Atharwa Deodhar's Key Ideas from The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari
by Robin Sharma

Your Daily Schedule should include a mandatory period of peace

A period of time, as little as fifteen minutes or as much as fifty, wherein you explore the healing power of silence and come to know who you really are.

Solitude and quiet connect you to your creative source and release the limitless intelligence of the universe.

This inner peace brings with it a wealth of benefits including a deep sense of well being, inner peace and boundless energy.

As you train your body, so you train your mind

Take some time everyday to nourish the temple of your body through vigorous exercise. Get your blood circulating and body moving.

Yoga in the morning is one of the best thing you can do for yourself. It not only rejuvenates your body, but also completely focuses your mind. It can even unblock your creativity. It is a terrific discipline.

As you nourish your body, so you norish your mind

A poor diet has a pronounced effect on your life. It drains your mental and physical energy. It affects your mood and hampers the clarity of your mind.

Having 'Live Foods' can have a drastic effect on your life. Basically, they are foods created through natural interaction of sun, air, soil and water.

Avoid meat or junk food, and move towards vegetarian or pure diet, also called by sages as sattvic diet.

Knowledge is only potential power. For power to be manifested, it must be applied

Most people know what they should do in any given situation, or in their lives for that matter. The problem is that they don't take daily, consistent action to apply the knowledge and realize their dreams.

Read regularly. Reading for thirty minutes a day will do wonders for you. Do not just read anything, be very selective about what you read. It must be immensely nourishing. Make it something that will improve both you and your quality of life.

By getting to know yourself, you will connect to a dimension of your being that yoy never knew you had

We all have many sleeping talents inside of us. By taking time to get to know them, we kindle them. However, silent contemplation will deliver even more than this. This practice will make you stronger, more at ease with yourself and wiser. It is a very rewarding use of your mind.

Take the time to think. Get into the havit of personal introspection. Write down your thoughts and activities, assess them and resolve negative thoughts and give more energy to positive ones.

Rise with the sun and start the day off well

Most of us sleep far more than we need to. The average person can go by on six hours - and remain perfectly healthy and alert. Sleep is nothing more than a habit and like any other habit, you can train yourself to achieve the result you want; sleeping less in this case.

Rise with glory of the first rays of a new day.

The ten minute period before you dlrrp and the ten minute period before you wake up are profoundly influential on your subconscious mind. Only the most inspiring and serene thoughts should be programmed into your mind at those times.

Never forget the power of music. Spend a little time with it every day. It is one of the finest motivators I know of

When you feel down or weary, play some music. The sages loved their music. It gave them the same spiritual boost as the sun did. Music msde them laugh, it made them dance and it made them sing. It will do the same for you.

Chanting words or mantras can have a profound impact on your soul

A mantra is nothing more than a collection of words strung together to create a positive effect. In Sanskrit, 'man' means mind and 'tra' means 'freeing'. So a mantra is a phrase that is designed to free the mind.

A simple chanting of 'Aum' soon after waking up can have a lasting impact for you and make you feel calm and peaceful throughout the day.

Mantras don't have to be spoken. Written affirmations are also very effective. But I have found that repeating a mantra aloud has a wonderful effect on my spirit.

Take daily incremental actions to build your character. Strengthening your character affects the way you see yourself and the actions you take.

The actions you take come together to form your habits and, this is important, your habits lead you to your destiny.

Yogi Raman summed it up the best : "You sow a thought, you reap an action. Reap an action, you sow a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap a destiny."

Live a simple life. Focus only on your activities that are meaningful. Your life will be uncluttered, rewarding and exceptionally peaceful.

One must never live in the thick of thin things. Focus only on your activities that are meaningful. Your life will be uncluttered, rewarding and exceptionally peaceful.

Basically, reduce your needs, unless you reduce your needs, you will never be fulfilled. You will always want more than you have. How can you ever be happy.