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My biography, entitled The Wizard, has just been released in Brazil and given that I opened all my files to my biographer, some people have been horrified with my past.
So here is my question to you: Should you know all about me?
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Paulo
I am glad that this people are not horrified with your present moment.
Thanks to tell us that we DO NOT NEED TO BE PERFECT OR THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE AN IMPECABLE PAST …
Paulo knowing about your past increases my respect and LOVE
WELL YOU HAD SOME UNIQUE EXPERIENCES… AND I LOVE YOU ANY WAY
Paulo I certainly look forward to reading your biography. Our past is what makes us who we are today and if we feel comfortable in sharing that information, which you obviously did, then we the lucky readers get an insight into who you are and what bought you to becoming the great author you are. That is not to say that we can know what effect these events have had on your soul as only you can know that. I am just very glad that you are who you are and thankful that you have shared your talents with the world.
I look forward to reading The Wizard when it is available here (Australia) and keep doing what you do and being who you are.
Don’t stress the small stuff!!
Much love
Paulo, The Warrior of the Light doesn’t have a past, and I guess we don’t need to know everything about you, but since secrets do tend to come out sooner or later, maybe is better that it came out already and just deal with it now, it is going to be ok!!!, the person who has more negativity has the potential to reveal more Light to the world when he transform this darness into Light, and that is what you have done!!!
Much Love to you, dear Wizard!!!
no.
поздрав :)
Great Question~~ Really Great Question Paulo!
I asked myself this question everytime I write in my blog, my journals (and I often find that I am hiding details about myself afaid to be exposed) Wishing I had the courage to be free exposed nothing to hide.
The lyrics song by Nina Simone “for i’m just a soul whos intentions are good….Oh Lord please don’t let me be misunderstood” run in my mind when i write.
For you to have given over the “treasure chest” filled with intimate details of your life Paulo is beautiful, brave, and it even shows How Great God is ~~~for God makes no mistakes in any of us. People are entitled to their opinions but all in all many wish “like me” that I could be filled with the courage and not wear the MASK!
Which reminds me of a story by….. Gibran Khalil Gibran
“You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen — the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives — I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, “Thieves, thieves, the cursed thieves.”
Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me.
And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house-top cried, “He is a madman.” I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, “Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks.”
Thus I became a madman.
And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness; the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.
But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief”.
Paulo,
“I love you, I love you, I love you and this makes me think about when I was on the plane going to see you in Puenta La Reina for St.Joseph’s party and I was reading Paulo Coelho: Confessions of a Pilgrim by Juan Arias I remember reading the some intimate details and I asked myself will I feel different about you after I finish reading this. Well, the answer is I still Love you and I learned we are all one.
Much love
Marie
I have recently returned to “The Alchemist”, which I read more than 10 years ago, and to answer your question if we should know more about you, I immediately thought of what the the boy said when looking at the candy merchant “This candy merchant isn’t making candy so that later he can travel or marry a shopkeeper’s daughter. He’s doing it because it’s what he wants to do”. So, I feel that the primary objective of writing this biography was not as much for us as it was because you really wanted to do it, and that removes the “should” from the equation. “Maktub”. Weather it will answer what readers want from you or not,that is not the issue.
“Sometimes, there’s just no way to hold back the river” :)
Personally, your past is not going to change how I read your words. After all, who does not have some sort of past. We are just very swift at combing other people’s lives, especially public figures, in hope that our own “wrongs” pale in comparison.
It gives us a very fake sense of reassurance for the choices in our lives.
Wasn’t it you that said that “to die alive is to take risks?”…
Concordo plenamente.
I’m anxius to read your biography.
Dearest Paulo,
Its never possible to “know” all about anything.
Yes, by getting into your files, you have allowed many people into the many lives that have made you who you are and will continue to be….but then, you have allowed people “in” by hundred other ways as well.
Once invited in to see for themselves, people might feel threated by what they learn about you, because it challenges certain beliefs & perspectives about we think you might be, and how life in general ought to be.
Your writing has opened so many treasured worlds and ways of seeing/feeling….and indeed, these ‘effects’ are fundamentally related to your past. Whenever your readers feel a mad passion for something when they read your work, they are undeniably connecting to everything in your past.
