Learn English audiobook: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

the wake-up call he collapsed right in the middle of a packed courtroom he was one of this country's most distinguished trial lawyers he was also a man well known for the $3,000 Italian suits which draped his well-fed frame as for his remarkable string of legal victories I simply stood there paralyzed by the shock of what I just witnessed the great Julian mantle had been reduced to a victim and was now squirming on the ground like a helpless infant shaking and shivering like a maniac I had known Julian for 17 years we had first met when I was a young law student hired as a summer research intern back then he'd had it all he was a brilliant handsome and fearless trial attorney with dreams of greatness Julian was the firm's young star he was tough hard driving and willing to work 18-hour days for the success he believed was his destiny Julian's outrageous courtroom theatrics regularly made the front pages of the newspapers his extracurricular activities were probably as well-known late-night visits to the city's finest restaurants with sexy young fashion models or reckless drinking escapades became the stuff of legend I still can't figure out why he picked me to work with him on that sensational murder case he was to argue that first summer though I had graduated from Harvard Law School his alma mater I certainly wasn't the brightest intern at the firm at Julian's invitation I stayed on at the firm as an associate and a lasting friendship quickly developed between us I will admit that he wasn't the easiest lawyer to work with serving as his junior was often an exercise in frustration leading to more than a few late nights shouting matches however beneath his crusty exterior was a person who clearly cared about people no matter how busy he was he would always ask about Jenny the woman I still call my bride and finding out that I was in a financial squeeze Julian arranged for me to receive a generous scholarship sure he could play hardball with the best of them but he never neglected his friends the real problem was that Julian was obsessed with work for the first few years he justified his long hours by saying that he was doing it for the good of the firm has to passed Julian's reputation for brilliant spread and his workload continued to increase in his rare moments of quiet confided that he could no longer sleep for more than a couple of hours without waking up feeling guilty that he was not working on a file it soon became clear to me that he was being consumed by the hunger for more more prestige more glory and more money as expected Julian became enormous ly successful he achieved everything most people could ever want a stellar professional reputation with an income in seven figures a spectacular mansion a private jet and his prized possession a shiny red Ferrari parked in the centre of his driveway at 53 years of age Julian looked as if he was in his late 70s his face was a mass of wrinkles a less than glorious tribute to his take-no-prisoners approach to life in general and to the tremendous stress of his out of balance lifestyle in particular his late-night dinners and expensive French restaurants smoking thick Cuban cigars and drinking cognac after con yak had left him embarrassingly overweight he constantly complained that he was sick and tired of being sick and tired Julian's once enthusiastic nature had been replaced by a deathly somberness personally I think that his life had lost all sense of purpose almost every day he would tell me that he felt no passion for what he's doing and was enveloped by emptiness Julian said that as a young lawyer he really loved the law the lies complexities and intellectual challenges had kept him spellbound and full of energy its power to affect social change inspired and motivated him that vision gave his life meaning it gave him a purpose and it fueled his hopes there was even more to Julian's undoing that a rusty connection to what he did for a living he had suffered some great tragedy before I joined the firm something truly unspeakable had happened to him but I couldn't get anyone to open up about it whatever this deep dark secret was I had a suspicion that in some way was contributing to Julian's downward spiral sure I was curious but most of all I wanted to help him he was not only my mentor he was my best friend and then it happened this massive heart attack brought the brilliant Julian Mantle back down to earth and reconnected him to his mortality the mysterious visitor it was an emergency meeting of all of the firm's members old man Harding was the first to speak to the assembled mass I'm afraid I have some very bad news Julian mantle suffered a severe heart attack in court yesterday he is currently in the intensive care unit but his physicians have informed me that his condition is now stabilized and he will recover however Julian has made a decision to leave our family and to give up his law practice he will not be returning to the firm I was shocked I knew he was having his share of troubles but I never thought he would quit as well after all we had been through I thought he would at least have the courtesy to tell me this personally he wouldn't even see me at the hospital maybe I reminded him of the life he wanted to forget who knows I'll tell you one thing though it hurt that whole episode was just over three years ago last I heard Julian had headed off to India on some kind of expedition he told one of the partners that he wanted to simplify his life and that he needed some answers and hoped he would find them in that mystical land he sold his mansion and his plane he had even sold his Ferrari as those three years passed I changed from an overworked young lawyer to a jaded somewhat cynical older lawyer my wife Jenny and I had a family eventually I began my own search for meaning I think he was having kids that did it my dad said it best when he said John on your deathbed you will never wish you spent more time at the office so I started spending a little bit more time at home I settled into a pretty good if ordinary existence I joined the Rotary Club and played golf on Saturdays to keep my partners and clients happy but I must tell you in my quiet moments I often thought of Julian no one had received even a postcard from him since he left for his self-imposed exile from the law a knock on my door about two months ago offer the first answers to some of my questions I just met with my last on a grueling day when Genevieve my brainy legal assistant popped her head into my office there's someone here to see you John he says it's urgent and he will not leave until he speaks with you for an instant I considered calling security but realizing that this might be someone in need I assumed a more forgiving posture okay send him in I probably could use the business anyway the door to my office opens slowly at last it's swung fully open revealing a smiling man in his mid-30s he was tall lean and muscular radiating an abundance of vitality and energy but there was more to my visitor than his youthful good looks an underlying peacefulness gave him an almost divine presence and his eyes piercing blue eyes that sliced clear through me the young man continued to look at me much as the smiling Buddha might have looked upon a favored pupil after a long moment of uncomfortable silence he spoke in a surprisingly commanding tone is this how you treat all of your visitors John he said his full lips curling into a mighty grin a strange sensation tickled the pit of my stomach Julian is that you I can't believe it is it really you the loud laugh of the visitor confirmed my suspicions the young man standing before me was none other than that long-lost yogi of india julian mantle i was dazzled by his incredible transformation gone was the ghost-like complexion the cyclic off and the lifeless eyes of my former colleague perhaps even more astounding was the serenity that Julian exude 'add I felt entirely peaceful just sitting there staring at him the man before me was a youthful vital and smiling model of change the miraculous transformation of Julian mantle Julian was the first to speak he admitted that his body had fallen apart and that his mind had lost its luster the constant pressure and exhausting schedule of a world-class trial lawyer had also broken his most important and perhaps most human and his spirit when given the ultimatum by his doctor either to give up the law or give up his life he said he saw a golden opportunity to rekindle the inner fire that he had known when he was younger Julian grew visibly excited as he recounted how he sold all his material possessions and headed for India a land whose ancient culture and mystical traditions had always fascinated him he traveled from tiny village to tiny village seeing the timeless sights and growing to love the Indian people Julien slowly began to feel alive and whole again perhaps for the first time since he was a child his natural curiosity and creative spark steadily returned along with his enthusiasm and his energy for a living he started to feel more joyful and peaceful and he began to laugh again Julien told me that his journey to India was more than a simplification he described his time as a personal Odyssey of the self he confided that he was determined to find out who he really was and what his life was all about to do this his first priority was to connect to that cultures vast pool of ancient wisdom on living a more rewarding fulfilling and enlightened life the more he explored the more he heard of Indian monks who had lived beyond the age of a hundred monks who despite their advanced years maintained youthful energetic and vital lives the more he travelled the more he learned of ageless Yogi's who had mastered the art of mind control and spiritual awakening it was while he was in Kashmir an ancient and mystical state that sits sleepily at the foot of the Himalayas that he had the good fortune to meet a gentleman named yogi Krishnan this slight man with a clean shaven head had also been a lawyer fed up with his hectic pace that personifies modern New Delhi he too gave up his material possessions and retreated to a world of greater simplicity becoming a caretaker of the village temple Krishnan said he had come to know himself and his purpose in the larger scheme of life Jullien informed this lawyer turned yogi of his own story I need your help Krishnan I need to learn how to build a richer fuller life for as long as I've been care for this temple I've 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 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 am too old to start searching but I will tell you one thing my friend many have tried to find them and many have failed the higher reaches of the Himalayas are treacherous beyond consequences 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 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 sivanna in their mythology sivanna 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 the next morning Julian set out to the lost land of Savannah the first few days were easy sometimes he would catch up to one of the cheerful citizens of the village walking on one of the footpaths and other times he hiked alone the majesty of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas made his heart beat faster and for one moment took his breath away the fresh mountain air cleared his mind and energized his spirit and 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 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 in this eye isolated spot that had taken him seven treacherous days to reach he yelled out to his fellow traveler the figure refused to respond and accelerated his pace along the path they were both climbing soon the mysterious traveler was running his red robe dancing gracefully behind him please friend I need your help to find sivanna yelled Julien I've been travelling for seven days with little food and water I think I'm lost the figure came to an abrupt stop Julien approached cautiously while the traveller stood remarkably still in silent his head did not move his hands did not move and his feet kept their place Julien gazed at the traveler with an intense curiosity a quick burst of a sunbeam revealed that it was a man's face under the loosely fitting hood though he was at least his own age there were very striking features of this person which left Julien mesmerised his eyes were cat-like and so penetrating the Julien was forced to look away his olive complexion 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 an abundance of youthfulness and vitality I am Julien mantle I have come to learn from the sages of sivanna do you know where I might find them the man spoke softly 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 Julien 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 and he told of his travels in mystical India and of his meeting with yogi Krishnan the traveler remained silent and still it was not until Julien spoke of his burning almost obsessive desire to acquire the ancient principles of enlightened living that the man spoke again placing an arm on Julien's shoulder the man said gently if you truly have a heartfelt desire to learn the wisdom of a better way than it is my duty to help you I am indeed one of those sages that you have come so far in search of if you like you may come with me as my guest to our temple 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 I must request one promise from you 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 in these magical mountains we are aware if 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 Julien instantly accepted the sages terms as the two men moved still higher up the mountain path to the lost village of sivanna the Indian Sun started to set a fiery red circle slipping into a soft magical slumber after a long and weary day a magical meeting with the sages of sivanna after walking for many hours the two travelers came upon a lush green valley on one side of the valley the snow-capped Himalayas offered their protection on the other a thick forest of pine trees sprouted the sage looked at julian and smiled gently welcome to the nirvana of sivanna the two then descended 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 the richly colored orchids and a host of other lovely flowers dancing among the trees 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 mantel 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 made of red white and pink flowers held together with long strands of multicolored 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 Julian's travelling companion now revealed that his name was yogi Raman he explained that he was the eldest sage of Savannah and the leader of the 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 man who appeared to number only about 10 wore the same red robed uniform as yogi Raman and smiled serenely at Julian each of them looked calm healthy and deeply contented 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 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 Savannah revealed the power of their way of life even though they were clearly mature adults each one of them radiated a childlike quality their eyes twinkling with the vitality of youth not one of them had wrinkles not one of them had gray hair not one of them looked old Julian was offered a feast of fresh vegetables and fruits a diet that he would later learn was one of the keys to the 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 savanna his intuition told him that he belonged here if only for a short period and so began Julian's life among the sages of Savannah a life of simplicity serenity and harmony the best was soon to come a spiritual student of the sages it was now 8 p.m. and I still had to prepare for court the next day yet I was fascinated by the experience of this former legal warrior 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 