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

[_Eddy_]

musicians. In the process, they have found the deep happiness that
had eluded them for so long. So what if they could no longer afford
two vacations a year and a posh summer home in the Caymans?
Calculated risk taking will pay huge dividends. How will you ever
get to third base with one foot on second?"
"I see your point."
"So take the time to think. Discover your real reason for being
here and then have the courage to act on it."
"With due respect, Julian, all I do is think. As a matter of fact,
part of my problem is that I think too much. My mind never stops.
It is filled with mental chatter — it drives me crazy sometimes."
"What I'm suggesting is different. The Sages of Sivana all
took time daily to silently contemplate not only where they were,
but where they were going. They took the time to reflect on their
purpose and how they were living their lives, every day. Most
importantly, they thought deeply and genuinely about how they
would improve the next day. Daily incremental improvements
produce lasting results which, in turn, lead to positive change."
"So I should take the time to reflect on my life regularly?"
"Yes. Even ten minutes of focused reflection a day will have a
profound impact on the quality of your life."
"I understand where you are coming from, Julian. The
problem is, once my day gets cranking, I can't even find ten
minutes to eat lunch."
"My friend, saying that you don't have time to improve your
thoughts and your life is like saying you don't have time to stop for
gas because you are too busy driving. Eventually it will catch up
with you."
"Yeah, I know. Hey, you were going to share some techniques
with me, Julian," I said, hoping to learn some practical ways to
apply the wisdom I was hearing.
"There is one technique for mastering the mind which towers
above all the rest. It is a favorite of the Sages of Sivana who taught
it to me with great faith and trust. After practicing it for only
twenty-one days I felt more energetic, enthusiastic and vibrant
than I had felt in years. The practice is over four thousand years
old. It is called The Heart of the Rose."
"Tell me more."
"All that you need to perform this exercise is a fresh rose and
a silent place. Natural surroundings are best but a quiet room will
also do nicely. Start to stare at the center of the rose, its heart.
Yogi Raman told me that a rose is very much like life: you will
meet thorns along the way but if you have faith and believe in
your dreams you will eventually move beyond the thorns into the
glory of the flower. Keep staring at the rose. Notice its color,
texture and design. Savor its fragrance and think only about this
wonderful object in front of you. At first, other thoughts will start
entering your mind, distracting you from the heart of the rose.
This is the mark of an untrained mind. But you need not worry,
improvement will come quickly. Simply return your attention to
the object of your focus. Soon your mind will grow strong and
disciplined."
"That's all there is to it? It sounds pretty easy."
"That is the beauty of it, John," Julian replied. "However, this
ritual must be performed daily for it to be effective. For the first
few days, you will find it difficult to spend even five minutes in this
exercise. Most of us live at such a frenetic pace that true stillness
and silence is something foreign and uncomfortable. Most people
hearing my words will say that they have no time to sit and stare
at a flower. These are the same people that will tell you that they
have no time to enjoy the laughter of children or to walk barefoot

[_Eddy_]