Except now, we have access to certain events, images, and material examples from your life to hold on to in a very different way. So perhaps for the first time, readers are coming face to face with some of the root-events from which, through multiple mystical relays, we have been accessing the world and spirit of your writing.
If one read your work carefully, one would see very clearly that what you call “all” about your life, was there out all this while in full sight for all to see!!
We love you for what you enable us to see….and your ability to do that comes from the composite of all your life experiences….we cannot love one without the other.
How can one extend love and blessings to the effects of your writing, but deny them to the life experiences from which they come?
Best always,
PB. (India & USA).
Hi There!
Well, outside of it being a completely personal decision to reveal ones past, I believe artist generate a semi-cultish following that positively backfires. As human being we all desire to be understood and inspired. Admittedly or not. Your books touch a dream-like, awakened desire for humans to live out our lives fully. Knowing from whence you came assists the average, personally-labeled Joe-Shmo to believe in themselves.
So my answer-if it helps someone– than knowing a persons past isn’t a bad idea!
Dear Paulo:
I admire you so much as a writer! and I don´t care about your past, in fact, I think that all your past experiences made you the man your are right now, so maybe it was necessary to find yourself. If I would read your biography I could never be horrified about it, because you became some of that experiences in wonderful stories for us and I really thank you for it.
My answer is no. I do enjoy your books and admire your outlook on life, but in fact I don’t know you..we have never met. I would only like to know what you would be willing to tell me or a reporter.
No sé nada de ti, pero los destellos que en ciertos instantes percibo de ti iluminan mi vida. Por eso te quiero Paulo.
Haz lo que quieras, yo sin comprenderte, te comprendo.
Estoy loca, jeje. En fin. No me dan las palabras, ese es el problema.
Un beso.
Dasha; You said it all <3
Paulo; KISSESKISSESKISSES <3
Its a very brave thing to do. To let people in on the secrets of the past. It can be liberating, but also terrifying. I think its a good thing Paulo. Your free now. Free from worring about whats others think.
Paulo………….. AMOR para Tí. No pienses que piensa la
gente. Disfruta. El pasado pasado está, lo importante es el presente. Lo mejor para Tí. Sigue viviendo. Eres genial. Me encantas.
Eres un Gerrero de Dios.
Sólo Dios sabe todo de ti. Ni si quiera tú sabes todo de ti, creo. Yo apenas sé de mi, como para saber de ti. Por mucho que se diga y se hable, creo que la gente no sabe casi nada de nadie.
Puedo hacerme una idea de ti, pero sólo son ideas porque no estoy dentro de tu alma, lástima, para saber que cosas sientes en todos los instantes de tu vida. No sé nada. Nada de ti. Tú puedes escribir un libro y yo me acerco a tu alma, pero como no estoy en ti, no puedo llegar a alcanzarla.
Es muy complicado de explicar Paulo, bla, bla, bla. Una locura de explicar. ¿Qué te digo? Que todo está bien. Amén. Amor. Vida. Bla. Bla. Que la gente hable. Bla. Bla. Nadie está en ti para poder hablar.
!No! Creo que no sabemos nada de ti. Sólo son ideas, pero lo sagrado, tus emociones, tus sentimientos, son tuyos. Como no hemos estado en tu corazón a lo largo de tu vida no sabemos que se siente. Creo que no sabemos de ti.
Nadie tiene que juzgar a nadie.
Sólo Dios sabe de ti.
Que Dios te bendiga.
Perdón por tata palabra pero no sé explicarme mejor.
Con Amor.
If it doesn’t affect us as individuals then one’s past is between that person and God. Unless, one wants to share.
I honestly don’t think so..
bcoz simply, every person is entitled to some privacy…
I will not even think of asking u to expose everything about urself..or ask anyone for that matter..
Thank you dear for ur question :)
Tú pa lante.
Con tu entusiasmo, alegria y valentia. Has vivido en cada momento lo que sentias que querias vivir con autenticidad y sin hipocresia. Eres auténtico y has escrito las palabras mágicas y esperanzadoras de muchas personas: “el Universo conspira”. Si para ser quien eres hoy, has necesitado vivir con intensidad, entonces ha merecido la pena. Me encantará leer tu biografia porque comprenderé mejor a Paulo Coelho, el que consiguió ser el alquimista de su propia vida.
