You are protected. But if you don’t take risks, God will retreat and become only a subject of philosophical speculation.
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I love this quote and I love you.
I would suggest that what men call God cannot and would not retreat, but when our caution turns to phobia and we do not fulfill our true purpose, WE retreat from the God that is everywhere around and within. The retreat is OURS, and thus it seems as if God has retreated, for have withdrawn from our True Self, through which we experience Love, Mystery… God.
Elaine , “God is our nearest and dearest companion through life” : so honest so true. Why do we tend to forget?….
good good question – why do we…? i have been wondering this myself this weekend. looking at how i strayed so far, i would say that i became mixed up in the importance of other peoples lives… so much so that i forgot to maintain my own rship with god… but this i dont even think is the real reason, or answer.
i think there is peer pressure.. many paths.. and for me i wished to be sure i was not missing going down a road meant for me! maybe?
i think perhaps the love from god is sometimes more than we feel we deserve…? perhaps.
sometimes life incidences come along and send us shuttling into a different orbit… i know trauma did this…
but then i have wondered if this was not meant to bring me closer to god also.
so a great question… why do we forget our nearest and dearest… just like we kill that we love.
perhaps the devil is stronger than we know?
That citation brings back to my memory the reflexion that I came up after my 8 years implication in the evangelist church. I was directed there, by life, be it “good energy” or “bad energy” or “both” in a time where I felt again the existing questions surfacing and was searching for answers. I was told that Jesus died for me and that I only had to receive his gift and all was forgiven. Well, I understood with time that all is forgiving for Jesus, but my psyche, my Ego were still in action. I found security in the words of the pastor, the members, the scriptures. Day to day, things got more and more “you need to think that, you need to change that, you need to believe that, you must not pray enough if you have this pulsion, it is not from God if you feel that, etc …” and from a simple love it became a love that had a price, a love that did not permit me to come in relation with the “bad in me, the dark in me” or to affirm myself, etc with the bad and the dark around me, having only to pray and pass my way, judge that bad and reject, under the cover that God will take care of him or her. All that to say that becoming conscious of the Source’s presence, of the Source’s love is to become at the same time conscious of myself, of becoming more and more in love with who I am truly, and that needs to be discovered, experienced. That for me is taking the risk, the risk of wanting to find out and be amazed by the profoundness of a say of the Bible, or other writings, because I am living it, and not because I am told, repeat, and do not act since I know the end, or the end that I am told.
I have a say that I repeat to myself “Mean what you say and say what you mean” … congruent, true to myself, honest in regards to myself, not the other or the system … for me I risked each time I ask, I knock, I decide to go see at another place, I decide that that rule does not for the moment make sense for me, etc … There is a phrase in the Bible that says to not take for granted and to verify at the light of the scriptures, but again there I am prudent because one can interpret a way and another religion another, or a pastor a way and a priest another. I take the risk of elaborating my interpretation after reflexion, contemplation, experimentation, observation. Being in that mode I know that my God is there and protects me, because He knows that I am on the path of wanting to be in his Will for me and me for Him.
I saw many repeating words, prayers, singing gospels, etc, and then I saw them in their intimacy and not at all applying what they said, prayed or chanted. And I myself did the same and do the same at times. So, there I take the risk to go see what is there for me really, and go in relation with my God to live up to His Will. I took the risk and take the risk of the journey inside of me, of my motives, of my faith, of my meaning of “success, abundance, love, etc …”” I took the risk and take the risk of choice that are at times, and most of the times, inspired within me and not only from a rational point of view. I took the risk and take the risk to get to know one person before I choose to follow my path alone or in complicity for a time, and not because a rule was edicted or interpreted that told me that I should not. I take the risk and accept the consequences, and ask for forgiveness and will I know then never do it again, or I thank my God and chant because the risk that I took gave me more life and meaning.
Jojo
Acho que viver é correr risco. Cada caminho, cada opção, cada estrada é infinitamente arriscada. Para se viver é preciso, antes de mais nada saber que a imprevisibilidade é o grande tempero da vida.
bjs!
Fiquem com Deus e na paz!
Dear Mr Coelho
There is a point in a man’s life that he realises that being in an established religion it is merely the frame or just a sign and he must keep what is important and disgard what is not needfull and walk to his own path.
Freedom of will is the ultimum gift from God to man, but as a gift it doesn’t have a manual, you must figure out what to do with that.
It is an issue of great controversirality established religions with the rules and the rituals declare that we do have freedom of will but they keep adding so many rules to play the game that makes us astray and ending up with an idea of God as a punisher or as something completely out of human nature.
That is such a succefull method because they didin’t either had a clue with the importance of the gift so they adopted methods by the very next thing they knew and undrestood -authority_.
Of course in the lapse of time all these collided and become part of the established religion in such point we all think it as justified.
Was that the purpose of the gift? While i can not possibly be sure because God is something vastly bigger than i and all of us i think definitely not.
God wants you to find him, wants you to be your decision not just a blind soldier, wants you to decide to be with him because you chose it and not because you were raised to.
Believe is the most strange word isn’t ? be=exist lieve= live meaning you exist and live through faith the real life and that is part of personal path because it is based to decision, yours.
To take risks, to feel alive maybe, to feel known, to feel productive, to protect and get protected. Do we take risks for our own sake? r do we take them for others? When we seek to protect the self only, wouldn’t god be retreating then in the same sense of not taking the risk. And when we take the risk for others, assuming its not for our own good, assuming we are protecting them, aren’t we jeopardizing the notion of protection, allowing gaps where evil can grow. Where some evil can take the risk of building on it. Yet we take the risk and later we think it over, it’s like jumping from one rooftop of a building to the other, when you land and you sit, you breathe reconsider and ask for protection.
I took a risk once and now I’m taking another to fix it.
…. i’m really curious what yoy are talking about…..
Hello Carolena,
Perhaps, I should take it from scratch. Maybe I shouldn’t have said about journeys or destinations.
As I said above, every single moment you accomplice a step, which is a small journey and a small destination.
Meaning: right now that I am writing, each letter is my small journey and destination. I have the possibility to write “this” or “that”. I have also the possibility to stop writing and cancel my comment. All the steps I take during my writing are not risky or brave or any other “adjective”. Every step I did in my life so far and I shall do in the future is also not brave or risky or any other “adjective”.
I don’t totally disagree on these “adjectives” or mottos. They could be very intuitive and motivating for us. I would just like to pinpoint the trap that may exist under these.
Maybe the above is more close to my opinion.
Carolena, I want to ask you, what do you mean by saying if a woman can ever go through the same process for a sword? What’s the difference between a woman and a man, when each one sets out for his purpose?
Love and kisses from me too…
I see what you are saying, it is not this or that, it just Is, so to speak, right?
In regards to your question, I was inquiring about the Tradition Paulo speaks about in the Pilgrimage. He does obtain a sword in the end, that means when his Master handed him a sword, it was an actual sword, unless of course it wasn’t and he used the sword metaphorically but considering the novel non-fiction, then the sword was an actual sword.
So, I was asking in regards to the Tradition and if swords have been given out to women in the Tradition.
love and kisses
C.
I am finding that my higher power is all about patience, kindness, love. I am offered parts of a path he knows I’m ready for. When I choose to be reticent and stand-offish about moving onto the path laid out for me, I am not chided or scolded (except by my own self). I feel a waiting presence that never really withdraws, one that tells me I’m ready for the challenge, the risk, but one who will wait for me until I am ready to take it on.
I am finding that even during those times when I am fearful, and worried that I am not going to fulfill the task set out in front of me, I can feel the strength and, yes, even the love of that higher power. I put my trust in something that is carried inside of me, always with me and act by setting out with a faith that all will be well, that no matter what story unfolds, it is there and meant for me. It is. It just is.
This path I’m on now is one I never thought would be for me. I think I may have said this here before, not sure, that I may only see the small piece of the path in front of me but the whole of the puzzle I’m working on is in the hands of that higher power. Sometimes it worries me, that I’m feeling not in control. Then I realize that when I try to control everything, even the things that I can never control, then I control nothing, not even myself. Once I realized that I was actually out of control, and that the grasping feeling I had of always trying to be IN control was actually hindering me, I felt a certain sense of peace.
All of this writing is just to say that while I’ve been moving and letting go of those things I can’t control, I have felt myself move more into that feeling of protection and guidance. I feel like what you have said about taking risks or God feels like the subject of philosophical speculation to be true, at least in my own case.