maybe it was time for me to reinvent my destiny Julian quickened the pace as he continued with his tale he told me how his desire for knowledge coupled with his sharp intellect had made him a well-loved member of the Savannah 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 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 for living with greater vitality creativity and fulfillment he taught Julian ancient principles 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 Julian said that the first indications of his personal expansion came after only three weeks in Savannah he also said that his new lifestyle 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 had begun to cultivate the deep sense of peace and inner serenity that had eluded him he became more joyful and spontaneous growing more energetic and creative with each passing day after pausing as if to express disbelief at his own tale Julien grew philosophical I've realized that the world and that includes my inner world is a very special place I've learned that self mastery and the consistent care for 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 I can't love you if I cannot love myself he offered suddenly Julian grew flustered I've never opened my heart to anyone like this before 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 it was getting late Julian quickly told me he would take his leave and bid me a jeer I'll be back my friend you have your work to do and I have some private matters that need to be taken care of just tell me one thing well the methods you learned in Savanna work for me when the student is ready the teacher appears came the Swift reply you along with so many others are ready for the wisdom I now have the privilege of holding I will meet you again tomorrow night this time at your house then I'll tell you all you need to know to put far more living into your life and with that the master litigator turned enlightened yogi of the East was gone the wisdom of personal change true to his word Julian showed up at my house the next evening he still embodied radiant health and exude it 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 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 into guffaws Julian certainly had not lost that wicked sense of humor 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 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 Julian immediately started to reveal more about his personal transformation and the ease with which it was affected he told me if the ancient techniques he had learned from mind control and for erasing the habit of worry though the conviction with which he spoke was clear I began to grow skeptical was I the victim of some prank this could not be real come on Julian stop pulling my leg this whole story is starting to smack of one of your gags I suggested breaking into my best fear grin Julian remained calm and patient 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 Julian what are you doing my cup is overflowing no matter how hard you try no more will go in he looked at me for a long moment please don't take this the wrong way I really respect you John however just like this cup you seemed 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 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 okay I see your point I admit it perhaps all my years as a trial lawyer have made me a hardened skeptic from the minute I saw you yesterday something deep inside me told me that your transformation was genuine 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 you will experience changes within the workings of your mind body and even your soul that will astonish you asting sense of well-being and balance will swiftly return to your life Wow the advice of the sages is just as current today as it was 5000 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 most importantly it will work for anyone but before I share this knowledge with you I must ask you for a promise once you see the power of the strategies and skills shown to me by the sages of Savannah you must make it your mission to pass this wisdom on to others who will benefit from this knowledge by agreeing to do 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 at the heart of the sivan and system were seven basic virtues seven fundamental principles which embodied the keys to self leadership 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 Savannah on a clear night Raman knocked softly on the door of Julian's Hut and the voice of a gentle guide he spoke his mind since you have arrived you have opened yourself up to our traditions and embraced them as your own tonight on the eve of your third month in Savannah 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 feel grateful that all I have learned over many years of silent contemplation will live within you I looked at Julian and noticed that his eyes were now shut as if he were transporting himself back to this fairytale 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's not totally naked he has a pink wire cable covering his private parts as the sumo wrestler starts to move around the garden he finds a shiny gold stopwatch which someone had left behind many years earlier he slips on it 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 has taken his last breath the wrestler awakens stirred by the fragrance of some fresh yellow roses blooming nearby energize the wrestler jumps swiftly to his feet and intuitively looks to his left he is startled by 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 in eternal bliss after hearing the strange tale Julian told me he was disappointed he had expected to hear something earth-shattering wisdom that would stir him to action and perhaps even move him to tears the ogre omen detected this and said 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 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 a most extraordinary garden in the fable the garden is a symbol for the mind said Julien if you care for your mind if you nurture it and 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 look at the toxic waste that most people put into the fertile garden if 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 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 the garden of your mind and let only the best information enter you truly can't afford the luxury of a negative thought not even one the most joyful dynamic and contented people of this world are no different from you or me in terms of their makeup however the ones who do more than just exist the ones who fanned the flames of their human potential and truly savor the magical dance of life do different things than those whose lives are ordinary for most among the things they do is adopt a positive paradigm about their world and all that is in it the way you think stems from habit pure and simple Julien continued with conviction I have learned that even the best conditioned thinkers are using only 1/100 of 1% of their mental reserves in Savannah 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 well 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 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 there is no such thing as objective reality or the real world there are no absolutes 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 their life are interpreted and processed and it all starts with using your mind more effectively exactly John all success in life whether material or spiritual starts with that 12 pound mass sitting between your shoulders your outer world reflects the state if 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 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 rum and 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 self mastery 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 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 ok I understand the concept 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 you see things are always created twice first in the workshop off the mind and then and only then in reality I call the process blueprinting because anything 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 I began to reflect on my own life when I was a kid I dreamed such great dreams often I visualized myself as a sports hero or a business tycoon I really believed that I could do have or be whatever I wanted to be there were no limits on what my future could bring I almost ly don't think I felt that kind of freedom and joy 4/5 eighteen years what happened perhaps I lost sight of my dream when I became an adult and resigned myself to acting the way adults were supposed to act maybe I lost sight if than 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 made me resolve to stop spending so much time making a living and to spent 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 start to revere life again and celebrate all of its wonders Julian then reached into the depths of his robe and pulled out a little card one day while yogi Roman 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 encapsulated all the values he had come to cherish over a life spent in quiet contemplation the words came from the great Indian philosopher Patanjali repeating them aloud every morning before I sit down to meditate has had a profound influence on the course of my day 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 minds 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 success on the outside indeed begins with success on the inside and by changing his thoughts Julian 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 fly Bobby I said with sincerity if you diligently apply the strategies I am sharing with you 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 Julian added softly before I give you the precise methods passed on to me by the sages of Savannah I must first share a couple of key principles first always remember that concentration is at the root of mental mastery the very fact that you have a desire or a dream means that you have the corresponding capacity to realize it 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 how about eternal happiness go bigger stay home he chuckled nothing like starting off small well you can have that too the secret of happiness is simple find out what you truly love to do and then direct all of your energy towards doing it once you're 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 your passion must in some way improve or serve the lives of others 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 will automatically erase the worried 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 Nady 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 do you know why most people sleep so much because they really don't have anything else to do those who rise with the Sun all have one thing in common 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 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 Savannah pioneered that concept though it has been around for centuries its application is just as relevant today too many of us are consumed by needless and endless worry worry causes your precious mental energy and potential to leak soon you have no energy left 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 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 that you have to leave the legal profession tomorrow you will however have to start taking risks most people live within the confines of their comfort zone yogi Raman was the first explained that the best thing you can do for yourself is to regularly move beyond it this is the way to lasting personal mastery and the realization of 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 Mountains who have become jazz musicians in the process they have found the deep happiness that had eluded them for so long calculated risk taking will pay huge dividends I see your point so take the time to think the sages of Savannah 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 even ten minutes of focused reflection a day will have a profound impact on the quality of your life 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 after practicing it for only 21 days I felt more energetic enthusiastic and vibrant that I had in years the practice is over 4000 years old is called the heart of the rose all that you need to perform this exercise is a fresh rose in a silent place natural surroundings are best but a quiet room will do nicely start to stare at the center of the rose its heart keep staring at the Rose notice its color its texture its 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's 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 difficult to spend even five minutes in this exercise persist and spend longer and longer periods savoring the heart of the rose after a week or two you should be able to perform the technique for 20 without your mind wandering to other subjects this will be the first indication that you are taking back control of the fortress of your mind practically speaking you will notice that you will feel far calmer you will have taken a significant step towards erasing the worried habit that plagues most of the population and you will enjoy more energy and optimism 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 island of peace never forget that there is power and silence and in stillness stillness is the stepping stone to connecting with the universal source of intelligence that throbs through every living being Julian continued to reveal what he had learned in Savannah another particularly good technique is based on what yogi Roman 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's 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 an uplifting one this is where the prayer beads around my neck come in julian added with rising enthusiasm every time I catch myself thinking a negative thought I take this necklace off and remove another bead these beads have worried going to 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 let's say you've had a tough day in court the judge disagreed with your interpretation of the law the litigator on the other side belongs 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 and 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 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 Julian continued his explanation thoughts are vital living things little bundles of energy if you will a strong discipline mind which anyone can cultivate through daily practice can achieve miracles I never saw thoughts as living things Julian I replied amazed at this discovery the sages of Savannah firmly believed that one should think only Suffolk or pure thoughts if even one impure thought entered the temple of their minds they would punish themselves by traveling 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 for thinking one little negative thought strikes me as extreme behavior Julian was lightning fast in his response John I'll be blunt you truly cannot afford the luxury of even one negative thought a worrisome thought is like an embryo it starts off small but grows and grows soon it takes on a life of its own the sages of Savannah 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 the technique was known to the sages as the secret of the lake to apply it these teachers would rise at 4 a.m. as they felt that the early morning possessed magical qualities from which anyone could benefit the sages would then travel along a series of steep 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 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 in calm it was a truly miraculous sight the sages told me that this lake had been a friend to their ancestors over the ages Jullien explained that the sages would look into the waters of the still lake and envisioned 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 courage they desired they would picture themselves acting with strength in a moment of crisis and challenge you see