Paulo Coelho

By Paulo Coelho

The two boards

A warrior of the light shares his world with the people he loves. He wishes to encourage them to do what they like, but hasn’t the courage.

At these times, the adversary appears holding two boards.

Written on one board: “Think more of yourself. Keep your blessings to yourself, otherwise you will lose everything.”

The other board reads: “who are you to help others? Can’t you even see your own defects?”

A warrior of the light knows he has defects. But he also knows he cannot grow alone, and distance himself from his companions.

So he throws both boards to the ground, even though he believes they contain some truth deep down. They turn to dust, and the warrior continues to help those near him.

About the way

The wise Lao Tzu speaks about the warrior of the light’s journey:

“The Way includes respect for all that is small and subtle. Always know the right moment to take any action necessary.

“Even if you have fired a bow and arrow many times, continue to pay attention to how you place the arrow, and how you draw the bow.

“When the beginner is aware of his necessities, he becomes more intelligent than the wise man who is distracted.

“To accumulate love means luck, to accumulate hatred means a calamity. Whoever does not recognize the door to problems will one day leave it open, letting tragedy in.

“The combat has nothing to do with the fight.”

True tension

“When my bow is drawn,” says Herrigen to his Zen master, “a moment comes when, if I do not fire immediately, I feel that I will run out of strength.”

“As long as you try to trigger the moment to fire the arrow, you shall not learn the art of archery,” says the master. “The hand which draws the bow must open up like the hand of a boy. What sometimes hinders the shot’s precision is the overactive will of the archer.”

A warrior of the light sometimes thinks: “that which I do not do, shall not be done.”

That is not quite the case: he must act, but he must also allow the Universe to act at the right time.

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In fact, many authors such as Hemingway and Faulkner, devote their whole life into ONE book, but each of your books has variety of themes, which are nearly completely different. Why?

Because this is the way that I found to explore myself better. The book, for me, is an act of self-discovery. Everybody who loves wisdom is a philosopher, from the taxi driver to the ascetic monk, from the traditional Saint-Germain-des-Près French intellectual, to the person who is selling coconuts in front of Copacabana Beach. Who is able to learn from experience is much more interesting than the person who spends his lifetime reading books and trying to understand the world without taking the risks of new relationships. Therefore, a philosopher is the one WHO has a role in civil society, not the one who thinks about life and human beings.

How do you face fear?

Read the new issues from “Warrior of the Light Online” :

Edition n° 169 : Thank you, President Bush

Edií§í£o n° 169 : Obrigado, Presidente Bush

Edición n° 169 : Gracias, presidente Bush

Édition n° 169 : Merci, président Bush

Edizione n° 169 : Grazie, Presidente Bush

By Paulo Coelho

It is important to take from what we see every day
the secrets that routine otherwise prevents us from perceiving.
(The Pilgrimage)

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By Paulo Coelho

Of trees and towns

In the Mojave desert one often comes across the notorious ghost towns: constructed near gold mines, they were abandoned once all the gold had been extracted from the earth. They played their part and it made no sense to continue to inhabit them.

When we walk through a forest, we also see trees which – once they have played their part, fall down. But, unlike the ghost towns, what has happened? They have opened up space for light to penetrate, fertilize the soil, and their trunks are covered with new vegetation.

Our old age will depend on the way in which we live. We can end up like a ghost town. Or like a generous tree, which continues to be important, even after it has fallen to the ground.

The meaning of truth

In the name of truth, the human race has committed its worst crimes. Men and women were burned. The culture of whole civilizations destroyed. Those who sought a different path were marginalized.

One of them was crucified, in the name of truth. But – before dying – he left behind a great definition of Truth.

It is not that which gives us certainties.

It is not that which gives us profundity.

It is not that which makes us do better than others.

It is not that which keeps us in the prison of prejudices.

Truth is that which gives us freedom. “Know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” said Jesus.

