More troubles in Rivers APC as counter suspensions hit party

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By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The supremacy battle for the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State took a worsening dimension on Saturday following the decisions of the two major factions to suspend key members of their rival groups.

The Isaac Abbot-Ogbobula-led state Caretaker Committee of the party loyal to the Transport Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi announced suspensions of key APC members in Igo Aguma’s faction at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.

Ogbobula, who made the declaration, announced the suspensions of Igo Aguma, Senator Magnus Abe, Livistone Wechie and Wogu Boms for anti-party activities.

Ogbobula, who was accompanied by members of his committee, also recommended their expulsion from the party while further announcing the suspensions of all the party members, who were recently, inaugurated as local government and ward caretaker committee’s leaders by Aguma.

He said all the persons, who took the party to court without exhausting all the internal mechanisms for conflict resolutions remained suspended.

Ogbobula said the decision was reached in an emergency meeting held by his committee to review the issues affecting the Rivers APC.

He said their suspensions were recommended by their various local government levels in letters addressed to his caretaker committee.

Kindling Your Inner Fire 

Trust yourself. Create the kind of life you will be 

happy to live with all your life. Make the most of 

yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility 

into the flames of achievement. 

Foster C. McClellan 

"The day that Yogi Raman shared his mystical little fable with me, 

high atop the Himalayas, was actually quite similar to this day in 

many respects," said Julian. 

"Really?" 

"Our meeting began in the evening and carried on well into the 

night. There was such a chemistry between the two of us that the 

air seemed to crackle with electricity. As I mentioned to you 

earlier, from the first moment I met Raman, I felt as if he was the 

brother I never had. Tonight, sitting here with you and enjoying 

the look of intrigue on your face, I feel the same energy and bond. 

I will also tell you that I have always thought of you as my little Kindling Your Inner Fire 

Trust yourself. Create the kind of life you will be 

happy to live with all your life. Make the most of 

yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility 

into the flames of achievement. 

Foster C. McClellan 

"The day that Yogi Raman shared his mystical little fable with me, 

high atop the Himalayas, was actually quite similar to this day in 

many respects," said Julian. 

"Really?" 

"Our meeting began in the evening and carried on well into the 

night. There was such a chemistry between the two of us that the 

air seemed to crackle with electricity. As I mentioned to you 

earlier, from the first moment I met Raman, I felt as if he was the 

brother I never had. Tonight, sitting here with you and enjoying 

the look of intrigue on your face, I feel the same energy and bond. 

I will also tell you that I have always thought of you as my little physically, mentally and spiritually. This is the way to inner peace 

and outer fulfillment." 

I once read that people who study others are wise but those 

who study themselves are enlightened. Here, perhaps for the first 

time, I saw a man who truly knew himself, perhaps his highest self. 

In his austere clothing, with the half-smile of a youthful Buddha 

gracing his supple face, Julian Mantle appeared to have it all: ideal 

health, happiness and an overriding sense of his role in the 

kaleidoscope of the universe. Yet, he owned nothing. 

"This brings me to the lighthouse," said Julian, remaining 

focused on the task at hand. 

"I was wondering how that fit into Yogi Raman's fable." 

"I'll try to explain," he responded, sounding more like a well￾schooled professor than a lawyer turned monk who had renounced 

the sensual world. "You have now learned that the mind is like a 

fertile garden and for it to flourish, you must nurture it daily. 

Never let the weeds of impure thought and action take the garden 

of your mind. Stand guard at the gateway of your mind. Keep it 

healthy and strong — it will work miracles in your life if you will 

only let it." 

"You will recall that in the middle of the garden stood a 

magnificent lighthouse. This symbol will remind you of yet another 

ancient principle for enlightened living: the purpose of life is a life 

of purpose. Those who are truly enlightened know what they want 

out of life, emotionally, materially, physically and spiritually. 

Clearly defined priorities and goals for every aspect of your life 

will serve a role similar to that played by a lighthouse, offering you 

guidance and refuge when the seas become rough. You see, John, 

anyone can revolutionize their lives once they revolutionize the 

direction in which they are moving. But if you don't even know where you are going, how will you ever know when you get there?" 

