
and awakened to the secrets of the ages for enriching the mind,
cultivating the body and nourishing the soul. It is now my turn to
share them with you."

CHAPTER SEVEN
A Most Extraordinary Garden

Most people live—whether physically, intellectually
or morally—in a very restricted circle of their potential
being. We all have reservoirs of life to draw upon of
which we do not dream.
William James
"In the fable, the garden is a symbol for the mind," said Julian. "If
you care for your mind, if you nurture it and if you cultivate it just
like a fertile, rich garden, it will blossom far beyond your
expectations. But if you let the weeds take root, lasting peace of
mind and deep inner harmony will always elude you.
"John, let me ask you a simple question. If I went into your
backyard where you have that garden you used to tell me so
much about and threw toxic waste over all your prized petunias,
you wouldn't be thrilled, would you?"
"Agreed."
"As a matter of fact, most good gardeners guard their gardens
like proud soldiers and make certain that no contamination ever
enters. Yet look at the toxic waste that most people put into the
fertile garden of their minds every single day: the worries and
anxieties, the fretting about the past, the brooding over the future
and those self-created fears that wreak havoc within your inner
world. In the native language of the Sages of Sivana, which has
existed for thousands of years, the written character for worry is
strikingly similar to the character symbolizing a funeral pyre. Yogi
Raman told me that this was no mere coincidence. Worry drains
the mind of much of its power and, sooner or later, it injures the
soul."
"To live life to the fullest, you must stand guard at the gate of
your garden and let only the very best information enter. You truly
cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought—not even one. The

[_Eddy_]

most joyful, dynamic and contented people of this world are no
different from you or me in terms of their makeup. We are all flesh
and bones. We all come from the same universal source. However,
the ones who do more than just exist, the ones who fan the flames
of their human potential and truly savor the magical dance of life
do different things than those whose lives are ordinary. Foremost
amongst the things that they do is adopt a positive paradigm about
their world and all that is in it."
Julian added: "The sages taught me that on an average day
the average person runs about sixty thousand thoughts through
his mind. What really amazed me though, was that ninety-five
percent of those thoughts were the same as the ones you thought
the day before!"
"Are you serious?" I asked.
"Very. This is the tyranny of impoverished thinking. Those
people who think the same thoughts every day, most of them
negative, have fallen into bad mental habits. Rather than focusing
on all the good in their lives and thinking of ways to make things
even better, they are captives of their pasts. Some of them worry
about failed relationships or financial problems. Others fret over
their less-than-perfect childhoods. Still others brood over more
trifling matters: the way a store clerk might have treated them or
the comment of a co-worker that smacked of ill-will. Those who
run their minds in this fashion are allowing worry to rob them of
their life force. They are blocking the enormous potential of their
minds to work magic and deliver into their lives all that they want,
emotionally, physically and, yes, even spiritually. These people
never realize that mind management is the essence of life
management.
"The way you think stems from habit, pure and simple,"
Julian continued with conviction. "Most people just don't realize
the enormous power of their minds. I have learned that even the
best-conditioned thinkers are using only 1/100th of a percent of
their mental reserves. In Sivana, the sages dared to explore the
untapped potential of their mental capacity on a regular basis.
And the results were astounding. Yogi Raman, through regular
and disciplined practice, had conditioned his mind so that he was
able to slow down his heartbeat at will. He had even trained
himself to go for weeks without sleep. While I would never
suggest that these should be goals for you to aspire to, I do
suggest that you start to see your mind for what it is — nature's
greatest gift."
"Are there some exercises I can do to unlock this mind power?
Being able to slow down my heartbeat would definitely make me
a hit on the cocktail-party circuit," I suggested cheekily.
"Don't worry about that now, John. I'll give you some practical
techniques that you can try later that will show you the power of
this ancient technology. For now, what is important is that you
understand that mental mastery comes through conditioning,
nothing more and nothing less. Most of us have the same raw
materials from the moment we take our first breath of air; what
separates those people who achieve more than others or those that
are happier than others is the way that they use and refine these
raw materials. When you dedicate yourself to transforming your
inner world your life quickly shifts from the ordinary into the
realm of the extraordinary."
My teacher was growing more excited by the moment. His
eyes seemed to twinkle as he spoke of the magic of the mind and
the wealth of goodness it would surely bring.
"You know John, when all is said and done, there is only one
thing that we have absolute dominion over."

