By Paulo Coelho
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.
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Buenos dias,
Para ser sincera, jamás lei uno de sus libros porque no me pareciais real, es muy prolífico!, però cai en este blog,y se abrió una puerta al universo.
Muchas gracias, por abrirla.
Un saludo desde Cataluña (España)
Sandra.
That, concept of “Warior of Light” sounds very nicely, but very simplicisticaly. To live life in constant war , combating all the evil around seems to me like fighting with windmills , that's something determined to hopeless failure and leading only to higher embiterment caused by awareness of helplessness. Who is so naive to believe he may change world? Assertions about neccessity to act no matter what would be consequences, only to promote your will or wishes, sounds to me quite strangely. Instead of thinking first about your potential deeds only to act and wonder about results? That's quite reliable recipe for disasters. Stefan
You have misunderstood the concept of the “warrior”. It is not about fighting injustice and helping the weak like a superhero. It is about being strong as a person, taking all responsibility about every single action you make, not surrending to fear or doubts it’s about “fighting” life’s strikes by taking action instead of just thinking over and over how life treated you bad and cry about it
I see people as human beings,not rich and famous.
For all I know I could have been born a Princess…… So what?
sono molto colpata dalle parole riportate di casteneda…ha molto di quello che si può leggere nei libri di paulo coelho… mi piacerebbe ricevere consigli su libri di castaneda da leggere…love laura
vero,grande paulo…..non sono daccordo con la seconda opinione,quella di Agneska,scusami se mi permetto,ma dove esiste coraggio non puo esistere timore,c era prima forse…come principio stimolatrice,ma dopo o non si reagisce e si arriva fino ad uno stato di panico,o si reagisce e si arriva alla virtu del cuore chiamata coraggio,un altra cosa….quando si combatte con il cuore non puo esistere sconfitta,e la vittoria per un guerriero della luce è la cosa piu importantese combatti davvero con il cuore hai gia vinto,come afferma.. Sun Tsu,un grande generale vissuto nell antichita,e fonte d ispirazione tutt ora per ogni Guerriero,e struttura militare,un esercito come un guerriero è gia vittorioso o sconfitto prima di entrare in guerra…un bacio,ciao
Hola Paulo:)
solo quería agradecerte alguna vez más por iluminar mi vida y decir que eres una persona exepcional y extraordinaria, la que aprecio mucho.
También estoy agradecida porque vivimos en la misma época(en la que existe internet:))
Muchos besos
P.D. He leido alguna vez, no sé donde(en tú pagina web, creo), que dijiste que no aceptas discípulos, de ninguna manera. Pero, en alguna manera estás haciendolo a través internet.
Gracias por tu amor.
Tanja:)
What I´ve learned in my life is that the state of mind or energy of the Warrior(ess) has to do with accessing knowledge of one´s heart. It´s about acting with an open heart and about focusing on responding to whatever happens with the heart open. This involves to act as conscious as possible, as loving as possible, as daring as possible. To seek to do whatever one is called to do in one´s heart, no matter even if one´s life is at stake.
As I´m learning, being a Warrior(ess) is so much about overcoming ourselves, our wars inside, the emotions that can drown us, the thoughts that can carry us away. So that we might learn to carry peace, love, light into whatever happens in our lives. Also so we can be still inside and remember what is is we dream of doing here.
When we learn to heal ourselves and to be whole, we carry that with us whereever we are and are able to help shift whatever is going on by being present. Darkness is overcome by turning on the light. When we dare to stand for love, we inspire others to remember which world we can create together – here. Not in some fantasy, but now.
As I see it we live in a fantastic time where a global amount of people are being Warriors and Warrioress´, opening their hearts, realizing they are love and learning to dare to act loving. Whatever happend with us as children or otherwise in our past is there for us to learn – and to choose: What can I do with this? What can I learn from this? How can I heal it? What is it in my life for? There are I believe, answers to those questions. They are inside of us when we ask them. My experience in my work and in my life is that in these years we are all in each our ways being asked: Do you dare?
Being a Warrior(ess) is also about meditating, being still, asking and listening.Choosing adn acting. We experience the world and our life through our selves, our feelings, our body, our thoughts, our energy. When we heal our selves, we heal our perception of the world and the way we live in it.
I think the warrior spirit is a free spirit, all it needs to be effective, (change the world if you like:) is to allow it to fly…..freely, but so many are so insistent to push their beliefs on others. Due to this, many of us, very many of us…..are not really free…..Perhaps you dear Paulo, are one of the few…?
Hi unpersuaded
- To live life in constant war , combating all the evil around seems to me like fighting with windmills , that’s something determined to hopeless failure and leading only to higher embiterment caused by awareness of helplessness.
….the thing is, we warriors win
so we don’t feel helpless, or embittered….even if we lose we grow in strength and ability.
We do consider consequences before action,
and as for changing the world
it begins in each person’s intention to change themselves.
And admitting that there are things one could learn to do/ be better
is the bravest step a warrior need take.
Love
xxxx
unpersuaded,
“Who is so naive to believe he may change world?”
Me.
That, concept of “Warior of Light” sounds very nicely, but very simplicisticaly. To live life in constant war , combating all the evil around seems to me like fighting with windmills , that’s something determined to hopeless failure and leading only to higher embiterment caused by awareness of helplessness. Who is so naive to believe he may change world? Assertions about neccessity to act no matter what would be consequences, only to promote your will or wishes, sounds to me quite strangely. Instead of thinking first about your potential deeds only to act and wonder about results? That’s quite reliable recipe for disasters. Stefan
Thank you Paulo,
It will help a second time around.
With Love.
The warrior spirit…I like that…but not easy to put in action.
As all human beings we have moments of ups and downs, moments of energy and lack of it, depends on circumstances. Of course as you Paulo wrote in “The Manual” every warrior has those moments, every warrior has also moments when he needs to rest or think something over, and of course…the moment of action. And when it comes, he is brave even if he might have some fears inside, because whatever happens, if he fought with all his heart, he will win anyway, because he fought. Whatever happens, he will always have this light, this love, that will be even greater because of the good fight he had fought.
love
Agnieszka
so beautiful..everything that he wrote…he is an inspiration…for everyone who wants to take his life in his hands…for anyone who keeps dreaming…of another world..of other worlds…for anyone who doesnt want to accept the mundane world we are living in and wants to explore the great Universe around us…the wonder of living..
Sending love to all of you
Annie