in the rain. These people say they are too busy to do such things.
They don't even have time to build friendships, for friendships also
take time."
"You know a lot about such people."
"I was one of them," said Julian. He then paused and sat still,
his intense gaze riveted on the grandfather clock my grandmother
had given Jenny and I as a housewarming present. "When I think
of those who live their lives this way, I remember the words of an
old British novelist whose work my father loved to read: 'One must
not allow the clock and the calendar to blind him to the fact that
each moment of life is a miracle — and a mystery.'
"Persist and spend longer and longer periods savoring the
heart of the rose," Julian continued in his throaty tone. "After a
week or two you should be able to perform the technique for
twenty minutes without your mind wandering onto other subjects.
This will be your first indication that you are taking back control
of the fortress of your mind. It will then focus only on what you
command it to focus on. It will then be a wonderful servant, able
to do extraordinary things for you. Remember, either you control
your mind or it controls you."
"Practically speaking, you will notice that you will feel far
calmer. You will have taken a significant step towards erasing the
worry habit that plagues most of the population and you will enjoy
more energy and optimism. Most importantly, you will also
observe a sense of joyfulness entering your life along with an
ability to appreciate the many gifts that surround you. Each day,
no matter how busy you get and how many challenges you might
face, return to the Heart of the Rose. It is your oasis. It is your
silent retreat. It is your island of peace. Never forget that there is
power in silence and stillness. Stillness is the stepping stone to
connecting with the universal source of intelligence that throbs
through every living thing."
I was fascinated by what I had heard. Could it really be
possible to profoundly improve the quality of my life with such a
simple strategy?
"There must be more to the dramatic changes I see in you
than the Heart of the Rose." I wondered aloud.
"Yes. This is true. In fact, my transformation came about as a
result of using a number of highly effective strategies in concert.
Don't worry, they are all just as simple as the exercise I have just
shared with you — and equally as powerful. The key for you, John,
is to open your mind to your potential for living a life rich with
possibilities."
Julian, ever the fountain of knowledge, continued to reveal
what he had learned in Sivana. "Another particularly good
technique for ridding the mind of worry and other negative, lifedraining
influences is based on what Yogi Raman called Opposition
Thinking. I learned that under the grand laws of Nature, the mind
can only hold one thought at any one time. Try it yourself John,
you will see that it is true."
I did try it and it is true.
"Using this little-known information, anyone can easily
create a positive, creative mindset within a short period. The
process is straightforward: when an undesirable thought
occupies the focal point of your mind, immediately replace it with
a uplifting one. It's as if your mind is a giant slide projector, with
every thought in your mind being a slide. Whenever a negative
slide comes up on the screen, take swift action to replace it with
a positive one.
"This is where the prayer beads around my neck come in,"
Julian added with rising enthusiasm. "Every time I catch myself

[_Eddy_]

thinking a negative thought, I take this necklace off and remove
another bead. These beads of worry go into a cup I keep in my
knapsack. Together they serve as gentle reminders that I still
have a distance to travel on the road to mental mastery and
responsibility over the thoughts that fill my mind."
"Hey, that's a great one! This is really practical stuff I have
never heard anything quite like it. Tell me more about this
philosophy of Opposition Thinking."
"Here's a real-life example. Let's say you have had a tough
day in court. The judge disagreed with your interpretation of the
law, the litigator on the other side belonged in a cage, and your
client was more than a little annoyed with your performance. You
come home and fall into your favorite chair, full of gloom. Step one
is to become aware that you are thinking these uninspiring
thoughts. Self-knowledge is the stepping stone to self-mastery.
Step two is to appreciate once and for all that just as easily as you
allowed those gloomy thoughts to enter, you can replace them with
cheerful ones. So think of the opposite of gloom. Concentrate on
being cheerful and energetic. Feel that you are happy. Perhaps you
might even start to smile. Move your body as you do when you are
joyful and full of enthusiasm. Sit up straight, breathe deeply and
train the power of your mind on positive thoughts. You will notice
a remarkable difference in the way you feel within minutes. Even
more importantly, if you keep up your practice of Opposition
Thinking, applying it to every negative thought that habitually
visits your mind, within weeks you will see that they no longer hold
any power. Do you see what I'm getting at?"
Julian continued his explanation: "Thoughts are vital, living
things, little bundles of energy, if you will. Most people don't give
any thought to the nature of their thoughts and yet, the quality of
your thinking determines the quality of your life. Thoughts are
just as much a part of the material world as the lake you swim in
or the street you walk on. Weak minds lead to weak actions. A
strong, disciplined mind, which anyone can cultivate through daily
practice, can achieve miracles. If you want to live life to the fullest,
care for your thoughts as you would your most prized possessions.
Work hard to remove all inner turbulence. The rewards will be
abundant."
"I never saw thoughts as living, things Julian," I replied,
amazed at this discovery. "But I can see how they influence every
element of my world."
"The Sages of Sivana firmly believed that one should only
think "Sattvic" or pure thoughts. They arrived at such a state
through the techniques I have just shared with you along with
other practices such as a natural diet, the repetition of positive
affirmations or 'mantras' as they called them, reading books rich
with wisdom and by constantly ensuring that their company was
enlightened. If even one impure thought entered the temple of
their minds they would punish themselves by travelling many
miles to an imposing waterfall and standing under the ice-cold
water until they could no longer bear the frigid temperature."
"I thought you told me these sages were wise. Standing under
an ice-cold waterfall deep in the Himalayan mountains for thinking
one little negative thought strikes me as extreme behavior."
Julian was lightning fast in his response, the result of his many
years as a world-class legal warrior: "John, I'll be blunt. You truly
cannot afford the luxury of even one negative thought."
"Really?"
"Really. A worrisome thought is like an embryo: it starts off
small but grows and grows. Soon it takes on a life of its own."
Julian stopped for a moment and then smiled. "Sorry if I seem