Un beso,
Clara
Quem sabe que defeitos e qualidades såo apenas caracteristicas e se apresentam com experiencias para uma sociedade presa e hipocrita, o resultado é inveja, por ter uma vida vivida e contada.depois de varios livros de doaçao, esse foi para confrontar, esquece dos leitores chocados porque esses só cumprem papel e agora tem que fazer esse.
Dear Paulo,
Before reading any of your books, I read “Las confesiones del peregrine” by Juan Arias. Anybody can be caught up in nets of darkness for they are spread so tight that at times I believe it is almost impossible to avoid them. To break the bonds of darkness and I mean really break them you need faith, hope and charity. May they guide you for the journey it not easy – but you know that already. The autobiography is published – what is done is done. So why ask this question?
With compassion
Satora
No! I don’t want to know everything! Besides – what is true and what is the truth twisted? Life changes us daily. What caused me pain and trouble in the past, is no longer what worries me now. Life goes on, my joy and my grief change with the tide of my life. I don’t want to know your deepest secrets to have a better understanding of your books. I want to find my own meaning, linked to my life and my challenges. But I do need your wisdom, and to believe that there is hope and that miracles can happen! I expect a magus to be secretive and mysterious!
I should know all that you want to share, but thanks for given us the opportunity of a great intimacy.
When we travel with the other to the avenues and labyrinths of their past a sense of understanding and
Communion can be born.
With love
People shouldn’t see how sausage is made.
On the other hand, your book, The Zahir, has that theme of telling our stories to free us of the past.
I participate in a fellowship where we rely on the therapeutic value of sharing our experiences to provide a basis for empathy, understanding and redemption.
I would suggest that even knowing every jot and tittle of anyone’s history does not reveal the substance of this moment in any of our heart’s. It does give people the basis for conjecture about the who of us and that can be as readily a strait jacket as what we want to imagine of you as the author behind the words we read. Such expectations!
Nice to have known what you went through to get to where you are now if only to give each of us hope that the past does not bind us. But to expect to know you now, well, that is another question, no?
Thank you for this opportunities to communicate with you. Your past is what made you who you are today, it would be an honour to read about the events and your involvemnt in them that molded your life that brought you to who you are today, an inspiring enlightened being. Thank you!
Dear Paulo,
I’m sure only inexperienced people find your biography horrifying; I haven’t read it yet though. I think ‘horrifying’ is a very subjective word though; what I find acceptable others might find completely the opposite and so on. As long as one learns something from his life experiences; as long as they help him move forward and mature more and help others mature and tolerate set backs as you do through your writings; I think that what matters the most.
Our past does not exist any more. 2007 does not exist any more; it’s 2008 and we’re all different people this year and so on.
I’m sure no one can disclose every single counting moment is his life; it’s human nature.. certain things are deeply imbeded in our minds and they’re meant to be locked there forever.. and I’m sure you have plenty of them that you didn’t disclose in your autobiography and that’s your right anyways..
And yes I want to know everything you’re willing to disclose about yourself because you’re unique the way you are.
Looking forward to reading ‘ The Wizard ‘ in English. I hope it’s released here in Canada.
IYM
we dont need to know everiting about you nowbody knows everiting about me my past is my proud and my shame .my past doesnt define human that I am it only remande my on ways that things could go but still I can change them ,but people like to remember other pepole stories so that thay could analize thay present ,even when we forget they will remande us wether we wont that or not.
Ola Paulo Coelho! Depois de ter lido “Confissoes de Paulo Coelho”, fiquei ainda mais fascinada por ler as suas obras, pois com este livro percebi que para alem de ter sido (ou de ser) uma pessoa muito aventureira, e definititamente tambem uma pessoa que se arrisca imenso… Um conselho que a minha mae sempre me deu foi que, o melhor devemos guardar sempre para nos!! De uma maneira ou de outra tenho a certeza que mais uma vez,nos os seus fas, vamos ficar deliciados e devorar todas as paginas que escrever!!Com muito carinho, Andreia (Portugal)
Should your readers know? Debatable. Do you readers want to know? Because of your success, they will want to know. Personally, your past is yours to open or conceal. From the article that you posted, your past seems to echo tales of redemption found through out the Old and New Testament. Many thanks for all of your books.
