will bring to your life, you must make it your mission to pass this
wisdom on to others who will benefit from this knowledge. This is
all that I ask of you. By agreeing to this, you will help me fulfill my
own pact with Yogi Raman."
I agreed without reservation, Julian began to teach me the
system he had come to consider as sacred. While the techniques
that Julian had mastered during his stay were varied, at the heart
of the Sivanan System were seven basic virtues, seven
fundamental principles which embodied the keys to self-
leadership, personal responsibility and spiritual enlightenment.
Julian told me that Yogi Raman was the first to share the seven
virtues with him after a few months in Sivana. On a clear night,
when all the others had drifted off into deep slumber, Raman
knocked softly on the door of Julian's hut. In the voice of a gentle
guide, he spoke his mind: "I have observed you closely for many
days now Julian. I believe that you are a decent man who deeply
desires to fill his life with all that is good. Since you have arrived
you have opened yourself up to our traditions and embraced them
as your own. You have learned a number of our daily habits, and
have seen their many salutary effects. You have been respectful of
our ways. Our people have lived this simple, peaceful life through
countless ages and our methods are known to but a few. The
world needs to hear our philosophy on enlightened living. Tonight,
on the eve of your third month in Sivana, I will begin to share the
inner workings of our system with you, not only for your benefit
but for the benefit of all those in your part of the world. I will sit
with you daily as I sat with my son when he was a child. Sadly, he
passed on a few years ago. His time had come and I do not question
his exit. I enjoyed our time together and cherish the memories. I
now see you as my son and I feel grateful that all I have learned