[_Eddy_]

"Our kids?" I said, smiling good-naturedly.
"No, my friend — our minds. We might not be able to control
the weather or the traffic or the moods of all those around us. But,
we most certainly can control our attitude towards these events.
We all have the power to determine what we will think about in any
given moment. This ability is part of what makes us human. You
see, one of the fundamental gems of worldly wisdom I have
learned in my travels to the East is also one of the most simple."
Julian then paused as if to summon up a priceless gift.
"And what might that be?"
"There is no such thing as objective reality or 'the real world.'
There are no absolutes. The face of your greatest enemy might
be the face of my finest friend. An event that appears to be a
tragedy to one might reveal the seeds of unlimited opportunity to
another. What really separates people who are habitually upbeat
and optimistic from those who are consistently miserable is how
the circumstances of life are interpreted and processed."
"Julian, how could a tragedy be anything but a tragedy?"
"Here's a quick example. When I was travelling through
Calcutta, I met a schoolteacher named Malika Chand. She loved
teaching and treated her students as she would her own children,
nurturing their potential with great kindness. Her perennial
motto was 'Your I can is more important than your I.Q.' She was
known throughout her community as a person who lived to give,
who selflessly served anyone in need. Sadly, her beloved school,
which had stood as a silent witness to the delightful progress of
generations of children, succumbed to the flames of a fire set by an
arsonist one night. All those in the community felt this great loss.
But as time passed, their anger gave way to apathy and they
resigned themselves to the fact that their children would be
without a school."
"What about Malika?"
"She was different, an eternal optimist if there ever was one.
Unlike everyone around her, she perceived opportunity in what
had happened. She told all the parents that every setback offers
an equivalent benefit if they took the time to search for it. This
event was a gift in disguise. The school that burned to the ground
was old and decrepit. The roof leaked and the floor had finally
buckled under the strain of a thousand little feet scampering
across its surface. This was the chance that they had been waiting
for to join hands as a community and build a much better school,
one that would serve many more children in the years to come.
And so, with this sixty-four-year-old dynamo behind them, they
marshalled their collective resources and raised enough funds to
build a sparkling new school, one that stood as a shining example
of the power of vision in the face of adversity."
"So it's like that old adage about seeing the cup as half full
rather than half empty?"
"That's a fair way to look at it. No matter what happens to you
in your life, you alone have the capacity to choose your response to
it. When you form the habit of searching for the positive in every
circumstance, your life will move into its highest dimensions. This
is one of the greatest of all the natural laws."
"And it all starts with using your mind more effectively?"
"Exactly, John. All success in life, whether material or
spiritual, starts with that twelve-pound mass sitting between your
shoulders. Or more specifically, with the thoughts that you put into
your mind every second of every minute of every day. Your outer
world reflects the state of your inner world. By controlling the
thoughts that you think and the way you respond to the events of
your life, you begin to control your destiny."

[_Eddy_]