I feel the same way, Nanci.
And especially, I’ve also noticed, that when I get the ‘signs’ or possibility to act on something, it happens, when I am ready for it, prepared.
It’s good to trust, because it leads to inner freedom and calmness of mind.
Beautiful post, Nanci,
thank You!
Liina
Dear Jessica,
Wish you lots of new FAITH to be born within you
and LOVE to remain with you
Love
Mariëlle
Yes, sometimes we have to take risks. But it is important to be mentally prepared for the risks. In order to prepare for mentally demanding tasks I have been continuing to work on my physical fitness. It feels wonderful to have lost 11 kg, and I’m physically stronger than I was at 18 when I had been playing European handball for 10 years. Also I try to focus on the bright side of life (- and just why did I write that? :-). I have been through so many stages this last year trying to follow my path without loosing myself, that I have been mentally exhausted at times. But now I have come to a stage where I feel I have endured so much that I will be able to handle most of what might come my way. So I will take the risks and pray for a little luck at the end of this road.
your comment makes me wonder about preparation for the journey: loosing 11 kilo must help! sounds like a lot of extra weight to be carried around, and it is so brave and persistent to loose it.
Are there other ways to prepare ones mind and body to help it adjust to a new situation, to coping with change? Something like
x cold showers in the morning
x no coffee
x healthy meals
x yoga
x meditation
x good sexlife
x avoiding negative people
x taking a walk after dinner
x cutting down on wining and dining
x get a pet
x a facial and a sauna
x botox
x a new haircut
x…… (whatever)
now what do you think? what could or should one do to get to the extra energy one would love to have on the way?
Ciao a tutti, volevo ringraziare Paulo per quello che mi trasmette, ho una soffernza interiore che mi logora l’anima, ho letto quasi tutti i suoi libri, mi danno tanta forza per andare avanti, ho scoperto i miei lati oscuri, ho scoperto che sono cambiata, è abbastanza dura, ma vado avanti
Grazie
True God made us to be doing our karma all the time.We get lazy and don’t want to work hard.We start blaming the God himself for our problems.
yes one must take risks !
but will god withdraw the protection, no, why should he, our time is limited, his is not, maybe it’s more like what is teh use of god’s protection when one does not take risks.
fear is a great enemy, but lethargy should rank close by, what for. yesterday i read a poster of a new hindi movie, a cute looking boy, Ok young man is shown fiddling with what looks like his mobile phone ( what else, u silly minds ) and a caption reads, ” he has 27 girlfreinds, but is too lazy to care” had me in splits ! anyway, lazyness seesm to be the hallmark of a new generation of ‘enlightned’ young adults, no motivation, what for ? kind of questions ?
love
aditya
PS : it takes a huge discipline to keep oneself motivated ! and ! hate discipline.
I agree on the lazyness. But it is not a rule. There are aswell many who are very committed. I myself, are also one of those lazy people, from time to time. It’s like a disease.
Love,
L.
isn’t it strange: the discipline we put ourselves through day after day, doing something we don’t want to be doing: biking down town to a sticky office where windows don’t open to do an unfulfilling job with too little content filling ones the day, how we shop for food we don’t feel like eating and meet people out of politeness and courtesy instead of need for being with them. Then we zap our remote controles past endless unmemorable shows and news items until we finally get into bed – to to sleep, perhaps to dream. And all the while we know how we would like to live, what it could be like if only we’d get ourselves straightened out, if only we had the discipline to set the step, to move, to do what we really want to be doing….. it’s exasperating to not be disciplined and exhausting to be so very disciplined doing the wrong things. Why on earth is it like this?
Montega, I think You read my answer wrong. I don’t agree that people should be doing what they hate, or what they simply don’t love, enjoy. But there is a difference between doing something, that at times, can be hard. There are no situations in life, which are 100% unchangable, except for the earthly death, even if the spirit remains, the body dies, in its own form.
I did not justify what You discribed to be dread: I do not justify to do anything less than You want to. If there is potential and chances, why not do what we love. But we have to still, stay realistic, aswell, Montega – if one does not have wings, they cannot fly. We can find an airplane and fly with that, but we cannot fly ourselves. If You understand, what I mean. We can compensate what are unreal for us… but we can’t change the reality. Only when there is potential and possibility to change… realistical. :)
And if we have love inside us, and trust, we will find what we love, no matter what. Following blindly is not ok. As You described, to follow blindly after things You followed – You later noticed, it is not for You. I applaud, if You noticed that. Most of people doesn’t even care to venture inside themselves enough to find, that they are not enjoying life. They just whine, complain and sog in saddness from day to day, and often even projecting their hate into others whilst. They don’t know why, but they just do it… mostly without even realizing, what kind of persons they have became.
I think not knowing (as You described in Your last passage) is worse. It may seem better, but I wouldn’t change it, if I had a chance.
Knowing something is realising new info. And from that info You have possibilites of chances and ways to act or choose things in life. It is not only flowing with the current. Life is what You make it. And if there are sometimes harder times, maybe those are there for a reason… to challenge You, or to push You to change something, or overcome Your fear or …… (million possibilities).
If I had to, I would choose knowledge and responsibility to not doing anything, because “not knowing or not realising” that we are on a wrong path so far, and without knowing that we actually need a new one to feel fullfilled or alive, in life, is to me, actually, drifting along. At least more than when we have those periods of life, when we drift.
We can’t always change the current or swim upstream. Sometimes we have to go with the flow and see what happens. And I guess I am naive to believe that things mostly turn for the better, if we are alert, trusting, loving ourselves and others (not egoistically)….
Love,
Liina
“That the force i am being given to bear the which cannot be changed, and the courage to change which can be, but also the wisdom of distinguishing one of the other “Marc Aurèle , Roman emperor
” Que la force me soit donnée de supporter ce qui ne peut être changé, et le courage de changer ce qui peut l’être mais aussi la sagesse de distinguer l’un de l’autre ”
Marc Aurèle , empereur romain
Love and faith
great post sido, marc aurèle was also philosopher.
What kind of risk you are going to take?
Anyways, wish you the very best, God be with you!
Love
Alexandra
it is very true…
This is a wonderful quote. Thank you.
Sei que correr risco é crescer como ser humano e é para essa condição que estamos aqui. Por isso estou saindo cada dia mais de dentro da minha semente e me tornando planta, com raízes, caule e, principalmente com lindas folhas. Dai surgirá uma flor que vai encantar ao Criador e Ele saberá que estou feliz assim.
Bjs!
Fica com Deus e na paz!
Nice comment. I hope everyone at this blog is becoming the plant or tree they are meant to be. Strong roots, healthy body, green leaves, and flowers indeed.
Try to rely on Your strenghts, and remember Your weaknesses. Believe, in Yourself, and the weaknesses will start to fade.
Love,
L.
Dear Jessica
Lots of light and love to you,
Lots of love
Pandora
i just left the man i love because he doesn’t commit to me, i’ll leave my job soon because it doesn’t give me the opportunity to do meaningful work.
It feels like i’m standing in a november storm: cold and unprotected. Yet what seemed like shelter is not protecting me: it is the wrong type of love and the wrong type of work. It gives an illusion of warmth and security but it hurts my soul. So here i am, on my own again with nothing but a belief that i should not compromise on the big things in life…..
Dear Montega
You are a courageous spirit, I have been in a position like yours in my life, you have to do what you feel is right for you no matter if life is more difficult in the short term.
Some people can live a lie, but some people cannot, and although it might seem to be a smoother ride for those that can, I do not believe this to be the case, because if we live a lie, we die within.
You are fortunate to be able to recognise what is disatisfying in your life, and to have the ability to be able to change it.
All my love to you
Pandora
I empathize with you. To do what you’re doing great courage is needed. I did what you’ve done regarding love.
So I understand what you mean about feeling as if you were in a whirlwind. You’re taking riks. Well done!
Support and peace to you my dear.
Dear Jessica, our thoughts are with you. Please, do not .. panic and do not be afraid. Just relax and … breath calmly. Imagine yourself in a white cloud and imagine yourself being successful in … whatever you are going to .. risk. After all it is just another .. effort..
Keep fighting, praying and … traveling..
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Para mi, la vida es una montaña rusa, con subidas, bajadas, nos llena de expectativas y de temores, pero al final siempre terminamos riendo… Disfruta las pruebas y riesgos en tu camino todas son puestas allí por una razón que a veces desconocemos… Con cariño ERIKA
The meaning of this quote understand, I would like to see those who?