I am a writer but not published and have written in solitude 11 novels since 1999 and counting. Every novel draws on what I have written in my journals, which were featured on the Official Moleskine Site post, moleskinerie: The Notebooks of Michael Pokocky @ http://www.moleskinerie.com/2008/04/the-notebooks-o.html
What I learned was this, ” How can one know better or beauty or appreciation or love unless one has experienced profound sadness.”
To share your notebooks with the world is creative, original and requires great creative courage.
No sweat Paulho.
Love you Bro,
Michael
What you are today is everything you have lived. I know that to be able to write the way you write, you had so many experiences with your sensibility and your unique personality.. I know that to be able to write or confess to others what has marked your life and . of course, your Aura, you must have overcome the pain and you have become an observer to your own life…I am looking forward to reading your biography and have a glimpse into your beauriful soul. It is not what is happening to us that matters but how we react. don’t you agree ?? After all we were born ..Warriors of the Light. Love Thelma
The risk of being misunderstood is great indeed – but surely the risk of being understood is the greater?!
‘Should’ doesn’t come into it; but if you want or are happy to share stuff that will be greatly appreciated by some. The ‘other some’ who will be ‘horrified with (your) past’ can surely only reach that opinion by passing judgement & I fail to see the credibility of a judgement that is not at least based on like experience. Only your own exact past can have led you along this path that has ultimately benefitted millions. Thanks for your past, whether it is revealed or secret, sedate or horrific!
dear Paulo,
My answer to this is no.
There is always something we need to keep for ourselves – something between Our Maker and our selves.
It may be beautiful or it may be awful, but I think the deeper we go into our own souls, there is always something we experience or find that is only for ourselves.
I know I will go to my grave with one or two secrets. Not because I am important, but because God has told me to do this.
I am sure that your biography does not have EVERYTHING in it.
Con amor, aprecio, y carino Paulo.
Adelante hermano.
Karen.
Dear Paulo,
Of course I shouldn´t know anything about you other than you for some reason choose to share yourself!
For me, since you have chosen to step forward and be a known public figure, the point is not your personal life or your personal story, but how you´ve chosen to use your story and what you´ve chosen to share with your readers, including me. Your calling is to be a writer so the point for me is what you decide to share thru you writing.
We live in a culture that´s obsessed still more with knowledge and gossip about the “famous” and the “known”. It´s far out..
The point is so much more what it is that people have to share with each-other!! Since we all carry a dream to fulfill and something that we love dong…
Mr. Coelho,
First of all, I personally believe that it is impossible to know everything about someone. All of us have at least one secret we don’t want anyone to know. Do we really want to know or are prepared to know another’s complete history-secrets and all? I don’t think so. As much as we all say we want honesty and we want to know all, the truth is, we cannot handle 100% honesty. Deep down, we do not want our image of you or another to be tarnished or to stray from the pedestal we place upon you or him/her.
The past and now is what makes us, us.Should we preserve it?We don’t need to, it runs in our blood.It affects our sub-conscious emotional world whether we want it or not.
Speaking though precisely of you, well, u are rich and your life in 20years time is likely to have come to an end(hopefully not),
so, since u have nothing to loose why not potentialy help other people through your biography?
Not at all. We know almost nothing about ourself. Why should we know more about you?
Sir, I admire someone who can reveal their innermost secrets and still not be concerned about people’s reactions. I admire simply because I (a wife and a mother), like many others, cannot, but want to.
I just loved your book “Veronika decides to die”. I was not much of a reader, until I read your “Alchemist” and now am a die hard fan of you and your books. I live in the US and hope to meet you someday.
I will just say thanks for being on earth :)
Hola dear Paulo,
it seems to me that you are very dear and sensitive person. But this my opinion is based only on your books, blogs and your interviews I’ve seen. You are very popular around the world, and with your books you’ve touched a milions of hearts, but on milions different ways. People have created an image of you in their minds based on the feelings you’ve awaken up in them. We don’t know the real you. So I think that people should not be “horrified” with something that you’ve done. How can they be horrified when they don’t even know you?
