Pick a Book: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Penned by Robin Sharma (a globally acclaimed humanitarian and the author of two international bestsellers), the book- The monk who sold his Ferrari offers a survival guide to a plethora of people who often find themselves suffocated and lost in the rat race of this epoch.

Highlights

Summary

The book is woven around two characters, Julian Mantle and his best friend John, in the form of conversation. Julian narrates his spiritual experiences during a Himalayan journey which he undertook after selling his holiday home and red Ferrari.

Julian is a greatly successful and prosperous lawyer, who later turns into a Monk. His outstanding/ sprinting career is put to a halt after he has a heart attack while representing himself in the courtroom. He is then left with two choices/alternatives — to either end up his career or to end up his life.

Fortunately, he chooses the former, and ventures on a journey to the east to discover the secret of happiness and the purpose of life. He then meets teachers and sages who help him in every possible way but his thirst for knowledge isn’t quenched till the time he encounters the Sages who used to live high up in the mountains of Sivana, away from all civilization and corruption. There he learns, under the tutelage of Yogi Raman and others, the timeless virtues of enlightened living.

Quite apparently, the central idea of the book goes on to revolve around the treasures of wisdom that the author, in particular, identifies as 7 Timeless Virtues of Enlightened Living in symbolic attributions. All these virtues are although ordinarily promising but when incorporated in life and vitality they appear transcending, delivering and enormously empowering. The author initially intends to acquaint its readers with these virtues through an age-long fable with symbols like (The magnificent garden; The towering lighthouse; The Sumo wrestler; The pink wire cable; The Gold stopwatch; The fragrant Roses; The path of diamonds) to assist our memorability.

Time goes by and it’s shown that Julian Mantle returns from the mountains and the abode of sages of Sivana after 3 long years looking at least 10 years younger, enthusiastic, vibrant, and wiser than ever before. After returning to the west he shares his secrets of a happy and fulfilling life with John, just because he had vowed to Yogi Raman (leader of the sages of Sivana) that he would pass on whatever he has gained to whoever cares and is eager to know. The entire dialogue between Julian and John is given the form of a fable wherein the seven noble virtues of enlightened living are imparted by the author.

Master your mind; Follow your purpose; Practice Kaizen; Live with discipline; Respect your time; Selflessly serve others; Embrace the present; These are the seven timeless virtues of enlightened living., passed on to John in particular and readers in general by the author through the protagonist, here Julian Mantle.

Personal POV (Point of View)

This book frankly occurred to me as an inspiring tale providing a step by step guide about destiny, our sense of being, and the higher purpose of life. It also acted as a detox agent in my life thereby aiding me to cope up with some literal insecurities that have been taking a toll on me since a bit. On a personal level, I ardently believe that every individual in this world is undergoing many struggles which he/she does not usually talk loud about and hence everyone is in a quest of healing in some of the other forms. This book, I feel, is a sort of healing in itself as it can heal the parts of any being in a remarkably powerful way.

The do it yourself manual presented by Robin Sharma would help the readers easily incorporate the habits of an enlightened living optimizing their achievement. All in all, it’s a delighting read promising more than everything an insurmountable strength to balance life and eliminate the day-to-day spiritual crisis.

To conclude, will leave you with the closing words of Julian Mantle, “Begin to live each day as if it was your last. Starting today, learn more, laugh 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 matters little when compared to what lies within you.”

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