The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams and Reaching Your Destiny

The first symbol of Yogi Raman’s fable, the Magnificent Garden, represents gaining mastery over the mind. Julian discusses the importance of cultivating one’s mind as you would “a fertile, rich garden” (41), which can either blossom or wither away depending on one’s thoughts and actions. A good gardener of the mind will “make certain that no contamination ever enters” (42), such as worries, anxieties, and pessimistic thinking but will rather practice good habits by applying techniques like the Heart of the Rose (a form of focused meditation), Opposition Thinking (the practice of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones), and The Secret of the Lake (visualizing a better life and circumstances to create a better self-image).

The lighthouse in Yogi Raman’s fable symbolizes the virtue of living life with purpose. The light of a lighthouse is focused and illuminating; likewise, wise people “know what they want out of life, emotionally, materially, physically, and spiritually” and set “goals for every aspect” (74) of life. Achieving these goals energizes us to keep thriving and fulfilling our life’s mission, or dharma. Learning discipline to fulfill one’s purpose by using our inherent gifts to help others and improve the world is the highest good one can achieve.