Summary of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

The Monk who sold his Ferrari

Robin Sharma

Sure I am that this day we are masters of our fate, that the task which has been set before is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond my endurance. As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied us. – Winston Churchill

Seven virtues the book emphasizes have been made memorable in the following fable-

You are sitting in the middle of a magnificent, lush, green garden. This garden is filled with the most spectacular flowers you have ever seen. The environment is supremely tranquil and silent. Savor the sensual delights of this garden and feel as if you have all the time in the world to enjoy this natural oasis. As you look around you see that in the center of this magical garden stands towering, red lighthouse, six stories high. Suddenly the silence of the garden is disturbed by a loud creaking as the door at the base of the lighthouse opens. Out stumbles a nine foot tall nine hundred pound Japanese Sumo wrestler, with pink cloth covering his private parts, who casually wanders into the center of the garden.

As he starts to move around the garden he finds a shiny gold stopwatch which someone had left behind many years earlier. He slips it on and falls to the ground with an enormous thud. The sumo wrestler is rendered unconscious and lies there, silent and still. Just when you think he has taken his last breath, the wrestler awakens, perhaps stirred by the fragrance of some fresh yellow roses blooming nearby. Energized, the wrestler jumps swiftly to his feet and intuitively looks to his left. He is startled by what he sees. Through the bushes at the very edge of the garden he observes   long winding path covered by millions of sparkling diamonds. Something seems to instruct him to take the path and to his credit, he does. The path leads him down the road of everlasting joy and eternal bliss.

Virtue 1 : Most Extraordinary Lush Green Garden:  Master your mind. When the mind is cultivated, it will blossom beyond your expectations. The quality of life is determined by the quality of your thoughts.  An average person runs about 60,000 thoughts in a day. 95% of it were the same thoughts already thought about yesterday. All are made of same flesh and bones but what a mind harbor makes all the difference.

This garden needs to be guarded of toxic entries like negative thoughts, anxieties, worries etc. Positive Thinking always is the beginning of all actions. Your “I Can” is more important than “Your I.Q.”

Winston Churchill had once said “The price of greatness is responsibility over each of your thoughts.”

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

And the secret of happiness is simple: find out what you truly love to do and then direct all your energy towards doing it. Once you do this, abundance flows into your life and all your desires are filled with ease and grace.

There are no mistakes – only lessons. See setbacks as opportunities for personal expansion and spiritual growth.

Virtue 2 : Lighthouse : Follow your Purpose: The purpose of Life is a Life of purpose

 When you clearly know what your life’s aims are and wish to achieve over the course of your life be it material, emotional, physical or spiritual and you spend your days accomplishing them, you will ultimately find eternal joy and fulfillment. But one must know one’s life’s aim or vision and then manifest this vision into reality by consistent actions. Sages call this DHARMA, which is Sanskrit word for “LIFE’s PURPOSE”.

Virtue 3 : The Sumo Wrestler : Practice Kaizen : Improving Self or Self Discovery for self-leadership

No man is free who is not a master of himself. How could a person lead a corporation if he cannot lead himself? How could you nurture a family of you haven’t learned to nurture and care of yourself? How could you do good if you don’t even feel good?

Self – Mastery is the DNA of life mastery. Success on the outside begins within. Enlightenment comes through the consistent cultivation of your mind, body and soul.

One important technique for Self-mastery is: Do the Things You Fear. The Universe favors the brave.

Virtue 4 : Pink Cable like cloth : Live with Discipline :  

Through the steel of discipline, you will forge a character rich with courage and peace. Through the virtue of will, you are destined to rise to life’s highest ideal and live within a heavenly mansion filled with all that is good and joyful and vital. Without them, you are lost like a mariner without a compass, one who eventually sinks with his ship.

Discipline is built by consistently performing small acts of courage. The more you nurture the embryo of self-discipline, more it will mature. Will power is the essential virtue of fully actualized life.

Wage war against the weaker thoughts that have crept into the palace of your mind. They will see that they are unwanted and leave like unwelcome visitors.

Virtue 5: Gold Stop Watch:  Respect your time. Time slips through our hands like grains of sand never to return again. Those who use time wisely from an early age are rewarded with rich, productive and satisfying lives.

Time is our most precious commodity and it is non-renewable. Focus on the priorities and simplify your life, and maintain balance.

Courage to say NO to others is important in prioritizing one’s priority.

The Deathbed Mentality approach can be used to most effectively use this moment ‘NOW’ as the most precious and important time for any action is ‘now’ and not later.

Virtue 6: Yellow Roses: Selflessly Serve Others: The noblest thing you can do is to give to others. Start focusing on your higher purpose in life.

The quality of your life ultimately comes down to the quality of your contribution. To cultivate the sacredness of each day, live to give. By elevating the lives of others, your life reaches its highest dimensions.

Practice daily acts of kindness and compassion. Give to those who ask. Cultivate richer relationship in all spheres of life.

Virtue 7 : Diamonds : Embrace the present : 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. 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 and not a destination. Live for today – there will never be another one quite like it. Never sacrifice happiness for achievement. We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.