I’m don’t ;)
lol – it means that it’s quite safe to take risks: whatever happens happens and it’s not bad. When you move you discover the world and her miracles, you discover god. It’s fear that makes you stay still. Standing still makes you ponder and theorize about what would happen if, what would be when… Holding on to fixed ideas and dogmas, holding on to thoughts like ‘it has always been like that and that must be for a good reason, so i will do it that way too’. Living like that you won’t discover anything valuable. You won’t find a thing without taking the first step. Your life will be as if you have read all about swimming but are afraid of jumping into the water.
Risks are opportunities for us to welcome and feel God’s presence in our lives. When we take risks, there’s always the feeling of uncertainty that makes us feel that we need to depend on a Higher Being. Such moments make us acknowledge and depend on God and His love, and thus, make us feel protected.
Though, we can still feel God and His protection in many ways, though not as greatly as when we take risks in our lives. And so there maybe times that we feel that God retreats and times when we don’t feel his protection. But who can understand how God thinks?
Our reality depends on how we think. What we think of God’s presence in our lives and His protection will depend on how our minds work, our faith and our beliefs.
But in the end, I still believe that God protects us all the time. It’s the way we think that will affect our feelings with regards to God’s protection and presence.
We ‘believe’ that we … take risks!We just follow the predestined, for each one of us, path..
Actually we are just risking or losing what we believe is the ‘safe’ way or life, for us: The .. illusion.
But there is nothing in the material world that is stable and permanent, because this is the world of ‘movement’ and ‘change’ and the river’s flow!
The risks we take are the creative fantasy that we use together with Mind and Logos; but there is nothing new under the Sun.
May we always have and “sense” His protection.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
I was reading about the Wisdom of Solomon last night and found these words:
For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.
For after this cometh night: but vice shall not prevail against wisdom.
Lots of love
XXX
Dear freind Thelma,
are u suggesting that, all that happnes is ‘maktub’ as is written.
yep it is, and then let’s push this unedrstanding down a little, go back and take rsiks, live a little dangerously, enjoy life not by beinga bystander but by being a player, knowing fully well that all is maktub, all is happening. somehow i too never felt teh need to resort to magic to ‘achive’ anything in life, in fact i was sort of discouraged to do that, i too was told love, or more specifically devotion, that is bhakti marg as said in hindu was simplest, coolest. so love it is.
love
aditya
It is Funny, exactly yesterday evening I was reading something similar to this. I’ll quoted here with some minor modifications.
“But when the person is no longer prepared to remain in the stage of struggles who are dominated by their fear, he must conquer the fear that once protected it and do the very thing of which it was most afraid. He must expose himself to the annihilating force of “destiny” without letting himself being destroyed. By overcoming his fear, he experiences his higher self, deathless and indestructible, and his fear changes into Joy”
E. Neumann
Taking a risk can be the hardest thing to do, sometimes.. Especially when we know that the risk may chase us off from the current comfort zone we are living in.. But remember, the risk will take you to places that you have never imagined, the most exciting experiences and most importantly, will make you a more developed individual if you allow the experiences to affect you in such a way..
When I read The Alchemist, only recently, I was changed, forever. The way mind mind worked has taken a 360 degree turn and instatntly, I knew that my destiny is changed forever.. and the change was just wihin me.. There is this incredible potential in each of us, but sometimes, we just refuse to look at ourselves with a clear prespective.. We have this terrible complexes within ourself, based on what we have seen and what others had to us.. But, how can we not acknowledge that we, each individual, are so talented and gifted in some way. And how often do we appreciate ourselves?
I have had the dream since I was little. I had this urge to help people. When I was still in primary school, I would actually ty to be friendly with the childrens of the “special class” who were blind, or with some sort of physical impairment. I loved to volunteer and it was natural for me to speak up whenever I needed to..
After graduating from High School, I wanted to do a degree in psychology because I wanted to make a difference.. I told them that money is not as important as my dreams and people laughed at me.. They said that in ordr to be sucessful, I had to do medicine or law or something like that.. Being as young as I was, I thought that probably they were right and burried my dreams and went to pursue a different, albeit more practical path..
The Alchemist shook me out of my mundane existence and exhumed my long burried dreams.. It came at the right time, when I was lost and God knows that I owe the world to Paulo.. Because of him, I am now following my dreams.. and nothing can change the way I view life now.. It is so much of a better place to life in, for me..
The Alchemist taught me about being brave enough to take risks.. The risk that has to be taken to accomplish the mission God has set up to.. Just imagine if Santiago never took the journey.. He would have stayed there as a shepherd without knowing that the treasure of his dreams just lay beneath his feet.. He wouldnt have met the Wise King of Salem, Fatima and the Alchemist, himself.. And what a waste it will be…
If he had not taken the risk, Santiago could have never inspired millions of us, out there.. The risk he took, inspired each of us, to embark on our own journey towards GOD..
Dear Zangeetha,
I read the “alchemist” a decade ago and if I remember correctly, Santiago set off, made a huge journey, met many people, inluding the woman he enentually loved and finally found the treasure underneath his original place. Right?
I don’t want to negate or debunk anything, but think a bit about this: if Santiago never set off, he would have just accomplished something else. He would have made another journey or no journey at all, he would have met other people, another spouse etc…etc…This is not a bad option either. It is just another alternative.
Now, something else: since you are interested in psychology, I propose that you read the “Primal Scream” of Arthur Janov. He is a psychologist, but his ideas are quite different. I also suggest that you be open-minded, in case you decide to buy this book.
You have my love…
Yannis
Physical or emotional risk? The words that come to mind are “Leap of Faith”. Certainly in my day-to-day life I find “yes I can” far more powerful than “maybe I can” or “no I can’t”. I still retreat to what is comfortable sometimes though. Next time I am tempted to step sideways instead of forward I will have this quote with me as a shield.
Thank-you!
With love, Daniel
It’s absolutely hard to take risks when people you love will be affected. Is it selfish to just take a risk for your own good, and forget about everybody else?
I think that everything we do is selfish. Even when we offer a charity.
There are times in our lives that we must choose ourselves. If we are in the imminent need, then yes, forget about the others, give your body and soul what they need and later come and find your loving people.
There is only one existence on this planet, that if it lets you, you shall die (literally) and that is yourself. Not your mate, not your close friends, not…
Fulfill your needs (only you can do it best) and only then, will you be able to give your 100% to your relationships, work, the things you love.
I don’t exclude others, because it is beautiful to spend time with people and anyway, we are sociable individuals. But, how rich and beneficial can “an experience with others” be, if your problems follow wherever you go, whatever you do?
I understand, Yannis. Nice comment, thank You! I also live by this kind of idea, as You described, You being hungry vs. the girl who needed food to take medicine. It’s always humane to concider the situation and possibilities, when we react with the world/people. Maybe sometimes to act on this way, the situation doesn’t even have to be in such drastical measures. Sometimes just offering a piece of candy to a stranger on the street can bright up their day.
I actually did it once. I was walking on the street and I saw someone coming, and I reached out a hand and said: “Tibu, tibu, peida ära.” (“Chick chick, hide it away.” It is a saying when You put something into a persons hand and they are not supposed to see (with their eyes) at the first sight, what You are offering to them. So before they can look at it, first they have to cover it with their other palm of hand. And hide it for a second or so.) And then I put the candy in the persons hand, smiled at them, and walked on. They smiled back and walked on, and unwrapped the paper and put the candy in the mouth. It was a totally silly thing for me to do this, (later when I thought about it) but out of an impulse, for some reason I felt I have to do it. I guess that’s what Paulo also means by ‘being like a child’ again, partly. But after I saw the reaction, I felt good.
I used to work as a voulenteer at a childrens shelter, some years ago, and every time I was there, the kids just loved the attention. Many times I tried to bring candy with me, because I knew they would love it. And being in a shelter also has it’s restrictions, which pressure on the soul. So a piece of candy can bring big joy. I did it even if I didn’t have that much money on my back, being a student in the university and not working either. But I felt for these children, because most of them had problems in their family life, mostly brutal physical violence, also mental. I put myself into their position. Think how they would feel being in a place like that and think what could make it less horrid. So I knew that they did not have much moments, to be happy about, and that they did not have much light in their daily life. So my naive idea was to at least offer them some candy.
