By Paulo Coelho
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Once when Confucius was travelling with his disciples, he heard tell of a very intelligent boy living in a particular village. Confucius went to see and talk to him and he jokingly asked:
‘How would you like to help me do away with all the irregularities and inequalities in the world?’
‘But why?’ asked the boy. ‘If we flattened the mountains, the birds would have no shelter. If we filled up the deep rivers and the sea, the fish would die. If the head of the village had as much authority as the madman, no one would know where they were. The world is vast enough to cope with differences.’
The disciples left feeling greatly impressed by the boy’s wisdom, and as they journeyed towards the next town, one of them commented that all children should be like that. Confucius said:
‘I’ve known many children who, instead of playing and doing the things appropriate to their age, were busy trying to understand the world. Not one of those precocious children did anything of any great significance later in life because they had never experienced the innocence and healthy irresponsibility of childhood.’
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Hello, I’ve just watched the videos of your talk in Glasgow. I’m still smiling and probably will be for quite some time. Not surprisingly, you are just as you write. The joy of you is just as obvious to see and hear as can be read in your written words. So thank you very much.
Good evening Mr Paulo Coelho!
I would like to ask you something, i live in hungary and i bought your new book called witch of portobello, and i would like to ask you, to dedicate itbecause i would lik eto give it to somebody as a present, how can it be possible?
Thanks Kate
Hi Paulo,
well-written…..article.
children want to be grown ups, grown ups want to be children again. i cherish my years of innocense when my body my mind and my soul were still pure, back then when i didn’t know ther reality of life of all the hatred in this world. i wonder if there is a way back to innocense?
Young children, just in age, but old spirits, sometimes. :)
Like when we meet a new friend, but we have the clear sensation that it’s an old friendship. :) And it’s not just a sensation, it’s reality sometimes. Althought it’s really important to make the things with the right energy for the moment. Time to play, time to be serious. If it’s so important to an adult to keep his inner child alive, why not to a child to have his adult part alive too? :) Yeah, I’m talking about reincarnation. It’s, at least, a possibility. I believe in that idea. But at the same time I prefer to respect other ideas and the ideas of the others too. Like you said, everybody has their own ways to try to understand or explain the mysteries. With your words, “A man who chooses a religion is also choosing a collective manner of adoration and sharing the mysteries”.
And I deeply respect your opinion. Like I know that you respect mine. :)
“Know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” said Jesus. Like you also said in your MySpace blog. I truly agree with that too. And thank God that many people are searching for the truth. :) Someone also said: it’s the possiblity that keep us going, not the guarantee.
Be blessed you, sweetheart!
Love & Light! Atma Namaste to all!
Marta :)
Children should be discovering the greatness of life, nature, soicalising, travell, art and sexuality..I threw the books out the window a long time ago, whay study math when I was drawn to the binaine from a young age (however I never wanted to meet the beast).
The mountains, sea or rivers are not irregular as is the second hand of the clock.