About the rhythm and the Road

– There was something missing in your lecture about the Road to Santiago – a pilgrim told me as soon as we left the House of Galicia in Madrid, where I had just attended conference.

There was much missing, since my intention had merely been to share some of my experiences. Nevertheless, I invited her for a coffee, curious to learn what she considered an important omission.

And Begoña – that was her name – told me:

– I have noticed that the majority of pilgrims, whether on the Road to Santiago, or on the paths of life, always try to follow the rhythms of others.

“At the beginning of my pilgrimage, I tried to stay with my group. It was tiring and demanded of my body more than I could give, I was always tense, and in the end had trouble with a tendon in my left foot. Unable to walk for two days, I understood that I would only reach Santiago if I obeyed my own personal rhythm.

“I took longer than the others, and had to walk alone for long stretches, but it was only by respecting my own rhythm that I managed to complete the journey. Since then I have applied this to everything I must do in life: to respect my own tempo.”

All turns to dust

The feasts in Valíªncia, Spain, have a curious ritual whose origins lie in the ancient community of carpenters.

During the entire year, craftsmen and artists construct giant sculptures in wood. On the week of the feast, they take these sculptures to the main square. People pass, comment, marvel and are moved by such creativity. Then, on St. Joseph’s day all these works of art – except one – are burned on a giant bonfire, watched by thousands of onlookers.

– Why so much work for nothing? – asked an Englishwoman beside me, as flames licked the sky.

– You too will come to an end one day – replied a Spanish woman. – Can you imagine if, at that moment, an angel asked God: “why so much work for nothing?”

Begging for alms

Part of the training to become a Zen Buddhist monk consists of a practice known as takuhatsu – a pilgrimage to beg. As well as helping the monasteries which live off donations and forcing the disciple to be humble, this practice has another meaning: to purify the town he lives in.

This is because – according to Zen philosophy – the giver, the beggar and the alms themselves are part of an important chain of equilibrium.

He who begs does so because he is in need; but he who gives, acts in this way because he too is in need.

The alms serve as a link between these two necessities, and the town’s environment improves, since all were able to carry out actions which needed to take place.

Acting on impulse

Father Zeca, of the Church of Resurrection in Copacabana, tells that he was once in a bus, when suddenly he heard a voice telling him he must stand and preach the word of Christ there and then.

Zeca began talking to the voice: “I will look ridiculous, this is no place for a sermon”, he said. But something inside him insisted he must speak: “I am shy, please don’t ask this of me,” he implored.

The inner impulse persisted.

Then he remembered his vow – to give himself up to Christ’s will. He stood – terribly ashamed – and began speaking about the gospels. Everyone listened in silence. He looked at each of the passengers, and only one or two turned away. He said everything he felt, finished his sermon, and sat down again.

To this day he does not know what task he was fulfilling that day. But he is absolutely certain he was fulfilling a task.

I must live my favors

I must live all the favors God has given me today. A favor cannot be saved. There is no bank where one can deposit favors received, to be used in accordance with our will. If I do not make the most of these blessings, I shall lose them forever.

God knows that we are artists of life. One day he gives us a chisel for sculptures, another brushes and canvas, another a quill to write with. But we will never succeed in using chisels on canvas, or quills on sculptures. Each day has its own miracle. I must accept the blessings of today, to create that which is mine; if I do this with objectivity and without guilt, tomorrow I shall receive more.

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As a Brazilian author, why do you like to draw inspiration from the culture classics of Middle Asia, Arab and Europe?

Because I think that literature is universal.

By Paulo Coelho

The Gift belongs to whoever chooses to accept it.
It is enough to believe –
and not be afraid to make mistakes
(By the River Piedra I sat Down and Wept)

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By Paulo Coelho

(Here I shall continue to reproduce the notes taken during my conversations with J., from 1982 to 1990. Those who would like to read the conversations already published should see the previous issues of Warrior of the Light Online)

We are sitting in a garden in a French town.