It’s not a big thing. But sometimes little things matter even more. We need such little things in our lives. And I think we all want to be treated nicely daily. Even if it doesn’t always happen, we still, unconciously, hope for it.
All we need, is love. ;)
Big hug to Yannis, Pandora, Jessi, Marie-Christine and all in this blog, who are reading this, and who need it.
Oh, and also, lets not forget Suphi.
Love,
L.
Yes!
Love me love my dog, as the adage goes…
God too, has a dog called Obstacles.
If you can sustain his barkings,
God will surely notice
and come to the very gates.
LOL…..I adore the metaphor :)
Melyssa
I don’t like the word “risks”. Three days ago, I had a conversation with a friend of mine. He presented a theory to me. To make a long story short, the theory says that all we need is a TRUE/PROFOUND motive (an idea that I already believed in a way, but hadn’t realized it).
The wild animals don’t walk 15-30 kilometers each day just to keep fit. They are hungry. The threat of starving is motivating them to ACT.
Odysseus wouldn’t care about returning to Ithaca, if there wasn’t Penelope to wait for him and his people to treat him as the rightful king.
In other words, this theory debunks the motto “it is not the destination that it is important, but the journey”. NO, it is the destination – it is the motive that matters. Failing or succeeding (following this motive) is another story.
In my opinion, people have created some mottos like:
• it is not the destination that it is important, but the journey
• it doesn’t matter on which electric wires your wings have been caught, it only matters that you tried to fly.
• you should live as if you are going to die tomorrow…or…
• you should live as if you are never going to die
• etc…etc
Well, for me the above (and some other mottos) are just expressions that some people created to justify, using “pretty words”, their irresponsibility towards others, the mistakes they made, their foolishness, the fact that they destroyed the lives of others, the fact that they manipulated others, etc…
When I was 22 years old, I did the most reckless thing, I have ever done so far. But, I didn’t do it, because I was a brave man. I had to do it. I had no other option. I was the wild animal that had to hunt in order to find food or stay in my hide-hole and die. I wasn’t interested in the journey. I was following the real motive!
Sometimes we may need these mottos to wake us up or to stir our inner world. But it is the motive that will commence the journey.
And this motive is never risky, never brave, never extraordinary…
This motive just IS (plainly)!!
If you do something, DO IT FOR YOURSELF, DO IT FOR YOUR NEEDS, DO IT FOR YOUR TRUTH! Don’t wait for the “bravos”, don’t wait recognition, don’t expect to be treated as the risky/brave person…And only when you have filled your needs, shall you be able to give 100% to your relationships, your work, the things you love and care of, in general…
Dearest Yannis,
I agree on certain points of your.. Yes, the motive is very important to keep us going.. But if we have our minds stuck in the motive, we will not enjoy, appreciate and learn from our journey. The journey too, is very important, because, in my opinion, if you allow yourself to learn and be affected by the journey, you will realise things that you never did. If you allow yourself to be moulded, positively, through the journey, you will realise that whether or not the motive was achived, you are a changed person, just because you embarked the journey..
A great master once said that we often waste our time regretting the past or worrying about the future that we fail to live our lives.. This is true when we are merely obessed with the motive. The motive and the journey is two sides of the same coin..
Dear Yannis
I relate to what you write about, I have taken many risks in my life, believing signs, following my intuition, and I think that is my life path.
However, through mistakes is how we learn most of all, and what is most important is the ability to get up, after falling down and try again.
However having fallen down so many times now, I am a bit more discerning, I question and ask for many signs.
We are all on this journey of life, and what is important is the route we choose to journey by. It is our choice as to the speed in which we travel, as long as we are moving ahead we are doing well.
Needs change like the wind.
Many thanks
Pandora
Yannis, I agree, that it is the motive, that matters. But motive also reveals Your attitude towards what You’re trying to accomplish and where You are trying to end up. (It is the influence to Your journey!) So, if one notices, the motive will give out indefinite possibilities for Your journey. The journey is never a 100% the same (for each time, or for each person), but there are many times frames, varies of possibilities, if You wish, in which the journey may go.
But journey matters aswell. I think, what Paulo is trying to say with the sentence “it’s not the destination that matters, but the journey itself” is to show, that the choices we make or how we react to the things that life gives or throws us is what we should pay attention to. To live in the proccess, to live in now, and make those decisions conciously, not to live in the future, in the destination. Living for the destination and not enjoying the journey for me means possibly forgotting about those choices, maybe not being able to see the signs, not being as active in the present. That is why the journey is important: we should keep our instincts sharp and ready to act according to the possibilities and our personality and wishes. So we should be alert and believe in ourselves.
For me, it does not stand as an excuse for wrong doings, being untrue or unliable towards others.
The motive IS the yourney to the destination…
Open up Your eyes.
When we think, what we will want to accomplish, we also think how will we be able to achieve it. We can find million ways to do it, do it wrecklessly or not, that is a persons own choice. We can say that, sure, we live for our self and live out our dreams, for our needs as You mentioned. But there are many ways to do it. Including a possibility, during that, to stomp on others, or not.
This post is not to offend, but to show different.
As You have said Yourself before (but in another words).
Love,
Liina
That is definitely a very interesting theory you have there, Yannis. I can’t say that I agree with it completely, but I would say that it is very applicable in terms of education. “All we need is a TRUE/PROFOUND motive.” I wish that someone had told my teachers that when I was in school, because they somehow didn’t quite seem to understand this very basic premiss. They had theories of their own, like:
- I know what is best for you, so just sit down, shut up, and do as you’re told.
- Your needs and interests have nothing to do with this process, and even if they did, you’re too young to know what those might be, so just follow the exercises that I give you and give 100% of your effort to them, even if they make no sense to you at all.
And so on…. Profound and genuine motivation is an essential component in the educational process, the need for which is all too often overlooked.
Life in general though, I think is a bit different. There is a lot more to it than just looking out for #1, filling your own needs prior to consideration of anyone else’s. Motivations come in many forms and all are not centered on the self. There is more to life than sheer survival – this is why human beings have voluntary will and not just instincts to rely upon. We can even choose to defy our instincts. Certainly, taking risks just for the sake of “appearing brave” is a rather stupid thing to do, but there are many more reasons for taking risks than the consideration of how that will make one look in the eyes of others. Sometimes true risk entails doing things that will even make you look foolish or silly, or possibly invite great criticism from your fellows. Defying the dictates of society and following your truth can indeed require enormous risks.
Much Love,
Savita
Yannis -
I believe it Is when your cup is filled up then?
Love
Hello Luminita,
So are you saying that I can get a real sword? do you know this to be true? I am not speaking metaphorically!
love and kisses.
Yes I want a real one Luminita, and to follow the Steps and the Rules of the ‘Tradition’, I need a Master. I would like Paulo to be my Master and give me a sword.
Yes Paulo? Can you be my Master and lead me through the ‘Tradition’ to my sword?
i think i shud started taking risk. this is the first sign.
It’s good for me to read this at this moment.
I took a hudge risk for my future last week, just to protect myself and let me threat with respect and trust in the work that I am doing.
I wrote that it had to stop with accusing me of things I didn’t do, or scream at me at the phone. If there is no base of respect for me and my work she can better fire me.
So tomorow I’ll see the consequences of what I wrote. She’s coming to my office between 10-11 am. At the moment that I wrote my mail on the night from wednesday to thursday last week, I was not attacking, but really direct in language.
Today I became affraid from time to time, affraid that she will be really hard on me again. I hope that I’ll feel the same rest and clearness ,then in the night that I wrote the mail, when she is standing in front of me tomorow.
Reading this message brings some extra rest and trust inside.
It does Lynn, looks like you are dancing.
Just trust your feelings they are your best assets.
Love
I would like to know her reaction. So far, you should have one. If you don’t want to share it, it’s absolutely acceptable.
When you accept,receive or worse “swallow” things some others do, sometimes this may help, to go further and achieve greater benefits. But it comes a point, that when you cross it, the struggle loses its purpose.
I will give you a personal example: once I was flerting a girl. I really liked her. I was putting a lot of effort, but I was getting rejected all the times. The more I was pushing, the greater the denial.
One day, a friend of mine told me this:
- ok, you did what you needed/felt to do. But what if you spend so much energy and disposal and spirit, that you won’t be able to joy your potential relationship with her?
And she was right saying so. Soon I realized that I had spent so much of my desire, erotic mood and lustiness, that even if I eventually had a relationship with that specific girl, I would never felt joy and satisfaction in that relationship. Beacuse, I crossed my personal point.