[_Eddy_]

a little evangelistic when I speak on this subject, on the philosophy
I learned on my journey. It's just that I have discovered tools that
can improve the lives of many people, people who feel unfulfilled,
uninspired and unhappy. A few adjustments in their daily routines
to include the Heart of the Rose technique and a constant
application of Opposition Thinking will give them the lives they
want. I think they deserve to know this.
"Before I move from the garden to the next element of Yogi
Raman's mystical fable, I must let you know of one more secret
which will offer you great aid in your personal growth. This secret
is based on the ancient principle that everything is always created
twice, first in the mind and then in reality. I have shared already
that thoughts are things, material messengers that we send out to
influence our physical world. I have also informed you that if you
hope to make remarkable improvements in your outer world you
must first start within and change the caliber of your thoughts.
"The Sages of Sivana had a wonderful way to ensure that their
thoughts were pure and wholesome. This technique was also
highly effective in manifesting their desires, however simple, into
reality. The method will work for anyone. It will work for a young
lawyer who seeks financial abundance just as it will work for a
mother seeking a richer family life or a salesperson seeking to
close more sales. The technique was known to the sages as the
Secret of the Lake. To apply it, these teachers would rise at 4:00
a.m., as they felt that the early morning possessed magical
qualities from which they could benefit. The sages would then
travel along a series of steep and narrow mountain paths which
eventually led them to the lower reaches of the region they
inhabited. Once there, they would walk along a barely visible trail
lined with magnificent pine trees and exotic flowers until they
arrived at a clearing. At the edge of the clearing was an aqua blue
lake covered by thousands of tiny white lotuses. The water of the
lake was strikingly still and calm. It was truly a miraculous sight.
The sages told me that this lake had been a friend to their
ancestors over the ages."
"What was the Secret of the Lake?" I asked impatiently.
Julian explained that the sages would look into the waters of
the still lake and envision their dreams becoming reality. If it was
the virtue of discipline they wished to cultivate within their lives
they would picture themselves getting up at dawn, performing
their rigorous physical regimen without fail and spending days in
silence to enhance their willpower. If it was more joy they were
seeking, they would look into the lake and envision themselves
laughing uncontrollably or smiling each time they met one of their
brothers or sisters. If it was courage they desired, they would
picture themselves acting with strength in the moment of crisis
and challenge.
"Yogi Raman once told me that as a boy, he lacked confidence
as he was smaller than the other boys his age. While they were
kind and gentle to him given their environmental influences, he
grew insecure and shy. To cure this weakness, Yogi Raman would
travel to this heavenly spot and use the lake as a picture screen for
images of the person he hoped to be. Some days he would visualize
himself as a strong leader, standing tall and speaking with a
powerful, commanding voice. Other days he would see himself as
he wished to be when he grew older: a wise sage filled with
tremendous inner strength and character. All the virtues he
wished to have in his life, he saw first on the surface of the lake.
"Within a matter of months, Yogi Raman became the person
whom he mentally saw himself becoming. You see, John, the mind
works through pictures. Pictures affect your self-image and your