"This makes so much sense, Julian. I guess my life has become
so busy that I have never taken the time to think about these
things. When I was in law school, my best friend Alex used to love
reading inspirational books. He said that they kept him motivated
and energized in the face of our crushing workload. I remember
him telling me that one of them said that the Chinese character for
'crisis' is comprised of two sub-characters: one that spells 'danger'
and another that spells 'opportunity.' I guess that even the ancient
Chinese knew that there is a bright side to the darkest
circumstance — if you have the courage to look for it."
"Yogi Raman put it this way: 'There are no mistakes in life,
only lessons. There is no such thing as a negative experience, only
opportunities to grow, learn and advance along the road of selfmastery.
From struggle comes strength. Even pain can be a
wonderful teacher.' "
"Pain?" I protested.
"Absolutely. To transcend pain, you must first experience it. Or
to put it another way, how can you really know the joy of being on
the summit of the mountain unless you have first visited the lowest
valley. Get my point?"
"To savor the good one must know the bad?"
"Yes. But I suggest that you stop judging events as either
positive or negative. Rather, simply experience them, celebrate
them and learn from them. Every event offers you lessons. These
little lessons fuel your inner and outer growth. Without them, you
would be stuck on a plateau. Just think about it in your own life.
Most people have grown the most from their most challenging
experiences. And if you meet with an outcome you did not expect
and feel a little disappointed, remember that the laws of nature
always ensure that when one door closes another opens."
Julian started to raise his arms in excitement, much as a
Southern minister might while preaching to his congregation.
"Once you consistently apply this principle to your daily life and
start to condition your mind to translate every event into a
positive, empowering one, you will banish worry forever. You will
stop being a prisoner of your past. Instead, you will become the
architect of your future."
"Okay, I understand the concept. Every experience, even the
worst, offers me a lesson. Therefore, I should open my mind to the
learning in every event. In this way, I will grow stronger and
happier. What else might a humble, middle-class lawyer do to
improve things?"
"First of all, begin to live out of the glory of your imagination,
not your memory."
"Run that one by me again."
'All I'm saying is that to liberate the potential of your mind,
body and soul, you must first expand your imagination. You see,
things are always created twice: first in the workshop of the mind
and then, and only then, in reality. I call the process 'blueprinting'
because anything that you create in your outer world began as a
simple blueprint in your inner world, on the lush picture screen of
your mind. When you learn to take control of your thoughts and
vividly imagine all that you desire from this worldly existence in a
state of total expectancy, dormant forces will awaken inside you.
You will begin to unlock the true potential of your mind to create
the kind of magical life that I believe you deserve. From tonight
onwards, forget about the past. Dare to dream that you are more
than the sum of your current circumstances. Expect the best. You
will be astonished at the results.
"You know, John, all those years in the legal profession I
thought I knew so much. I spent years studying at the finest

[_Eddy_]

schools, reading all the law books I could get my hands on and
working with the best role models. Sure, I was a winner at the
game of law. Yet I how realize I was losing in the game of life. I was
so busy chasing the big pleasures of life that I missed out on all the
little ones. I never read those great books my father used to tell me
to read. I haven't built any great friendships. I've never learned to
appreciate great music. Having said this, I really think I am one of
the lucky ones. My heart attack was my defining moment, my
personal wake-up call, if you will. Believe it or not, it gave me a
second chance to live a richer, more inspired life. Like Malika
Chand, I saw the seeds of opportunity in my painful experience.
More importantly, I had the courage to nourish them."
I could see that while Julian had grown younger on the outside
he had grown far wiser within. I realized that this evening was
more than just a fascinating conversation with an old friend. I
realized that tonight could be ray own defining moment and a clear
chance for a new beginning. My mind started to consider all that
was wrong in my own life. Sure I had a great family and a stable
job as a well-regarded lawyer. Yet in my quiet moments I knew
there had to be more. I had to fill that emptiness that was starting
to envelope my life.
When I was a kid, I dreamed such great dreams. Often, I
visualized myself as a sports hero or as a business tycoon. I really
believed that I could do, have and be whatever I wanted to be. I
also remembered the way I used to feel as a young boy growing up
on the sun-splashed west coast. Fun came in the form of simple
pleasures. Fun was spending a glorious afternoon skinny-dipping
or riding through the woods on my bicycle. I had such a curiosity
for life. I was an adventurer. There were no limits on what my
future could bring. I honestly don't think I have felt that kind of
freedom and joy for fifteen years. What happened?
Perhaps I lost sight of my dreams when I became an adult and
resigned myself to acting the way adults were supposed to act.
Maybe I lost sight of them when I went to law school and started
talking like lawyers were supposed to talk. In any event, that
evening with Julian at my side, pouring his heart out over a cup of
cold tea, made me resolve to stop spending so much time making
a living and to spend far more time creating a life.
"Looks like I have you thinking about your life also," Julian
observed. "Start thinking about your dreams for a change, just
like when you were a little child. Jonas Salk said it best when he
wrote: 'I have had dreams and I have had nightmares. I overcame
the nightmares because of my dreams.' Dare to dust off your
dreams John. Start to revere life again and celebrate all of its
wonders. Awaken yourself to the power of your own mind to make
things happen. Once you do, the universe will conspire with you to
work magic in your life."
Julian then reached into the depths of his robe and pulled out a
little card, about the size of a business card, which had tears along
its sides, apparently the result of many months of constant use.
"One day, while Yogi Raman and I were walking along a quiet
mountain path, I asked him who his favorite philosopher was. He
told me that he had many influences in his life, and it was difficult
for him to single out any one source for his inspiration. There was
one quotation, however, that he carried deep within his heart; one
that encapsulated all the values he had come to cherish over a life
spent in quiet contemplation. At that glorious place, deep within
the middle of nowhere, this learned sage of the East shared it with
me. I too etched its words into my heart. They serve as a daily
reminder of all that we are—and all that we can be. The words
came from the great Indian philosopher Patanjali. Repeating them