John the mind works through pictures pictures affect your self-image and your self-image affects the way you feel act and achieve when you run inspiring imaginative pictures through the movie screen of your mind wonderful things start to happen in your life 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 is 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 you can practice this method in your own living room or even at your office if you really want to shut the door hold all calls and close your eyes then take a few deep breaths you will notice that after 2 or 3 minutes you will start to feel relaxed next visualized mental pictures of all 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 lovingly in a tense situation mentally rehearsed 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 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 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 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 but doing these exercises at the office Julian my partner's think I'm strange enough as it is 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 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 when you consistently direct your mind to live in the present you will always have boundless energy no matter what time the clock reflects kindling the inner fire John I'd like to continue to share the elements of Yogi Romans fable with you but I must confirm something we are living in a very troubled world negativity pervades it and many in our society are like floating 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 Savannah to all those who need to hear it after consideration I promised Julien 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 as 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 this brings me to the lighthouse said Julien remaining focused on the task at hand I was wondering how that fit into Yogi Romans fable 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 Julien transported me back to the time when yogi Raman examined this principle with him he recalled the sages exact words life is funny observed yogi Raman one would think the last 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 workaholic monks quite the opposite while the sages were tremendously productive people their productivity was not off the frenetic type instead it was up the peaceful focused zen-like kind the sages of Savannah 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 achievement need not be if 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 this was the first time he had heard any of his teachers in Savannah speak of their own mortality and yogi Raman sensed this in my expression you need not worry my friend he said I've already lived past the age of 100 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 even 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 lifeline contentment will come from the fulfillment of my Dharma I asked most certainly Dharma is based upon the ancient principle that says each one of us has a heroic mission while we walk this earth we have all been granted a unique set of gifts and talents that will readily allow us to realize this life work the key is to discover them and in doing so discover the main objective of your life 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 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 points of julienne mapping out your objectives and your goals releases the creative juices which get you on the path of your purpose believe it or not yogi ramen and the other sages were very hot on goals you're kidding highly effective monks who meditate all night and said goals all day I love it yogi ramen said 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 goal-setting will make your life magnificent your world will become richer more delightful and more magical you see Julian our ancestors have taught us that setting clearly defined objectives for what we desire in our mental physical and spiritual world is critical to the realization anyone who wishes to improve the quality of their inner as well as their outer worlds would do well to take out a piece of paper and start writing out their life aims at the very moment this is done natural forces will come into play which start to transform these dreams into reality what I was hearing fascinated me when I was a football player in high school my coach had constantly spoken of the importance of knowing what we wanted from every game our team wouldn't dream of stepping onto the playing field without a clear game plan that would lead us to victory I wondered why as I had grown older I had never taken the time to develop a game plan for my own life maybe Julian and yogi Raman had something here what is so special about writing at your goals how could such a simple act make such a difference I asked Julian was delighted by writing at your desires and goals on a piece of paper you send a red flag to your subconscious mind that these thoughts are far more important than any others you change your life the moment you set your goals and start to seek out your Dharma Julian said his eyes sparkling with the truth of his words have you ever met someone with a strange name and then started to notice that name appearing in newspapers on television or at the office this about one in astray ssin of the ageless principle yogi Raman called Joe Rickey which I have since learned means concentrated mind concentrate every ounce of your mental energy on self-discovery learn what you excel at and what makes you happy whatever it is find your passion and then follow it now that I really think about it it would be sad to reach the end of my life without realizing that I had some special genius that would have unlocked my potential and helped others even in a small way that's right so from this moment onwards be acutely aware of your aim in life awaken your mind to the abundance of possibility around you start to live with more zest the human mind is the world's largest filtering device when you decide to start concentrating your mind on your life's main aims your mind starts to filter out the unimportant and focus only on the important to tell you the truth I think it's about time I discovered my purpose I said don't get me wrong there are a lot of great things in my life but it isn't as rewarding as I think it could be how does that make you feel depressed I offered with total honesty I know I have talent actually I was one heck of a good artist when I was younger when I painted I was in heaven I lost track of time when I was in the studio painting I would get lost in the canvas it was almost as if I transcended time and moved into another dimension John this is the power of concentrating your mind on a pursuit that you love maybe your Dharma is to brighten the world with lovely scenes at least start spending a little time painting every day how about applying this philosophy to things less esoteric than changing my life let's say one of my aims was to drop the spare tire I am carrying around my waist where would I start Julian told me that the sages of Savannah had created a five step method to reach their objectives and fulfill the purposes of their lives the first step was to form a clear mental picture of the outcome if this was to lose weight every morning just after I woke up I was to envision myself as a lean fit person full of vitality and boundless energy step two was to get some positive pressure on myself pressure can inspire you to achieve great ends people generally achieve magnificent things when they are forced to tap into the wellspring of human potential that lies within them how can I create this positive pressure on myself I asked now thinking about the possibilities of applying this method to everything from getting up earlier to being a more patient and loving father one of the best is the public pledge tell everyone you know you will lose the excess weight or whatever your goal might be once you make your goal known to the world there will instantly be pressure on you to work towards its fulfillment since no one likes to look like a failure when you train your mind to associate pleasure with good habits and punishment with bad ones your weaknesses will quickly fall by the wayside you said there were five steps to follow to make my desires come true I said impatiently what are the remaining three yes John the third step is a simple one never set a goal without attaching a timeline to it to breathe life into a goal you must have a precise deadline remember that a goal that is not committed to paper is no goal at all go out and buy a journal a cheap coil notepad will do call this your dream book and fill it with all your desires objectives and dreams get to know yourself and what you are all about don't I already know myself most people don't the Chinese define image in these terms there are three mirrors that form a person's reflection the first is how you see yourself the second is how others see you and the third mirror reflects the truth know yourself John know the truth divide your dream book into separate sections for goals relating to the different areas of your life for example you might have sections for your physical fitness goals your financial goals your personal empowerment goals your relationship and social goals and perhaps most importantly your spiritual goals hey that sounds fun I've never thought about doing something as creative as that for myself I said another particularly effective technique is to fill your dream book with pictures of the things you desire in images of people who have cultivated the abilities talents and qualities that you hope to emulate if you want to lose weight and be an outstanding physical shape paste a picture of a marathon runner or an elite athlete in your dream book if you want to be the world's finest husband clip out a picture of someone who represents this perhaps your father and put it in your journal in the relationship section then review this book daily even for a few minutes make it your friend the results will startle you my wife would love to have a dream book she'd probably fill it with pictures of me without my notorious belly it's really not that big Julian suggested in a consoling tone then why does Jenny call me mr. donut I said breaking into a bride's smile Julian started to laugh I had to follow soon the two of us were howling on the floor I guess if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at I said still giggling very true my friend when I was chained to my former lifestyle one of the main problems was that I took life far too seriously now I am much more playful and childlike I enjoy all of life's gifts no matter how small they are but I have digressed once you have formed a clear mental picture of your outcome created a little pressure behind it set a deadline and committed it to paper the next step is to apply what yogi Roman called the magic rule of 21 the learned men and women of his world believe that for a new behavior to crystallize into a habit one had to perform the new activity for 21 days in a row what's so special about 21 days the only way to permanently install a new habit is direct so much energy towards it that the old one slips away like an unwelcome house guest the installation is generally complete in about 21 days the time it takes to create a new neural pathway say I wanted to start practicing the heart of the rose technique to erase the worry habit and live at a more peaceful pase do I have to do it at the same time every day good question the only reason to do something is because you want to and because you know it is the right thing for you to do my suggestion is that you try the heart of the rose method at the same time every day and in the same place every day there is tremendous power in a ritual when you insert any activity into your routine by doing it the same way at the same time every day it quickly grows into a habit soon you will be performing the new habit with the same ease that you feel while brushing your teeth and the final step for attaining goals and advancing along the path of purpose I wondered the final step in the sages method is one that is equally applicable as you advance along the path of your life the sages of Savannah truly believed that a day without laughter or a day without love was a day without life never forget the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration never neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things remain spirited joyful and curious stay focused on your life work and on giving selfless service to others the universe will take care of everything else this is one of nature's truest laws is that it I still have much wisdom to share with you are you tired not in the least actually I feel pretty pumped up you're quite the motivator Julian have you ever thought about an infomercial I asked mischievously I don't understand you replied gently never mind just one of my feeble attempts at humor okay before we move along with Yogi Romans fable there was one last point about reaching goals and your dreams that I would like to impress on you go for it there is one word which the sages spoke up in almost reverential terms this simple word seemed to carry a depth of meaning for them and it peppered their daily talk the word I am speaking of is passion and it is a word you must constantly keep at the forefront of your mind a burning sense of passion is the most potent fuel for your dreams here in our society we have lost our passion we do not do things because we love to do them we do things because we feel we have to do them this is a formula for misery reclaim the joy of waking up every morning full of energy and exhilaration breed the fire of passion into all that you do you will quickly recreate material as well as spiritual rewards you make it sound so easy it is from tonight onwards take complete control of your life decide once and for all to be the master of your fate discover your calling and you will start to experience the ecstasy of an inspired life finally always remember that what lies behind you and what lies in front of you is nothing when compared to what lies within you thanks Julian I really needed to hear this I never realized all that was lacking in my life until tonight things are going to change I promise you I'm grateful for this you're welcome my friend I'm simply fulfilling my purpose the ancient art of self-leadership time is passing quickly said Julian before pouring himself another cup of tea the morning will soon be upon us do you want me to continue or have you had enough for one night please continue Julian I have all the time in the world the kids are sleeping at their grandparents house tonight and Jennie won't be up for hours sensing my sincerity he continued with the symbolic fable that Yogi Roman had offered him to illustrate his wisdom you will recall that as the fable continues the door of the lighthouse slowly opens and out walks a nine foot tall nine hundred pound Japanese sumo wrestler sounds like a bad Godzilla movie I used to love those when I was a kid Julian said me too but don't let me distract you the sumo wrestler represents a very important element in the life changing system of the sages of sivanna yogi Raman told me that many centuries ago in the east the great teachers developed and refined a philosophy called Kaizen this Japanese word means constant and never-ending improvement and it's the personal trademark of a man and woman who is living a soaring fully awakened existence how did the concept of Kaizen enrich the lives of the sages I asked if you really want to improve your outer relationships or your finances you must first improve your inner world the most effective way to do this is through the practice of continuous self-improvement Julien I hope you don't mind me saying it but all this talk about one's inner world sounds more than a little esoteric to me I'm having a little