Synopsis: The Monk who Sold his Ferrari

Over the past few months, I have rekindled my love of reading books. The exposure to such a wide array of literature in this short period has significantly expanded the horizon of my mind. Each book had its own spark and flavour. It would be quite difficult to talk at length about each one of them, but I'm bound to delve into the beauty of some of them.

The book about which I've decided to expound today is 'The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari', written by Robin Sharma, a popular author known for his critically acclaimed self-help books. This is one of the few books I recommend to each and every person reading this blog.

Before we begin, I must clarify that I'm not yet qualified to write 'reviews' about such riveting content. It would be disrespectful to comment on the work of these authors, who undoubtedly operate on a completely different level of consciousness. What I've written below is merely a synopsis of my learnings and how we can try to implement them. 

The supposed monk in our book, Julian Mantle, had everything that a man could dream of. He was the most sought-after lawyer in the entire city. He had a successful career in legal affairs and led a flamboyant lifestyle, all at the expense of his health and personal relationships. Ultimately, he got the final shock in the form of a heart attack when he collapsed right in the middle of a courtroom. This setback summoned him to mend his ways and work on his health. He disappeared into oblivion, having no contact with any friend or family member.

When he returned home to the United States after 3 years, he first met his apprentice and good friend John (the narrator of this story), who struggled to recognise him after his dramatic transformation. He was no longer overweight. He no longer looked pale and worn down. It seemed as if he had subtracted just 20 years from his age!

He begins his ode by telling about his voyage to the serene and enlightened subcontinent of India, a place where every lost and insane soul can find peace. Julian was soaking in the richness of the land, hitchhiking from place to place, when he learned about a mystical place called Sivana, situated high in the Himalayas. People had only heard about that, but no one was ever able to find it. Our protagonist, already brimming with a newfound life and courage, set out on foot to find this fabled land. 

It took a great deal of energy and faith, but he eventually discovered this spiritual abode. 

The sages of Sivana didn't seem to age at all. They lived well above the age of a hundred, with no regrets or worries about life. It seemed as if they had found the elixir of life. Ironically, their secret of longevity was a simple yet difficult-to-maintain lifestyle. Impressed by his resoluteness, they accepted Julian as their brother. They shared the secret to a healthy and long life with Julian. However, they made him promise that he would share his learning with the outside world, which desperately needs this panacea for their frenetic routine.

Yogi Raman, their guru, took in Julian as his disciple. Under his tutelage, Julian learned the formula for a healthy and long life. He became a completely different person after his experience in Sivana. I can't list every single method of healthy living taught in the book. But I can certainly delve into the intricacies of some of them.

The importance of positive thinking was stressed by Yogi Raman many times. The monks of Sivana didn't entertain the possibility of even one negative thought. They are like leaks in a bicycle tube. Even one negative thought can drain a person's energy. Whenever we are under stress, we tend to feel drowsy and despirited. We need to control this. The author of the book says that our mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. To cope with it, Yogi Raman shared an interesting technique called 'Opposition Thinking'. It suggests that whenever you have a negative thought, immediately replace it with a positive and uplifting thought.

The author implores the readers to clear the cobwebs from their minds and step out of their comfort zone to realise their true potential.

It is essential to have a goal in our lives. A sedentary and relaxed lifestyle won't lead to happiness. It's a common misconception that the author has sought to clear. Further elaborating, the pursuit of our goal shouldn't be frenetic but planned and properly executed. To enable the readers, the author has described a beautiful 5-step plan.

1. Have a clearly defined mental picture of your outcome.
2. Try to have a positive pressure to keep you in check. This can be done by proclaiming your goal to your friends and family members or writing it down somewhere so you don't forget about it.
3. Work systematically by having a schedule and a timeline. Set milestones at regular intervals.
4. The 21-day rule dictates that in 21 days, we can inculcate or get rid of any good or bad habit. Having ritualistic habits helps us excel at bigger things.
5. Lead the day with laughter. Enjoy the journey. (Something easy to read but difficult to do)

Last but not least, do whatever you want to do with passion. Again, something easier said than done.

The most extensively elaborated methodology by the author was the philosophy of kaizen, which advocates relentless and never-ending improvement. Those who are prepared to embrace change with open hands are ready to move to higher levels of achievement. The author implores every reader to set aside 30 minutes from their schedule to practice kaizen. This might seem a lot, but enlightened people prefer long-term improvement over short-term pleasures. 

