The Timeless Secret of 

Lifelong Happiness 

When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty 

of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator. 

Mahatma Gandhi 

It had been over twelve hours since Julian had arrived at my 

house the night before to share the wisdom he had gathered in 

Sivana. Those twelve hours were, without a doubt, the most 

important of my life. All at once, I was feeling exhilarated, 

motivated and, yes, even liberated. Julian had fundamentally 

changed my outlook on life with Yogi Raman's fable and the 

ageless virtues that it represented. I realized that I had not even 

begun to explore the reaches of my human potential. I had been 

squandering the daily gifts that life had thrown my way. Julian's 

wisdom had allowed me the opportunity to come to grips with the wounds that were keeping me from living with the laughter, 

energy and fulfillment I knew that I deserved. I felt moved. 

"I'll have to leave soon. You have commitments which are 

pressing on your time and I have my own work to tend to," Julian 

said apologetically. 

"My work can wait." 

"Unfortunately, mine can't," he said with a quick smile. 

"But before I leave, I must reveal the final element of "Yogi 

Raman's magical fable. You will recall that the sumo wrestler who 

walked out of the lighthouse in the middle of a beautiful garden 

with nothing more than a pink wire cable covering his private 

parts slipped on a shiny gold stopwatch and fell to the ground. 

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally regained 

consciousness when the marvellous fragrance of the yellow roses 

reached his nose. He then jumped to his feet in delight and was 

astonished to see a long, winding path studded with millions of tiny 

diamonds. Of course, our friend the sumo wrestler took the path 

and, in doing so, lived happily ever after." 

"Seems plausible," I chuckled. 

"Yogi Raman had quite a vivid imagination, I'll agree. But you 

have seen that his story has a purpose and that the principles it 

symbolizes are not only powerful — they are highly practical." 

"True," I agreed without reservation. 

"The path of diamonds, then, will serve to remind you of the 

final virtue for enlightened living. By carrying this principle with 

you through your daily work, you will enrich your life in a way that 

is difficult for me to describe. You will begin to see the exquisite 

wonders in the simplest of things and live with the ecstacy you 

deserve. And by carrying out your promise to me and sharing it 

with others, you will also allow them to transform their world from the ordinary into the extraordinary." 

"Will this take me a while to learn?" 

"The principle itself is strikingly straightforward to grasp. 

But learning how to apply it effectively in all your waking 

moments will take a couple of weeks of steady practice." 

"Okay, I'm dying to hear it." 

"Funny you say that because the seventh and final virtue is all 

about living. The Sages of Sivana believed that a truly joyful and 

rewarding life comes only through a process they called 'living in 

the now.' These yogis knew that the past is water under the bridge 

and the future is a distant sun on the horizon of your imagination. 

The most important moment is now. Learn to live in it and savor it 

fully." 

"I understand exactly what you are saying, Julian. I seem to 

spend most of my day fretting over past events that I have no 

power to change or worrying about things to come, which never do 

arrive. My mind is always flooded by a million little thoughts 

pulling me in a million different directions. It's really frustrating." 

"Why?" 

"It tires me out! I guess I just don't have peace of mind. Yet I 

have experienced times when my mind is fully occupied on only 

what was in front of me. Often this happened when I was under 

the gun to crank out a legal brief and I didn't have time to think 

about anything other than the task at hand. I've also felt this kind 

of total focus when I was playing soccer with the boys and I really 

wanted to win. Hours seemed to pass by in minutes and I felt 

centered. It was as if the only thing that mattered to me was what 

I was doing in that very moment. Everything else, the worries, the 

bills, the law practice, didn't count. Come to think of it, these were 

probably the times when I felt the most peaceful as well." Being engaged in a pursuit that truly challenges you is the 

surest route to personal satisfaction. But the real key to remember 

is that happiness is a journey, not a destination. Live for today — 

there will never be another one quite like it," stated Julian, his 

smooth hands coming together as if to give a prayer of thanks for 

being privy to what he had just said. 

"Is that the principle that the path of diamonds in Yogi 

Raman's fable symbolizes?" I asked. 

"Yes," came the succinct reply. "Just as the sumo wrestler 

found lasting fulfillment and joy by walking the path of diamonds, 

you can have the life you deserve the very moment you start to 

understand that the path you are currently walking on is one rich 

with diamonds and other priceless treasures. Stop spending so 

much time chasing life's big pleasures while you neglect the little 

ones. Slow things down. Enjoy the beauty and sacredness of all 

that is around you. You owe this to yourself." 

"Does that mean that I should stop setting big goals for my 

future and concentrate on the present?" 

"No," replied Julian firmly. "As I said earlier, goals and dreams 

for the future are essential elements in every truly successful life. 

Hope for what will appear in your future is what gets you out of 

bed in the morning and what keeps you inspired through your 

days. Goals energize your life. My point is simply this: never put 

off happiness for the sake of achievement. Never put off the things 

that are important for your well-being and satisfaction to a later 

time. Today is the day to live fully, not when you win the lottery or 

when you retire. Never put off living!" 