difficulty with this notion of Kaizen and improving my inner world what exactly are we talking about here Julien was agile in his response when I speak of improving your inner world I am simply speaking of self-improvement and personal expansion and it is the best thing you can do for yourself taking the time to master your mind to care for your body and to nourish your soul will put you in the position to develop more richness and vitality in your life it is as epic Titus said so many years ago no man is free who is not a master of himself why not is in full agreement this was the first time I had given any serious thought to the importance of improving myself I really could use the added energy in good health that exercising would surely bring ridding myself of my nasty temper and my habit of interrupting others might do wonders for my relationship with my wife and kids and erasing my worry habit would give me the peace of mind and deep happiness I had been searching for the more I thought about it the more potential improvements I saw Julien spoke of the importance of building strength of character developing mental toughness and living with courage he told me that these three attributes would lead not only to a virtuous life but a life filled with achievement satisfaction in inner peace courage was a quality everyone could cultivate and one that would pay huge dividends over the long run what does courage have to do with self leadership and personal development I wondered aloud courage allows you to do whatever you want to do because you know it is right ultimately the degree of courage you live with determines the amount of fulfillment you receive and those who master themselves have an abundance of courage okay I'm starting to understand the power for working on myself where do I start Julien returned to his conversation with yogi Raman high atop the mountains on what he remembered as a remarkably starry and gloriously beautiful night the more I listened to yogi Raman and the more I reflected on the pain and suffering of my former world the more I welcome the philosophy of Kaizen constant and never-ending enrichment of the mind body and soul into my new life Julian asserted why am i hearing so much about the mind body and soul these days it seems I can't even turn on the tube without someone making mention of it this is the trilogy of our human endowments to improve our mind without the cultivation of your physical gifts would be a very hollow victory elevating your mind and body to their highest level without nurturing your soul would leave you feeling very empty and unfulfilled but when you dedicate your energies to unlocking the full potential of all three of your human endowments you will taste the divine ecstasy of an enlightened life you've got me pretty excited pal and as to your question about where to start I promise that I will give you a number of ancient yet powerful techniques in a few moments but first I must share a practical illustration with you get into push-up position good grief Julianne's become a drill sergeant I silently thought being curious and wishing to keep my cup empty I complied now do as many pushups as you can possibly do don't stop until you truly are certain that you cannot do any more I struggled with the exercise the first fifteen push-ups were pure agony at 23 push-ups I gave up no more Julian this is killing me the only lesson I'm going to learn from this is what to do for a heart attack do ten more then you can rest commanded Julian you've got to be kidding but I continued one two five eight and finally ten I lay on the floor in total exhaustion what could anyone possibly learn from an experience like this I asked breathlessly you told me after you had 23 that you couldn't do anymore you told me that this was your absolute limit yet when I challenged you to do more you responded with another 10 push-ups you had more inside you and when you reached for your resources you received more yogi Raman explained a fundamental truth to me the only limits on your life are those that you set yourself when you push beyond your limits just as you did in this demonstration you unlock mental and physical reserves that you've never thought you had Julianne sensed he was on a roll you practice the art of Kaizen by pushing yourself daily work hard to improve your mind and your body nourish your spirit do the things you fear be the person you dream of being Julianne continued his passionate discourse identify the things that are holding you back take the time to reflect on what might be keeping you from the life you really want and know deep down you can have once you have identified what your weaknesses are the next step is to face them head-on and attack your fears this might be the first taste of real freedom that you have experienced in years fear is nothing more than a mental monster you have created a negative stream of consciousness you mean all my fears are nothing more than imaginary little gremlins that have crept into my mind over the years exactly John every time they have prevented you from taking some action you have added fuel to their fire but when you conquer your fears you conquer your life I need an example study a baby she has no limits her mind is a lush landscape of potential and possibility properly cultivated it will lead her to greatness filled with negativity it will lead her to mediocrity at best a baby could be trained to view a glorious sunny day as depressing a child could be trained to see a puppy as a vicious animal an adult could be trained to see a drug as a pleasant vehicle for release it's all a matter of conditioning isn't it sure the same holds true for fear fear is a conditioned response a life sucking habit that can easily consume your energy creativity and spirit if you are not careful when fear rears its ugly head beat it down quickly the best way you can do this is to do the thing you fear when you erase fear from your mind you start to look younger and your health becomes more vibrant ah the old mind-body connection I replied hoping to mask my ignorance yes the sages of the east have known about it for over 5,000 years hardly new age he said with a broad grin truly enlightened people are prepared to put off short-term pleasure for the sake of long-term fulfillment they resolved to live by the wisdom of Kaizen improving every aspect of themselves ceaselessly and continuously with time things that were once difficult become easy fears that once prevented them from all the happiness health and prosperity they deserved fall to the wayside like stick men toppled by a hurricane so you're suggesting that I must change myself before I changed my life yes it's like that old story my favorite professor told me when I was in law school one night a father was relaxing with his newspaper after a long day at the office his son who wanted to play kept on pestering him finally fed up the father ripped out a picture of the globe that was in the newspaper and tore it into a hundred tiny pieces here son go and try to put this back together he said to his amazement his son returned after only one minute would the globe perfectly back together when the startled father asked him how he achieved this feat the son smiled and gently replied dad on the other side of the globe there was a picture of a person and once I got the person together the world was okay that's a great story you see John the wisest people I have ever met from the sages of Savannah to my professors at Harvard Law School all seem to know the key formula for happiness exactly how does one go about building courage it's the same as the story once you get yourself together your world will be okay but you must spend some time daily working on yourself even if for only 10 or 15 minutes and what does the nine-foot tall 900-pound Japanese sumo wrestler symbolising yogi Romans fable our hefty friend will be your constant reminder of the power of Kaizen [Music] in just a few hours julian and revealed the most powerful information that i had ever heard in my lifetime now i had been exposed to the ageless principle of self mastery Kaizen how can i practice the art of Kaizen i will give you ten ancient yet supremely effective rituals that will lead you far along the path of personal mastery if you apply them on a daily basis with faith in their utility you will observe remarkable results in just one month from today yogi ramen offered the ten rituals to me with great faith in what he termed their exquisite Ness the quid pro quo is that you must set aside at least one hour a day for 30 consecutive days to practice the strategies this investment in yourself is all it takes one hour a day for 30 days is all it takes it's the magic formula I was always searching for having said this you must be disciplined and apply the strategies which make up the formula daily with utter conviction in their value this is not a quick fix type deal once you are in you're in it for the long term what do you mean spending one hour a day tending to yourself will surely give you dramatic results in 30 days provided you do the right things the key is that you must keep on practicing them every day if you want to keep on seeing the results fair enough I agreed Julien clearly had unlocked a wellspring of personal vitality and inner serenity in his own life actually his transformation from a sickly ol litigator to a radiant energetic philosopher was nothing less than miraculous maybe I too could undergo a man to like transformation it was surely worth a try that night sitting on the floor of my cluttered living room I learned what Julien called the ten rituals of radiant living the first strategy was known to the sages as the ritual of solitude this involves nothing more than ensuring that your daily schedule include a mandatory period of peace just what is a period of peace it is a period of time as little as fifteen minutes or as much as fifty wherein you explore the healing power of silence and come to know who you really are its purpose is self-renewal and this is accomplished by spending time alone immersed in the beautiful blanket of silence solitude and quiet connect you to your creative source and release the limitless intelligence of the universe you will even sleep better and enjoy a renewed feeling of balance in your day-to-day activities where should I go for this period of peace theoretically you could do it anywhere from your bedroom to your office the key is to find a place of true quiet and beauty how does Beauty fit into the equation beautiful images sue the ruffled soul julian observed with the deep sigh bouquet of roses or a simple solitary daffodil will have a highly salutary effect on your senses and relax you to no end ideally you should savor such beauty in a space that will serve as a sanctuary of the self what's that basically it is a place that will become your secret form for mental and spiritual expansion this might be a spare room in your house or simply a peaceful corner of a small apartment the point is to reserve a spot for your renewal activities a place that sits there quietly awaiting your arrival I love the sound of that I think having a silent place to go to when I come home from work would make a world of difference that brings up another important point the ritual of Solitude works best when you practice it at the same time every day by practicing it at the same time every day a daily dose of silence will soon become a habit that you will never neglect anything else yes if at all possible commune with nature daily a quick walk through the woods or even a few minutes spent cultivating your tomato garden in the backyard will reconnect you to the wellspring of calm that may now be dormant within you being with nature also allows you to tune into the infinite wisdom of your highest self this self-knowledge will move you into the uncharted dimensions of your personal power never forget this Julian advised his voice rising with passion as this ritual worked well for you Julian absolutely someday I spend hours in quiet contemplation on other days I spend only 10 minutes the result is more or less the same a deep sense of inner harmony and an abundance of physical energy which brings me to the second ritual this is the ritual of physicality sounds interesting what's it all about the ritual of physicality is based on the principle that says as you care for the body so you care for the mind as you train your body so you train your mind take some time every single day to nourish the temple of your body through vigorous exercise get your blood circulating and your body moving did you know that there are 168 hours in a week no not really it's true at least five of those hours should be invested in some form of physical activity the sages of Savannah practiced the ancient discipline of yoga to awaken their physical potential and live a strong dynamic existence it was an extraordinary sight to see these marvelous physical specimens who had managed to age proof their lives standing on their heads in the centre of their village did the sages do anything else to care for their bodies yogi Raman and his brothers and sisters also believed that vigorous walking in natural surroundings worked wonders for relieving fatigue and restoring the body to its natural state of vibrancy I really think it didn't matter too much to them what they did so long as they move their bodies and got the fresh air if they're breathtaking surroundings flowing through their lungs what does breathing fresh air have to do with anything I'll answer your question with one of yogi Romans favourite sayings to breathe properly is to live properly quite early on in Savanna the sages taught me that the fastest way to double or even triple the amount of energy I had was to learn the art of effective breathing their philosophy was simple take in more oxygen through efficient breathing and you liberate your energy reserves along with your natural state of vitality okay so where do I start it's actually pretty easy two or three times a day take a minute or two to think about breathing more deeply and effectively your belly should move out slightly this indicates that you are breathing from the abdomen which is good a trick that yogi Raman taught me was to cup my hands over stomach if they moved out as I inhaled my breathing technique was proper very interesting if you like that then you'll love the third ritual of radiant living said Julian which is the ritual of live nourishment yogi Roman put it this way as you nourish your body so you nourish your mind I assume then that you changed your diet radically live foods are the answer live foods are those which are created through the natural interaction of the Sun air soil and water what I'm talking about here is a vegetarian diet fill your plate with fresh vegetables fruit and grains and you might just live forever is that possible most of the sages were well over 100 and they showed no signs of slowing down but is this type of diet healthy this is the diet that nature intended it is alive vital and supremely healthy the sages have lived by this diet for many thousands of years if you like meat you can certainly keep eating him just remember that you are ingesting dead food if you can cut back on the amount of red meat that you eat it is really hard to digest and since your digestive system is one of the body's most energy consuming processes valuable energy reserves are needlessly depleted by this foodstuff do you see what I'm getting out just compare how you feel after eating a steak with your energy levels after you've had a salad if you don't want to become a strict vegetarian at least start having a salad with every meal and fruit for dessert even this will make a huge difference in the quality of your physical life try it for about a month and judge the results for yourself you will feel phenomenal ok if it's good enough for the sages it's good enough for me I promise you I will give