[_Eddy_]

aloud every morning before I sit down to meditate has had a very
profound influence on the course of my day. Remember, John,
words are the verbal embodiment of power."
Julian then showed me the card. The quotation read:
When you are inspired by some great purpose, some
extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their
bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your
consciousness expands in every direction and you find
yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant
forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover
yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed
yourself to be.
In that instant, I saw the connection between physical vitality
and mental agility. Julian was in picture-perfect health and looked
many years younger than he had when we had first met. He
brimmed with vibrancy and it appeared that his energy, enthusiasm
and optimism knew no bounds. I could see that he had made many
changes to his former lifestyle, but it was obvious that the starting
point of his magnificent transformation was mental fitness. Success
on the outside indeed begins with success on the inside, and by
changing his thoughts, Julian Mantle had changed his life.
"Exactly how can I develop this positive, serene and inspired
attitude, Julian? After all these years in my routine, I think my
mental muscles have grown a little flabby. Come to think of it, I
have very little control over the thoughts that are floating around
the garden of my mind," I said with sincerity.
"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. If you
have become a negative thinker, this is because you have not cared
for your mind and taken the time to train it to focus on the good.
Winston Churchill said that 'the price of greatness is,
responsibility over each of your thoughts.' Then you will install the
vibrant mindset you are looking for. Remember, the mind truly is
like any other muscle in your body. Use it or lose it."
"Are you saying that if I don't exercise my mind it will grow
weak?"
"Yes. Look at it this way. If you want to strengthen the
muscles of your arm to achieve more, you must train them. If you
want to toughen up your leg muscles, you must first exert them.
Similarly, your mind will do wonderful things for you if only you
will let it. It will attract all that you desire into your life, once you
learn how to operate it effectively. It will create ideal health if you
care for it properly. And it will return to its natural state of
peacefulness and tranquility — if you have the vision to ask for it.
The Sages of Sivana have a very special saying: 'The boundaries of
your life are merely creations of the self.'"
"I don't think I understand that one, Julian."
"Enlightened thinkers know that their thoughts form their
world and the quality of one's life comes down to the richness of
one's thoughts. If you want to live a more peaceful, meaningful life,
you must think more peaceful, meaningful thoughts."
"Hit me with the quick-fix, Julian."
"What do you mean?" Julian asked gently, running his bronzed
fingers along the front of his brilliantly textured robe.
"I'm excited about what you are telling me. But I'm an
impatient guy. Don't you have any exercises or techniques that I
can use right now, here in my own living room, to change the way
I run my mind?"
"Quick-fixes do not work. All lasting inner change requires
time and effort. Persistence is the mother of personal change. I'm
not saying that it will take years to make profound changes in your
life. If you diligently apply the strategies I am sharing with you

