Daily Archive for August 20th, 2008

Image of the Day : The Four Seasons by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Published
by
Paulo Coelho
on August 20, 2008
in Image of the Day
.

The Four Seasons by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

More about Aikido

Published
by
Paulo Coelho
on August 20, 2008
in Stories
. 5 Comments

By Paulo Coelho

The art of peace

Continuing the theme in Warrior of the Light #35, I’d like to say some more about Aikido, one of the few martial arts I have ever practiced. Created by the Japanese master Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), the word means "The art (or way) of peace." I remember spending endless nights with my companions, learning to fight in such a way that the adversary’s negative energy is directed against himself.

Ueshiba, who is known by those who practice Aikido as "The Grand Master", left behind a series of philosophical practices, during his conferences, in his poetry and conversations with disciples. Here are a few of his main teachings.

Where to begin the art of peace

The art of peace begins inside you; work to manage to keep it at your side. Everyone has a spirit which can be perfected, a body which can be trained, and a path to follow.

You are here to fulfill these three tasks, and to do so two things will be necessary: maintain calm, and practice the Art in everything you do. None of us needs money, power or status in order to practice the Art; at this precise moment you are one step away from Paradise, and should train now.

The universe and man

The whole universe comes from the same source. This source, which we call life, contains our past, the present, and the future. As man moves forward, he can either dissolve or harmonize his vital energy. Evil is born the moment we start to believe that that which belongs to all, belongs only to ourselves; this causes pride, useless desires, and anger. But anyone not possessed by things, eventually becomes lord of all.

Man and the eight forces

In order to practice the Art of Peace, one must at some point delve alternately into the eight opposing forces which make up the Universe:

Movement and inertia
Solidity and adaptation,
Contraction and distention,
Unification and division.

These are present in everything, from the vast space to the smallest plants; each thing carries a gigantic reserve of universal energy, which can be used for the benefit of all.

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Quote of the Day

Published
by
Paulo Coelho
on August 20, 2008
in Quotes
. 13 Comments

By Paulo Coelho

It is necessary to run risks,
We only properly understand the miracle of life
when we allow the unexpected to happen.
(By the River Piedra I sat dowm and Wept)

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Today’s Question by Aart Hilal

Published
by
Paulo Coelho
on August 20, 2008
in Q&A
. 7 Comments

Any unusual hobbies we should know about?

I travel constantly so days are never the same. I can’t pinpoint “unusual hobbies” but nevertheless I do have some “rituals”: when I wake up I like having my breakfast and then going out for a walk. Walking for me is vital and the one things that I can’t live without.

I agree with the teachings of the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who said that: “when you walk, you are massaging and honouring the earth. In the same way, the earth is trying to help you to balance your organism and mind. Understand this relationship and try to respect it – may your steps have the firmness of a lion, the elegance of a tiger and the dignity of an emperor.”

Normally in the afternoons I spend hours navigating the web: I consult my blog (www.paulocoelhoblog.com), my myspace (www.myspace.com/paulocoelho) I read newspapers from the world, I write my stories. I also quite often give interviews. At 6 pm on the dot, I pray since for me this is the magical hour of the day. After that, I like having diner with my wife & friends. Before going to bed, I read.

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