it a shot if I have sold you on the ritual of live nourishment I think you will love the fourth one the student is still holding his empty cup the fourth ritual is known as the ritual of abundant knowledge it centers around the whole notion of lifelong learning and expanding your knowledge base for the good of yourself and all those around you read regularly reading for 30 minutes a day will do wonders for you but I must caution you do not read just anything make it something that will improve both you and the quality of your life what did the sages read they spent many of their waking moments reading and rereading the ancient teachings of their ancestors they devoured this philosophical literature it was in Savannah that I really learned the power of the book and the principle that a book is the best friend of the wise to truly get the best out of a great book you must study it not just read it the sages would read many of the books of wisdom in their vast library 10 or 15 times they treated great books as scriptures holy documents of divine origin Wow is reading really that important 30 minutes a day will make a delightful difference in your life because you will quickly start to see the vast reserves of knowledge available for your use read the right books learn how those who have preceded you have handled the challenges you are currently facing what exactly are the right books any titles you could recommend to an eager young beaver I said flashing a broad grin sure you will thrive on the biography of the great American Benjamin Franklin I think you will also find much growth impetus from Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography entitled the story of my experiments with truth I also suggest that you read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse the highly practical philosophy of Marcus Aurelius and some of the work of Seneca you might even rethinking Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill I read it last week and I thought it was very profound thinking Grow Rich I exclaimed but I thought you left all that behind you I'm really sick and tired of all the make money fast manuals that are being peddled out there by snake oil salesmen preying on the weak easy big fella I couldn't agree with you more offered Julian with all the warmth and patience of a wise loving grandfather that little book is not about making a lot of money it's about making a lot of life thinking Grow Rich is about abundance including spiritual abundance and how to attract all that is good into your life you might do well to read it but I will not press the point sorry Julian I guess my temper gets the better for me sometimes I offered apologetically one more thing I need to improve I really am grateful for all that you are sharing with me no problem my point is simply read and keep reading do you want to know something else interesting what book simply help you to see what is already within yourself that's what enlightenment is all about after all my journeying and exploring I found that I have actually come full circle back to the point from which I started as a young boy but now I know myself and all that I am and can be okay what's the fifth ritual of radiant living it is the ritual of personal reflection you see we all have many sleeping talents inside of us by taking the time to get to know them we Kindle them however silent contemplation will deliver even more than this this practice will make you stronger more at ease with yourself and wiser I'm still a little fuzzy on the concept Julian every night the sages would retire to the sanctuary of their huts covered by fragrant rose petals and sit in deep contemplation Yogi Roman would actually take a written inventory of his day what kinds of things would he write down I asked first he would list all of his activities from the personal care activities of his morning to his interactions with the other sages interestingly he would also write down the thoughts he had run through his mind during that particular day isn't that hard to do I can hardly remember what I thought five minutes ago let alone 12 hours ago take the time to think get into the regular habit of personal introspection once yogi Roman had listed all that he had done and all that he had thought in one column he would then do an assessment in another column as he was confronted by his activities and thoughts in the written form he asked himself whether they were positive in nature if they were he resolved to continue giving his precious energy to them and if they were negative then he would come up with a clear course of action to get rid of them I think an example might help me can it be personal Julian asked sure I'd love to know some of your innermost thoughts I suggested actually I was thinking about yours we both started to giggle like a couple of kids in a schoolyard oh all right you always did get your own way okay let's go through just a few of the things that you did today write them down on that piece of paper on the coffee table Julian instructed I started to realize that something important was about to happen this was the first time in years that I had actually taken the time to do nothing but reflect on the things I was doing and the thoughts I was thinking where do I start I asked start with what you did this morning and progressed through your day just hit a few of the highlights fine I woke up at 6:30 to the sound of my electric rooster I joked get serious and keep going Julian replied firmly okay then I showered and shaved gobbled down a waffle and rushed off to work and what about your family they were all asleep anyway once I got to the office I noticed that my 7:30 appointment had been waiting there since 7:00 and boy was he furious what was your response I fought back what was I supposed to do let him push me around hmm okay then what happened well things went from bad to worse the courthouse called and told me that Judge wild a beast needed to see me in his chambers and if I wasn't there within 10 minutes heads would roll I rushed down to the courthouse and had another argument with one of the clerk's by the time I got back to the office there were 27 phone messages waiting for me all marked urgent need I go on please do well on my way home Jennie called me in the car and asked me to stop by her mother's house and pick up some of those amazing pies my mother-in-law is famous for problem was that when I took that exit I found myself in the middle of a gridlock so there I was in the middle of rush-hour traffic in 95-degree heat shaking with stress and feeling that even more time was slipping away how did you respond I cursed the traffic I said with complete honesty I was actually shouting out loud inside my car maybe we should stop there just take a second and look at your day obviously in retrospect there are at least a few things that you would do differently if he had the chance wouldn't you well first in a perfect world I would get up earlier I'd like to have a little peace in the morning and ease myself into the day the heart of the rose technique sounds like it would be fun also I really would like to have the family around the breakfast table even if only for a bowl of cereal it would give me a better sense of balance I always seem to feel that I never spend enough time with Jenny and the kids but it is a perfect world and you have a perfect life you do have the power to control your day you do have the power to live your dreams Julian observed his voice rising I am realizing this I really am starting to feel that I can change great continue reflecting on your day he instructed well I wish I hadn't yelled at my client I wish I hadn't argued with the court clerk and I wish I hadn't screamed at the traffic I think you now see the power if the ritual of personal reflection Julian said by looking at what you are doing how you are spending your day and the thoughts you are thinking you give yourself a benchmark for measuring improvement the only way to improve tomorrow is to know what you did wrong today lots to think about Julian lots to think about I offered reflectively how about thinking about the sixth ritual for radiant living the ritual of early awakening oh I think I know what's coming one of the best pieces of advice I learned in that far-off Oasis of savanna was to rise with the Sun and to start the day off well most of us sleep far more than we need to the average person can get by on six hours and remain perfectly healthy and alert getting up with the Sun sounds extreme actually it isn't there are a few things more natural than rising with the glory of the first rays of a new day the sages believed that sunshine was a gift from heaven and while they were careful not to over expose themselves they regularly had Sun baths and often could be seen dancing playfully in the early morning sunshine I firmly believe that this was another key to their extraordinary longevity hmm how do I build this ritual into my routine here are a couple of quick tips first never forget that it is the quality and not the quantity of sleep that is important it is better to have six hours of uninterrupted deep sleep that even 10 hours of disturbed sleep for example yogi ramen would never eat after 8 p.m. he said that the digestive activity had induced would reduce the quality of his sleep another example was the sages habit of meditating - the soft sounds of their harp immediately before heading off to sleep what was the reason behind this the 10-minute period before you sleep and the 10-minute period after you wake up are profoundly influential on your subconscious mind by determining the thoughts that go in you are also determining precisely what will come out so before you go to sleep do not watch the news or argue with anyone or even go over the day's events in your mind's eye relax drink a cup of herbal tea if you like listen to some soft classical music and prepare yourself to drift into a rich renewing slumber it makes sense the better the sleep the less I will need exactly and remember the ancient rule of 21 if you do anything for 21 days in a row it will be installed as a habit so stay with the early rising routine for about three weeks by then it will be a part of your life within short order you will be able to rise at 5:30 a.m. or even 5 a.m. with ease ready to savor the splendor of another great day ok so let's say that I am getting up every day at 5:30 what do I do as I've suggested the thoughts you think and the actions you take in the first 10 minutes after you wake up have a market effect on the rest of your day think positive thoughts give a prayer thanks for all you have the sages would actually make themselves laugh whether they felt like it or not just to get the happiness juices flowing early in the morning Julian I am trying very hard to keep my cup empty and I think you will agree that I've done pretty well for a novice but that sounds really odd even for a band of monks living high in the Himalayas but it's not take a guess how many is the average four-year-old laughs in a day who knows I do 300 now guess how many times the average adult in our society laughs in the course of a day 50 I tried try 15 said Julian smiling in satisfaction you see my point laughter is medicine for the Soul even if you don't feel like it look in the mirror and laugh for a couple of minutes you can't help but feel fantastic every day will then be an exquisitely rewarding one what do you do to start your day off on a positive footing actually I have developed quite a sophisticated morning routine which includes everything from the heart of the rose to drinking a couple of glasses of freshly squeezed fruit juice but there is one strategy in particular which I would like to share with you sounds important it is shortly after you have awakened go into your sanctuary of silence get still and focused then ask yourself this question what would I do today if this day was my last mentaly list all the things you would do the people you would call and the moments you would savor when you live every day as if it was your last your life will take on a magical quality and this brings me to the seventh of the rituals of radiant living the ritual of music never forget the power of music spend a little time with it every day even if it is listening to a soft piece on a cassette while you drive to work when you feel down or weary play some music it is one of the finest motivators I know of aside from yourself I exclaimed sincerely just listening to you makes me feel great you really have changed Julian and not just on the outside you really do seem to be at peace with yourself you have touched me tonight hey there's more shouted Julian with his fists in the air let's keep going I wouldn't have it any other way okay the eighth ritual is the ritual of the spoken word the sages had a series of mantras which they would recite morning noon and night they told me that this practice was immensely effective in keeping them focused straw and happy what's a mantra I asked a mantra is nothing more than a collection of words strung together to create a positive effect in sanskrit mun means mind and tri means freeing so a mantra is a phrase which is designed to free the mind and believe me join mantras accomplish this objective in a very powerful way so mantras are spoken they don't have to be written affirmations also are very effective but I have found that repeating a mantra aloud has a wonderful effect on my spirit when I need to feel motivated I might repeat I am inspired disciplined and energized out loud two or three hundred times to maintain the supreme sense of self-confidence I have cultivated I might repeat I am strong able and calm I even use mantras to keep me youthful and vital Julien admitted which leads us to the ninth ritual of radiant living quite nicely this is the ritual of congruent character this ritual requires you to take daily incremental action to build your character perhaps yogi Roman articulated the formula best when he stated you so a thought you reap in action reap in action you sow a habit so a habit you reap a character so a character you reap your destiny what kinds of things should I do to build my character anything that cultivates your virtues before you ask me what I mean by virtues let me clarify the concept the wise people if the Himalayas believe strongly that a virtuous life was a meaningful life so they governed all their actions by a series of timeless principles but I thought you said they governed their lives by their purpose yes this is quite so but their life's calling included living in a manner congruent to these principles they are simply stated industry compassion humility patience honesty and courage when all your actions are congruent and aligned with these principles you will feel a deep sense of inner harmony and peace this is also when your life will move from the ordinary into the realm of the extraordinary and you will begin to sense the sacredness of your being it is the first step to lifelong enlightenment have you tasted this experience I asked I have and I believe you will to do the right things act in a way that is congruent with your true character act with integrity be guided by your heart the rest will take care of itself you are never alone you know and the final ritual this is the all-important ritual of simplicity this ritual requires you to live a simple life as yogi Roman said one must never live in the thick of thin things focus only on your priorities those activities which are truly meaningful your life will be uncluttered rewarding and exceptionally peaceful this I promise you but earlier you told me that happiness comes from achievement now you are telling me to reduce my needs and be content with less isn't that a paradox excellent point John it might seem like a contradiction but it isn't lifelong happiness does come through striving to realize your dreams the key is not to make your happiness contingent on