1. The Ritual of Silence: Choose a quiet corner in your house or anywhere else where you can sit peacefully for introspection and contemplate your day's events. Your soul will become like a silent lake free from ripples. Try to do it at the same time every day so that it becomes integrated with your daily routine.
2. The Ritual of Physicality: Nourishing your body will ultimately nourish your mind. The sages of Sivana practised Yoga every day. For those who don't know, Yoga is a time-tested physical exercise from ancient India.
3. The Ritual of Live Nourishment: Our food intake dictates our energy levels. The author talks about a strictly vegetarian diet. Food should be easy to digest. The process of digestion is one of the most energy-consuming processes of the human body. One cannot go vegetarian in a single day, but they can definitely try having a salad with a meal and a fruit for a dessert.
4. The Ritual of Abundant Knowledge: The author has equated knowledge to potential energy. Everybody must cultivate the habit of reading at least 10 pages every day. Also, don't just read anything. Feed information that nourishes your brain.
5. The Ritual of Personal Reflection: This ritual plays a subtle but significant role, just like I've described above. The sages firmly believed in the power of inner contemplation. Every evening, we should retreat to a quiet corner and do a silent introspection of our day. By doing this, we become aware of activities which were productive and those which just killed our time.
6. The Ritual of Early Awakening: One can understand the benefits of this one only by doing it. It might look exhausting, but when it becomes a habitual thing, it will fill us up with a new, rejuvenating energy. The sages believed early morning sunshine to be a gift from heaven itself. The author says that 6 hours of sleep is sufficient for every human being.
7. The Ritual of Music: Never underestimate the power of good music. A few minutes of listening to some soft, mellow music can calm our nerves and prepare us for the upcoming day.
8. The Ritual of Spoken Word: The words we speak have a pronounced effect on the way our brain functions. Speaking about goals, or writing them somewhere, helps us become what we aspire to be. The author asks the reader to speak the following mantra every day: "I am strong, able and calm".
9. The Ritual of Congruent Character: Strengthen your character. It has a powerful influence on the way you see yourself and the actions you take.

            Thoughts --> Actions --> Habits --> Character --> Destiny

            A simple algorithm was inferred from the book.

            The ancestors of the sages of Sivana based their lives on the following 6 principles:

            Industry, Compassion, Humility, Patience, Honesty and Courage

    10.  The Ritual of Simplicity: Live a simple life. Focus on nothing else but your goals.

The chapter on kaizen concluded on a powerful note, stating that all souls emerge from and flow back to the same source. When we work towards our goals, we, in a way, draw upon the immense power of the universe. Thu, when we help ourselves, we help others around us.

We cannot move forward without discipline and self-management. Discipline is like a wire cable made up of innumerable thin fibres, which are virtues. Every great soul had a treasure trove of willpower. The absence of willpower should be treated as a mental disease and stamped out immediately.

Julian now tells a mantra to John that he must repeat 30 times every day:

"I am more than I appear to be; all the world’s strength and power rests inside me."

One of the many virtues constituting self-discipline in time management. Plan your day and your week accordingly. This should be done not only for the professional work but also for the non-active hours, as they contribute deeply to enhancing your efficiency. Everybody should have the courage to say 'No' to people and activities that don't respect your time. Going deeper into this, Yogi Raman told Julian about the ancient rule of 20, which states that 80% of the results achieved in our life come from only 20% of the activities that occupy our time. This was one of the rules I couldn't comprehend.

We should lead our lives in such a way that the world cries when we die. Each one of us must conclude our day by doing an act of kindness. The quality of our life depends on the quality of our contribution, regardless of our material wealth. Many people are involved in diverse professions, yet they find time to give back to the community. These individuals possess abundant mental ability, boundless energy, unlimited creativity, a strong sense of discipline, and a deep sense of peace.

 

The past cannot be changed, and the future cannot be predicted. Therefore, the final lesson encourages us to live in the present. This moment will not come again. We should not deceive ourselves into thinking we will focus on our physical and mental well-being once we have secured a comfortable life. We must act now and not delay any further.

 

We should aim to make the most of each day. As mentioned earlier, all souls will eventually return to the same source. Our ultimate purpose should be to attain eternal salvation, often referred to as Nirvana.