Julian stood up and started pacing back and forth across the 

living room floor like a seasoned litigator releasing his final kernels 

of reason in an impassioned closing argument. "Don't fool yourself into thinking that you will be a more loving and giving husband 

when your law firm takes on a few more junior lawyers to ease the 

burden. Don't kid yourself into believing that you will start to 

enrich your mind, care for your body and nourish your soul when 

your bank account gets big enough and you have the luxury of 

more free time. Today is the day to enjoy the fruits of your efforts. 

Today is the day to seize the moment and live a life that soars. 

Today is the day to live from your imagination and harvest your 

dreams. And please never, ever forget the gift of family." 

"I'm not sure I know exactly what you mean Julian?" 

"Live your children's childhood," came the simple reply. 

"Huh?" I muttered, perplexed at the apparent paradox. 

"Few things are as meaningful as being a part of your 

children's childhood. What is the point of climbing the steps of 

success if you have missed the first steps of your own kids? What 

good is owning the biggest house on your block if you have not 

taken the time to create a home? What is the use of being known 

across the country as a red-hot trial lawyer if your kids don't even 

know their father?" Julian offered, his voice now quivering with 

emotion. "I know whereof I speak." 

This last comment floored me. All I knew of Julian was that he 

had been a superstar litigator who hung out with the rich and the 

beautiful. His romantic trysts with nubile fashion models were 

almost as legendary as his courtroom skills. What could this 

former millionaire playboy possibly know about being a father? 

What could he possibly know about the daily struggles I faced in 

trying to be all things to all people, a great father and a successful 

lawyer? But Julian's sixth sense caught me. 

"I do know something of the blessings we call children," he 

said softly"But I always thought you were the city's most eligible 

bachelor before you threw in the towel and gave up your practice." 

"Before I was caught up in the illusion of that fast and furious 

lifestyle that I was so well known for, you know that I was married." 

"Yes." 

He then paused, as a child might before telling his best friend a 

closely-guarded secret. "What you do not know is that I also had a 

little daughter. She was the sweetest, most delicate creature I have 

ever seen in my life. Back then, I was a lot like you were the first 

time we met: cocky, ambitious and full of hope. I had everything 

anyone could ever want. People told me I had a brilliant future, a 

stunningly beautiful wife and a wonderful daughter. Yet, when life 

seemed to be perfect, it was all taken from me in an instant." 

For the first time since his return, Julian's eternally joyful face 

was enveloped in sadness. A single tear began to slide down one of 

his bronzed cheeks and dripped onto the velvety fabric of his ruby 

red robe. I was speechless and gripped by the revelation of my 

long-time friend. 

"You don't have to continue Julian," I offered sympathetically, 

placing an arm around his shoulder to comfort him. 

"But I do, John. Of all those I knew in my former life, you 

showed the most promise. As I said, you reminded me a lot of 

myself when I was younger. Even now you still have so much going 

for you. But if you keep on living the way you're living, you are 

headed for disaster. I came back to this place to show you that 

there are so many wonders waiting for you to explore, so many 

moments left for you to savor." 

"The drunk driver who killed my daughter didn't take away 

only one precious life on that sun-soaked October afternoon — he 

took two. After my daughter's passing, my life unravelled. I started spending every waking minute at the office, foolishly 

hoping that my legal career might be the salve for the pain of a 

broken heart. Somedays, I even slept on a couch in my office, 

dreading to return to the home where so many sweet memories 

had been laid to rest. And while my career did take off, my inner 

world was a mess. My wife, who had been my constant companion 

since law school, left me, citing my obsession with my work as the 

straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. My health 

deteriorated and I spiralled into the infamous life that I was 

engaged in when we first met. Sure I had everything money could 

possibly buy. But I sold my soul for it, I really did," Julian noted 

emotionally, his voice still choked up. 

"So when you say 'Live your children's childhood,' you are 

basically telling me to take the time to watch them grow and 

flourish. That's it, isn't it?" 

"Even today, twenty-seven years after she left us while we 

were driving her to her best friend's birthday party, I would give 

anything just to hear my daughter giggle again or to play hide￾and-seek like we used to in our back garden. I would love to hold 

her in my arms and softly caress her golden hair. She took a piece 

of my heart with her when she left. And though my life has been 

inspired by new meaning since I found the way to enlightenment 

and self-leadership in Sivana, a day doesn't pass without me seeing 

the rosy face of my sweet little girl in the silent theatre of my 

mind. You have such great kids, John. Don't miss the forest for the 

trees. The best gift you could ever give your children is your love. 

Get to know them again. Show them that they are far more 

important to you than the fleeting rewards of your professional 

career. Pretty soon they will be off, building lives and families of 

their own. Then it will be too late, the time will be gone." Julian had struck a chord deep inside of me. I guess I had 

known for some time that my workaholic pace was slowly but 

steadily loosening our family's ties. But it was like a smoldering 

ember, burning quietly, slowly gathering its energy before 

revealing the full extent of its destructive potential. I knew my 

kids needed me, even if they might not have told me so. I needed 

to hear this from Julian. Time was slipping by and they were 

growing up so quickly. I couldn't remember the last time my son 

Andy and I had stolen off early on a crisp Saturday morning to 

spend the day at the fishing hole his grandfather loved so much. 

There was a time when we would go every weekend. Now, this 

time-honored ritual seemed like someone else's memory. 