[_Eddy_]

self-image affects the way you feel, act and achieve. If your selfimage
tells you that you are too young to be a successful lawyer or
too old to change your habits for the better, you never will achieve
these goals. If your self-image tells you that lives rich with
purpose, excellent health and happiness are only for people from
backgrounds other than your own, this prophecy will ultimately
become your reality.
"But when you run inspiring, imaginative pictures through the
movie screen of your mind, wonderful things start to happen in
your life. Einstein said that 'imagination is more important than
knowledge.' You must spend some time every day, even if it is just
a few minutes, in the practice of creative envisioning. See yourself
as you want to be, whether this means serving as a great judge, a
great father or a great citizen of your community."
"Do I have to find a special lake to apply the Secret of the
Lake?" I asked innocently.
"No. The Secret of the Lake was simply the sages' name for
the ageless technique of using positive images to influence the
mind. You can practice this method in your own living room or
even at the office if you really want to. Shut your door, hold all calls
and close your eyes. Then take a few deep breaths. You will notice
that after two or three minutes you will start to feel relaxed. Next,
visualize mental pictures of all that you want to be, to have and to
attain in your life. If you want to be the world's best father,
envision yourself laughing and playing with your kids, responding
to their questions with an open heart. Picture yourself acting
gracefully and lovingly in a tense situation. Mentally rehearse the
way you will govern your actions when a similar scene unfolds on
the canvas of reality.
"The magic of visualization can be applied to so many
situations. You can use it to be more effective in court, to enhance
your relationships and to develop yourself spiritually. Consistent
use of this method will also bring you financial rewards along with
an abundance of material gain, if this is important to you.
Understand once and for all that your mind has magnetic power to
attract all that you desire into your life. If there is a lack in your
life it is because there is a lack in your thoughts. Hold wonderful
pictures in your mind's eye. Even one negative image is poisonous
to your mindset. Once you start to experience the joy this ancient
technique brings, you will realize the infinite potential of your
mind and begin to liberate the storehouse of ability and energy
that currently sleeps within you."
It was as if Julian was speaking a foreign tongue. I had never
heard anyone speak of the magnetic power of the mind to attract
spiritual and material abundance. Nor had I ever heard anyone
speak of the power of imaging and its profound effects on every
aspect of one's world. Yet, deep inside I had faith in what Julian
was saying. This was a man whose judgment and intellectual
abilities were impeccable. This was a man who was internationally
respected for his legal acumen. This was a man who had walked
down the path I was now journeying along. Julian had found
something on his odyssey to the East, that much was clear.
Looking at his physical vitality, his obvious tranquility, seeing his
transformation confirmed that I would be wise to listen to his
advice.
The more I thought about what I was hearing the more sense
it made. Surely the mind must have a great deal more potential
than most of us are currently using. How else could mothers lift
otherwise immovable cars to save their crying infants who had
fallen underneath? How else could martial artists break stacks of
bricks with one fell swoop of their hands? How else could the yogis

[_Eddy_]

of the East slow down their heartbeats at will or endure
tremendous pain without blinking an eye? Maybe the real problem
was within me and my lack of belief in the gifts that every being
possesses. Perhaps this evening sitting alongside a former
millionaire-lawyer turned monk of the Himalayas was a sort of
wake-up call for me to start making the most of my life.
"But doing these exercises at the office, Julian?" I responded.
"My partners think I'm strange enough as it is."
"Yogi Raman and all the kind sages with whom he lived, often
used a saying that had been passed down to them through the
generations. It is my privilege to pass it on to you, on what has
become an important evening for both of us, if I may say so. The
words are as follows: 'There is nothing noble about being superior
to some other person. True nobility lies in being superior to your
former self.' All I'm really getting at is that if you want to improve
your life and live with all that you deserve you must run your own
race. It doesn't matter what other people say about you. What is
important is what you say to yourself. Do not be concerned with
the judgment of others as long as you know what you are doing is
right. You can do whatever you want to do as long as it is correct
according to your conscience and your heart. Never be ashamed of
doing that which is right; decide on what you think is good and
then stick to it. And for God's sake, never get into the petty habit
of measuring your self-worth against other people's net worth. As
Yogi Raman preached: 'Every second you spend thinking about
someone else's dreams you take time away from your own.'"
It was now seven minutes past midnight. Remarkably, I didn't
feel the least bit tired. When I shared this with Julian he smiled
once again. "You have learned yet another principle for
enlightened living. For the most part, fatigue is a creation of the
mind. Fatigue dominates the lives of those who are living without
direction and dreams. Let me give you an example. Have you ever
had an afternoon at the office where you were reading your dry
case reports and your mind started to wander and you started to
feel sleepy?"
"From time to time," I answered, not wishing to reveal the fact
that this was my modus operandi. "Sure, most of us feel drowsy at
work on a regular basis."
"Yet, if a friend calls on the phone to ask you if you want to go
out to the ball game that night or asks you for advice on his golf
game, I have no doubt that you would spring to life. Every trace of
your fatigue would vanish. Is that a fair assessment?"
"That's fair, counselor."
Julian knew he was on a roll. "So your tiredness was nothing
more then a mental creation, a bad habit your mind has cultivated
to act as a crutch when you are performing a tedious task. Tonight
you are obviously enchanted with my story and keen to learn the
wisdom that has been revealed to me. Your interest and mental
focus give you energy. This evening, your mind has not been in the
past nor has it been in the future. It has been squarely focused on
the present, on our conversation. When you consistently direct
your mind to live in the present you will always have boundless
energy, no matter what time the clock reflects."
I nodded my head in agreement. Julian's wisdom seemed so
obvious and yet so much of it had never occurred to me. I guess
common sense is not always so common. I thought about what my
father used to tell me when I was growing up: "Only those who
seek shall find." I wished he was with me.

