Today’s Question by Aart Hilal

by Paulo Coelho on September 19, 2008

It seems that in the first half of the story, Athena was searching for herself and seeking for self-realization, but after the incident at Portobello, her goal has changed to carry out her own mission. What is the change of the thoughts underlining such transition.

Athena is trying to reach a deeper understanding of herself, but in this process she also learns to live with the mystery, with the unanswered questions. This is how the transition begins. She is learning to live with her “empty spaces”, traits of her personality that defy a certain logic, that can’t be expressed in words. You see, the whole problem is not about having empty spaces, but about admitting that they exist.

Today’s society is so preoccupied about coherence that many get trapped in the misconception that all is explainable. Society tries to convince us that we have to be completely transparent, not only to world but to ourselves. There is where the danger lies. It’s necessary to admit that some things can’t be grasped, that our empty spaces exist and that we have to respect and honor the mystery.

Once you start honoring that – that’s when your quest becomes your mission.

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Paul de Paris May 25, 2009 at 7:40 am

Hum… I keep reading and re-reading this answer, and I must say I am somewhat confused.
I did not think that searching ourselves and finding the mission was a different thing.
The notion of “empty spaces” remain a little blur to me.
I need to think it further. I should definitely buy this book now! :-)

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Rushyan September 25, 2008 at 11:09 pm

Детей интересует вопрос: откуда все берется; взрослых – куда все девается.

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wanbliska September 22, 2008 at 1:17 am

Maybe poetry honours empty spaces too.

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luce September 21, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Dear Paulo,
I like how you explained empty spaces that exists within every one of us and agree to let them be.

In school I hated the most when teacher would ask me while analizing book, what writer (author) meant ?
- How could I possibly know! – I’d have loved to answer, or :
- Ask him yourself if he is stil alive !

Love,
Luce

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THELMA September 21, 2008 at 11:00 am

The MYSTERY of our souls, of Universe, of Abyss, of the Will of God, of God. Isis was the Egyptian name of God[female name]. I remember reading the book ‘Isis unveiled’by H.P. Blavatsky and the word ‘unveiled’ had intrigued my fantasy…
We, everyone of us, is a ‘microcosmos’ and mystery is in our nature. I believe that keeping and respecting the abys, inside us and inside the others, is the ultimate expression of freedom and love.
LOVE,
THELMA

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Tania September 20, 2008 at 11:05 am

Yes I think you just have to trust some things in life and KNOW -like an inner knowing ,without thinking or using logic to explain .Our senses know ,our soul knows ,our heart knows -hmm makes sense to me …and if u cant explain it is because of the rabbits ..:-)
Blessings Tania

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Paul de Paris September 20, 2008 at 10:36 am

Hum… I keep reading and re-reading this answer, and I must say I am somewhat confused.
I did not think that searching ourselves and finding the mission was a different thing.
The notion of “empty spaces” remain a little blur to me.
I need to think it further. I should definitely buy this book now! :-)

Reply

Carmen Larisa September 19, 2008 at 10:14 pm

Our quest becomes indeed our mission! Very well said! Thank you so much dear Paulo :-)
My empty spaces were filled only after finding my real Self, the Spirit, only when realizing that God and His/Her Light is in our hearts first and foremost!
After discovering meditation sessions at Sahaja Yoga I felt what joy and freedom really mean, as they were revealed completely in my heart and mind, which were united in unconditional, divine love.
By discovering all sorts of divine aspects I understood that the Truth is simple, even if it seems complicated as it lies in variety. Variety explains unity and viceversa. And one more thing I understood and felt: that love is really beyond everything else, eternal and yet so sweet, touching and abundant, the more you give, the more you feel having! Namaste!
One of the greatest challenges, as it is said, is not to reach the top of the mountain, but to be able to resist there and this is true for evolution too.
May God bless the whole world with generosity, light, peace and divine wisdom!

Lots of love and appreciation, :-)
Carmen Larisa

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leafytunes September 19, 2008 at 5:17 pm

whoa that’s awesome……….

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Alexandra September 19, 2008 at 4:21 pm

I knew some poems who were writing about that.Leaving the vail is not taking the power of the miracle,but taking it off kills the beauty of the mistery.Is about the transcendental wall that God has put it between us?Anyway I like Athena,so I like your way of thinking.

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