– Deep down, people complain, but they love routines – I said.

– Of course, and the reason is very simple: routines give them the false sensation of being safe. Thus, today will be exactly like yesterday, and tomorrow will bring no surprises. When night falls, part of the soul complains that nothing different was experienced, but another part is content – paradoxically, it is for the same reason.

“Evidently this safety is completely false; no one can control anything, and a change always appears at the moment one least expects it, taking us surprise and with no chance to react or fight.

– If we are free to decide that we want a uniform life, why does God force us to change it?

– What is reality? It is that which we imagine it to be. If many people “think” that the world is like this or like that, everything around us crystallizes, and nothing changes for some time. However, life is a constant evolution – social, political, spiritual, on whatever level it may be. In order for things to evolve, it is necessary for people to change. As we are all interlinked, sometimes destiny gives those hindering evolution a push.

– Generally in a tragic way…

– Tragedy depends on the way you see it. If you chose to be a victim of the world, anything which happens to you will feed that dark side of your soul, where you consider yourself wronged, suffering, guilty and deserving punishment. If you choose to be an adventurer, the changes – even the inevitable losses, since everything in this world changes – can cause some pain, but will soon thrust you forward, forcing you to react.

“In many oral traditions, wisdom is represented by a temple, with two columns at its entrance: these two columns always have names of opposite things, but in order to illustrate what I mean, we will call one Fear and the other Desire. When a man stands at this entrance, he looks at the column of Fear and thinks: “my God, what will I find further ahead?” Then he looks at the column of Desire and thinks: “my God, I’m so accustomed to that which I have, I wish to continue living as I have always lived.” And he remains still; this is what we call tedium.

– Tedium is…

– Movement which ceases. Instinctively, we know we are wrong, and we revolt. We complain to our husbands, wives, children, neighbors. But, on the other hand, we know that tedium and routine are safe havens.

– Can a person remain his whole life in this situation?

– He can be pushed by life, but resist and remain there, always complaining – and his suffering will be useless, will teach him nothing.

“Yes, a person can stand for the rest of his days facing one of the many doors he should go through, but he must understand that he has only truly lived up to that point. He may continue to breathe, walk, sleep and eat – but with less and less pleasure, because he is already spiritually dead and does not know it.

“Until one day when, as well as his spiritual death, physical death appears; at that moment God will ask: “what did you do with your life?” We must all answer this question, and woe betide those who answer: “I remained standing at the door.”

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What was the brightest experience in your childhood?

The moment that I realized that I was alive. I was eight years old, my mother was playing piano and I was in the garden. All of a sudden, as if a higher consciousness stuck me, I told to myself: “This is what life is!” It seems that a child, earlier or later, goes through this type of experience.

Ho scritto la lettera qui sotto riportata il 9 marzo del 2003, dieci giorni prima dell’invasione dell’Iraq. íˆ il mio testo piú letto fino a oggi: pubblicato sui principali giornali del pianeta, trasformato in una catena in internet, è stato letto da circa 500.000.000 di persone.

La guerra entra ora nel suo sesto anno: piú di 4.000 soldati americani hanno perso la vita, insieme a un numero indefinito di iracheni. Secondo la CNN (24/03/2008), “le stime collocano le morti fra 80.000 e centinaia di migliaia, con 2 milioni di persone costrette a lasciare il paese e altri 2,5 milioni in campi profughi, secondo l’Alto Commissariato delle Nazioni Unite”.

Gran parte delle persone che cito sono ormai uscite di scena, ma la guerra continua. Non esiste, al momento, alcuna luce alla fine del tunnel. Ecco alcuni passaggi della lettera:

Grazie, grande leader George W. Bush.

Grazie per aver mostrato a noi tutti il pericolo che Saddam Hussein rappresenta. Molti di noi avevano forse dimenticato che egli ha usato le armi chimiche contro il suo popolo, contro i curdi, contro gli iraniani. Hussein è un dittatore sanguinario, una delle piú chiare espressioni del male oggi.