The more I thought about it, the harder it hit me. Piano 

recitals, Christmas plays, little-league championships had all been 

traded for my professional advancement. 

'What was I doing?' I wondered. I really was sliding down the 

slippery slope that Julian described. There and then, I resolved to 

change. 

"Happiness is a journey," Julian continued, his voice rising 

once again with the heat of passion. "It is also a choice that you 

make. You can marvel at the diamonds along the way or you can 

keep running through all your days, chasing that elusive pot of 

gold at the end of the rainbow that ultimately reveals itself to be 

empty. Enjoy the special moments that every day offers because 

today, this day is all you have." 

"Can anyone learn to 'live in the now'?" 

"Absolutely. No matter what your current circumstances 

might be, you can train yourself to enjoy the gift of living and fill 

your existence with the jewels of everyday life." 

"But isn't that a little optimistic. How about someone who has just lost everything they own due to a bad business deal. Let's say 

that not only are they financially bankrupt but emotionally 

bankrupt as well?" 

"The size of your bank account and the size of your house have 

nothing to do with living life with a sense of joy and wonder. This 

world is full of unhappy millionaires. Do you think the sages I met 

in Sivana were concerned with having a well-balanced financial 

portfolio and acquiring a summer home in the South of France?" 

Julian asked mischievously. 

"Okay. I see your point." 

"There is a huge difference between making a lot of money 

and making a lot of life. When you start spending even five 

minutes a day practicing the art of gratitude, you will cultivate the 

richness of living that you are looking for. Even the person you 

spoke of in your example can find an abundance of things to be 

thankful for, notwithstanding his dire financial predicament. Ask 

him if he still has his health, his loving family and his good 

reputation in the community. Question him as to whether he is 

happy to have citizenship in this great country and whether he still 

has a roof over his head. Perhaps he might have no assets other 

than a masterful ability to work hard and the ability to dream big 

dreams. Yet these are precious assets for which he ought to be 

grateful. We all have much to be thankful for. Even the birds 

singing outside your windowsill on what looks like another 

magnificent summer's day appear as a gift to the wise person. 

Remember, John, life doesn't always give you what you ask for, but 

it always gives you what you need." 

"So by giving daily thanks for all of my assets, whether these 

are material or spiritual, I will develop the habit of living in the 

moment?" Yes. This is an effective method for putting far more living 

into your life. When you savor the 'now,' you kindle the fire of life 

that allows you to grow your destiny." 

"Grow my destiny?" 

"Yes. I told you earlier that we all have been given certain 

talents. Every single person on the planet is a genius." 

"You don't know some of the lawyers I work with," I quipped. 

"Everyone," said Julian emphatically. "We all have something 

that we are meant to do. Your genius will shine through, and 

happiness will fill your life, the instant you discover your higher 

purpose and then direct all your energies towards it. Once you are 

connected to this mission, whether it is being a great teacher of 

children or an inspired artist, all your desires will be fulfilled 

effortlessly. You will not even have to try. As a matter of fact, the 

harder you try, the longer it will take you to reach your aims. 

Instead, simply follow the path of your dreams, in full expectation 

of the bounty that is certain to flow. This will bring you to your 

divine destination. This is what I mean by growing your destiny," 

Julian offered sagely. 

"When I was a young boy, my father loved to read me a fairy 

tale known as 'Peter and the Magic Thread.' Peter was a very lively 

little boy. Everyone loved him: his family, his teachers and his 

friends. But he did have one weakness." 

"What was that?" 

"Peter could never live in the moment He had not learned to 

enjoy the process of life. When he was in school, he dreamed of 

being outside playing. When he was outside playing he dreamed of 

his summer vacation. Peter constantly daydreamed, never taking 

the time to savor the special moments that filled his days. One 

morning, Peter was out walking in a forest near his home. Feeling tired, he decided to rest on a patch of grass and eventually dozed 

off. After only a few minutes of deep sleep, he heard someone 

calling his name. 'Peter! Peter!' came the shrill voice from above. 

As he slowly opened his eyes, he was startled to see a striking 

woman standing above him. She must have been over a hundred 

years old and her snow-white hair dangled well below her 

shoulders like a matted blanket of wool. In this woman's wrinkled 

hand was a magical little ball with a hole in the center and out of 

the hole dangled a long, golden thread." 

"'Peter,' she said, this is the thread of your life. If you pull the 

thread just a bit, an hour will pass in seconds. If you pull a little 

harder, whole days will pass in minutes. And if you pull with all 

your might, months — even years — will pass by in days.' Peter 

grew very excited at this discovery. 'I'd like to have it if I may?' he 

asked. The elderly woman quickly reached down and gave the ball 

with the magic thread to the young boy. 

The next day, Peter was sitting in the classroom feeling 

restless and bored. Suddenly, he remembered his new toy. As he 

pulled a little bit of the golden thread, he quickly found himself at 

home, playing in his garden. Realizing the power of the magic 

thread, Peter soon grew tired of being a schoolboy and longed to 

be a teenager, with all the excitement that phase of life would 

bring. So again he pulled out the ball and pulled hard on the golden 

thread. 