Julian transported me back to the time when Yogi Raman 

examined this principle with him. He recalled the sage's exact 

words. "Life is funny," observed Yogi Raman. "One would think 

that the less one worked the more one would have the chance to 

experience happiness. However, the real source of happiness can 

be stated in a word: achievement. Lasting happiness comes from 

steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing 

confidently in the direction of your life's purpose. This is the secret 

to kindling the inner fire that lurks within you. I do understand 

that it might seem more than a little ironic that you have travelled 

thousands of miles from your achievement-oriented society to 

speak to a cluster of mystical sages living high in the Himalayas 

only to learn that another eternal secret of happiness can be found 

in achievement, but it is true." 

"Workaholic monks?" I suggested playfully. 

"Quite the opposite. While the sages were tremendously 

productive people, their productivity was not of the frenetic type. 

Instead, it was of the peaceful, focused, zen-like kind." 

"How so?" 

"Everything they did had a purpose. Though they were 

removed from the modern world and lived a highly spiritual 

existence, they were also highly effective. Some spent their days 

polishing off philosophical treatises, others created fabulous, 

richly textured poems which challenged their intellect and 

renewed their creativity. Still others passed their time in the 

silence of total contemplation, looking like illuminated statues 

seated in the ancient lotus pose. The Sages of Sivana did not waste 

time. Their collective conscience told them that their lives had a 

purpose and they had a duty to fulfill. "This is what Yogi Raman said to me: 'Here in Sivana where 

time appears to stand still, you might wonder what a group of 

simple, possessionless sages would ever need or hope to achieve. 

But achievement need not be of the material sort. Personally, my 

objectives are to attain peace of mind, self-mastery and 

enlightenment. If I fail to accomplish these goals by the end of my 

life, I am certain that I will die feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied.'" 

Julian told me that that was the first time he had heard any of 

his teachers in Sivana speak of their own mortality. "And Yogi 

Raman sensed this in my expression. 'You need not worry, my 

friend. I have already lived past the age of one hundred and have 

no plans for a quick exit. My point is simply that when you clearly 

know what aims you wish to achieve over the course of your life, be 

they material, emotional, physical or spiritual, and you spend your 

days accomplishing them, you will ultimately find eternal joy. Your 

life will be as delightful as mine — and you will come to know a 

splendid reality. But you must know your life's aim and then 

manifest this vision into reality by consistent action. We sages call 

this Dharma, which is the Sanskrit word for life's purpose." 

"Lifelong contentment will come from the fulfillment of my 

Dharma?" I asked. 

"Most certainly. From Dharma springs inner harmony and 

lasting satisfaction. Dharma is based upon the ancient principle that 

says every one of us has a heroic mission whilst we walk this Earth. 

We have all been granted a unique set of gifts and talents that will 

readily allow us to realize this lifework. The key is to discover them, 

and in doing so, discover the main objective of your life." 

I interrupted Julian, "It's sort of what you were saying earlier 

about risk taking." 

"Maybe yes, maybe no." "I don't follow." 

"Yes, it may seem as though you are forced to take a few risks 

to discover what you are best at and the essence of your life's 

purpose. Many people quit jobs that have stifled their progress 

the moment they discover the true purpose of their existence. 

There is always the apparent risk that comes with self￾examination and soul searching. But no, because there is never a 

risk in discovering yourself and the mission of your life. Self￾knowledge is the DNA of self-enlightenment. It is a very good, 

indeed essential thing." 

"What is your Dharma, Julian?" I asked casually, attempting 

to mask my burning curiosity. 

"Mine is simple: to selflessly serve others. Remember, you will 

not find true joy in sleeping, in relaxing or in spending your time 

like an idler. As Benjamin Disraeli said: 'The secret of success is 

constancy of purpose.' The happiness you are searching for comes 

through reflecting on the worthy aims you are dedicated to 

achieving and then taking action daily to advance them. This is a 

direct application of the timeless philosophy which prescribes that 

those things which are most important should never be sacrificed 

to those things which are the least important. The lighthouse in 

Yogi Raman's fable will always remind you of the power of setting 

clearly defined, purposeful goals and, most importantly, of having 

the character power to act on them." 