Questa, tuttavia, non è l’unica ragione per la quale la ringrazio. Nei primi due mesi del 2003, lei è stato capace di mostrare molte cose importanti al mondo. Percií², ricordando una poesia che ho imparato quand’ero bambino, voglio dirle grazie.

Grazie per aver rivelato al mondo il gigantesco abisso che esiste tra la decisione dei governanti e i desideri del popolo. Per aver reso chiaro che tanto José Marí­a Aznar come Tony Blair non danno la minima importanza e non hanno alcun rispetto per i voti che hanno ricevuto. Aznar è capace di ignorare che il 90% degli spagnoli è contro la guerra, e Blair non si cura della piú grande manifestazione pubblica mai realizzata in Inghilterra negli ultimi 30 anni.

Grazie perché la sua perseveranza ha forzato Blair ad andare in Parlamento con un dossier falsificato, redatto da uno studente dieci anni fa, e presentarlo come “prove schiaccianti raccolte dal servizio segreto britannico”.

Grazie perché, grazie ai suoi sforzi per la guerra, per la prima volta le nazioni arabe, generalmente divise, sono state unanimi nel condannare un’invasione, durante il loro incontro al Cairo.

Grazie perché, grazie alla sua retorica affermazione che “l’ONU ha un’opportunití  per mostrare la sua importanza”, persino i paesi piú riluttanti hanno finito per prendere posizione contro un attacco.

Grazie per aver tentato di dividere un’Europa che lotta per la sua unificazione: questo è un allerta che non sarí  ignorato.

Grazie per aver conseguito cií² che pochi hanno conseguito in questo secolo: unire milioni di persone, in tutti i continenti, a lottare per la stessa idea, anche se questa idea è opposta alla sua.

Grazie perché, senza di lei, non avremmo conosciuto la nostra capacití  di mobilitazione. Forse non ci serve a nulla nel presente, ma sarí  utile piú avanti. Ora che i tamburi di guerra sembrano suonare in maniera irreversibile, voglio fare mie le parole rivolte da un antico re europeo a un invasore: “Che il tuo mattino sia bellissimo, che il sole brilli sulle armature dei tuoi soldati, perché nel pomeriggio io ti sbaraglierí²”.

Approfitti dunque del suo mattino e della gloria che esso puí² ancora recare.

Grazie perché non ci ha ascoltato e non ci ha preso sul serio. Ma sappia che noi la ascoltiamo e non dimenticheremo le sue parole.

Grazie, grande leader George W. Bush.

Mille grazie.

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J’ai écrit la lettre qui suit le 9 mars 2003, dix jours avant l’invasion de l’Irak. C’est mon texte le plus lu jusqu’í  ce jour : publié dans les plus grands journaux de la planète, déferlant sur Internet, il a été lu par près de 500 millions de personnes.

La guerre entre maintenant dans sa sixième année : plus de 4 000 soldats américains ont perdu la vie, ainsi qu’un nombre infini d’irakiens. Selon CNN (24/03/2008), « on estime le nombre de morts de 80 000 í  des centaines de milliers, avec 2 millions de personnes forcées í  quitter leur pays, et plus de 2 millions et demi dans des camps de réfugiés, selon le Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies ».

Une grande partie des personnes que je cite ont déjí  disparu de la scène, mais la guerre continue. Il n’y a en ce moment aucune lumière au bout du tunnel. Voici quelques extraits de cette lettre:

Merci í  vous, grand dirigeant. Merci, George W. Bush.

Merci de montrer í  tous le danger que représente Saddam Hussein. Nombre d’entre nous avaient peut-íªtre oublié qu’il avait utilisé des armes chimiques contre son peuple, contre les Kurdes, contre les Iraniens. Hussein est un dictateur sanguinaire, l’une des expressions les plus manifestes du mal aujourd’hui.