Suddenly he was a teenager with a very pretty young 

girlfriend named Elise. But Peter still wasn't content. He had 

never learned to enjoy the moment and to explore the simple 

wonders of every stage of his life. Instead, he dreamed of being an 

adult. So again he pulled on the thread and many years whizzed by 

in an instant. Now he found that he had been transformed into a middle-aged adult. Elise was now his wife and Peter was 

surrounded with a houseful of kids. But Peter also noticed 

something else. His once jet black hair had started to turn grey. 

And his once youthful mother whom he loved so dearly had grown 

old and frail. Yet Peter still could not live in the moment. He had 

never learned to 'live in the now' So, once again, he pulled on the 

magic thread and waited for the changes to appear. 

Peter now found that he was a ninety-year-old man. His thick 

dark hair had turned white as snow and his beautiful young wife 

Elise had also grown old and had passed away a few years earlier. 

His wonderful children had grown up and left home to lead lives 

of their own. For the first time in his entire life, Peter realized that 

he had not taken the time to embrace the wonders of living. He 

had never gone fishing with his kids or taken a moonlight stroll 

with Elise. He had never planted a garden or read those 

wonderful books his mother had loved to read. Instead, he had 

hurried through life, never resting to see all that was good along 

the way. 

Peter became very sad at this discovery. He decided to go out 

to the forest where he used to walk as a boy to clear his head and 

warm his spirit. As he entered the forest, he noticed that the little 

saplings of his childhood had grown into mighty oaks. The forest 

itself had matured into a paradise of nature. He lay down on a 

small patch of grass and fell into a deep slumber. After only a 

minute, he heard someone calling out to him. 'Peter! Peter!' cried 

the voice. He looked up in astonishment to see that it was none 

other than the old woman who had given him the ball with the 

magic golden thread many years earlier. 

'How have you enjoyed my special gift?' she asked. 

Peter was direct in his reply. At first it was fun but now I hate it. My whole life has passed 

before my eyes without giving me the chance to enjoy it. Sure, 

there would have been sad times as well as great times but I 

haven't had the chance to experience either. I feel empty inside. I 

have missed the gift of living.' 

'You are very ungrateful,' said the old woman. 'Still, I will give 

you one last wish.' 

Peter thought for an instant and then answered hastily. 'I'd 

like to go back to being a schoolboy and live my life over again.' He 

then returned to his deep sleep. 

Again he heard someone calling his name and opened his eyes. 

'Who could it be this time?' he wondered. When he opened his 

eyes, he was absolutely delighted to see his mother standing over 

his bedside. She looked young, healthy and radiant. Peter realized 

that the strange woman of the forest had indeed granted his wish 

and he had returned to his former life. 

'Hurry up Peter. You sleep too much. Your dreams will make 

you late for school if you don't get up right this minute,' his mother 

admonished. Needless to say, Peter dashed out of bed on this 

morning and began to live the way he had hoped. Peter went on to 

live a full life, one rich with many delights, joys and triumphs, but 

it all started when he stopped sacrificing the present for the future 

and began to live in the moment." 

"Amazing story," I said softly. 

"Unfortunately, John, the story of Peter and the Magic Thread 

is just that, a story, a fairy tale. We here in the real world will never 

get a second chance to live life to the fullest. Today is your chance 

to awaken to the gift of living — before it is too late. Time really 

does slip through your fingers like tiny grains of sand. Let this 

new day be the defining moment of your life, the day that you make the decision once and for all to focus on what is truly 

important to you. Make the decision to spend more time with those 

who make your life meaningful. Revere the special moments, revel 

in their power. Do the things that you have always wanted to do. 

Climb that mountain you have always wanted to climb or learn to 

play the trumpet. Dance in the rain or build a new business. Learn 

to love music, learn a new language and rekindle the delight of 

your childhood. Stop putting off your happiness for the sake of 

achievement. Instead, why not enjoy the process? Revive your 

spirit and start tending to your soul. This is the way to Nirvana." 

"Nirvana?" 

"The Sages of Sivana believed that the ultimate destination of 

all truly enlightened souls was a place called Nirvana. Actually, 

more than a place, the sages believed Nirvana to be a state, one 

that transcended anything they had known previously. In Nirvana, 

all things were possible. There was no suffering and the dance of 

life was played out with divine perfection. On reaching Nirvana, 

the sages felt that they would step into Heaven on Earth. This was 

their ultimate goal in life," Julian observed, his face radiating a 

peaceful, almost angelic quality. 

"We are all here for some special reason," he observed 

prophetically. "Meditate on what your true calling is, and how you 

can give of yourself to others. Stop being a prisoner of gravity. 

Today, light your spark of life and let it blaze brightly. Start 

applying the principles and strategies that I have shared with you. 

Be all that you can be. A time will come when you too will taste the 

fruits of that place called Nirvana." 

"How will I know when I reach this state of enlightenment?" 

"Little hints will appear to confirm your entrance. You will 

start to notice the holiness in everything that is around you: the divinity of a moonbeam, the allure of a lush blue sky on a scorching 

summer day, the fragrant bloom of a daisy or the laugh of a 

mischievous little child." 

