The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari | Page 9

Sivana,' Julian thought
to himself, scarcely able to contain his delight at his discovery.
"I am Julian Mantle. I've come to learn from the Sages of
Sivana. Do you know where I might find them?" he asked.
The man looked thoughtfully at this weary visitor from the
West. His serenity and peace made him appear angelic in nature,
enlightened in substance.
The man spoke softly, almost in a whisper, "Why is it that you
seek these sages, friend?"
Sensing that he had indeed found one of the mystical monks
who had eluded so many before him, Julian opened his heart and
poured out his odyssey to the traveller. He spoke of his former life
and of the crisis of spirit he had struggled with, how he had traded
his health and his energy for the fleeting rewards that his law
practice brought him. He spoke of how he had traded the riches of
his soul for a fat bank account and the illusory gratification of his
'live fast, die young' lifestyle. And he told him of his travels in
mystical India and of his meeting with Yogi Krishnan, the former
trial lawyer from New Delhi who had also given up his former life
in the hope of finding inner harmony and lasting peace.
The traveller remained silent and still. It was not until Julian
spoke of his burning, almost obsessive desire to acquire the
ancient principles of enlightened living that the man spoke again.
Placing an arm on Julian's shoulder, the man said gently: "if you
truly have a heartfelt desire to learn the wisdom of a better way,
then it is my duty to help you. I am indeed one of those sages that
you have come so far in search of. You are the first person to find
us in many years. Congratulations. I admire your tenacity. You
must have been quite a lawyer," he offered.
He paused, as if he was a little uncertain of what to do next,
and then went on. "If you like, you may come with me, as my guest,
to our temple. It rests in a hidden part of this mountain region, still
many hours away from here. My brothers and sisters will welcome
you with open arms. We will work together to teach you the
ancient principles and strategies that our ancestors have passed
down through the ages.
"Before I take you into our private world and share our
collected knowledge for filling your life with more joy, strength and
purpose, I must request one promise from you," requested the
sage. "Upon learning these timeless truths you must return to
your homeland in the West and share this wisdom with all those
who need to hear it. Though we are isolated here in these magical
mountains, we are aware of the turmoil your world is in. Good
people are losing their way. You must give them the hope that they
deserve. More importantly, you must give them the tools to fulfill
their dreams. This is all I ask."
Julian instantly accepted the sage's terms and promised that
he would carry their precious message to the West. As the two men
moved still higher up the mountain path to the lost village of Sivana,
the Indian sun started to set, a fiery red circle slipping into a soft,
magical slumber after a long and weary day. Julian told me he has
never forgotten the majesty of that moment, walking with an
ageless Indian monk for whom he somehow felt a brotherly love,
travelling to a place he had longed to find, with all its wonders and
many mysteries.
"This was definitely the most memorable moment of my life,"
he confided in me. Julian had always believed that life came down
to a few key moments. This was one of them. Deep inside his soul,
he somehow sensed that this was the first moment of the rest of
his life, a life soon to be much more than it had ever been.
CHAPTER FOUR
A Magical Meeting with
The Sages of Sivana
After walking for many hours along an intricate series of paths
and grassy trails, the two travellers came upon a lusty green
valley. On one side of the valley, the snow-capped Himalayas
offered their protection, like weather-beaten soldiers guarding
the place where their generals rested. On the other, a thick forest
of pine trees sprouted, a perfectly natural tribute to this
enchanting fantasyland.
The sage looked at Julian and smiled gently, "Welcome to the
Nirvana of Sivana."
The two then descended along another less-travelled way and
into the thick forest which formed the floor of the valley. The smell
of pine and sandalwood wafted through the cool, crisp mountain
air. Julian, now barefoot to ease his aching feet, felt the damp moss
under his toes. He was surprised to see richly colored orchids and
a host of other lovely flowers dancing among the trees, as if
rejoicing in the beauty and splendor of this tiny slice of Heaven.
In the distance, Julian could hear gentle voices, soft and
soothing to the ear. He continued to follow the sage without
making a sound. After walking for about fifteen more minutes, the
two men reached a clearing. Before him was a sight that even the
worldly