Over the course of the next few hours, I learned from Julian 

that all highly developed, fully actualized people understand the 

importance of exploring their talents, uncovering their personal 

purpose and then applying their human gifts in the direction of 

this calling. Some people selflessly serve humanity as physicians, 

others as artists. Some people discover that they are powerful communicators and become wonderful teachers, whilst others 

come to realize that their legacy will be in the form of innovations 

in the field of business or science. The key is to have the discipline 

and vision to see your heroic mission and to ensure that it serves 

other people while you realize it. 

"Is this a form of goal-setting?" 

"Goal-setting is the starting point. Mapping out your 

objectives and your goals releases the creative juices which get 

you on to the path of your purpose. Believe it or not, Yogi Raman 

and the other sages were very hot on goals." 

"You're kidding. Highly effective monks living deep in the 

Himalayan mountains who meditate all night and set goals all day. 

I love it!" 

"John, always judge by results. Look at me. Sometimes I don't 

even recognize myself when I look in the mirror. My once￾unfulfilling existence has been replaced by one rich with adventure, 

mystery and excitement. I am young again and enjoy vibrant health. 

I am truly happy. The wisdom I am sharing with you is so potent and 

so important and so life-giving that you simply must stay open to it." 

"I am Julian, I really am. Everything you have said makes 

perfect sense, although some of the techniques do sound a little 

odd. But I have promised to try them and I will. I agree that this 

information is powerful." 

"If I have seen farther than others, it is simply because I have 

stood on the shoulders of great teachers," replied Julian with 

humility. "Here's another example. Yogi Raman was an expert 

archer, a true master. To illustrate his philosophy on the 

importance of setting clearly defined objectives in every aspect of 

one's life and fulfilling one's mission, he offered a demonstration I 

will never forget. "Near where we were sitting there was a magnificent oak tree. 

The sage pulled one of the roses from the garland he habitually 

wore and placed it on the center of the trunk. He then pulled three 

objects from the large knapsack that was his constant companion 

whenever he ventured to distant mountain climes such as the one 

we were visiting. The first object was his favorite bow, made of a 

wonderfully fragrant yet sturdy sandalwood. The second item was 

an arrow. The third object was a lily-white handkerchief — the 

kind I used to wear in the pocket of my expensive suits to impress 

judges and juries," Julian added apologetically. 

Yogi Raman then asked Julian to put the handkerchief over his 

eyes as a blindfold. 

"How far away from the rose am I?" Yogi Raman asked his 

pupil. 

"One hundred feet," Julian guessed. 

"Have you ever observed me in my daily practice of this 

ancient sport of archery?" the sage queried, in full knowledge of 

the response that would come. 

"I have seen you strike the bull's-eye from a mark almost 

three hundred feet away and I cannot recall a time that you have 

ever missed at your current distance," Julian noted dutifully. 

Then, with his eyes covered by the cloth and his feet placed 

securely in the earth, the teacher drew the bow with all his energy 

and released the arrow — aiming directly at the rose hanging 

from the tree. The arrow struck the large oak with a thud, missing 

its mark by an embarrassingly large distance. 

"I thought you were going to display more of your magical 

abilities, Yogi Raman. What happened?" 

"We have travelled to this isolated place for one reason only I 

have agreed to reveal all my worldly wisdom to you. Today'sdemonstration is meant to reinforce my advice on the importance 

of setting clearly defined objectives in your life and knowing 

precisely where you are going. What you just saw confirms the 

most important principle for anyone seeking to attain their goals 

and to fulfill their life's purpose: you will never be able to hit a 

target that you cannot see. People spend their whole lives 

dreaming of becoming happier, living with more vitality and having 

an abundance of passion. Yet they do not see the importance of 

taking even ten minutes a month to write out their goals and to 

think deeply about the meaning of their lives, their Dharma. Goal￾setting will make your life magnificent. Your world will become 

richer, more delightful and more magical." 

"You see, Julian, our ancestors have taught us that setting 

clearly defined objectives for what we desire in our mental, 

physical and spiritual world is critical to their realization. In the 

world you came from, people set financial and material goals. 