"Julian, I promise you that the time you have spent with me 

will not be in vain. I will dedicate myself to living by the wisdom of 

the Sages of Sivana and I will keep my promise to you by sharing 

all that I have learned with those who will benefit by your 

message. I am speaking from the heart. I give you my word," I 

offered sincerely, feeling the throes of emotion stirring within. 

"Spread the rich legacy of the sages to all those around you. 

They will quickly benefit from this knowledge and improve the 

quality of their lives, just as you will improve the quality of yours. 

And remember, the journey is to be enjoyed. The road is just as 

good as the end." 

I let Julian continue. "Yogi Raman was a great storyteller but 

there was one story he told me which stood out amongst the rest. 

May I share it with you?" 

"Absolutely." 

"Many years ago, in ancient India, a maharajah wanted to 

build a great tribute to his wife as a sign of his deep love and 

affection for her. This man wanted to create a structure the 

likes of which the world had never seen, one that would shimmer 

across the moonlit sky, one that people would admire for centuries 

to come. So every day, block by block, his workers toiled in the hot 

sun. Every day this structure started to look a little more defined, 

a little more like a monument, a little more like a beacon of love 

against the azure blue Indian sky. Finally, after twenty-two years 

of daily, gradual progress, this palace of pure marble was 

complete. Guess what I'm speaking of?" 

"I have no idea." The Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World," 

Julian replied. "My point is simple. Everyone on this planet is a 

wonder of this world. Every one of us is a hero in some way or 

another. Every one of us has the potential for extraordinary 

achievement, happiness and lasting fulfillment. All it takes are 

small steps in the direction of our dreams. Like the Taj Mahal, a 

life overflowing with wonders is built day by day, block by block. 

Small victories lead to large victories. Tiny, incremental changes 

and improvements such as those I have suggested will create 

positive habits. Positive habits will create results. And results will 

inspire you towards greater personal change. 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." 

Without saying another word, Julian Mantle, the millionaire 

lawyer-turned enlightened monk, got up, embraced me like the 

brother he had never had and walked out of my living room into 

the thick heat of another scorching summer day. As I sat alone and 

collected my thoughts, I noticed that the only evidence I could find 

of this sage messenger's extraordinary visit sat silently on the 

coffee table in front of me. It was his empty cup. 

Your Most Precious 

Commodity 

Well arranged time is the surest mark of a well 

arranged mind. 

Sir Isaac Pitman 

"You know what's funny about life?" Julian asked me. 

"Tell me." 

"By the time most people figure out what they really want and 

how to go about attaining it, it's usually too late. That saying, 'If 

youth only knew, if age only could," is so true. 

"Is that what the stopwatch in Yogi Raman's fable is all about?" 

"Yes. The naked nine-foot-tall, nine-hundred-pound sumo 

wrestler with the pink wire cable covering his private parts slips on 

a shiny gold stopwatch that someone has left in the beautiful 

garden," Julian reminded me. 

"How could I forget," I replied, breaking into a grin. 

By now I had realized that Yogi Raman's mystical fable was nothing more than a series of memory pegs designed to teach 

Julian the elements of his ancient philosophy for enlightened living, 

while at the same time helping him remember it. I shared my 

discovery with him. 

"Ah, the sixth sense of a litigator. You are quite right. My wise 

teacher's methods appeared odd at first and I struggled to 

understand the significance of his tale just as you wondered what I 

was speaking of when I first shared it with you. But I must tell you, 

John, all seven elements of the story, from the garden and the 

naked sumo wrestler to the yellow roses and the path of diamonds, 

which I am soon getting to, serve as powerful reminders of the 

wisdom I learned in Sivana. The garden keeps me focused on 

inspiring thoughts, the lighthouse reminds me that the purpose of 

life is a life of purpose, the sumo wrestler keeps me centered on 

continuous self-discovery, while the pink wire cable links me to the 

wonders of will power. A day doesn't pass without me thinking 

about the fable and considering the principles Yogi Raman taught 

me." 

"And exactly what does the shiny gold stopwatch represent?" 

"It is a symbol of our most important commodity — time." 

"What about positive thinking and goal-getting and self￾mastery?" 

"They all mean nothing without time. About six months after I 

made the delightful forest retreat in Sivana my temporary home, 

one of the sages came to my hut of roses while I was studying. Her 

name was Divea. She was a stunningly beautiful woman with jet 

black hair that fell just below her waist, and in a very gentle and 

sweet voice she informed me that she was the youngest of all the 

sages living in that secret mountain abode. She also said that she 

had come to me on the instructions of Yogi Raman who had told herthat I was the best student he had ever had." 

"'Maybe it is all the pain you suffered in your former life that 

has allowed you to embrace our wisdom with such an open heart,' 

she stated. 'As the youngest of our community, I have been asked 

to bring you a gift. It is from all of us and we offer it as a token of 

our respect for you, one who has travelled so far to learn our ways. 

At no point have you judged us or ridiculed our traditions. So, 

though you have now decided to leave us within a few weeks, we 

consider you one of our own. No outsider has ever received what I 

am about to give you.'" 

"What was the gift?" I asked impatiently. 

