Allow
me to allude to the story of Julian Mantle in Robin Sharma’s ‘The Monk who sold
his Ferrari.’ Julian mantle was a very successful lawyer. He dined in the most
expensive restaurant and drunk cognac after cognac while smoking the Thickest
of Cuban Cigars. Though very rich and the most highly ranked barrister, He
constantly complained that he was sick and tired of being sick and tired. He
was tough, hard-driving and willing to work eighteen-hour days for the success
he believed was his destiny.
His
family pedigree reflected blue blood. His father was a famous Federal Court
Judge and his grandfather was a former prominent Senator. His alma mater was
Harvard University and he was one of the brightest students during his time.
His extra-curricular activities included but not limited to late-night visits
to the city's finest restaurants with sexy young fashion models, or reckless
drinking escapades with the rowdy band of brokers he called his
"demolition team" became the stuff of legend at the firm.
He
achieved everything most people could ever want: a stellar professional
reputation with an income in seven figures, a spectacular mansion in a
neighborhood favored by celebrities, a private jet, a summer home on a tropical
island and his prized possession — a shiny red Ferrari parked in the center of
his driveway.
At
fifty-three years of age, Julian looked as if he was in his late seventies and
his face was a mass of wrinkles. Then one day while involved in a high profile
case he suddenly collapsed and squirmed on the ground like a helpless infant,
shaking and shivering and sweating like a maniac.
After
the severe heart attack Julian resurfaced after the episode a changed man. At
first his acquaintance did not recognize him as he was slim and looked much
younger than expected. He had undergone complete renaissance in Indian after
selling everything.
He
had changed a lot. He was more radiant, his skin was glowing and he was full of
energy and vitality. He came back a monk. Life is vanity after all. He decided
to reinvent himself. After years living with monks, he discovered the art of
ancient Kaizen.
Like
Julian, we may be having boring and stressful lives. We eat fast foods, drive
carelessly and never exercise our bodies. Upon being provoked, we become easily
irritated and retort expletives at such occasions. That is also applies to me.
I am sometimes easily get piqued by some people and the only remedy I usually
take is silence. It works.
Life
is about getting disappointed today and having the courage to face the next
day. Happiness is the wholesomeness of a perfect life. But living healthily is
more desirable.
This
means even going an extra mile in doing that which one never does.
If
someone annoys you, have the courage to vent out your anger though various ways
that you may redeem reduces the burden in your heart. Perhaps drinking lots of
water does help a lot when dealing with such situations. Water is a cooling
remedy that neutralizes fire or when you feel temperature rising high.
Julian
mantle thought he had a perfect life until the Sage of Nirvana in Sivana helped
him to become ‘the monk who sold his Ferrari’ after learning the art of Kaizen.
So
low moments can be a good ground to inject in something that you never knew
existed in you. Actually, the best moments in life usually come after having
the worst in life. Knowing the inner self is in essence more better than having
a flourishing perception that is usually full of pretense.The secret of
happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the means
that bought you where you are. For many easy forget and realize that its all
but vanity.