Good luck whatever you do in your life…
PS: I agree totally with the second sentence of Tulip above.
This quote is BRILLIANT! Love it,
love
Mariëlle
This quote really touches me at the moment due to so many changes I want to do and so much I wish to accomplish but as we all know, making life changing events is very difficult for us humans as we are afraid of change and becoming who we are supposed to become, as Paulo writes in the Alchemist, following your “Personal Legend!” I have to rake more risks and do as my heart wants instead of clinging to my fears and staying comfortable. Thanks Paulo for this quote and for your books, they are truly an inspiration, Niurka
I wasn’t sure what to think about this quote at first. I’m not sure if it was the word ‘risks’ that perturbed me or if it challenged me, but I had to read it over several times to understand what it meant to me, and then it seemed so obvious.
Firstly, god for me is the embodiment of my spiritual beliefs. I cannot say if he or she is catholic, or church of england, or jewish or buddhist, nor if he is a she or a he. But it is everything that I spiritually believe in and it is what gives me my faith and morals.
These days the word ‘risk’ carries heavy negative connotations. It brings the possibility of being exposed to dangers and things that may harm us. We are encouraged by modern society to avoid risks at all costs – buy insurance to minimise financial risks, take this medicine to minimise the risk of disease and so on.
We can forget that risks can lead to positive outcomes. Risks can mean progression by way of action. By avoiding risks at all times we only welcome inaction which is static.
This is a very motivational quote for those who are momentarily taunted by fears of taking risks in order to move forward towards fulfilling their dreams. And a reminder that life will not always be comfortable along our chosen paths. To take risks means that we are alive and have a choice. As with everything in life, what we choose determines whether we want to live a life in fear or a life fulfilled.
I am happy you reminded me this today. I needed to hear it.
Very well said, Christina. I’m with you all the way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, especially the part about how “modern society encourages us to avoid risks at all costs” – so true.
Much Love,
Savita
You are vulnerable.Just choice gives the necessary freedom,but ‘protects’ from other potentialities which were regarded risky and rejected.
This is really odd, that this week we have that specific quote. I was thinking about this subject the last few days. And somehow I am feeling as if I’ve done something wrong, because I feel like I’ve lost this blessing, even though I cannot say, I am religious. Although I believe in… something.
And in my case, it is exactly this – I’ve not taken that many risks lately…
It’s hard to fight for a new kind of lifestyle after a decade of blaming Yourself, feeling sorry, depressed etc. When You finally, as a miracle, get a chance, and grab for a new life, You are astonished how Your world could turn around. And then, You may (if You let it) fall back to the old, or just sit back and do nothing about the new life (as in not taking those risks), and then You may feel like that.
For timid people, scared people, or people who hold on to things too much, or people who seek for comfort or a protective bubble/wall, or people who have given up, it’s easy to find Yourself in such a situation.
Sometimes we’re shown (by a sign, if You wish) to seek a chance, to grab a possibility, and we hesitate and don’t go for it. We don’t trust our inner voice, instincts, heart… and as we let our possibilities pass, we see, that something else has passed aswell… maybe this is the reason, to show us to trust ourselves. To listen to ourself and act on when we feel we should, or when we see a sign to do it.
Right now I am wondering, where is this quote from. Is it from the Pilgrimage or the Fifth Mountain?
Wishing all well,
with love from Estonia,
Liina
For me, this quote pertains to what I would call “signs” and particularly to one’s willingness to act upon these signs, even at risk of looking foolish, even at risk of being criticized, even at risk of making huge mistake, even at risk of being wrong (having misinterpreted the sign).
Dogma is “safe.” It is a list of rules of what we should and should not do, how we should and should not behave, what choices we should and should not make. All we have to do is follow them. Direct communication with the Divine assumes a different approach. Inherent within that approach is enormous risk. Via “signs” which are implanted in our individual path, God/ess asks us to take certain actions, to set out in a certain direction, to do something with our lives or our resources which may even conflict with the dogma we have been taught.
The thing about “signs” is this: even if you recognize and acknowledge them, even if you interpret them correctly, and you do not act upon them, eventually you will cease to see them at all. They will be withdrawn. This is not God/ess withdrawing from your life, but more like a veil which drops, clouding one’s vision, one’s capacity to see and recognize the signs that are given.
Risk is imperative! Seeing signs, one MUST act upon them, even those which seem extremely risky – one cannot select to follow only the signs which seem to be relatively safe and low in risk – otherwise one will soon lose one’s ability to continue this Divine dialogue altogether. The signs will disappear and one will be left only with dogma as a guide to one’s spiritual path. Dogma, by it’s very nature, may well come from Divine revelation, but it is only ever second-hand. It is not the same thing as direct and spontaneous guidance from the Divine.
It is not enough to go through the world saying “I am protected” or “my destination is assured” because I am following the dogma of this or that religion. God/ess is protecting you, yes, but God/ess is also speaking to you directly. If you do hear this language, to follow it, rather than ignore it, does indeed require enormous risks. However, NOT to follow it entails even greater risk – the risk of losing that direct contact with the Divine.
This is my interpretation of this quote. I’m sure there are many other ways of viewing it as well.
Much Love,
Savita
Funny enough, I have experienced this to be true!
It’s almost as if our relationship with God is a mirror. If we take risks, He is there with us, helping us. And if we retreat, He also retreats.
Thank you for your wisdom Paulo, it’s always so wonderful to read your words!
Love you!
C.
I was raised Catholic, my future husband was raised Muslim and together we have a strong belief in LOVE/GOD. We have worked really hard to make this relationship work and continue to do so.
Although we do not go to church/mosque we PRAY!
Whether I am taking a risk or not I BELIEVE!!!
wonderful.
god bless you two and your family!
love
Hi Paulo!
Can you please tell me about which religion is the latest on our planet?
Maybe we should start the newest- a love religion!!
like people who ignore the signs of God…we’re blessed to have you Paulo!Thanks a lot.God bless you.
waoooooooooo
LOVE YOU, Paolo!!!!!! Always in the right time!!!!!!
This reminds me on Bjork “IT TAKES COURAGE TO ENJOY IT”.
LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST!
& keep on learning ;-)
except we will be just another empty number
YOU ARE SO GREAT
& THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN!!!
Dear Pandora,
‘Why does God demand risks?’
What the quote means in my mind is that if we didn’t take risks, we’d be all talk but no action. Action is what counts, and it requires courage and risk taking. Love requires courage and risk taking. What is a life full of dreams and speculations, but no real actions? Wasted, I think.
Thank you, Paulo.
Dear Lina
I don’t think personally that God demands anything, but s/he gives us a choice….
Action without intelligence is wasted energy, risk taking has nothing to do with God, but is to do with our own personal legend and fulfillment and karma.
So yes I agree risk taking is important, especially in Love, but as I am sure countless numbers of people have realised after loving someone with all their hearts, only for them to be crushed, God is still around. (or at least has been for me).
With love
Pandora
XXX
God never leaves us. In everything we do he’s just there guiding and protecting us. To whatever decision we made, I know he’s just there. We just have to learn to knock through his door…
I agree, if we don’t “live” then we don’t get to experience God and then he/she becomes just an idea. Living requires taking risks because how could we possibly know the outcome of all of our actions.
Thank you for this reminder Paulo!
Love,
Sherry
Ohhhh, a WARNING.
I AGREE.
SOMETIMES, AFTER FAILURES, WE TEND TO AVOID RISKS, THAT IS A SENSITIVE TIME.
bUT STILL IS BETTER TRYING.I LEARNT FROM PAULO THAT ALWAYS WE MUST AVOID FEAR, OUR GREAT ENEMY.
and moslty the result is so great
thank you Paulo
God loves us and wants us to be happy and try new things in our lives. God likes us to take new challenges, he enjoys seeing us working hard and smart towards something fruitful
God is great
Why does God demand risks? Surely God is Love, and recognises Love, and gives to receive, and by doing so protects?
Namaste Pandora,
Love is the greatest risk of all. An open heart is vulnerable.
Love to you
Whoah – what a great quote!
This really pushes the boundaries .. so shall heed time to consider.. maybe just consume and remain uncommented this week ;o)
Thanks for the inspiring words ;o)
Namaste Ninni,
I tend to agree that God does not retreat… well to me that would be impossible because we all exist because of the Divine Spark, but I think we grow numb to God… We just stop feeling the Divine until we take the steps once more use our gifts and thus retrieve our life path. This is why God becomes an intellectual mind-play instead of our nearest and dearest companion through life.
