The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari summary

In the mountains, Mantle found the group of monks known as the Sages of Sivana. One monk, Yogi Raman, shared his wisdom with Mantle.

They discussed the meaning of life and Mantle learned about ways to achieve greater vitality, how to become more creative and to feel more fulfilled.

The garden from Yogi Raman’s fable represents the mind. A lot of people end up littering their mental gardens with waste – that is, negative thoughts or fears.

The first virtue of the Sivana System, then, is to control your mind. You have to tend to your mental garden, and the best way to take care of it is to stand guard at its gates. Only let pleasant, positive thoughts in and ban the detrimental ones.

The second virtue of the Sivana System is all about purpose. This principle is represented in the fable by the lighthouse.

The Sages of Sivana have a clear sense of purpose, and therefore never waste time. They know that they have a duty to fulfill this purpose.

Remember the sumo wrestler? Well, he represents a virtue in the Sivana System, too.

This virtue is called kaizen, a Japanese word that means constant, never-ending improvement. It’s all about unlocking your potential.

There’s another quality to recall about the sumo wrestler in the fable. He was stark naked apart from the pink wire cable covering his privates!

The cable actually represents the fourth virtue of the Sivana System. This principle is concerned with living a disciplined life.

In the same way that Mantle collapsed at work under the weight of his responsibilities, the sumo in the fable went unconscious and fell to the ground. But he awakened full of energy, thanks to the scent of the yellow roses.

So what do these flowers symbolize? An ancient Chinese proverb says that a trace of fragrance always remains on the hands that present you with roses.