"Divea pulled out an object from her homespun cotton bag and 

handed it to me. Wrapped in a fragrant cover of some type of paper 

was something I never thought I'd see there in a million years. It 

was a miniature hourglass which had been made from blown glass 

and a small piece of sandalwood. Seeing my expression, Divea 

quickly told me that each of the sages had received one of these 

instruments as children. "Though we have no possessions and live 

pure, simple lives, we respect time and note its passing. These little 

hourglasses serve as daily reminders of our mortality and the 

importance of living full, productive days while advancing our 

purposes.'" 

"These monks up in the highest reaches of the Himalayan 

mountains kept time?" 

"Each and every one of them understood the importance of 

time. They each had developed what I call a 'time consciousness.' 

You see, I learned that time slips through our hands like grains of 

sand, never to return. Those who use time wisely from an early age 

are rewarded with rich, productive and satisfying lives. Those who 

have never been exposed to the principle that 'time mastery is life mastery' will never realize their enormous human potential. Time 

is the great leveller. Whether we are privileged or disadvantaged, 

whether we live in Texas or Tokyo, we all have been allotted days 

with only twenty-four hours. What separates those who build 

exceptional lives from the 'also rans' is the way they use this time." 

"I once heard my father say that it was the busiest people who 

have time to spare. What do you make of that?" 

"I agree. Busy, productive people are highly efficient with their 

time — they must be in order to survive. Being an excellent time 

manager doesn't mean that you must become a workaholic. On the 

contrary, time mastery allows you more time to do the things you 

love to do, the things that are truly meaningful to you. Time 

mastery leads to life mastery. Guard time well. Remember, it's a 

non-renewable resource. 

"Let me give you an example," Julian offered. "Let's say it's 

Monday morning and your schedule is overflowing with 

appointments, meetings and court appearances. Rather than 

getting up at your usual 6:30 a.m., gulping down a cup of Java, 

speeding off to work and then spending a stressful day of 

'catchup,' let's say you took fifteen minutes the night before to 

plan your day. Or to be even more effective, let's say you took one 

hour on your quiet Sunday morning to organize your entire week. 

In your daily planner, you wrote out when you would meet with 

your clients, when you would do legal research and when you 

would return phone calls. Most importantly, your personal, social 

and spiritual development goals for the week also went into your 

agenda book. This simple act is the secret to a life of balance. By 

anchoring all the most vital aspects of your life into your daily 

schedule, you ensure that your week and your life retain a sense of 

meaning and peace." Surely you're not suggesting that I take a break in the middle 

of my busy work day to walk in the park or meditate?" 

"I sure am. Why are you so rigidly bound to convention? Why 

do you feel that you have to do things the same way as everyone 

else? Run your own race. Why not start working an hour earlier 

so that you will have the luxury of taking a serene mid-morning 

walk in that beautiful park across from your office? Or why not 

put in a few extra hours at the beginning of your week so that you 

can cut out early on Friday to take your kids to the zoo? Or why 

not start working at home two days a week so that you can see 

more of your family? All I'm saying is plan your week and manage 

your time creatively. Have the discipline to focus your time around 

your priorities. The most meaningful things in your life should 

never be sacrificed to those that are the least meaningful. And 

remember, failing to plan is planning to fail. By writing down not 

only your appointments with others but also those all-important 

appointments with yourself to read, relax or write a love letter to 

your wife, you will be far more productive with your time. Never 

forget that time spent enriching your non-work hours is never a 

waste. It makes you tremendously efficient during your working 

hours. Stop living your life in compartments and understand once 

and for all that all you do forms one indivisible whole. The way you 

act at home affects the way you act at work. The way you treat 

people at the office affects the way you will treat your family and 

friends." 

"I agree, Julian, but I really don't have the time to take breaks 

in the middle of my day. As it is, I work most evenings. My schedule 

is really crushing these days." As I said this, I felt my stomach 

tingling at the mere thought of the mountain of work I was facing. 

"Being busy is no excuse. The real question is, what are you so busy about? One of the great rules I learned from that wise old 

sage is that eighty percent of the results you achieve in your life 

come from only twenty percent of the activities that occupy your 

time. Yogi Raman called it the 'Ancient Rule of Twenty.'" 

"I'm not sure I follow you." 

"Okay. Let's go back to your busy Monday. From morning until 

night you might spend your time doing everything from chatting 

on the phone with clients and drafting legal pleadings to reading 

your youngest child a bedtime story or playing chess with your 

wife. Agreed?" 

"Agreed." 

"But out of all of the hundreds of activities you give your time 

to, only twenty percent of those will yield real, lasting results. Only 

twenty percent of what you do will have an influence on the quality 

of your life. These are your 'high-impact' activities. For example, 

ten years from now, do you really think all the time you spent 

gossiping at the water cooler or sitting in some smoke-filled lunch 

room or watching television will count for anything?" 

"No, not really." 

"Right. So I'm sure you will also agree there are a number of 

activities that will count for everything." 

"You mean like time spent improving my legal knowledge, time 

spent enriching my relationships with my clients and time invested 

in becoming a more efficient lawyer?" 

"Yes, and time spent nourishing your relationship with Jenny 

and the kids. Time spent connecting with nature and showing 

gratitude for all that you are so fortunate to have. Time spent 

renewing your mind, your body and your spirit. These are just a 

few of the high-impact activities that will allow you to design the life 

you deserve. Direct all of your time to those activities that count. Enlightened people are priority driven. This is the secret of time 

mastery." 