Other than that… Risks have their own reward… fortune favors the bold… I could go on and on and on. LOL
Love to you
I am pretty bold Elaine.
Thanks for that!
Love
:)
Yes Ninni, in the 2-way direction,
Boom, bi Boom
XXX
Hello Zangeetha, Pandora, Liina, Savita,
It will save me energy to address to all of you at the same time, since your comments don’t differ very much.
Your answers were very helpful to me. First of all, they showed me that my own comment was quite misunderstood. But you are right by saying what you have said. I wrote my comment, feeling a little agitated at that time and, having read it again, I realized that it is very easy to misinterpret it.
If we live in the present, we shall be able to absorb every new experience in every journey we inevitably make. Journeys are important but they will never be commenced without the “Ithaca”. If I am a caveman, I will never go out to hunt, if I am full of food. But when I am starving and go out to hunt, definitely, I AM LIVING THE JOURNEY. There is no past or future to what I do. Yes, I remember my past, but I do it in the “right now”. Yes, I make plans for the future, but I make them in the present.
Maybe the wisest thing to say here is that there is no journey or destination. Perhaps there is only the “need” that motivates the actions. Every step I make outside my cave is “a journey and a destination” at the same time. Every step in my life determines my next step and so on… I have to watch out for lions, snakes, traps. If I don’t stay in the present, I am in danger. These steps outside the cave are not brave, coward, clever, fool, fast, slow, extraordinary, miserable…These just ARE. They just happen right here, right now. If we make mistakes so be it. Everybody does. If we succeed, immediately the next step will be revealed, determining the next step=“journey and destination”.
I never meant to judge people who hurt others in any way. I don’t have the right and I am not capable of doing so. If you see my comments on previous posts, you know what I mean. But I disagree, when we embellish any action around us with mottos or other expressions. That was what I meant.
In other words, you are the bravest, the best, the wisest, the most magnificent person you can ever be. Because, you always give 100% of your potentiality, every single moment.
If you have inner problems to cope with, you may be seen by others as slow or fool. But you are not. You simply waste energy every single moment, dealing with your feelings. Other people (that don’t have such kind of feelings or have buried those feelings very-very deep inside them) may be seen by others as brave or efficient or brilliant. That’s a lie. There is no such thing. They just have another path to stride but still every human existence has the same significance. That’s why I debunk some mottos and generally many “human” expressions.
Savita, I also totally disagree about looking always for the #1. If someone is looking for the #1, then s/he tries to “ascend” compared to others, a fact that leads us again to my previous paragraphs. “Reaching the top” or “being the outstanding” is a fake goal. Actually, it is a neurotic goal. It helps some people bury very deeply their neurosis.
Moreover, I never meant just to fill your needs by stepping on other people or stabbing other humans in their back. Of course, there shall be conflicts or arguments with others and occasions that you will have to choose youself against other. That’s natural. I don’t have an actual proof, but I believe it is determinism the fact that unconditional love governs the universe.
However, I still think that motivations are really selfish – and the word “selfish” in this sentence is not bad at all. As I said to Jessi above, even when you offer a charity you do it for selfish reasons. I realize that there are exceptions to that too, but this is another subject to discuss.
If “voluntary will” is “free will”, then this subject needs a lot of discussion. Personally, I don’t think I have reached a conclusion and, to be honest, I think I will never figure it out for sure.
Savita, I think it is harmful to defy instincts such us the survival one or the reproductive. Those instincts kept millions of generations, humans and animals, alive. For what you say after, concerning risks, I also think you are right. That’s a really good point!
Well, again, I want to thank each one of you for helping me share my beliefs better. I wish you all the good luck you can possibly have.
I just want to add that it is good to hear others, but always keep the opinion that rings a bell inside you.
PS: Liina, I didn’t know it was Paulo Coelho that had said that motto with the journey!
Please, see above my answer to Zangeetha!!
Welcome Savita. ;-)
Christina.
I have the answer above…
Look above for my comment, please…
is just living one risk
Yannis, thank you for responding below, I am going to look up this theory, but one thing that strikes me in all this writing is the word selfishness.
Yes I agree that it is good to be selfish in certain situations, but unconditional love also exists for example in the cases of people that give up their own life to rescue another. These qualities that exist in humanity, give us a richness surely? If everyone just thought about their own needs, their own desires where would humanity be then?
Yannis,
I am not 100% sure, but I think it was in Alchemist. Maybe in not the exact words or not the sentence, but the idea of that book stands for it. (Or maybe it was the Pilgrimage as well)
But in Alchemist, Santiago, a boy travelling the world only to find out later, that his treasure was in his homeland, from the start. That journey that he took, in fact, taught him many things. That’s why never underestimate the journey – as Zangeetha had said, it may teach a person new things, or make them see or find out things they did not even know about.
After all, if Santiago had known, that the treasure was in his backyard, he would of never taken the journey, never met the people he met, never recieved new knowledge, never had to test himself.
:)
PS! I agree on what You said about ‘thinking that You are the best’, or ‘trying to reach to the top’. It can blind a person… And over all – what is TOP. Is it an illusion? Because, a top, for some person, can mean one thing, and to another, something else. For example, if we think about what is our potential, what is realistic, for us, to hope for. Different people have different things as goals, as “TOP’s”, in their mind… a teenager, a girl in wheelchair, a person with cancer, a person who have lost all dear in their life, an old man, a nature lover. Anyone. Maybe reaching your OWN top, is not such a bad thing? As You said Yourself, that trying to find that true, honest motive, that is something worth pursuing. Maybe that own ‘top’ is a good goal also. (Somehow I feel like I’m writing in a difficult language. I hope it’s understood)
Anyway,
I still wonder, where is this quote from.
Can someone help me?
Hugs,
Liina
I don’t at all disagree with you regarding instincts. In fact, I think we should be all the more aware of and attentive to our instincts, because as rational beings, we often attempt to negate or deny them because we view them as “base” or somehow “immoral.” However, as human beings, we can be motivated in many ways – not by instincts alone. We also have the capacity to step outside of ourselves, to actually be motivated to take action not to fill our personal needs but to fill the needs of others or to help them in some capacity. Sometimes this requires that we actually take risks that defy our instincts of personal survival, or that we even deny to some degree our own needs. Motivation takes many forms, and the self is not always the center of that motivation. This is the basic point I was trying to make.
I am remembering a funny story from a TV series called FRIENDS. I am sure many people know this. One of the group of friends was Phoebe. She said, that she wants to do an unselfish thing. Another friend, Joey said, that there are NO selfless acts in the world, that all that we do, is selfish.
So, Phoebe went, and donated a big amount of money to a charity case. She thought: “Well, that’s a great unselfish deed.” But it wasn’t, because later she felt really good about doing it. In other words, she did a good deed, but she also felt good about it, so what she did, she got a benefit for herself – the good feelings.
She wanted to reveal, that this theory is wrong, and then she went and let a bee sting her. After she was stung, she went back to Joey and said to him: “Well, I let a bee sting me. That’s a selfless deed – I didn’t get anything out of it. It really hurt.” Then Joey replied: “Well, that is correct, but the bee probably died after this.”
And Phoebe was once again stunned and confused and reluctant to agree, that all that we do, is selfish.
~*~*~*~
It’s a humorous show. And this posting is more for humour, the reason why I wrote it here, but I am like Phoebe in this. I am reluctant to believe, that all that we do, is selfish. And it really depends, what we think of being selfish, what is the “definition” of selfish, for us. Yannis, what is the definition of selfishness to You?
Pandora: I liked the idea of unconditional love.
All, have a splended evening.
Love,
Liina
I think Liina said in her own words what I would have replied to you, Pandora. Thank you Liina!
I said in my comments that only when one has filled his/her own needs (by being selfish in a “human” way, not by killing, humiliating others etc…), shall s/he be able to give 100% to his relationships or work or anything else.
And 100% to a relationship, for me is “unconditional love”!
And you know what is funny? I also believe that the few people that have achieved this 100%, when they love others, they don’t put effort. It comes naturally. It doesn’t even come to their minds that right now they love unconditionally their mate.