There is nothing wrong with this, if this is what you value. 

However, to attain self-mastery and inner enlightenment, you 

must set concrete objectives in other areas as well. Would it 

surprise you to know that I have clearly defined objectives with 

respect to the peace of mind I desire, the energy I bring to each 

day and the love that I offer to all those around me? Goal-setting 

is not just for distinguished lawyers such as yourself who reside in 

a world full of material attractions. Anyone who wishes to improve 

the quality of their inner as well as their outer worlds would do 

well to take out a piece of paper and start writing out their life 

aims. At the very moment that this is done, natural forces will 

come into play which start to transform these dreams into reality." 

What I was hearing fascinated me. When I was a football 

player in high school, my coach had constantly spoken of the importance of knowing what we wanted from every game. "Know 

your outcome," was his personal creed, and our team wouldn't 

dream of stepping onto the playing field without a clear game plan 

that would lead us to victory. I wondered why, as I had grown 

older, I had never taken the time to develop a game plan for my 

own life. Maybe Julian and Yogi Raman had something here. 

"What is so special about taking out a sheet of paper and 

writing out your goals? How could such a simple act make such a 

difference?" I asked. 

Julian was delighted. "Your obvious interest inspires me, John. 

Enthusiasm is one of the key ingredients for a lifetime of successful 

living and I am glad to see that you still have every ounce of yours. 

Earlier I taught you that we each think about 60,000 thoughts on 

an average day. By writing out your desires and goals on a piece of 

paper, you send a red flag to your subconscious mind that these 

thoughts are far more important than the remaining 59,999 other 

ones. Your mind will then start to seek out all opportunities to 

realize your destiny like a guided missile. It is really a very 

scientific process. Most of us are simply not aware of it." 

"A few of my partners are big on goal-setting. Come to think 

of it, they are the most financially successful people I know. But I 

don't think they are the most balanced," I observed. 

"Perhaps they are not setting the right goals. You see, John, 

life pretty much gives you what you ask from it. Most people want 

to feel better, have more energy or live with greater satisfaction. 

Yet, when you ask them to tell you precisely what it is they want, 

they have no answer. You change your life the moment you set 

your goals and start to seek out your Dharma," Julian said, his 

eyes sparkling with the truth of his words. 

"Have you ever met someone with a strange name and then started to notice that name appearing everywhere: in newspapers, 

on the television or at the office? Or have you ever become 

interested in a new subject, let's say fly fishing, and then noticed 

that you couldn't go anywhere without hearing about the wonders 

of fly fishing? This is but one illustration of the ageless principle 

Yogi Raman called joriki, which I have since learned means 

'concentrated mind.' Concentrate every ounce of your mental 

energy on self-discovery. Learn what you excel at and what makes 

you happy. Maybe you are practicing law but are really meant to 

be a school teacher, given your patience and love of teaching. 

Perhaps you are a frustrated painter or sculptor. Whatever it is, 

find your passion and then follow it." 

"Now that I really think about it, it would be sad to reach the 

end of my life without realizing that I had some special genius that 

would have unlocked my potential and helped others — even in a 

small way." 

"That's right. So from this moment onwards, be acutely aware 

of your aim in life. Awaken your mind to the abundance of 

possibility around you. Start to live with more zest. The human 

mind is the world's largest filtering device. When used properly it 

filters out what you perceive as unimportant and gives you only 

the information you are looking for at that time. At this very 

moment, as we sit here in your living room, there are hundreds if 

not thousands of things going on that we are not paying any 

attention to. There is the sound of the lovers giggling as they stroll 

along the boardwalk, the goldfish in the tank behind you, the cool 

air being blown from the air conditioner and even the beat of my 

own heart. The moment I decide to concentrate on my heartbeat, 

I start to notice its rhythm and its qualities. Similarly, when you 

decide to start concentrating your mind on your life's main aims, your mind starts to filter out the unimportant and focus only on 

the important." 

"To tell you the truth, I think it's about time I discovered my 

purpose," I said. "Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great 

things in my life. But it isn't as rewarding as I think it could be. If 

I left this world today, I really can't say for sure that I've made 

that big a difference." 

"How does that make you feel?" 

