The heart never suffers
when it goes in search of its dream,
because every moment of the search
is a step towards encountering
God and Eternity.
(The Alchemist)
Carlos Castaneda was an author who left his mark on my generation - although in academic circles he was never considered someone worthy of attention. As a tribute to him, I present a summary of his most important writings:
The most difficult thing in this world is to adopt the spirit and attitude of a warrior. It is no use being sad, complaining, feeling unjustly treated, and believing someone is doing something negative. No one is doing anything, and certainly not to a warrior.
It matters not how we were brought up. What determines our way of acting is the manner in which we administrate our will. A man is the sum of all his wishes, which determine his way of living and dying.
The will is a sentiment, a talent, something which lends us enthusiasm. The will is something which is acquired - but it is necessary to fight for it one’s whole life.
From the moment we are born, people tell us that the world is like this and like that, this way, that way. It is natural that - for a certain period of time - we end up believing what we are told. But we must soon push these ideas aside and discover our own way of living reality.
The humility of a warrior is not the same humility as that of a servile man. The warrior does not lower his head to anyone, and nor does he allow anyone to bow before him. The servile man, on the other hand, kneels before anyone he believes to be more powerful, and demands that the people under his command behave in a similar fashion before him.
The bad thing about words is that they make us feel as if we were illuminated and understanding everything. But, when we turn and face the world, we see that reality is completely different from that which we discussed or heard. Because of this, a warrior seeks to act, and not waste time in useless conversation. Through action, he discovers the meaning of that which occurs in his day-to-day life, and takes creative and original decisions.
The ordinary man thinks that yielding to doubts and worries is a sign of sensibility, of spirituality. Acting thus, he remains distant from the true meaning of life, for his reduced reasoning turns him into the saint or monster he imagines he is, and before he realizes it, he is caught in the trap he has set himself. This type of person loves being told what he should do, but even more than that, he loves not following sound advice - simply in order to anger the generous soul who, at a certain moment, was concerned about him.
Only a warrior can endure the path of knowledge. A warrior does not complain or lament anything, and sees challenges as neither good nor bad. Challenges are simply challenges.
The world is unfathomable and mysterious, just as we all are. The art of the warrior consists of reconciling the terror of being a man with the wonder of being a man.
Is it necessary to respond to violence with violence and to evil with evil? Is it possible to preserve good by doing evil?
I may sound romantic, but when you use violence to fight violence, you generate more violence. We are free because we are committed without being forced to do so. Evil is more related to our attitudes to other people, and from other people towards us. Evil lives in the details.
Love is only a small thing, enough for one person, and any suggestion that the heart might be larger than this is considered perverse.
(The Zahir)
Nasrudin’s turban
Nasrudin appeared at court wearing a magnificent turban and asking for money for charity.
- you come here asking for money, but wear such an expensive ornament upon your head. How much was that extraordinary piece? - asked the sovereign.
- Five hundred gold coins - replied the wise Sufi.
The minister whispered: “That is a lie. No turban costs such a fortune.”
Nasrudin insisted:
- I have not come here only to ask for money, I am also here to negotiate. I paid that much money for the turban, for I knew that in the whole world only one king would be capable of buying it for six hundred coins, so that I can give the profit to the poor.
This sultan was flattered and paid the sum Nasrudin ask. On his way out, the wise man said to the minister:
- You may know the value of turbans, but I know how far vanity can lead a man.
Just like marriage
Nasrudin spent the entire autumn working his garden. The flowers had blossomed in the spring - and Nasrudin noticed a few dandelions appearing, which he hadn’t planted.
Nasrudin tore them up. But the pollen had already spread and others began to grow. He tried to find a weed killer which only killed dandelions. A specialist told him any type of poison would end up killing all the other flowers. In despair, he went to ask a gardener for help.
- It is like a marriage - said the gardener. - Along with the good things, a few little inconveniences always appear.
- What can I do? - insisted Nasrudin.
- Nothing. Although they are flowers you did not count on, they are still part of the garden.
Accepting compassion
- How do we purify the world?- asked a disciple.
Ibn al-Husayn replied:
- There was once a sheik in Damascus called Abu Musa al-Qumasi. Everyone honored him for his great wisdom, but no one knew whether he was a good man.
“One afternoon, a construction fault caused the house where the sheik lived with his wife, to collapse. The desperate neighbors began to dig the ruins; eventually, they managed to locate the sheik’s wife.
“She said: “Don’t worry about me. First save my husband, who was sitting somewhere over there.”
“The neighbors removed the rubble from the area she indicated, and found the sheik. He said: “Don’t worry about me. First save my wife, who was lying somewhere over there.”
“When someone acts as this couple did, he is purifying the whole world.”