finding that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for example even though as a millionaire many times over I was so money driven that I couldn't enjoy all that I had you know there came a time when all I could eat was bread and water Julian said growing very quiet and pensive are you serious I always thought that you ate at the best restaurants with all those celebrity friends of yours that was in the early days not many people know about this but the burden of my out-of-control lifestyle gave me a bleeding ulcer Julian caught himself but I'm not one to live in the past it was another one of life's great lessons to transcend pain I had to first experience it I wouldn't be where I am today without it he said stoically any ideas on what I should do to bring the ritual of simplicity into my life I asked there are so many things you can do stop picking up the phone every time it rings stop wasting time reading junk mail stop eating out three times a week give up your golf club membership and spend more time with your kids spend a day a week without your watch watch the Sun Rise every few days sell your cellular phone and dump your pager need I continue Julien asked rhetorically I get the point but sell the cellphone I asked anxiously feeling as a baby might at the doctor's suggestion that his umbilical cord should be cut like I've said my duty is to share the wisdom I've learned through my journey with you you need not apply every strategy to make your life work try the techniques and use those that feel right to you after Julien had explained the tenor rituals for radiant living he paused I know that you want me to keep on going so I will perhaps this is a good time to get a little deeper what I have taught you up to now has been immensely practical but you must know something of the underlying spiritual current which flows through the principles I've outlined ok let's hear the spiritual stuff I said energetically unaware that it was nearly 2:30 in the morning within you lies the Sun the moon the sky and all the wonders of this universe the intelligence that created these wonders is the same force that created you all things around you come from the same source we are all one I'm not sure I follow you every being on this earth every object on this earth has a soul all souls flow into one this is the soul of the universe you see John when you nourish your own mind and your own spirit you are really feeding the soul of the universe when you improve yourself you are improving the lives of all those around you and when you have the courage to advance confidently in the direction of your dreams you begin to draw upon the power of the universe Julian I know you mean well but what happens if I fail failure is not having the courage to try nothing more and nothing less the only thing standing between most people and their dreams is the fear of failure yet failure is essential to success in any endeavor never fear failure failure is your friend the power of discipline Julian continued to use yoga ramens mystical fable as the cornerstone for the wisdom he was sharing with me you will recall that our friend the sumo wrestler was stark naked except for the pink wire cable covering his private parts i interject it gamely right applauded julian the pink wire cable will serve to remind you of the power of self-control and discipline in building a richer happier and more enlightened life my teachers in Savanna taught me that the virtue of discipline was like a wire cable have you ever really taken the time to study a wire cable John it hasn't been high on my priority list I confessed with a quick grin we'll have a look at one sometime you will see that it consists of many thin tiny wires placed one on top of the other alone each one is flimsy and weak but together their sum is much greater than their constituent parts and the cable becomes tougher than iron self-control and willpower are similar this to build a will of iron it is essential to take small tiny acts in tribute to the virtue of personal discipline routinely performed the little acts piled one on top of another to eventually produce an abundance of inner strength self-discipline will provide you with the mental reserves required to persevere when life throws you one of its little curves I must also alert you to the fact that the lack of willpower is a mental disease Julian added surprisingly willpower allows you to do what you said you would do when you said you would do it it is willpower that offers you the inner power to keep your commitments to others and perhaps even more importantly to yourself is it really that important most certainly my friend it is the essential virtue of every person who has created a life rich with passion possibility and peace Julian then reached into his robe and pulled out a shiny silver locket the kind you might see in a museum exhibit on ancient Egypt you shouldn't have I joked the sages of Savannah gave this gift to me on my last evening with them it was a joyous loving celebration between members of a family who had lived life to the fullest it was one of the greatest and one of the saddest nights of my life I left part of my self high in the Himalayas that evening Julian said his voice growing soft what are the words engraved on the locket here I'll read them to you never forget them John they have really helped me when times got tough through the steel of discipline you will forge a character rich with courage and peace through the virtue of will you are destined to rise to life's highest ideal and live within a heavenly mansion filled with all that is good joyful and vital without them you are lost like a Mariner without a compass one who eventually sinks with his ship Julian added building self-control and discipline into your life will also bring you a tremendous sense of freedom this alone will change things Julian then noted the many practical benefits that the cultivation of discipline would bring believe it or not developing the power of your will can erase the worry habit keep you healthy and give you far more energy than you have ever had you see John self-control is really nothing more than mind control will is the king of mental powers when you master your mind you master your life mental mastery starts with being able to control every thought that you think when you have developed the ability to discard all weak thoughts and focus only on those that are positive and good positive and good actions will follow soon you will start attracting all that is positive and good into your life here's an example let's say one of your personal development goals is to get up every morning at 6 a.m. and go for a run let's pretend it is now the middle of winter and your alarm wakes you from a deep restful sleep your first impulse is to hit the snooze button and return to your slumber perhaps you will live up to your exercise resolution tomorrow this pattern continues for a few days until you decide that you are too old to change your ways and the physical fitness goal was to unrealistic you know me too well I offered sincerely now let's consider an alternative scenario it is still the dead of winter the alarm goes off and you start to think of staying in Ben but instead of being a slave to your habits you challenge them with more powerful thoughts you start to picture in your mind's eye how you will look feel and act when you are in peak physical shape you focus on all that you can accomplish with the increased energy a regular exercise program will bring no more nights spent in front of the television because you are too tired to do anything else after your long day in court your days are filled with vitality enthusiasm and meaning but say I do this and I still feel like going back to sleep rather than going running if you continue to wage war against the weaker thoughts that might have silently crept into the palace of your mind over the years eventually they will say that they are unwanted and leave like visitors who know that they are not welcome you mean to tell me the thoughts are physical things yes and they are fully in your control it is just as easy to think positive thoughts as it is to think negative ones so if I want to have the inner strength to get up earlier eat less read more worry less be more patient or be more loving all I have to do is exert my will to cleanse my thoughts when you control your thoughts you control your mind when you control your mind you control your life and once you reach the stage of being in total control of your life you become the master of your destiny I need you to hear this through the course of the strange yet inspiring evening I gone from being a sceptical litigator carefully studying a hotshot lawyer turned yogi to a believer whose eyes had been open for the first time in many years I wish Jenny could hear all this actually I wished my kids could hear this wisdom too I knew it would affect them as it had me I'd always planned on being a better family man and living more fully but I always found that I was too busy putting out all those brush fires of life that seemed so pressing it seemed like yesterday that I was a young law student full of energy and enthusiasm I dreamed of becoming a political leader or even a Supreme Court judge back then but as time went by I settled into a routine I think it was at that moment with Julian sitting next to me on my living room floor on that sticky July night that I changed the Japanese call it Satori meaning instant awakening and that's exactly what it was I resolved to fulfill my dreams and make my life far more than it had ever been that was my first taste of real freedom the freedom that comes when you decide once and for all to take charge of your life and all its constituent elements I will give you a formula for developing willpower said Julian who had no idea of the inner transformation I had just experienced wisdom without proper tools for its application is no wisdom at all he continued every day while you are walking to work I would like you to repeat a few simple words yogi Raman told me that by its repetition I would develop self-control and an indomitable will within a short period of time okay I'm all ears this is the mantra I suggest you repeat at least 30 times a day I am more than I appear to be all the world's strength and power rest inside me it will manifest profound changes in your life for even quicker results blend this mantra with the practice of creative envisioning I spoke of earlier startling results will surely come your way you promised that's it I asked astonished by the apparent simplicity of this formula I can tap the full reserves of my willpower through this simple exercise repeating the months where I gave you along with the daily practice of seeing yourself as you hope to be will give you an enormous amount of support as you create the disciplined principled life that will connect you to your dreams and you need not change your world in a day start off small even training yourself to get up an hour earlier and sticking to this wonderful habit will boost your self-confidence inspiring you to reach higher heights the trick is to keep setting the mark higher and raising your standards continuously this will release that magical quality of momentum that will motivate you to keep exploring your infinite potential momentum is also the secret ingredient to building self-discipline it's a delightful process John it really is and the pink wire cable and yogi Romans magical fable will all always remind you of the power of your will just as Julian finished revealing his thoughts on the subject of discipline I noticed the first rays of the Sun peeking into the living room pushing away the darkness like a child pushes away an unwonted bedcover this will be a great day I thought the first day of the rest of my life your most precious commodity you know what's funny about life Julian said by the time most people figure out what they really want and how to go about attaining it it's usually too late is that what the stopwatch and yogi Romans fable is all about yes the naked 9 foot tall 900 pound sumo wrestler with the pink wire cable covering his private parts slips on a shiny gold stopwatch that someone has left in the beautiful garden Julian reminded me and exactly what does the shiny gold stopwatch represent it is a symbol of her most precious commodity time what about positive thinking and goal-setting and self mastery they all mean nothing without time about six months after I made Sivan on my temporary home when if the sages came to my hut while I was studying her name was Vivian she was a stunningly beautiful woman with jet-black hair that fell below her waist and in a very gentle and sweet voice she informed me that she was the youngest of all of the sages she also said that she had come to me on the instructions of yogi Raman as the youngest of our community I've been asked to bring you a gift it is from all of us and we offer it as a token of our respect for you one who has traveled so far to learn our ways what was the gift I asked impatiently it was a miniature hourglass which had been made from blown glass in a small piece of sandalwood seeing my expression divya quickly told me that each of the sages had received one of these instruments as children though we have no possessions and live pure simple lives we respect time and note its passing these little our glasses serve as daily reminders of our mortality and the importance of living full productive days while advancing our purposes these monks kept time each and every one of them understood the importance of time they each had developed what I call a time consciousness time is the greatest leveler whether we are privileged or disadvantaged whether we live in Texas or Tokyo we all have been allotted days with only 24 hours once I heard my father say it was the busiest people who have time to spare what do you make of that busy productive people are highly efficient with their time they must be in order to survive being an excellent time manager doesn't mean that you must become a workaholic on the contrary time mastery allows you more time to do the things that are truly meaningful to you time mastery leads to life mastery guard your time well remember it's a non-renewable resource let me give you an example Julian offered let's say it's Monday morning and your schedule is overflowing with appointments and meetings let's say you took 15 minutes the night before to plan your day or to be even more effective let's say you took one hour on your quiet Sunday morning to organize your entire week in your daily planner you wrote out when you would meet your clients when you would do legal research and when you would return phone calls most importantly your personal social and spiritual development goals for the week also went into your agenda book by anchoring all the most vital aspects of your life into your daily schedule you ensure that your week and your life retain a sense of meaning and peace surely you're not suggesting that I take a break in the middle of my busy work day to walk in the park or meditate all I'm saying is plan your week and manage your time creatively have the discipline to focus your time around your priorities the most meaningful things in your life should never be sacrificed to those that are the least meaningful I agree Julian but I really don't have the time to take breaks in the middle of my day as it is I work most evenings as I said this I felt my stomach tingling at the mere thought of the mountain of work I was facing one of the great rules I learned from that wise old sage is that 80% of the results you achieve in your life come from only 20% of the activities that occupy your time yogi Roman called it the ancient rule of 20 I'm not sure I follow you okay let's go back to your busy Monday from morning until night you might spend your time doing everything from drafting legal pleadings to reading your