"Depressed," I offered with total honesty. "I know I have 

talent. Actually, I was one heck of a good artist when I was 

younger. That was until the legal profession beckoned with the 

promise of a more stable life." 

"Do you ever wish you had made painting your profession?" 

"I really haven't given it much thought. But I will say one 

thing. When I painted I was in Heaven." 

"It really fired you up, didn't it?" 

"Absolutely. I lost track of time when I was in the studio 

painting. I would get lost in the canvas. It was a real release for 

me. It was almost as if I transcended time and moved into another 

dimension." 

"John, this is the power of concentrating your mind on a 

pursuit that you love. Goethe said that 'we are shaped and 

fashioned by what we love.' Maybe your Dharma is to brighten the 

world with lovely scenes. At least start spending a little time 

painting every day." 

"How about applying this philosophy to things less esoteric 

than changing my life?" I asked with a grin. 

"This should be good." Julian replied. "Like what?" 

"Let's say one of my aims, although a minor one, was to drop the 

spare tire I am carrying around my waist. Where would I start?" "Don't be embarrassed. You master the art of goal-setting — 

and goal getting — by starting off small." 

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step?" I 

asked intuitively. 

"Precisely. And getting good at accomplishing little feats 

prepares you for realizing the big ones. So, to answer your question 

squarely, there is nothing wrong with mapping out a full range of 

smaller goals in the process of planning your bigger ones." 

Julian told me that the Sages of Sivana had created a five-step 

method to reach their objectives and fulfill the purposes of their 

lives. It was simple, practical and it worked. The first step was to 

form a clear mental image of the outcome. If this was to lose 

weight, Julian told me that every morning just after I woke up, I 

was to envision myself as a lean, fit person, full of vitality and 

boundless energy. The clearer this mental picture, the more 

effective the process would be. He said that the mind was the 

ultimate treasure house of power and this simple act of "picturing" 

my goal would open the gateway to the actualization of this desire. 

Step two was to get some positive pressure on myself 

"The main reason people do not follow through on any 

resolutions they make is that it is too easy to slip back into their 

old ways. Pressure is not always a bad thing. Pressure can inspire 

you to achieve great ends. People generally achieve magnificent 

things when their backs are up against the wall and they are 

forced to tap into the wellspring of human potential that lies 

within them." 

"How can I create this 'positive pressure' on myself?" I asked, 

now thinking about the possibilities of applying this method to 

everything from getting up earlier to being a more patient and 

loving father. "There are a whole host of ways to do this. One of the best is 

the public pledge. Tell everyone you know that you will lose the 

excess weight or write that novel or whatever your goal might be. 

Once you make your goal known to the world, there will instantly 

be pressure on you to work towards its fulfillment since no one 

likes to look like a failure. In Sivana, my teachers used more 

dramatic means to create this positive pressure I speak of. They 

would declare to one another that if they did not follow through on 

their commitments, such as fasting for a week or getting up daily 

at 4:00 a.m. to meditate, they would go down to the icy waterfall 

and stand under it until their arms and legs went numb. This is an 

extreme illustration of the power that pressure can exert on the 

building of good habits and the attainment of goals." 

"'Extreme' might be an understatement, Julian. What a 

bizarre ritual!" 

"Extremely effective though. The point is simply that when 

you train your mind to associate pleasure with good habits and 

punishment with bad ones, your weaknesses will quickly fall by 

the wayside." 

"You said there were five steps to follow to make my desires 

come true." I said impatiently. "What are the remaining three?" 

"Yes, John. Step one is to have a clear vision of your outcome. 

Step two is to create positive pressure to keep you inspired. The 

third step is a simple one: never set a goal without attaching a 

timeline to it. To breathe life into a goal you must attach a precise 

deadline to it. It's just like when you are preparing cases for court; 

you always focus your attention on the ones the judge has 

scheduled to be heard tomorrow rather than on the ones without 

any court date. 

"Oh, and by the way," explained Julian, "remember that a goal that is not committed to paper is no goal at all. Go out and buy a 

journal — a cheap coil notepad will do. Call this your Dream Book 

and fill it with all your desires, objectives and dreams. Get to know 

yourself and what you are all about." 