Mais j’ai d’autres raisons de vous remercier. Au cours des deux premiers mois de l’année 2003, vous avez su montrer au monde beaucoup de choses importantes. Ainsi, me rappelant un poème que j’ai appris enfant, je veux vous dire merci.

Merci de révéler au monde le gigantesque abí®me qui existe entre les décisions des gouvernants et les désirs du peuple. De faire apparaí®tre clairement que José Maria Aznar comme Tony Blair n’ont aucun respect pour les voix qui les ont élus et n’en tiennent aucun compte. Aznar est capable d’ignorer que 90 % des Espagnols sont opposés í  la guerre, et Blair ne fait aucun cas de la plus grande manifestation publique de ces trente dernières années en Angleterre.

Merci, car votre persévérance a forcé Blair í  se rendre au Parlement avec un dossier falsifié, rédigé par un étudiant dix ans plus tí´t, et í  le présenter comme « des preuves irréfutables recueillies par les services secrets britanniques ».

Merci, car grí¢ce í  vos efforts en faveur de la guerre, pour la première fois, les nations arabes, en général divisées, ont unanimement condamné une invasion, lors d’une rencontre au Caire.

Merci, car grí¢ce í  votre rhétorique affirmant que « l’ONU avait une chance de démontrer son importance », míªme les pays les plus réfractaires ont fini par prendre position contre cette attaque.

Merci d’essayer de diviser une Europe qui lutte pour son unification ; cet avertissement ne sera pas ignoré.

Merci d’avoir réussi ce que peu de gens ont réussi en un siècle : rassembler des millions de personnes, sur tous les continents, qui se battent pour la míªme idée, bien que cette idée soit opposée í  la ví´tre.

Merci parce que, sans vous, nous n’aurions pas connu notre capacité de mobilisation. Peut-íªtre ne servira-t-elle í  rien aujourd’hui, mais elle sera certainement utile plus tard. í€ présent que les tambours de la guerre semblent résonner de manière irréversible, je veux faire miens les mots qu’un souverain européen adressa autrefois í  un envahisseur : « Que pour vous la matinée soit belle, que le soleil brille sur les armures de vos soldats, car cet après-midi je vous mettrai en déroute. »

Alors, profitez de votre matinée et de ce qu’elle peut encore vous apporter de gloire.

Merci, car vous ne nous avez pas écoutés, et ne nous avez pas pris au sérieux. Sachez bien que nous, nous vous écoutons et que nous n’oublierons pas vos propos.

Merci, grand dirigeant George W. Bush.

Merci beaucoup.

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Escribí­ la carta que viene más abajo el 9 de marzo de 2003, diez dí­as antes de la invasión de Irak. Es el texto de mi autorí­a que más se ha leí­do hasta hoy: publicado en los periódicos más importantes del planeta, y transmitido en cadenas a través de internet, llegó a ser leí­do por cerca de quinientos millones de personas.

La guerra acaba de sobrepasar los cinco años de duración: más de 4.000 soldados americanos han perdido la vida, junto a un número indeterminado de iraquí­es. Según la CNN (24/03/2008), “se estima que el número de muertes del lado iraquí­ oscila entre 80.000 y varios cientos de miles, a los que hay que añadir como ví­ctimas a dos millones de personas que se vieron obligadas a abandonar el paí­s, y a otros dos millones y medio que se encuentran en campos de refugiados, según el Alto Comisionado de Naciones Unidas”.

Gran parte de las personas que citaba ya salieron de escena, pero la guerra continúa. No existe, por el momento, ninguna luz al final del túnel. Copio a continuación algunos trechos:

Gracias, gran lí­der George W. Bush.

Gracias por mostrar a todo el mundo el peligro que Saddam Hussein representa. Era posible que muchos de nosotros hubiésemos olvidado que empleó armas quí­micas contra su propio pueblo, contra los kurdos, y contra los iraní­es. Hussein es un dictador sanguinario, una de las más claras manifestaciones del mal en nuestros dí­as.