youngest child a bedtime story or playing chess with your wife agreed agreed but out of all of the hundreds of activities to give your time to only 20% will yield real lasting results only 20% of what you do will have an influence on the quality of your life these are your high impact activities for example ten years from now do you really think that all the time you spent gossiping at the watercooler or watching television wouldn't count for anything no not really right so I'm sure you will also agree there are a number of activities that will account for everything you mean like time spent improving my legal knowledge time spend enriching my relationships with my clients and time invested in becoming a more efficient lawyer yes and time spent nourishing your relationship with Jenny and the kids time spent connecting with nature and showing gratitude for all you are so fortunate to have time spent renewing your mind your body and your spirit direct all of your time to those activities that count enlighten people I priority driven this is the secret of time mastery Wow yogi Roman taught you all that I have become a student of life John yogi Roman certainly was a wonderful and inspiring teacher and I will never forget him for that but all of the lessons I have learned from my varied experiences have now come together like pieces of a big jigsaw puzzle to show me the way to a better life I had been to many seminars and time management as a lawyer yet I had never heard the philosophy of time mastery that Julian was now sharing with me time management was not just something to focus on at the office and discard at closing time it was a holistic system that could make all areas of my life more balanced and fulfilling I would not only be far more productive I would be far happier that brings me to another point don't let others steal your time learn to say no having the courage to say no to the little things in life will give you the power to say yes to the big things what about procrastination all too often I keep putting off the things that I don't like doing it is human nature to do the things that feel good and avoid the things that feel bad but as I said earlier the most productive people in this world have cultivated the habit of doing the things that less productive people don't like doing even though they too might not like doing them I saw and thought deeply about the principle I just heard perhaps procrastination was not my problem maybe my life had simply become too complex Julian says to my concern yogi Raman told me that those who are masters of their time live simple lives a hurried frenzied pace is not what nature intended while he firmly believed that lasting happiness could be reached only by those who were effective and said definite aims for themselves living a life rich with accomplishment and contribution did not have to come through sacrifice of peace of mind this is what I found so fascinating about the wisdom I was hearing it allowed me to be more productive and yet fulfill my spiritual longings I started to open up myself even more - Julian you have always been honest and forthright with me so I will be the same with you I don't want to give up my practice and my house and my car to be happier and more satisfied I like my toys and the material things I have earned they are my rewards for all the hours I have worked over the years but I feel empty I really do there is so much I could do with my life you know I'm almost 40 and I have never been to the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower I can't even remember the last time I took a long quiet walk by myself after a snowfall just hear the sounds and to enjoy the sensations then simplify your life Julian suggested sympathetically apply the ancient ritual of simplicity to every aspect of your world too many people are dreaming of some magical rose garden on the horizon were rather than enjoying the one growing in their backyards what a tragedy any suggestions that I will leave to your own imagination oh and that reminds me of another thing I do to make sure my life stays common simple what's that I love to have a quick nap in the afternoon I find it keeps me energetic refreshed and youthful I guess you could say that I need my beauty sleep Julian laughed Beauty has never been one of your strong points a sense of humor has always been one of yours and for this I commend you I think yogi Raman said it best when he said laughter opens your heart and soothes your soul no one should ever take life so seriously that forget to laugh at themselves Julian had one final thought to share on the subject of time perhaps most importantly John stop acting like you have 500 years to live develop a deathbed mentality when you adopt a deathbed mentality you live every day as if it was your last the deathbed question alone has the power to change your life it will energize your days and bring a rush of zest and spirit to all that you do powerful stuff here's more there is a simple remedy to break the spell of frustration that plagued so many people act as if failure is impossible and your success will be assured be brave and set no limits on the workings of your imagination never be a prisoner of your past become the architect of your future you will never be the same as the city started to awaken and the morning grew into full bloom my ageless friend started to show the first signs of weariness after a night spent sharing his wisdom with an eager student I had been astonished by Julian stamina his boundless energy and his endless enthusiasm we are moving to the end of Yogi Romans magical fable and approaching the time when I must leave you he said gently are you going to tell your partners that you have returned home I asked my curiosity getting the better of me probably not Julian replied I'm so different from the Julian mantle they knew they wouldn't recognize me you really are a new man I agreed chuckling inwardly as I pictured this mystical monk adorned in the traditional robes of Savannah stepping into the striking red Ferrari of his former life a new being is probably even more accurate I don't see the distinction I can fast there is an ancient saying in India we are not human beings having a spiritual experience we are spiritual beings having a human experience I see what I am I am no longer in the world the world is in me I'm going to have to chew on that one for a while I said in total honesty not quite comprehending what Julian was talking about sure I understand my friend a time will come when you are clear on what I'm saying if you follow the principles i have revealed to you and apply the techniques I have offered you will surely advance along the path of enlightenment you will see your life for what it really is a small blip on the canvas of eternity and you will come to see clearly who you are and the ultimate purpose of your life which is to serve of course listen to your conscience it will tell you that your calling in life is ultimately selfless service to others in some form or another my mission is to spread the ancient wisdom of the sages of sivanna to all those who need to hear it this is my purpose the fire if knowledge had kindled Julian's spirit he was so passionate so committed and so fervent about what he was saying that it was reflected even in his physical dimension his transformation from a frail old litigator to a vital young Adonis was not brought about by a simple change in his diet or a daily dose of some quick fix exercise plan he had found the secret that people through the ages have been searching for it was more than the secret of youth fulfillment or even happiness Julian had discovered the secret of the self the ultimate purpose of life the sages of Savannah were not only the most youthful people I've ever met observed Julian they were also the kindest yogi Raman told me that when he was a child as he waited for sleep his father would ask him what good deeds he had performed through the course of that day believe it or not if he said that he hadn't done any his father would request that he get up and perform some act of kindness and selfless service before he was permitted to go to sleep Julian went on one of the most essential of all the virtues for enlightened living that I can share with you John is this one when all is said and done no matter what you have achieved the quality of your life will come down to the quality of your contribution does this have something to do with the fresh yellow roses and Yogi Romans fable of course it does the flowers will remind you of the ancient Chinese proverb a little bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses the meaning is clear when you work to improve the lives of others you indirectly elevate your own life in the process when you take care to practice random acts of kindness daily your own life becomes far richer and more meaningful to cultivate the sacredness and sanctity of everyday serve others in some way are you suggesting that I get involved in some volunteer work that's an excellent starting point but what I'm speaking of is much more philosophical than that I'm suggesting that you adopt a new paradigm of your role on this planet you're losing me again shed some light on the term paradigm I'm not really familiar with it a paradigm is simply a way of looking at a circumstance or at life in general some people see the glass of life as half-empty the optimists see it as half-full they interpret the same circumstance differently because they have adopted a different paradigm a paradigm is basically the lens through which you see the events of your life both external and internal to dramatically improve the quality of your life you must cultivate a new perspective of why you are here on earth you must realize that there can only be one real reason for your being here and that would be to give yourself to others and to contribute in a meaningful way Julian replied our world is in the midst of great change people are trading in money for meaning lawyers who used to judge people by the size of their pocketbooks are now judging people by the size of their commitment to others by the size of their hearts teachers are leaving the wombs of secure jobs to nurture the intellectual growth of needy kids living in the combat zones we call inner cities people have heard the clear call for change people are realizing that they are here for a purpose and that they have been given special gifts that will aid them to realize it what kind of special gifts exactly the ones I've been telling you about all evening an abundance of mental ability boundless energy unlimited creativity and a storehouse of discipline and a wellspring of peacefulness it is simply a matter of unlocking these treasures and applying them for common good no to Julian so how can one go about doing good I'm simply saying that you should make it a priority to change your worldview so that you stop seeing yourself purely as an individual and start seeing yourself as part of the collective your life moves to a more magical dimension when you start striving to make the world a better place I knew Julian had a point one of the things that was starting to bother me about practicing law was that I didn't really feel I was making the sort of contribution I knew I was capable of making I realized that I had ensconced myself in a middle class cocoon one that sheltered me from society at large and what I had grown accustomed to compassion and daily acts of kindness will make life far richer Julian said take the time to meditate every morning on the good you will do for others during your day the sincere words of praise to those who least expect it the gestures of warmth offered to friends in need the small tokens of affection to members of your family all add up to a much more wonderful way to live and speaking of friendships make sure you keep them in constant repair a person with three solid friends is very wealthy indeed I nodded friends at humor fascination and beauty to life good friends are there to help you when life throws what if it's little curves at you and things look worse than they seem when I was a busy litigator I had no time for friends now I am alone except for you John when I've just put down a wonderful book that has moved me deeply I have no one to share my thoughts with I have no one to open my soul to when the sunshine of a glorious autumn day warms my heart and fills me with joy Julian quickly caught himself however regret is not an activity for which I have any time I've learned from my teachers and sivanna that every dawn is a new day to the one who is enlightened Julian's eyes glittered in the hope of things yet to come it appeared to me that Julian mantle had indeed been elevated from a human being passing through life without a care for anyone to a spiritual being passing through life only caring about others perhaps this was the path that I too was about to walk the timeless secret of lifelong happiness it had been over 12 hours since Julian had arrived at my house those 12 hours were without a doubt the most important of my life all at once I was feeling exhilarated motivated and yes even liberated I realized that I had not even begun to explore the reaches of my human potential Julian's wisdom allowed me the opportunity to come to grips with the wounds that were keeping me from living with the laughter energy and fulfillment I knew that I deserved I felt moved I'll have to leave soon you have commitments which are pressing on your time and I have my own work to tend to Julian said apologetically my work can wait unfortunately mine can't he said with a quick smile but before I leave I must reveal the final element of yogi Robbins magical fable you will recall that the sumo wrestler fell to the ground after what seemed like an eternity he finally regained consciousness when the marvelous fragrance of the yellow roses reached his nose he then jumped to his feet in delight and was astonished to see a long winding path studded with millions of tiny diamonds of course our friend the sumo wrestler took the path and in doing so lived happily ever after seems plausible I chuckled yogi Romans story has a purpose and the principles it symbolizes are not only powerful they are highly practical true I agreed without reservation the path of diamonds then will serve to remind you of the final virtue of enlightened living by carrying this principle with you through your daily work you will enrich your life you will begin to see the exquisite wonders in the simplest of things and live with the ecstasy you deserve and by carrying out your promise to me and sharing it with others you will also allow them to transform their world from the ordinary into the extraordinary will this take me a while to learn the principle itself is striking straightforward to grasp but learning how to apply it effectively in all your waking moments will take a couple of weeks of steady practice okay I'm dying to hear it funny you should say that because the seventh and final virtue is all about living the sages of Savannah believed that a truly joyful and rewarding life comes only through a process they called living in the now the most important moment is now learn to live in it and savor it fully I understand exactly what you're saying Julian my mind is always flooded by a million little thoughts pulling me in a million different directions it's really frustrating why it tires me out I guess I just don't have peace of mind yet I have experienced times when my mind is fully occupied and only what was in front of me often this happened when I was under the gun to crank out a legal brief and I didn't have time to think about anything other than the task at hand I've also felt this kind of total focus when I was playing soccer with the boys and I really wanted to win ours seemed to pass by in minutes and I felt centered It was as if the only thing that mattered to me was what I was doing in that