"Wow. Yogi Raman taught you all that?" 

"I have become a student of life, John. Yogi Raman certainly 

was a wonderful and inspiring teacher and I will never forget him 

for that. But all of the lessons I have learned from my varied 

experiences have now come together like pieces of a big jigsaw 

puzzle to show me the way to a better life." 

Julian added: "I hope you will learn from my earlier mistakes. 

Some people learn from the errors others have made. They are the 

wise. Others feel that true learning comes only from personal 

experience. Such people endure needless pain and distress over 

the course of their lives." 

I had been to many seminars on time management as a lawyer. 

Yet, I had never heard the philosophy of time mastery that Julian 

was now sharing with me. Time management was not just 

something to focus on at the office and discard at closing time. It 

was a holistic system that could make all areas of my life more 

balanced and fulfilling, if I applied it correctly. I learned that by 

planning my days and taking the time to ensure that I was 

balanced in the use of my time, I would not only be far more 

productive — I would be far happier. 

"So life is like a fat strip of bacon," I chimed in. "You have to 

separate the meat from the fat in order to be the master of your 

time." 

"Very good. You're on to it now. And though my vegetarian side 

tells me to do otherwise, I love the analogy because it hits the nail 

right on the head. When you spend your time and precious mental 

energy focusing on the meat, you have no time to waste on the fat. 

This is the point at which your life moves from the realm of the ordinary into the exquisiteness of the extraordinary. This is when 

you really start to make things happen, and the doors to the temple 

of enlightenment suddenly swing open," Julian observed. 

"That brings me to another point. Don't let others steal your 

time. Be wary of time thieves. These are the people who always call 

on the telephone just as you have put the kids to sleep and have 

settled into your favorite chair to read that thrilling novel you have 

heard so much about. These are the people who have a knack of 

dropping by your office just as you have found a few minutes in the 

midst of a hectic day to catch your breath and collect your 

thoughts. Does this sound familiar?" 

"As usual, Julian, you're right on the money. I guess I have 

always been too polite to ask them to leave or to keep my door 

shut," I confided. 

"You must be ruthless with your time. Learn to say no. Having 

the courage to say no to the little things in life will give you the 

power to say yes to the big things. Shut the door to your office 

when you need a few hours to work on that big case. Remember 

what I told you. Don't pick up the phone every time it rings. It is 

there for your convenience, not the convenience of others. 

Ironically, people will respect you more when they see that you are 

a person who values his time. They will realize that your time is 

precious and they will value it." 

"What about procrastination? All too often I keep putting off 

the things that I don't like doing and instead find myself sifting 

through junk mail or flipping though legal magazines. Maybe I'm 

just killing time?" 

'"Killing time' is an apt metaphor. True, it is human nature to 

do things that feel good and avoid the things that feel bad. But as I 

said earlier, the most productive people in this world have cultivated the habit of doing the things that less productive people 

don't like doing, even though they too might not like doing them." 

I stopped and thought deeply about the principle I had just 

heard. Perhaps procrastination was not my problem. Maybe my 

life had simply become too complex. Julian sensed my concern. 

"Yogi Raman told me that those who are masters of their time 

live simple lives. A hurried, frenzied pace is not what nature 

intended. While he firmly believed that lasting happiness could be 

reached only by those who were effective and set definite aims for 

themselves, living a life rich with accomplishment and contribution 

did not have to come through the sacrifice of peace of mind. This is 

what I found so fascinating about the wisdom I was hearing. It 

allowed me to be productive and yet fulfill my spiritual longings." 

I started to open myself even more to Julian. "You have always 

been honest and forthright with me so I will be the same with you. 

I don't want to give up my practice and my house and my car to be 

happier and more satisfied. I like my toys and the material things 

I have earned. They are my rewards for all the hours I have 

worked over the years since we first met. But I feel empty — I 

really do. I told you about my dreams when I was in law school. 

There is so much more I could do with my life. You know I'm almost 

forty and I have never been to the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel 

Tower. I've never walked in a desert or canoed across a still lake on 

a gorgeous summer's day. I have never once taken off my socks 

and shoes and walked barefoot through a park, listening to the kids 

laugh and the dogs bark. I can't even remember the last time I took 

a long, quiet walk by myself after a snowfall just to hear the sounds 

and to enjoy the sensations." 

"Then simplify your life." Julian suggested sympathetically. 

"Apply the ancient Ritual of Simplicity to every aspect of your world. By doing so, you are bound to have more time to savor these 

glorious wonders. One of the most tragic things that any one of us 

can do is to put off living. Too many people are dreaming of some 

magical rose garden on the horizon rather than enjoying the one 

growing in our back yards. What a tragedy." 

"Any suggestions?" 

"That I will leave to your own imagination. I have shared many 

of the strategies I learned from the sages with you. They will work 

wonders if you have the courage to apply them. Oh, that reminds 

me of another thing that I do to make sure my life stays calm and 

simple." 

"What's that?" 

"I love to have a quick nap in the afternoon. I find it keeps me 

energetic, refreshed and youthful. I guess you could say that I need 

my beauty sleep." Julian laughed. 