Sin embargo, esa no es la única razón por la que le estoy dando las gracias. Durante los dos primeros meses de 2003, usted logró mostrar muchas cosas importantes al mundo. Por eso, recordando un poema que aprendí­ en mi infancia, quiero decirle: gracias.

Gracias por revelar al mundo el gigantesco abismo que media entre las decisiones de los gobernantes y los deseos del pueblo. Por dejar claro que tanto José Marí­a Aznar como Tony Blair no dan ninguna importancia y no les guardan el más mí­nimo respeto a los votos que recibieron. Aznar consigue ignorar que el 90% de los españoles se opone a esta guerra, y Blair no le da importancia a la mayor manifestación pública que ha habido en Inglaterra en los últimos treinta años.

Gracias, porque su perseverancia forzó a Blair a presentarse ante el Parlamento con un dossier falsificado, escrito por un estudiante hace diez años, y a mostrarlo como “pruebas contundentes obtenidas por los servicios secretos británicos”.

Gracias porque, como consecuencia de sus esfuerzos por impulsar la guerra, por primera vez las naciones árabes, generalmente divididas, fueron unánimes condenando una invasión, durante el encuentro de El Cairo.

Gracias porque, debido a su retórica afirmando que “la ONU tiene una oportunidad de mostrar su relevancia”, incluso los paí­ses más descreí­dos acabaron adoptando una posición contraria al ataque.

Gracias por intentar dividir a una Europa que lucha por su unificación; eso servirá como una alerta que no será ignorada.

Gracias por haber logrado lo que pocos han conseguido en este siglo: unir a millones de personas, en todos los continentes, luchando por la misma idea, aunque esa idea sea la opuesta a la que usted sostiene.

Gracias porque, sin usted, no habrí­amos conocido nuestra capacidad de movilización. Tal vez no nos sirva para nada en el presente, pero nos será útil más adelante. Ahora que los tambores de guerra parecen sonar de manera irreversible, quiero hacer mí­as las palabras que un antiguo rey europeo dirigió a un invasor: “Que tu mañana sea hermosa, y que el sol brille en las armaduras de tus soldados, porque esta misma tarde yo te derrotar锝.

Por lo tanto, aproveche su mañana y lo que ésta aún puede traerle de gloria.

Gracias por no escucharnos ni tomarnos en serio. Pero ha de saber que nosotros sí­ lo escuchamos y no olvidaremos sus palabras.

Gracias, gran lí­der George W. Bush.

Muchas gracias.

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Eu escrevi a carta abaixo no dia 9 de marí§o de 2003, dez dias antes da invasí£o do Iraque. É o meu texto mais lido até hoje: publicado nos maiores jornais do planeta, transformado em corrente na internet, foi lido por cerca de 500.000.000 de pessoas.

A guerra agora entra no seu sexto ano: mais de 4.000 soldados americanos perderam a vida, junto com um número indefinido de iraquianos. Segundo a CNN (24/03/2008), “estimativas colocam as mortes entre 80.000 e centenas de millhares, com 2 milhíµes de pessoas obrigadas a deixar o paí­s, e mais 2,5 milhíµes em campos de refugiados, segundo o Alto Comissariado das Naí§íµes Unidas”.

Grande parte das pessoas que cito já desapareceram de cena, mas a guerra continua. Ní£o existe, no momento, nenhuma luz no final do túnel. A seguir, alguns trechos:

Obrigado, grande lí­der George W. Bush.

Obrigado por mostrar a todos o perigo que Saddam Hussein representa. Talvez muitos de nós tivéssemos esquecido de que ele utilizou armas quí­micas contra seu povo, contra os curdos, contra os iranianos. Hussein é um ditador sanguinário, uma das mais claras expressíµes do mal hoje.

