By Paulo Coelho
A famous Sufi master was invited to give a course in California. The auditorium was full at 8AM - the time announced - when one of the assistants came onto the stage.
“The master is just waking up. Please be patient.”
Time passed, and people started leaving the room. At midday, the assistant returned to the stage, saying that the master would be starting the lecture the minute he finished talking to a pretty girl he had just met. Most of the remaining audience left.
At 4PM the master appeared - apparently drunk. This time, all but 6 people stormed out.
“I will teach you this,” said the master, ceasing to act drunk. “Whoever wishes to go down a long path, must learn that the first lesson is to overcome early disappointments.”
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I like this story !
Indeed,it is very important to be patient and overcome the early obstacles… But it is also very difficult. It is very difficult to meet an obstacle at the very beginning of the path and not get dissapointed…
first i thought that was an “excuse” of being late..
but then he’s right!!!
Ola Paulo,
lembro de ter lido essa passagem em algum livro seu, nao estou certo. Mas é uma coisa mto seria e verdadeira. Quando a gente parar de ter pena de gente mesmo, encarar nossos sonhos de frente, lutar para torna-los realidade vamos aprender que coisas que nos deixam desapontados, tristes, como a ingratidao de um amigo, o nao reconhecimento de um ato de bravura ou de coragem, etc, fazem parte do caminho, acho que para testar se estamos realmente aptos para seguir em frente em busca de nossos sonhos. Por exemplo, vc quer isso, ok, vamos ver se vc esta apto para ter, vc voce sabe lutar, se vc sabe vencer e, principalmente, se vc sabe perder, pq todo mundo esta preparado para a vitoria mas poucos estao preparados para a derrota… embora ela faça parte do bom combate!
um abraço
Saulo - Juiz de Fora (MG) Brasil
so true
love
Agnieszka
O yes,…when you climb a mountain you have to watch your steps…and when there is an obstacle you have to resist it with enthousiasm.
A good reminder to overcome my emotions, not always that easy.
Love
All Ways
Hildegarde
funny storry,I like it.was a sort of testing trust in the master, with the bonus of a moral.yes,early dissapointments can hinder us for living life to the full.
but this is inverse from what -in the Alchemist- you said…-in other words - that the Universe grants us what we want the first time, because the Universe wants us to follow our own path..
So then, questions arise…and doubts..if there are dificulties and obstacles, maybe this path is not the One path that we are destined to go?? :S
Love and Graditude
Annie
p.s Patience is a virtue…
Early success must be treated with humility & gratitude… for it is certainly only a preparatory aphrodisiac for the good fight that lays ahead…
Love & never rest on your laurels, Paul
No matter where you are, as you learn to rise above your emotional reactions, gems of wisdom are waiting for you to notice the context and implications.
lol, and how much did he get paid for that bit of wisdom?
Kathleen xxoo
So it seems ..Blessings Tania
Will i ever learn patience… most of the time i seem so eager to get it.
A logical thread?
That’s a nice story…but the image is even more great! I had written a poem inspired by this image once:
I know that you are there
At the very time and place we will meet, without knowing yet where
At that moment I will remember you
And will know that you will be with me everywhere
In everytime and everylife
Of my human existence
Till we blend in love when comes the time of evanescence
I know that you are there
Without knowing yet my presence
But still having a glimpse of our approaching coexsitence
So you keep smiling as I d
With a mysterious hope in your heart
And a serene knowledge in your mind
That our journey will began soon
When the snowflakes will turn into butterflies…
all the best
Fu
This is such a good story and I have heard similar versions in a Sufi context before but of course it fits any spiritual tradition. Most of us have expectations that act like a veil that hides the real from us and, as this story shows, those expectations are the first thing we need to drop on the spiritual path because they are creations of our egos which are so adept at getting in the way and clouding our eyes to real seeing.