[_Eddy_]

Quote
CHAPTER EIGHT
Kindling Your Inner Fire

Trust yourself. Create the kind of life you will be
happy to live with all your life. Make the most of
yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility
into the flames of achievement.
Foster C. McClellan

"The day that Yogi Raman shared his mystical little fable with me,
high atop the Himalayas, was actually quite similar to this day in
many respects," said Julian.
"Really?"
"Our meeting began in the evening and carried on well into the
night. There was such a chemistry between the two of us that the
air seemed to crackle with electricity. As I mentioned to you
earlier, from the first moment I met Raman, I felt as if he was the
brother I never had. Tonight, sitting here with you and enjoying
the look of intrigue on your face, I feel the same energy and bond.
I will also tell you that I have always thought of you as my little
brother since we became friends, I'll tell you the truth, I saw a lot
of myself in you."
"You were an amazing litigator, Julian. I will never forget your
effectiveness."
It was obvious that he had no interest in exploring the
museum of his past.
"John, I'd like to continue to share the elements of Yogi
Raman's fable with you, but before I do this, I must confirm
something. Already you have learned a number of highly
effective strategies for personal change which will do wonders
for you if you apply them consistently. I will open my heart to you
tonight and reveal everything I know, as it is my duty to do. I just
want to make sure that you fully understand how important it is
that you, in turn, pass this wisdom on to all those who are
searching for such guidance. We are living in a very troubled
world. Negativity pervades it and many in our society are
floating like ships without rudders, weary souls searching for a
lighthouse that will keep them from crashing against the rocky
shores. You must serve as a captain of sorts. I'm placing my trust
in you to take the message of the Sages of Sivana to all those who
need it."
After consideration, I promised Julian with conviction that I
would accept this assignment. He then continued passionately.
"The beauty of the whole exercise is that as you strive to improve
the lives of others, your own life will be elevated into its highest
dimensions. This truth is based on an ancient paradigm for
extraordinary living."
"I'm all ears."
"Basically, the sages of the Himalayas guided their lives by a
simple rule: he who serves the most, reaps the most, emotionally,
physically, mentally and spiritually. This is the way to inner peace
and outer fulfillment."
I once read that people who study others are wise but those
who study themselves are enlightened. Here, perhaps for the first
time, I saw a man who truly knew himself, perhaps his highest self.
In his austere clothing, with the half-smile of a youthful Buddha
gracing his supple face, Julian Mantle appeared to have it all: ideal
health, happiness and an overriding sense of his role in the