[_Eddy_]

every day for only one month, you will be astonished at the results.
You will begin to tap into the highest levels of your own capacity
and enter the realm of the miraculous. But to reach this
destination, you must not get hung up on the outcome. Instead,
enjoy the process of personal expansion and growth. Ironically, the
less you focus on the end result, the quicker it will come."
"How so?"
"It's like that classic story of the young boy who travelled far
from his home to study under a great teacher. When he met the
wise old man, his first question was, 'How long will it take me
before I am as wise as you?'
"The response came swiftly, 'Five years.'
"'This is a very long time,' the boy replied. 'How about if I
work twice as hard?'
'"Then it will take ten,' said the master.
'"Ten! That's far too long. How about if I studied all day and
well into the night, every night?'
'"Fifteen years,' said the sage.
"'I don't understand,' replied the boy. 'Every time I promise to
devote more energy to my goal, you tell me that it will take longer.
Why?'
'"The answer is simple. With one eye fixed on the destination,
there is only one left to guide you along the journey'"
"Point well taken, counselor," I conceded graciously. "Sounds
like the story of my life."
"Be patient and live with the knowledge that all you are
searching for is certain to come if you prepare for it and expect it."
"But I've never been the lucky sort, Julian. All that I have ever
received has come through sheer persistence."
"What is luck, my friend?" Julian replied kindly. "It is nothing
more than the marriage of preparation with opportunity."
Julian added softly: "Before I give you the precise methods
passed on to me by the Sages of Sivana, I must first share a couple
of key principles. First, always remember that concentration is at
the root of mental mastery."
"Seriously?"
"I know. It surprised me too. But it is true. The mind can
accomplish extraordinary things, you have learned this. The very
fact that you have a desire or a dream means that you have the
corresponding capacity to realize it. This is one of the great
universal truths known to the Sages of Sivana. However, to
liberate the power of the mind, you must first be able to harness it
and direct its focus only to the task at hand. The moment you
concentrate the focus of your mind on a singular purpose,
extraordinary gifts will appear within your life."
"Why is it so important to have a concentrated mind?"
"Let me offer you a riddle that will answer your question
nicely. Say you were lost in the woods in the middle of the winter.
You desperately needed to stay warm. All you have in your
knapsack is a letter your best friend had sent to you, a tin of tuna
and a small magnifying glass that you carry to compensate for
your fading eyesight. Luckily, you managed to find some dry
kindling wood, but unfortunately you have no matches. How would
you light the fire?"
Good grief. Julian had stumped me. I had no idea what the
answer was.
"I give up."
"It's very simple. Place the letter amongst the dry wood and
hold the magnifying glass over it. The rays of the sun will be
focused so as to ignite the fire within a matter of seconds."
"And what about the can of tuna?"

[_Eddy_]

"Oh, I just threw that in to distract you from the obvious
solution," Julian replied with a smile. "But the essence of the
example is this: putting the letter over the dry wood would
produce no result. Yet, the second you use the magnifying glass to
concentrate the scattered rays of the sun onto the letter, it will
ignite. This analogy holds true for the mind. When you
concentrate its tremendous power on definite, meaningful
objectives, you will quickly ignite the flames of your personal
potential and produce startling results."
"Like what?" I asked.
"Only you can answer this question. What is it that you are
searching for? Do you want to be a better father and live a more
balanced, rewarding life? Do you desire more spiritual fulfillment?
Is it adventure and fun that you feel you are lacking? Give it some
thought."
"How about eternal happiness?"
"Go big or stay home," he chuckled, "Nothing like starting off
small. Well, you can have that too."
"How?"
"The Sages of Sivana have known the secret of happiness for
over five thousand years. Fortunately, they were willing to share
this gift with me. Do you want to hear it?"
"No, I thought I'd take a break and go wallpaper the garage
first."
"Huh?"
"Of course I want to hear the secret of eternal happiness,
Julian. Isn't that what everyone is searching for, ultimately?"
"True. Well here it is . . . could I trouble you for another cup
of tea?"
"C'mon, quit stalling."
"Alright, the secret of happiness is simple: find out what you
truly love to do and then direct all of your energy towards doing
it. If you study the happiest, healthiest, most satisfied people of
our world, you will see that each and every one of them has found
their passion in life, and then spent their days pursuing it. This
calling is almost always one that, in some way, serves others. Once
you are concentrating your mind power and energy on a pursuit
that you love, abundance flows into your life, and all your desires
are fulfilled with ease and grace."
"So simply figure out what turns you on and then do it?"
"If it is a worthy pursuit," Julian replied.
"How do you define 'worthy'?"
"As I said, John, your passion must, in some way, improve or
serve the lives of others. "Victor Frankl said it more elegantly than
I ever could when he wrote: 'Success, like happiness, cannot be
pursued. It must ensue. And it only does so as the unintended side
effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.'
Once you find out what your life's work is, your world will come
alive. You will wake up every morning with a limitless reservoir of
energy and enthusiasm. All your thoughts will be focused on your
definite objective. You won't have time to waste time. Valuable
mental power will, therefore, not be wasted on trifling thoughts.
You will automatically erase the worry habit and become far more
effective and productive. Interestingly, you will also have a deep
sense of inner harmony, as if you are somehow being guided to
realize your mission. It is a wonderful feeling. I love it," Julian
offered gleefully.
"Fascinating. And I like the part about getting up feeling good.
To be really honest with you, Julian, most days I wish I could just
stay under the covers. It would be so much better than facing the
traffic, the angry clients, the aggressive opponents and the

