The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari | Page 7

my days and nights at this temple,
living an austere but fulfilling life. I share my realizations with
all those who come here to pray. I serve those in need. I am not
a priest. I am simply a man who has found his soul."
Julian informed this lawyer turned yogi of his own story. He
spoke of his former life of prominence and privilege. He told Yogi
Krishnan of his hunger for wealth and his obsession with work. He
revealed, with great emotion, his inner turmoil and the crisis of
spirit he had experienced when the once bright light of his life
began to flicker in the winds of an out-of-balance lifestyle.
"I too have walked this path, my friend. I too have felt the pain
you have felt. Yet I have learned that everything happens for a
reason," offered Yogi Krishnan sympathetically. "Every event has
a purpose and every setback its lesson. I have realized that failure,
whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind, is
essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a
whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather,
embrace it as the teacher that it is."
After hearing these words, Julian told me that he felt great
exultation. Perhaps, in Yogi Krishnan, he had found the mentor he
was searching for. Who better than another former hotshot
lawyer who, through his own spiritual odyssey, had found a better
way of living to teach him the secrets of creating a life of more
balance, enchantment and delight?
"I need your help, Krishnan. I need to learn how to build a
richer, fuller life."
"I would be honored to assist you in any way that I can,"
offered the yogi. "But may I give you one suggestion?"
"Sure."
"For as long as I have been caring for this temple in this little
village, I have heard whisperings of a mystical band of sages
living high in the Himalayas. Legend has it that they have discovered
some sort of system that will profoundly improve the quality
of anyone's life � and I don't just mean physically. It is supposed
to be a holistic, integrated set of ageless principles and timeless
techniques to liberate the potential of the mind, body and soul."
Julian was fascinated. This seemed perfect.
"Just exactly where do these monks live?"
"No one knows, and I regret that I'm too old to start searching.
But I will tell you one thing, my friend; many have tried to find
them and many have failed � with tragic consequences. The
higher reaches of the Himalayas are treacherous beyond compare.
Even the most skilled climber is rendered helpless against their
natural ravages. But if it is the golden keys to radiant health, lasting
happiness and inner fulfillment that you are searching for, I do
not have the wisdom you seek � they do."
Julian, never one to give up easily, pressed Yogi Krishnan
again. "Are you certain that you have no idea where they live?"
"All I can tell you is that the locals in this village know them as
the Great Sages of Sivana. In their mythology, Sivana means 'oasis
of enlightenment'. These monks are revered as if they are divine
in their constitution and influence. If I knew where they could be
found, I would be duty-bound to tell you. But honestly, I do not
know � no one does, for that matter."
The next morning, as the first rays of the Indian sun danced
along the colorful horizon, Julian set out on his trek to the lost
land of Sivana. At first he thought about hiring a Sherpa guide to
aid him in his climb through the mountains, but, for some
strange reason, his instincts told him that this was one journey
he would have to make alone. So instead, for perhaps the first
time in his life, he shed the shackles of reason and placed his
trust in his intuition. He felt he would be safe. He somehow knew
he would find what he was looking for. So, with missionary zeal,
he started to climb.
The first few days were easy. Sometimes he would catch up to
one of the cheerful citizens of the village below who happened to be
walking on one of the footpaths, perhaps searching for just the
right piece of wood for a carving or seeking the sanctuary that this
surreal place offered to all those who dared to venture this high
into the Heavens. At other times he hiked alone, using this time to
silently reflect on where he had been in his life � and where he
was now headed.
It didn't take long before the village below was nothing more
than a tiny speck on this marvellous canvas of natural splendor.
The majesty of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas made his
heart beat faster and, for one long moment, took his breath away.
He felt a oneness with his surroundings, a kind of kinship that two
old friends might enjoy after many years spent listening to each
other's innermost thoughts and laughing at each other's jokes.
The fresh mountain air cleared his mind and energized his spirit.
Having travelled the world many times over, Julian had thought he
had seen it