[_Eddy_]

kaleidoscope of the universe. Yet, he owned nothing.
"This brings me to the lighthouse," said Julian, remaining
focused on the task at hand.
"I was wondering how that fit into Yogi Raman's fable."
"I'll try to explain," he responded, sounding more like a wellschooled
professor than a lawyer turned monk who had renounced
the sensual world. "You have now learned that the mind is like a
fertile garden and for it to flourish, you must nurture it daily.
Never let the weeds of impure thought and action take the garden
of your mind. Stand guard at the gateway of your mind. Keep it
healthy and strong — it will work miracles in your life if you will
only let it."
"You will recall that in the middle of the garden stood a
magnificent lighthouse. This symbol will remind you of yet another
ancient principle for enlightened living: the purpose of life is a life
of purpose. Those who are truly enlightened know what they want
out of life, emotionally, materially, physically and spiritually.
Clearly defined priorities and goals for every aspect of your life
will serve a role similar to that played by a lighthouse, offering you
guidance and refuge when the seas become rough. You see, John,
anyone can revolutionize their lives once they revolutionize the
direction in which they are moving. But if you don't even know
where you are going, how will you ever know when you get there?"
Julian transported me back to the time when Yogi Raman
examined this principle with him. He recalled the sage's exact
words. "Life is funny," observed Yogi Raman. "One would think
that the less one worked the more one would have the chance to
experience happiness. However, the real source of happiness can
be stated in a word: achievement. Lasting happiness comes from
steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing
confidently in the direction of your life's purpose. This is the secret
to kindling the inner fire that lurks within you. I do understand
that it might seem more than a little ironic that you have travelled
thousands of miles from your achievement-oriented society to
speak to a cluster of mystical sages living high in the Himalayas
only to learn that another eternal secret of happiness can be found
in achievement, but it is true."
"Workaholic monks?" I suggested playfully.
"Quite the opposite. While the sages were tremendously
productive people, their productivity was not of the frenetic type.
Instead, it was of the peaceful, focused, zen-like kind."
"How so?"
"Everything they did had a purpose. Though they were
removed from the modern world and lived a highly spiritual
existence, they were also highly effective. Some spent their days
polishing off philosophical treatises, others created fabulous,
richly textured poems which challenged their intellect and
renewed their creativity. Still others passed their time in the
silence of total contemplation, looking like illuminated statues
seated in the ancient lotus pose. The Sages of Sivana did not waste
time. Their collective conscience told them that their lives had a
purpose and they had a duty to fulfill.
"This is what Yogi Raman said to me: 'Here in Sivana where
time appears to stand still, you might wonder what a group of
simple, possessionless sages would ever need or hope to achieve.
But achievement need not be of the material sort. Personally, my
objectives are to attain peace of mind, self-mastery and
enlightenment. If I fail to accomplish these goals by the end of my
life, I am certain that I will die feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied.'"
Julian told me that that was the first time he had heard any of
his teachers in Sivana speak of their own mortality. "And Yogi

[_Eddy_]

Raman sensed this in my expression. 'You need not worry, my
friend. I have already lived past the age of one hundred and have
no plans for a quick exit. My point is simply that when you clearly
know what aims you wish to achieve over the course of your life, be
they material, emotional, physical or spiritual, and you spend your
days accomplishing them, you will ultimately find eternal joy. Your
life will be as delightful as mine — and you will come to know a
splendid reality. But you must know your life's aim and then
manifest this vision into reality by consistent action. We sages call
this Dharma, which is the Sanskrit word for life's purpose."
"Lifelong contentment will come from the fulfillment of my
Dharma?" I asked.
"Most certainly. From Dharma springs inner harmony and
lasting satisfaction. Dharma is based upon the ancient principle that
says every one of us has a heroic mission whilst we walk this Earth.
We have all been granted a unique set of gifts and talents that will
readily allow us to realize this lifework. The key is to discover them,
and in doing so, discover the main objective of your life."
I interrupted Julian, "It's sort of what you were saying earlier
about risk taking."
"Maybe yes, maybe no."
"I don't follow."
"Yes, it may seem as though you are forced to take a few risks
to discover what you are best at and the essence of your life's
purpose. Many people quit jobs that have stifled their progress
the moment they discover the true purpose of their existence.
There is always the apparent risk that comes with selfexamination
and soul searching. But no, because there is never a
risk in discovering yourself and the mission of your life. Selfknowledge
is the DNA of self-enlightenment. It is a very good,
indeed essential thing."
"What is your Dharma, Julian?" I asked casually, attempting
to mask my burning curiosity.
"Mine is simple: to selflessly serve others. Remember, you will
not find true joy in sleeping, in relaxing or in spending your time
like an idler. As Benjamin Disraeli said: 'The secret of success is
constancy of purpose.' The happiness you are searching for comes
through reflecting on the worthy aims you are dedicated to
achieving and then taking action daily to advance them. This is a
direct application of the timeless philosophy which prescribes that
those things which are most important should never be sacrificed
to those things which are the least important. The lighthouse in
Yogi Raman's fable will always remind you of the power of setting
clearly defined, purposeful goals and, most importantly, of having
the character power to act on them."
Over the course of the next few hours, I learned from Julian
that all highly developed, fully actualized people understand the
importance of exploring their talents, uncovering their personal
purpose and then applying their human gifts in the direction of
this calling. Some people selflessly serve humanity as physicians,
others as artists. Some people discover that they are powerful
communicators and become wonderful teachers, whilst others
come to realize that their legacy will be in the form of innovations
in the field of business or science. The key is to have the discipline
and vision to see your heroic mission and to ensure that it serves
other people while you realize it.
"Is this a form of goal-setting?"
"Goal-setting is the starting point. Mapping out your
objectives and your goals releases the creative juices which get
you on to the path of your purpose. Believe it or not, Yogi Raman
and the other sages were very hot on goals."