[_Eddy_]

ceaseless flow of negative influences. It all makes me feel so tired."
"Do you know why most people sleep so much?"
"Why?"
"Because they really don't have anything else to do. Those who
rise with the sun all have one thing in common."
"Insanity?"
"Very funny. No, they all have a purpose that fans the flames
of their inner potential. They are driven by their priorities, but not
in an unhealthy, obsessive way. It is more effortless and gentle
than that. And given their enthusiasm and love for what they are
doing in their lives, such people live in the moment. Their attention
is fully and completely on the task at hand. Therefore, there are no
energy leaks. These people are the most vibrant and vital
individuals you will ever have the good fortune to meet."
"Energy leaks? Sounds a little New Agey, Julian. I'll bet you
didn't learn that one at Harvard Law School."
"True. The Sages of Sivana pioneered that concept. Though it
has been around for centuries, its application is just as relevant
today as it was when it was first developed. Too many of us are
consumed by needless and endless worry. This drains us of our
natural vitality and energy. Have you ever seen the inner tube of a
bicycle tire?"
"Of course."
"When it is fully inflated, it can easily take you to your
destination. But if there are leaks in it, the tube eventually
deflates, and your journey comes to an abrupt end. This is also
how the mind works. Worry causes your precious mental energy
and potential to leak, just like air leaking out of an inner tube.
Soon, you have no energy left. All of your creativity, optimism and
motivation has been drained, leaving you exhausted."
"I know the feeling. I often spend my days in the chaos of
crisis. I have to be everywhere at once and I can't seem to please
anyone. On those days, I notice that even though I have done very
little physical labor, all my worrying leaves me totally deflated by
the end of the day. About the only thing I can do when I get home
is pour myself a scotch and cuddle up with the remote control."
"Exactly. Too much stress does this to you. Once you find your
purpose, however, life becomes much easier and far more
rewarding. When you figure out what your main aim or destiny
really is, you will never have to work another day in your life."
"Early retirement?"
"No," said Julian in the no-nonsense tone he had mastered
during his days as an eminent lawyer. "Your work will be play."
"Wouldn't it be a little risky for me to give up my job to start
searching for my overriding passion and purpose? I mean, I have
a family and real obligations. I have four people who depend on
me."
"I'm not saying you that have to leave the legal profession
tomorrow. You will, however, have to start taking risks. Shake up
your life a bit. (Jet rid of the cobwebs. Take the road less travelled.
Most people live within the confines of their comfort zone. Yogi
Raman was the first person to explain to me that the best thing
you can do for yourself is regularly move beyond it. This is the way
to lasting personal mastery and to realize the true potential of
your human endowments."
"And what might those be?"
"Your mind, your body and your soul."
"So what risks should I take?"
"Stop being so practical. Start doing the things you have
always wanted to do. I have known lawyers who have quit their
jobs to become stage actors and accountants who have become jazz