You are human just like otehers, not a perffect image that someone created in his head. You have the courage to live and taste the life, not to read about it in the books or watch it on the movies.It’s easy not to do a thing and always critic the others.I personally appreciate someone beeing honest. It’s a big cuality. It’s about accepting people for who they realy are and not for what they act to be. If you have a need to share with us, your readers, your experiens and tell us about it, it’s ok, if you don’t tambien is ok.
It’s more about how you feel and not what we think. “Follow yor heart, he knows the truth”:)
You are very dear to me and I love your books, keep beeing who you are.
Gracias por ser y estar
Gran abrazo
Love
Tanja
Your books, have been an ispiration for my life…
In my oppinion, you are one, of the best writers of our century…
Of course, I would like to read your biography,because you are a Greate Master for me, and a legend too..
Butterfly
I believe that some very, very personal and intimate experiences, details or revealtions should stay only within, or be shared with one or maximum two most, most nearest and trusted souls.
To open everything and to be ‘naked’ in front of the whole world, from my opinion, is one of the most courageous and incredible act, that hardly many people would find inner strength for.
Because not only we are all different and have the divine right to be so, but we all have our own visions and, unfortunately or luckily, prejudices and worldoutlook restricted with certain judgements.
However, life is LIFE as it IS – in all its horrors and miracles and there is no reason to pretend it’s different.
All that enters our life, either following our heart’s aspirations, passions and movements, or collapsed on us by destiny to challenge us, is not only never accidental and has some secret code, but is hardly something to be ashamed of.
We are as we are, and because we are given to be so by God.
By baring and uncovering Your most secret and hidden, Wizard, by passing through the metamorphoses of turning Your soul inside out, standing ‘naked’ in front of the rest, You manifest and expose the greatest and deepest essence of
LIVING LIFE ALIVE, of the true nature of human’s path on this earth in all its colours.
And through this, the eyes which have been closed or blind, may see…
“The sufferings” of puting Your soul ‘naked’ on the cross for everyone to see it, is also, from my opinion, kind of katarsis to the world and mirror of the TRUE and REAL journey of the soul and body.
And somehow, i hope i won’t comit sacrilege saying that all this reminds me of one other man, who was not afraid to be himself, to sacrifice ‘normality’ for the sake of revealing the true light, who found enormous strength and faith to be different, to be himself even if contrary to everything else…man who was crucified, but opened a totally new universe for all who lived after and lives today; universe in all its eternity, nature and real sacrality. Sacrality which is hidden in US as we ARE.
I admire Your courage, Your inner strength, Your craziness, Your life power and life love, Paulo.
And though i didn’t read “The Wizard” biography, i may only guess and imagine its strength, intensity, spirit and depth, i, not only congratulate You and Fernando with release, but thank You for such an amazing and true
COURAGE.
with support,
Dasha
Personally I would like to know as much as anyone would like to reveal about themselves. I am difficult to shock, even though I’ve lived a very sheltered life myself. But many people will be shocked by anything from rum raisin ice cream to botox injections. Such people could use a good shock in my humble opinion. :)
Each person can decide what they want the world to know about them. But it is useful to remember that if you have no secrets, then you have nothing to hide.
I believe this a personal decision, if you decided you want to keep no secrets and reveal all about your life is because you feel this is the right thing to do, for you. We should not be so concern about people’s reaction. You have given us a glimpse into your psyche through your writings and some people get it and other won’t. Now you have decided you should tell the whole story, I don’t know your motive in doing this, but I suspect you want to create a more personable experience between the writer and the reader. Through your writings we have learned a great deal about ourselves the reader, and now we can learn more about the writer, and have a better understanding of your point of view as a writer.
It is very daring for someone such as yourself to lay your past experience open to scrutiny. Unfortunately some will use is as ammunition against you, and others will open their eyes and learn something. It’s a win lose situation. I shall endeavor to read your biography without my personal judgment glasses on.
Of course not.
let mysteries remain mysteries..
and secrets where they belong.
When it lightens your pain
to share something hurtfull from the past,
then I think it’s worth sharing it
with someone you trust.
I don’t know, Mr. Coelho. That’s a terrific question. I am convinced that saying some things without first “really” living them turns them to shit. By “really” living I mean having examined them, and learned from them, and preserved their lesson in the head. So revealing some memory that was meant only for you may turn that memory’s gold to dust that nobody knows what to do with anymore. That’s my humble and very inexperienced opinion, but still my core one.
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