[_Eddy_]

"You're kidding. Highly effective monks living deep in the
Himalayan mountains who meditate all night and set goals all day.
I love it!"
"John, always judge by results. Look at me. Sometimes I don't
even recognize myself when I look in the mirror. My onceunfulfilling
existence has been replaced by one rich with adventure,
mystery and excitement. I am young again and enjoy vibrant health.
I am truly happy. The wisdom I am sharing with you is so potent and
so important and so life-giving that you simply must stay open to it."
"I am Julian, I really am. Everything you have said makes
perfect sense, although some of the techniques do sound a little
odd. But I have promised to try them and I will. I agree that this
information is powerful."
"If I have seen farther than others, it is simply because I have
stood on the shoulders of great teachers," replied Julian with
humility. "Here's another example. Yogi Raman was an expert
archer, a true master. To illustrate his philosophy on the
importance of setting clearly defined objectives in every aspect of
one's life and fulfilling one's mission, he offered a demonstration I
will never forget.
"Near where we were sitting there was a magnificent oak tree.
The sage pulled one of the roses from the garland he habitually
wore and placed it on the center of the trunk. He then pulled three
objects from the large knapsack that was his constant companion
whenever he ventured to distant mountain climes such as the one
we were visiting. The first object was his favorite bow, made of a
wonderfully fragrant yet sturdy sandalwood. The second item was
an arrow. The third object was a lily-white handkerchief — the
kind I used to wear in the pocket of my expensive suits to impress
judges and juries," Julian added apologetically.
Yogi Raman then asked Julian to put the handkerchief over his
eyes as a blindfold.
"How far away from the rose am I?" Yogi Raman asked his
pupil.
"One hundred feet," Julian guessed.
"Have you ever observed me in my daily practice of this
ancient sport of archery?" the sage queried, in full knowledge of
the response that would come.
"I have seen you strike the bull's-eye from a mark almost
three hundred feet away and I cannot recall a time that you have
ever missed at your current distance," Julian noted dutifully.
Then, with his eyes covered by the cloth and his feet placed
securely in the earth, the teacher drew the bow with all his energy
and released the arrow — aiming directly at the rose hanging
from the tree. The arrow struck the large oak with a thud, missing
its mark by an embarrassingly large distance.
"I thought you were going to display more of your magical
abilities, Yogi Raman. What happened?"
"We have travelled to this isolated place for one reason only I
have agreed to reveal all my worldly wisdom to you. Today's
demonstration is meant to reinforce my advice on the importance
of setting clearly defined objectives in your life and knowing
precisely where you are going. What you just saw confirms the
most important principle for anyone seeking to attain their goals
and to fulfill their life's purpose: you will never be able to hit a
target that you cannot see. People spend their whole lives
dreaming of becoming happier, living with more vitality and having
an abundance of passion. Yet they do not see the importance of
taking even ten minutes a month to write out their goals and to
think deeply about the meaning of their lives, their Dharma. Goalsetting
will make your life magnificent. Your world will become