"Don't I already know myself?" 

"Most people don't. They have never taken the time to know 

their strengths, their weaknesses, their hopes, their dreams. The 

Chinese define image in these terms: there are three mirrors that 

form a person's reflection; the first is how you see yourself, the 

second is how others see you and the third mirror reflects the 

truth. Know yourself, John. Know the truth. 

"Divide your Dream Book into separate sections for goals 

relating to the different areas of your life. For example you might 

have sections for your physical fitness goals, your financial goals, 

your personal empowerment goals, your relationship and social 

goals and, perhaps most importantly, your spiritual goals." 

"Hey, that sounds like fun! I've never thought about doing 

something as creative as that for myself I really should start 

challenging myself more," I said. 

"I agree. Another particularly effective technique I learned is 

to fill your Dream Book with pictures of the things you desire and 

images of people who have cultivated the abilities, talents and 

qualities that you hope to emulate. Getting back to you and your 

'spare tire,' if you want to lose weight and be in outstanding 

physical shape, paste a picture of a marathon runner or an elite 

athlete in your Dream Book. If you want to be the world's finest 

husband, why not clip out a picture of someone who represents this 

— perhaps your father — and put it into your journal in the 

relationship section. If you are dreaming of a mansion by the sea 

or a sports car, find an inspiring picture of these objects and use them for your book of dreams. Then review this book daily, even 

for a few minutes. Make it your friend. The results will startle you." 

"This is pretty revolutionary stuff, Julian. I mean, though these 

ideas have been around for centuries, everybody I know today 

could improve the quality of their daily lives by applying even a few 

of them. My wife would love to have a Dream Book. She'd probably 

fill it with pictures of me without my notorious belly." 

"It's really not that big," Julian suggested in a consoling tone. 

"Then why does Jenny call me Mr. Donut?" I said, breaking 

into a broad smile. 

Julian started to laugh. I had to follow. Soon the two of us were 

howling on the floor. 

"I guess if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at?" 

I said, still giggling. 

"Very true, my friend. When I was chained to my former 

lifestyle, one of my main problems was that I took life too 

seriously. Now I am much more playful and childlike. I enjoy all of 

life's gifts, no matter how small they are." 

"But I have digressed. I have so much to tell you and it is all 

flowing out of me at once." 

"Back to the five-step method to attain your aims and realize 

your goals. Once you have formed a clear mental picture of your 

outcome, created a little pressure behind it, set a deadline and 

committed it to paper, the next step is to apply what Yogi Raman 

called The Magic Rule of 21. The learned men and women of his 

world believed that, for new behavior to crystallize into a habit, 

one had to perform the new activity for twenty-one days in a row." 

"What's so special about twenty-one days?" 

"The sages were absolute masters of creating new, more 

rewarding habits which governed the conduct of their lives. Yogi Raman once told me that a bad habit once acquired could never be 

erased." 

"But all evening you have been inspiring me to change the way 

I live my life. How can I possibly do this if I can never erase any of 

my bad habits?" 

"I said that bad habits can never be erased. I did not say that 

negative habits could not be replaced," Julian noted with precision. 

"Oh Julian, you always were the King of Semantics. But I 

think I see your point." 

"The only way to permanently install a new habit is to direct so 

much energy toward it that the old one slips away like an 

unwelcome house guest. The installation is generally complete in 

about twenty-one days, the time it takes to create a new neural 

pathway." 

"Say I wanted to start practicing the Heart of the Rose 

technique to erase the worry habit and live at a more peaceful 

pace. Do I have to do it at the same time every day?" 

"Good question. The first thing I will tell you is that you never 

have to do anything. Everything I am sharing with you tonight I 

am offering as a friend who is genuinely interested in your growth 

and development. Every strategy, tool and technique has been 

tested over time for effectiveness and measurable results. This I 

assure you. And though my heart tells me that I should implore 

you to try all of the methods of the sages, my conscience tells me 

to simply follow my duty and share the wisdom with you, leaving 

its implementation up to you. My point is this: never do anything 

because you have to. The only reason to do something is because 

you want to and because you know it is the right thing for you to do." 

