Today’s Question by Aart Hilal

by Paulo Coelho on April 11, 2008

The Alchemist shows the world as a deranged universal harmony. The Modern spirit seems not to agree with this point of view. What about you: What do you think about this?

What do you mean by a modern spirit? We cannot generalize anything, moreover the human spirit. Life is about accepting our differences, and in my case, I accept mines. As an old Brazilian poet said once: it is very boring to be modern, I want to be myself.

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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

Rami Nassour May 25, 2009 at 7:32 am

If there is one thing I have learned from the Alchemist, it's that a person that is looking to be one with the harmony of life, is a person that achieves what she/he were born to do! Rather than a person trying to achieve the standards of modern social norms…

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Zaza January 24, 2009 at 11:47 am

Wow! thanks for that. I found my answer : it is very boring to be modern.

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wanbliska April 14, 2008 at 8:44 pm

“Life is about accepting our differences”
Of course. And forgive each other.

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Tarek April 14, 2008 at 2:47 pm

What does it mean being modern?
I cannot stop thinking of Carl G. Jung’s master work: “Modern Man in Search of Soul”

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nada April 14, 2008 at 3:48 am

l harmonie de la vie demeure un secret tant que nous n en avons pas pris conscience en commencant a prendre le temps de l observer et d ecouter son echo au fond de nous, en ceci nous pouvons y tendre et reconnaitre les signes, comme sont des signes les paroles de Paulo dans lalchimiste. la phrase du poete Bresilien est superbe Paulo et tout comme tes paroles dans l alchimiste touche mon coeur et mon esprit est joyeux… il y a souvent dans tes reponses un peu de cette delicieuse malice qui s adresse a tes lecteurs, ces grands ami/es.
merci

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Rami Nassour April 13, 2008 at 8:34 pm

If there is one thing I have learned from the Alchemist, it’s that a person that is looking to be one with the harmony of life, is a person that achieves what she/he were born to do! Rather than a person trying to achieve the standards of modern social norms…

Reply

Liara Covert April 13, 2008 at 1:32 am

If you interpret or perceive harmony to be deranged, then you are comparing and judging yourself with regard to a reference. We create our own idea of the universe in the mind, based on how we feel about ourselves.

To me, a ‘modern’ approach to spirituality doesn’t require meeting other people’s expectations any more or less than views of spirituality in the past. A sense of time is a construct, invention, or illusion. We live in a universe that seems real based on our understanding of our own thoughts and feelings at a given time. Who we were when we initially read The Alchemist may differ from who we see ourselves to be now. If we re-read this book, we would reframe harmony based on our own sense of personal growth since the last time we read it. If self-view changes, then an understanding of spirituality may also change.

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Yajna April 12, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Dearest Paulo and friends,

It has been a while since i’ve written- i have missed this place. Strangely enough, i do feel that this world is a ‘deranged’ harmony. I just think that sometimes we’ve so engrossed in our lives that we don’t see the sequence of the universe- we may even forget such a language exists. But alas, for me, something incredible happens and i start to achknowledge it again :)
I think that the most we can be in this life- is ourselves. I suppose thats why i find it of the untmost importance to be true to one’s self, regardless of the situation.

Thank you for being
Yajna

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Tania April 12, 2008 at 1:31 am

Yes I agree be yourself ,being modern is being what other people want you to be be .
Be yourself and connect with spirit thats it .
Blessings Tania

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