Entretanto essa ní£o é a única razí£o pela qual estou lhe agradecendo. Nos dois primeiros meses de 2003, o Senhor foi capaz de mostrar muitas coisas importantes ao mundo. Assim, recordando um poema que aprendi na infí¢ncia, quero lhe dizer obrigado.

Obrigado por revelar ao mundo o gigantesco abismo que existe entre a decisí£o dos governantes e os desejos do povo. Por deixar claro que tanto José Marí­a Aznar como Tony Blair ní£o dí£o a mí­nima importí¢ncia e ní£o tíªm nenhum respeito pelos votos que receberam. Aznar é capaz de ignorar que 90% dos espanhóis estí£o contra a guerra, e Blair ní£o se importa com a maior manifestaí§í£o pública na Inglaterra nestes 30 anos mais recentes.

Obrigado porque sua perseveraní§a forí§ou Blair a ir ao Parlamento com um dossiíª falsificado, escrito por um estudante há dez anos, e apresentar isso como “provas contundentes recolhidas pelo servií§o secreto brití¢nico”.

Obrigado porque, graí§as aos seus esforí§os pela guerra, pela primeira vez as naí§íµes árabes, geralmente divididas, foram uní¢nimes em condenar uma invasí£o, durante encontro no Cairo.

Obrigado porque, graí§as í  sua retórica afirmando que “a ONU tem uma chance de mostrar sua releví¢ncia”, mesmo paí­ses mais relutantes terminaram tomando posií§í£o contra um ataque.

Obrigado por tentar dividir uma Europa que luta pela sua unificaí§í£o; isso foi um alerta que ní£o será ignorado.

Obrigado por ter conseguido o que poucos conseguiram neste século: unir milhíµes de pessoas, em todos os continentes, lutando pela mesma idéia, embora essa idéia seja oposta í  sua.

Obrigado porque, sem o Senhor, ní£o terí­amos conhecido nossa capacidade de mobilizaí§í£o. Talvez ela ní£o sirva para nada no presente, mas será útil mais adiante. Agora que os tambores da guerra parecem soar de maneira irreversí­vel, quero fazer minhas as palavras de um antigo rei europeu a um invasor: “Que sua manhí£ seja linda, que o sol brilhe nas armaduras de seus soldados, porque durante a tarde eu o derrotarei”.

Portanto, aproveite sua manhí£ e o que ela ainda pode trazer de glória.

Obrigado porque ní£o nos escutastes e ní£o nos levaste a sério. Pois saiba que nós o escutamos e ní£o esqueceremos suas palavras.

Obrigado, grande lí­der George W. Bush.

Muito obrigado.
 
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I wrote the letter below on March 9, 2003, ten days before the invasion of Iraq. It is the most widely read text I have written, having been published in the leading newspapers across the world and all over the Internet: close to 500 million people have read it.

The war is now entering its 6th year, and over 4,000 American soldiers have lost their lives, together with an indefinite number of Iraqis. According to the CNN (March 24, 2008), “estimates of the Iraqi death toll range from about 80,000 to the hundreds of thousands, with another 2 million forced to leave the country and 2.5 million displaced within Iraq, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees”.

Many of the people I mention have already left the scene, yet the war goes on. At the moment, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Below are some extracts from the letter:

Thank you, great leader George W. Bush.

Thank you very much.

tags technorati : Technorati Paulo Coelho Paulo Coehlo Warrior of Light Warrior of the Light Newsletter

By Paulo Coelho

Every person on the face of the Earth has a gift.
For some this is revealed spontaneously,
others have to work to find it.
(By the River Piedra I sat Down and Wept)

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

What have you inherited from your youth?

The fact that, even after going through some very difficult experiences in my life, as being in a lunatic asylum, or being arrested by the military that ruled Brazil, I never saw myself as a victim, but as someone who was living the adventure of being alive, and following a dream.