"Beauty has never been one of your strong points." 

"A sense of humor has always been one of yours, and for this I 

commend you. Always remember the power of laughter. Like 

music, it is a wonderful tonic for life's stresses and strains. I think 

Yogi Raman said it best when he said, "Laughter opens your heart 

and soothes your soul. No one should ever take life so seriously that 

they forget to laugh at themselves." 

Julian had one final thought to share on the subject of time. 

"Perhaps most importantly, John, stop acting like you have five 

hundred years to live. When Divea brought that little hourglass to 

me she offered some advice that I will never forget." 

"What did she say?" 

"She told me that the best time to plant a tree was forty years 

ago. The second best time is today. Don't waste even one minute of 

your day. Develop a deathbed mentality." "I beg your pardon?" I asked, struck by the graphic term 

Julian had employed. "What's a deathbed mentality?" 

"It is a new way of looking at your life, a more empowering 

paradigm if you will, one that reminds you that today could be your 

last, so savor it to the fullest." 

"Sounds kind of morbid, if you ask me. It makes me think 

about death." 

"Actually, it's a philosophy about life. When you adopt a 

deathbed mentality you live every day as if it was your last. 

Imagine waking up every day and asking yourself the simple 

question: 'What would I do today if it was my last?' Then think 

about how you would treat your family, your colleagues and even 

those who you don't know. Think about how productive and excited 

you would be to live every moment to the maximum. The deathbed 

question alone has the power to change your life. It will energize 

your days and bring a rush of zest and spirit to all that you do. You 

will start focusing on all the meaningful things that you have been 

putting off, and stop squandering time on all those petty things 

that have dragged you down into the quagmire of crisis and chaos." 

Julian continued. "Push yourself to do more and to experience 

more. Harness your energy to start expanding your dreams. Yes, 

expand your dreams. Don't accept a life of mediocrity when you 

hold such infinite potential within the fortress of your mind. Dare 

to tap into your greatness. This is your birthright!" 

"Powerful stuff." 

"Here's more. There is a simple remedy to break the spell of 

frustration that plagues so many people." 

"My cup is still empty," I said softly. 

"Act as if failure is impossible, and your success will be assured. 

Wipe out every thought of not achieving your objectives, whether they are material or spiritual. Be brave, and set no limits on the 

workings of your imagination. Never be a prisoner of your past. 

Become the architect of your future. You will never be the same." 

As the city started to awaken, and the morning grew into full 

bloom, my ageless friend started to show the first signs of 

weariness after a night spent sharing his knowledge with an eager 

student. I had been astonished by Julian's stamina, his boundless 

energy and his endless enthusiasm. He not only talked his talk — 

he walked his walk. 

"We are moving to the end of Yogi Raman's magical fable and 

approaching the time when I must leave you," he said gently. "I 

have much to do and many more people to meet." 

"Are you going to tell your partners that you have returned 

home?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. 

"Probably not," Julian replied. "I am so different from the 

Julian Mantle they knew. I don't think the same thoughts, I don't 

wear the same clothes, I don't do the same things. I am a 

fundamentally changed person. They wouldn't recognize me." 

"You really are a new man," I agreed, chuckling inwardly as I 

pictured this mystical monk adorned in the traditional robes of 

Sivana stepping into the striking red Ferrari of his former life. 

"A new being is probably even more accurate." 

"I don't see the distinction," I confessed. 

"There is an ancient saying in India: 'We are not human beings 

having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a 

human experience.' I now understand my role in the universe. I see 

what I am. I'm no longer in the world. The world is in me." 

"I'm going to have to chew on that one for a while," I said in 

total honesty, not quite comprehending what Julian was talking 

about. "Sure. I understand, my friend. A time will come when you are 

clear on what I am saying. If you follow the principles I have 

revealed to you and apply the techniques I have offered, you will 

surely advance along the path of enlightenment. "You will come to 

master the art of personal government. You will see your life for 

what it really is: a small blip on the canvas of eternity. And you will 

come to see clearly who you are and the ultimate purpose of your 

life." 

"Which is?" 

"To serve, of course. No matter how big a house you have or 

how slick a car you drive, the only thing you can take with you at 

the end of your life is your conscience. Listen to your conscience. 

Let it guide you. It knows what is right. It will tell you that your 

calling in life is ultimately selfless service to others in some form or 

another. This is what my personal odyssey has taught me. Now, I 

have so many others to see, serve and heal. My mission is to spread 

the ancient wisdom of the Sages of Sivana to all those who need to 

hear it. This is my purpose." 

The fire of knowledge had kindled Julian's spirit — this was 

obvious, even to an unenlightened soul such as myself He was so 

passionate, so committed and so fervent about what he was saying 

that it was reflected even in his physical dimension. His 

transformation from a frail old litigator to a vital, young Adonis 

was not brought about by a simple change in his diet and a daily 

dose of some quick-fix exercise plan. No, it was a far deeper 

panacea that Julian had stumbled upon high in those majestic 

mountains. He had found the secret that people through the ages 

have been searching for. It was more than the secret of youth, 

fulfillment or even happiness. Julian had discovered the secret of 

the Self.