I cannot prove that Jesus Christ was Son of God or simply an outstanding perosnality. For me He is what He is. But for my example, an existence like Jesus is capable of giving charity without selfish motives. For personalities like Jesus, words just lose their meaning. I think that for Jesus there is no selfish, altrouistic, good, bad… … … There is only existences. And all of them have unbelievable potentialities!
I also said the following: “I don’t exclude others, because it is beautiful to spend time with people and anyway, we are sociable individuals. But, how rich and beneficial can “an experience with others” be, if your problems follow you wherever you go, whatever you do?”
I will add to the above…how beautiful experience will your marriage be, if you are tormented by your inner problems? How efficient mother or father will you be for your kids when they need you, while severe problems knock all the time the door of your mind and soul?
Since you asked me about being selfish, Liina, I will give an example of something simple I did one day. I just hope I will make my point clear:
I was with the theatrical team. We had a break and I had 3 tangerines with me, in case I get hungry. When I was about to eat them, a girl asked me to give her to eat.
I replied “No, I am hungry”.
She said, smiling a little “What kind of person are you?”.
I replied “I am just hungry and I give priority to myself, since it was me that forecast and brought the tangerines with me.”
She said then that she needed food in general, because she had to take a medicine.
And then I replied that “Here, take all the 3. You do need them more than I do”.
Well, did I reply to your question Liina? I REALLY meant to give her all of my food. I believed as soon as she said so, that it was more important that her stomach wouldn’t be sick, than my 6 hours starving.
Sometimes, I wish I had done more times the above. Of course, I could have given her just one tangerine in the first place. For the ideas I believe now, this would be simply a matter of choice. Perhaps, and this is really subversive, my choice wouldn’t be neither selfish, nor altruistic. It was just “my choice, at that place, at that time”. Maybe, having the same example, but being in other circumstances, I would have acted differently.
By the way, a humanity that is selfish (in a healthy way), would be a healthy humanity. I believe that…
You have my kindest wishes…
Yannis – re the “3 tangerines”.
This reminds me of the quote someone wrote on the blog.
Voltaire speaking to Rousseau “I do not agree with a word you say but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.”
Thank you
Dear Yannis
Thank you for clarifying your points, I have enjoyed the conversation.
Best wishes to you too
i don’t think so, look around you – people don’t take risks, they stay safe and soudn where they are.
This is a beautiful quote indeed.Thanks for sharing beautiful Annie!
Love to you
Candie
Very beautiful!
Thank you dearest Annie, it is so beautiful and to know that it was coming from a tortured soul..
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
close to the coast in the Provence where the gypsies meet to worship saint marie de la mer there is a chain of mountains, the little alps. Up there is a village called saint remy de provence. Just outside the little village is a nunnery, and in that nunnery van Gogh stayed during the last years of his life. Thats where he painted the stary night above the lavender fields, where he made his most beautiful works. You can go there yourself. If you do don’t stop but walk up that sandy road past the nunnery. You’ll come to a cherry orchard on the right. There is a little cottage there where a man lives with his dogs. He rents out two rooms that are cut out in a cave. Maybe, if you ask him kindly, he’ll let you camp under his cherry trees.
Walk up again the next morning and you’ll come to two incredably well kept monuments of the romans. A cenotave and an arch. On the arch there is horsewoman in a fight, it’s the amazones, hippolyte riding against the new armies. i climbed up onto the arch and looked around over the olivefields, scent of herbs in the air, and i understood something about beauty and how one has to look for it, do something for it, it will not just jump on your lap and pur. Like van Gogh fought and struggled and tried and tried again, we all have to fight for our right to be who we are, it won’t just come by itself. But when you give up hope, it helps to have a place in your mind to go to, somewhere like up there on that hill.
Hi Marie-Christine.
I cannot understand what you mean. Can you say it in other words?
Thank you…
Hello Yannis!
You are correct, and everyone has a point as well!
There does need to be a motivation that drives us. In acting, it is the objective, that need that drives a character to do and say as he or she does. The goal, the treasure to our hearts.
As in The Pilgrimage, Paulo talks about just this, the journey and the sword (motivation and goal).
Slowing down to enjoy the journey, is not always easy, as we are very prone to addictions Zahirs, neurosis. The exercises Paulo writes about in The Pilgrimage helps us in this process.
Paulo also speaks about the importance of the ‘secret of the sword’ the why we want what we want, and what will we do with it once we have it. I have tried to find a reason for my own need for attaining my sword, and the only reason I can find is Love.
The sword I speak here metaphorically, it being my motivation and goal, but I wonder, can a Women ever go through the same process for a sword? Say if I wanted to get a sword through the Tradition, could I?
Thank you for sharing!
love and kisses
C.
Hi Yannis
You said :” Fulfill your needs and only then will you be able to give 100% to your relationships, work, the things you love.”
When you reach that stage it becomes unconditional love and I see this as your cup being filled .You have so much love, it overflows and you are then able to share it with others.
I hope this makes sense.
Love
Yannis and Liina,
to me the acts of giving described above are from duty. I think acts of unconditional love result in pure pleasure from the act itself, not satisfaction at a deed well done. I am not discounting the role of “duty” though, I think it is a very important motivating force. When on our right path, surely duty takes a back seat, and love floods all that we do? There is a light about people that act from love alone.
I read in a book once, “keep acting out of duty until you can act out of love”.
This is where courage comes in I think. The courage to face something as a duty and persist even though it may cause you discomfort or even pain. Once you get beyond the duty and that fear of the risk, love is all that remains.
With love, Daniel
Hi Daniel,
I didn’t want to give my tangerines to that girl just because of duty. I assure you for that. I just thought it would be fair.
My first denial would be fair to me and somehow to her (in my opinion). Don’t forget that when you know that you need medicine during the day, you can’t just rely on the fact that someone else shall bring food with him.
But later that I learnt that she was under treatment, no matter she forgot to bring her own food, my acceptance would be fair in general (in my opinion again). I was not feeling obliged. But I can’t find any other words either to explain it.
Concerning the fact of giving of totally pure unconditional love, I have commented above something about Jesus Christ. We, humans, indeed have the potential of giving in such way. But the time we are truly able to act so, we won’t realize it. We shall just do it.
Thank you Daniel. Take care…
I agree, Daniel, a person, who is not always looking for their own best intrest in things, doesn’t do things always ‘because it will feel good in the end’ or ‘because then maybe people think I’m good aswell’. They just do it, because the act of doing it gives them pleasure, not the result. But sometimes the result is like a bonus, when You’ve done a nice thing, and then You see the reaction of a person.
I really needed to hear, what You had to say about duty and love, I have had also trouble in this. I should of graduated this year, but I did not pull myself together enough, and I wasn’t doing what my duty was to do. Sure, people will say, that it’s ok, You will graduate later. But for me, it has prosponed for a while. And it is also, because I feel like I am doing this more for my family and others, than myself. And that’s a bad situation. Although I have only a Final Thesis to write. But I will hopefully get to write it this fall, and defend it in January, and Your words inspire me to go on and not give up on this last step, because I know, that for my own self (and not for my family) I have to step up and do it, before I can move on.
Thank You, Daniel.
Love,
Liina
Dear Yannis
If Santiago never set off, maybe he might have had a different life, but would it have fulfilled his dream, his raison d’etre? Would he have died unfulfilled.
Refering to your story about the tangerine, funnily enough, or not so funnily enough, somebody (My ex) said exactly those very same words to me, when I asked him if he could get me something the other night… (despite the fact that he had taken all of my own), totally selfish or perhaps I am too unselfsih, or maybe a combination of the two…
So it seems that what comes around, goes around,
Best wishes
Pandora
Thank you, Liina, for your kind words.
Dear Pandora, I have never seriously read the Wisdom of Solomon. It is said that it includes THE Wisdom. I have once been to someone who was predicting the future through it. She could really ‘see’ many things ‘through’.. She was ‘mixing’ also magic with Christian Religion but mostly I think she was using .. psychology! She was a kind person and I think she was trying to give hope to the people who used to go and consult her. As I do not believe in .. magical acts in order to .. acquire power, love or money, so I did not ask her for more..!! But of course after King Solomon Jesus came and the Message of LOVE.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
whatever meaning
x quit daydreaming and do something about it
x stop watching romantic drama’s/comedies
x read books that guide you instead of entertain you only
x find a companion on the way
x run
x allow love
x don’t take on one-night stands
x be positive, laugh about the idiosyncracies and paradoxes
x don’t be such a nerd, precision is impossible anyway
x drink water instead
x collect berries and look at the sun
x don’t be afraid of the rain/thunder/cold, it’s going to pass
x remember: everything will pass and neither is good or bad
x stand up against violation
x open your mouth and talk
x believe what you say
x don’t listen to slander or abuse, treat it like rain
x don’t pretend you’re better, people will only mistrust you
x stretch
x don’t repeat other peoples nonsense just because it suits you
x use your brain
x (….to be continued)
For me, the number one on the list is exercise and stretching. It opens up my body and gets the blood flowing releases the enforphins and I feel like a New person!