very moment come to think of it these were probably the times when I felt the most peaceful as well Julian replied being engaged in a pursuit that truly challenges you is the surest route to personal satisfaction but the real key to remember is that happiness is a journey not a destination live for today there will never be another one quite like it finished Julian his smooth hands coming together as if to give a prayer of thanks for being privy to what he had just said is that the principle that the path of diamonds and yogi robin's fable symbolizes I asked you can have the life you deserve the very moment you start to understand that the path you are currently walking on is one rich with diamonds and other priceless treasures enjoy the beauty and the sacredness of all that is around you you owe it to yourself does that mean that I should stop setting big goals for my future and concentrate on the present no replied Julian firmly goals and dreams for the future are essential elements in every truly successful life my point is simply this never put off happiness for the sake of achievement today is the day to seize the moment and live a life that soars today is the day to live from your imagination and harvest your dreams and please never ever forget the gift of family I'm not sure I know exactly what you mean Julien live your children's childhood came the simple reply huh I muttered perplexed at the apparent paradox few things are as meaningful as being a part of your children's childhood what is the point of climbing the steps of success if you have missed the first steps of your own kids what is the use of being known across the country as a red-hot trial lawyer if your kids don't even know their father Julian offered his voice now quivering with emotion I know where if I speak this last comment floored me what could this former millionaire playboy know about being a father I do know something of the blessings we call children he said softly but I always thought you were the city's most eligible bachelor before he threw in the towel and gave up your practice before I was caught up in the illusion of that fast and furious lifestyle you know that I was married yes he then paused as a child might before telling his best friend a closely guarded secret what you do not know is that I also had a little daughter she was the sweetest most delicate creature I've ever seen in my life people told me I had a brilliant future a stunningly beautiful wife and a wonderful daughter yet when life seemed to be perfect he was all taken from me in an instant for the first time since his return Julien's eternally joyful face was enveloped in sadness a single tear began to slide down one of his bronzed cheeks and dripped onto the velvety fabric of his ruby red robe you don't have to continue Julian I offered sympathetically placing an arm around his shoulder to comfort him the drunk driver who killed my daughter didn't take away only one precious life on that sun-soaked October afternoon he took two after my daughter's passing my life unraveled I started spending every waking moment at the office foolishly hoping that my legal career might be the solve for the pain of a broken heart my wife who had been my constant companion since law school left me citing my obsession with work my health deteriorated and I spiraled into the infamous life that I was engaged in when we first met sure I had everything money could possibly buy but I sold my soul for it I really did Julia noted emotionally his voice still choked up so when you say live your children's childhood you are basically telling me to take the time to watch them grow and flourish that's it isn't it even today 27 years after she left us while we were driving her to her best friend's birthday party I would give anything just to hear my daughter giggle again or to play hide-and-seek like we used to win her back garden I would love to hold her in my arms and softly caress her golden hair she took a piece of my heart with her when she left and though my life has been inspired by new meaning since I found the way to enlightenment and self-leadership in Savannah a day doesn't pass without me seeing the rosy face of my sweet little girl in the silent theater of my mind you have such great kids John the best gift you could ever give your children as your love get to know them again pretty soon they will be off building lives and families of their own then it'll be too late the time will be gone Julian had struck a chord deep inside of me I guess I had known for some time that my workaholic pace was slowly but steadily loosening our family ties piano recitals Christmas plays Little League championships had all been traded for my professional advancement happiness is a journey Julian continued his voice rising once again with the heat of passion enjoy the special moments that every day offers because today this day is all you have can anyone learn to live in the now absolutely no matter what your current circumstances might be you can train yourself to enjoy the gift of living and fill your existence with the jewels of everyday life when you start spending even five minutes a day practicing the art of gratitude you will cultivate the richness of living that you are looking for so by giving daily thanks for all of my assets whether these are material or spiritual I will develop the habit of living in the moment yes this is an effective method for putting far more living into your life when you savor the now you've Kindle the fire of life that allows you to grow your destiny grow my destiny we all have something we are meant to do your genius will shine through happiness will fill your life the instant you discover your higher purpose and then direct all your energies towards it once you are connected to this mission all your desires will be fulfilled effortlessly simply follow the path of your dreams in full expectation of the bounty that is certain to flow this will bring you to your divine destination this is what I mean by growing your destiny Jullien offered sagely when I was a young boy my father loved to read me a fairy tale known as Peter and the magic thread Peter was a very lively little boy everyone loved him his family his teachers and his friends but he did have one weakness what was that Peter could never live in the moment he had not learned how to enjoy the process of life when he was in school he dreamed of playing outside when he was outside playing he dreamed of his summer vacation Peter constantly day dreamed never taking the time to savor the special moments that filled his days one morning Peter was at walking in a forest near his home feeling tired he decided to rest on a patch of grass and eventually dozed off after only a few minutes of deep sleep he heard someone calling his name Peter Peter came a shrill voice from above as he slowly opened his eyes he was startled to see a striking woman standing above him she must have been well over a hundred years old and her snow-white hair dangled well below her shoulders like a matted blanket of wool in this woman's wrinkled hand was a magical little ball with a hole in the center of it and out of the hole dangled a long golden thread Peter she said this is the thread of your life if you pull the thread just a little bit an hour will pass in seconds if you pull a little harder whole days will pass in minutes and if you pull with all your might months even years will pass by in days Peter grew very excited at this discovery I'd like to have it if I may he asked the elderly woman quickly reached down and gave the ball with the magic thread to the young boy the next day Peter was sitting in the classroom feeling restless and bored suddenly he remembered his new toy as he pulled a little bit of the golden thread he quickly found himself at home playing in his garden realising the power of the magic thread Peter soon grew tired of being a school boy and longed to be a teenager with all the excitement that this phase of life would bring so again he pulled out the ball and pulled hard on the golden thread suddenly he was a teenager with a very pretty young girlfriend named Elise but Peter still wasn't content he had never learned to enjoy the moment and to explore the simple wonders of every stage of his life instead he dreamed of being an adult so again he pulled on the thread and many years was by in an instant now he found he had been transformed into a middle-aged adult ELISA was now his wife and Peter was surrounded with a house full of kids but Peter also noticed something else his once jet-black hair had started to turn gray and his once youthful mother whom he loved so dearly had grown old and frail yet Peter still could not live in the moment he had never learned how to live in the now so once again he pulled on the magic thread and waited for the changes to appear Peter now found that he was a 90 year old man his thick dark hair had turned white as snow and his beautiful young wife Elise had grown old and had passed away a few years earlier his wonderful children had grown up and left home to lead lives of their own and for the first time in his entire life Peter realized he had not taken the time to embrace the wonders of living he had never gone fishing with his kids or taking a moonlight stroll with Elise he had never planted a garden or read those wonderful books his mother had loved to read instead he had hurried through life never resting to see all the good that was along in the way Peter became very sad at this discovery he decided to go out to the forest where he still loved to walk as a young boy to clear his head and warm his spirit as he entered the forest he noticed that the little saplings of his childhood had grown into mighty oaks the forest itself had matured into a paradise of nature he laid down on a small patch of grass and fell into a deep slumber after only a minute he heard someone calling out to him Peter Peter cried the voice he looked up in astonishment to see that it was none other than the old woman who had given him the ball with the magic golden thread many years earlier have you enjoyed my special gift she asked Peter was direct in his reply at first it was fun but now I hate it my whole life has passed before my eyes without giving me the chance to enjoy it sure there would have been sad times as well as great times but I haven't had the chance to experience either I feel empty inside I've missed the gift of living you are very ungrateful said the old woman still I will give you one last wish Peter thought for an instant and then answered hastily I'd like to go back to being a schoolboy and live my life over again he then returned to his deep sleep again he heard someone calling his name and opened his eyes who could it be this time he wondered when he opened his eyes he was absolutely delighted to see his mother standing over his bedside she looked young healthy and radiant Peter realized that the strange woman of the forest had indeed granted his wish and he had returned to his former life hurry up Peter you sleep too much your dreams will make you late for school if you don't get up right this minute his mother admonished needless to say Peter dashed out of bed on this morning and began to live the way he had hoped Peter went on to live a full life one rich with many delights joys and triumphs but it all started when he stopped sacrificing the present for the future and began to live in the moment today is your chance to awaken to the gift of living before it is too late Julian continued let this new day be the defining moment of your life the day that you make the decision once and for all to focus on what is truly important to you revive your spirit and start tending to your soul this is the way to Nirvana nirvana the sages of Savannah believed that the ultimate destination of all truly enlightened souls was a place called Nirvana actually more than a place the sages believed Nirvana to be a state one that transcended anything they had known previously in Nirvana all things were possible there was no suffering and the dance of life was played out with divine perfection on reaching Nirvana the sages felt that they would step into heaven on earth this was their ultimate goal in life Julian observed his face radiating a peaceful almost angelic quality we're all here for some special reason he observed prophetically meditate on what your true calling is and how you can give yourself to others start applying the principles and strategies that I have shared with you be all that you can be a time will come when you too will taste the fruits of that place called your I know how will I know when I reached the state of enlightenment little hints will appear to confirm your entrance you will start to notice the holiness in everything that is around you the divinity of a Moonbeam the allure of a lush blue sky on a scorching summer day the fragrant bloom of a daisy or the laugh of a mischievous little child Julian I promise you that the time you have spent with me will not be in vain I will dedicate myself to living by the wisdom of the sages of Savannah and I will keep my promise to you by sharing all that I have learned I'm speaking from the heart I give you my word I offered sincerely feeling the throes of emotion stirring within spread the rich legacy of the sages to all those around you they will quickly benefit from this knowledge and improve the quality of their lives just as you will improve the quality of yours and remember the journey is to be enjoyed the road is just as good as the end I let Julian continue Yogi Robin was a great storyteller but there was one story he told me which stood out amongst the rest may I share it with you absolutely many years ago in ancient India a Maharaja wanted to build a great tribute to his wife as a sign of his deep love and affection for her this man wanted to create a structure the likes of which the world had never seen one that people would admire for centuries to come so every day block-by-block his workers toiled in the hot Sun and every day the structure started to look a little more defined a little more like a monument a little more like a beacon of love against the azure blue Indian sky finally after 22 years of daily gradual progress this palace of pure marble was complete guess what I'm speaking of I have no idea the Taj Mahal one of the seven wonders of the world Julian replied my point is simple everyone on this plan is a wonder of the world every one of us has the potential for extraordinary achievement happiness and lasting fulfillment all it takes are small steps in the direction of our dreams like the Taj Mahal a life overflowing with wonders is built day by day block by block tiny incremental changes and improvements such as those I have suggested will create positive habits positive habits will create results and results will inspire you towards greater personal change begin to live every day as if it was your last starting today learn more laughs more and do what you truly love to do do not be denied your destiny for what lies behind you and what lies in front of you matter little compared to what lies within you without saying another word Julian mantle the millionaire lawyer turned enlightened monk got up embraced me like the brother he had never had and walked out of my living room into the thick heat of another scorching summer day as I sat alone and collected my thoughts I noticed that the only evidence I could find if the sage messengers extraordinary visit sat silently on the coffee table in front of me it was his empty cup

Channel: Reader Literature

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Keywords: reader literature, english stories, learn english through story, listening english through story, learn english through stories, Learn English audiobook, learn english, The Monk, Ferrari, self help, self help books

Id: ndWTAstj9-Y

Length: 160min 21sec (9621 seconds)

Published: Sat Jan 27 2018