"Sounds reasonable, Julian. Don't worry, I haven't felt for even 

a moment that you were forcing any of this information down my throat. Anyway, the only thing that could ever be forced down my 

throat these days would be a box of donuts — and that wouldn't 

take much," I quipped. 

Julian smiled gingerly. "Thanks pal. Now to answer your 

question, my suggestion is that you try the Heart of the Rose 

method at the same time every day and in the same place, every 

day. There is tremendous power in a ritual. Sports stars who eat 

the same meal or tie their shoes the same way before the big game 

are tapping into the power of ritual. Members of a church who 

perform the same rites, wear the same robes, are using the power 

of ritual. Even business people who walk the same route or talk 

the same talk before a big presentation are applying the power of 

ritual. You see, when you insert any activity into your routine by 

doing it the same way at the same time every day, it quickly grows 

into a habit." 

"For example, most people will do the same thing upon waking 

up, without giving any thought to what they are doing. They open 

their eyes, get out of bed, walk to the bathroom and start brushing 

their teeth. So, staying with your goal for a period of twenty-one 

days, and performing the new activity at the same time for each of 

these days, will insert it into your routine. Soon you will be 

performing the new habit, whether it is meditation, getting up 

earlier or reading for an hour every day, with the same ease that 

you feel while brushing your teeth." 

"The final step for attaining goals and advancing along the 

path of purpose?" 

"The final step in the sages' method is one that is equally 

applicable as you advance along the path of your life." 

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

"Enjoy the process. The Sages of Sivana often spoke of this philosophy. They truly believed that a day without laughter or a 

day without love was a day without life." 

"I'm not sure I follow you." 

"All I'm saying is make sure that you have fun while you are 

advancing along the path of your goals and purpose. Never forget 

the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration. Never 

neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things. Today and 

this very moment that you and I are sharing is a gift. Remain 

spirited, joyful and curious. Stay focused on your lifework and on 

giving selfless service to others. The Universe will take care of 

everything else. This is one of nature's truest laws." 

"And never regret what has happened in the past?" 

"Exactly. There is no chaos in this Universe. There is a 

purpose for everything that has ever happened to you, and 

everything that will happen to you. Remember what I told you, 

John. Every experience offers lessons. So stop majoring in minor 

things. Enjoy your life." 

"Is that it?" 

"I still have much wisdom to share with you. Are you tired?" 

"Not in the least. Actually I feel pretty pumped up. You are 

quite the motivator, Julian. Have you ever thought about an 

infomercial?" I asked mischievously. 

"I don't understand," he replied gently. 

"Never mind. Just one of my feeble attempts at humor." 

"Okay. Before we move along with Yogi Raman's fable, there is 

one last point about reaching your goals and your dreams that I 

would like to impress on you." 

"Go for it." 

"There is one word which the sages spoke of in almost 

reverential terms." "Do tell." 

"This simple word seemed to carry a depth of meaning for 

them and it peppered their daily talk. The word I am speaking of is 

passion, and it is a word you must constantly keep at the forefront 

of your mind as you follow your mission and attain your goals. A 

burning sense of passion is the most potent fuel for your dreams. 

Here, in our society we have lost our passion. We do not do things 

because we love to do them. We do things because we feel we have 

to do them. This is a formula for misery. And I am not speaking of 

romantic passion, although this is another ingredient for a 

successful, inspired existence. What I am talking about is a passion 

for life. Reclaim the joy of waking up every morning, full of energy 

and exhilaration. Breathe the fire of passion into all that you do. 

You will quickly reap great material, as well as spiritual, rewards." 

"You make it sound so easy." 

"It is. From tonight onwards, take complete control of your 

life. Decide, once and for all, to be the master of your fate. Run 

your own race. Discover your calling and you will start to 

experience the ecstacy of an inspired life. Finally, always 

remember that what lies behind you and what lies in front of you 

is nothing when compared to what lies within you." 

"Thanks Julian. I really needed to hear this. I never realized 

all that was lacking in my life until tonight. I have been wandering 

aimlessly through it, lacking a real purpose. Things are going to 

change. I promise you. I am grateful for this." 

"You're welcome, my friend. I'm simply fulfilling my purpose."