And the steam room, that’s my thing! I love the heat, but also because I sweat out the toxins from my skin, and not only is it a Great facial, but I can feel my skin breathing afterward and I feel lighter. Actually I just got back from the gym! Ooh I feel Great!
Coffee in the morning gets the blood flowing, but surely exercise is better, or Sex!! :D
Although I love to enjoy a cold glass of Frappe because I love the taste of coffee!
Cold shower in the morning? BRRRrrrrrrr
Exercise and healthy meals are my choices, and a good sex life, but that’s been non-existent for Looooooooong time!!
Getting a little up close and personal here, oh well!
Love and Kisses
C.
x celebrate
x dance
x keep track of the path
x remember the lessons
x show who you are, don’t hide
Three words make (for me at least) so much difference:
“IT JUST IS”
Plainly, with no embellishments, with no pointless mottos…
Very nice…thank you!!
If Santiago was a real person, there will never be any possibility to say, what if…
Maybe he would have fulfilled his dream, maybe not. Maybe he would have discovered another even greater dream, maybe he would have died prostrated.
I am not sure I understood very well your own example, but tell me something. What do you prefer?
I fake “YES”, just because the other one (Mr.A) wants to be seen as kind?
Or you prefer a real “NO”, because the other one (Mr.B), really feels like saying “NO”?
Keep in mind that when Mr.B says “YES” and of course he means (as with “NO”) that “YES”, then you will receive his full potential at your service.
No, I have chosen to have neither A or B,
Many thanks
I think that is not the dicipline that Aditya was reffering to, with the posting. I think what he was referring to was the dicipline we do to become spiritually awakened and active in life.
These things You described, are not even close to it – doing something that we don’t even think about, or that revolt us so much, or that we do out of ‘habbits’ is not the kind of dicipline as discussed. If I am wrong, correct me, Aditya.
Although, sometimes, dicipline that leads to inner or outer growing will actually be ‘painful’ in a way. For example, in my case, I want to finish a Bachelors degree, but I lost my motivation. And I am not giving up because of the lost of motivation, because in the end I really do want to finish. Sometimes people can get in the middle of crossroads of life, and stop, for a second. So does it mean, neccecarily, that they are doing the wrong thing, if things aren’t moving so smoothly all the time? I think not…
Although, as You described, Montega, people doing things that revolt them, doing only because of the pressure of duty and no love at all towards the things they do, and no appreaciation to life… a lot of people actually live this way. And it’s very sad. But it is just one side to a coin. There are always different possibilities.
Love,
Liina
Yes dsicipline as in disciplining oneself, Liina,
it is no harm to take a break and stop for a moment, but finish that bachlors degree.
this sunday i read a beautiful quote in a newpaper, by some great man whose name i forget,
“ambition is is poor excuse for not being smart enough to be lazy” aaahhhhhaaaa i have found my religion be lazy ;;;—-)))))))
Montega, when it comes to being face to face with your ‘now’, no use complaining, cribbing unless we want to do something about it. afterall this universe needs people to do its mundane jobs like polishing shoes, sweeoing floors. remember dignity of laboutr, and just do it, the best u can, the best it will ever be done.
love
aditya
@ Aditya and Liina
i am a little upset with your response, it reflects just what i dread: being satisfied with anything less than the best one can give. Somehow to me it seems wrong to be worlds best shoe polisher if that not what you want to be. i think that the moment you consider yourself spiritually awakend you are on the wrong way. Somehow i think people should look for challenge instead of repetition and for doubt instead of reassurance.
Maybe that mean man Aditya writes about is right and the clue is laziness, relax with what one has, stay in the moment and not seek anything, no gratification, no ambition, no entertainment: just be. i would not know because i’m not in a situation where i could possibly relax. Relaxing feels like pain, i need to change so many things, there is so much to do, so many tasks to fulfil, and it feels like i’m wasting my time, my life actually, being were i am now.
Don’t you ever get the feeling that you have been following others dreams for your life instead of your own?
i have!
i used to think i was so stubborn: fixated on doing what i thought wise and relevant and nescessary: when i take the time to think now (and those are moments that make me hurt) i realize it wasn’t my dreams, i was just reacting against or going along with what others wanted for me.
So maybe i should be glad to realize it this early, maybe i should be happy realizing it at all, but i’m not: all i feel is this sense of urgency to get things right, to follow my call. Thats what i meant in that earlier post: if you feel this sense of urgency to change, all you can do is drift along and watch as it happens. Sometimes one feels like floating on a stream and nothing could stop you moving, other times it’s like being whirled along in an unmanagable flood, right now i fele as if i’m cought, stuck, pulled down and paralized: life seems unbearably boring and painful.
My dear friend Aditya, yes as you so beautifully put it, I believe in the … written, in destiny, in Karma, in Kismet, in Maktub. We just move into ‘time and space’ but our Soul[Psyche= Ψυχή], our most inner self is ‘timeless and space-less’. It is the Light, the divine spark inside us. It is WISDOM. It is the ‘as above so below’ and ‘macrocosmos into microcosmos’. It is the IS. It is already in the start [Alpha] and in the end [Omega = ΩΜΕΓΑ]. Ιt is the transcendental self awareness. It is GNOSIS-Γνώσις. But we have come into the worlds of duality so that we will acquire ‘experience’, take part in Creation and gain Paradise again. It is, in my humble opinion, to ‘unclothe’ ourselves from the .. ‘leather garments’[our bodies] and become pure light and love. How we will succeed in that? By finding the Truth and free ourselves from the Illusion, Plato’s Cave chains, and by realizing the Real values and the lesson of love.
As long as we are alive and in material bodies, it seems that we still have unfulfilled tasks, dreams, … debts, desires, that keep us in the material world. There are many ‘planes’ of existence and we have ‘talked’ also about Angels, Archangels, Apostles, Gurus, Masters, Gods and Goddesses. We, many times say, ‘I am tired of this life’. But we do not have any ..choice. We must ‘fulfill’ our destiny and set ourselves FREE. Jesus has said: I am the Truth, the Way and LIFE. All religions teach the same truths but with … different words. We are all HIS children and it is ‘Human minds and Hands’ that have created Chaos. Love is the universal language.
Regarding my attitude as to our Free Will, I think that with ‘human terms’, we are ‘prisoners’ in our Destiny, which is in accord with our …past deeds, desires, dreams and creative fantasy. So this is the reason that we are told to “KNOW ourselves” and ‘control’ our desires, that may keep us bound on Earth. On the other hand I think, we cannot ‘escape’ from our earthly desires, being in flesh.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Freind Thelma
i read your post with rapt attention,, OK. at this point i wish share with you a ‘concept’ attributed to buddha. It is said that we all are bound, and tightly bound by the law of karma. on evolutionary scale karma comes into play from human beings onwards ( yep even these ‘gods’ / angels etc are not free from this karma business ), and it allows for personal choice if not in happenings, at least in how we take it, and depending upon how we take it karma gets modified. suppose u or let’s say me takes it totally asleep, living a life of actions and recations, we keep moving through life like automatons then karma takes its own course. But if we start to respond rather than react, if we start to wake up so to say, then the karma rules starts getting diluted. When one is fully awake, enlightned then the whole karma stuff drops like maya, it’s purpouse having been attained for that soul. A buddha is free of his past karmas, the karma bank account gets deleted.
so there is nothing to feel helpless, choiceless about, just hit the dance floor and e nnn jjj oooooy !
hope u don’t mind my antics !
love
aditya
My dear friend Aditya, Thank you for your ‘attention’. I really appreciate it, whenever someone is open to other souls. You are a kind person.
Yes I fully agree with all what you said above. It is not that we can change our …past experiences and written karma and/ or the ‘net’ around us, which is interconnected with other souls’ karma, decisions, free will etc. The only thing that we are free to change is our … attitude and reflection towards different aspects of life. But again we are not really free. Because, as we have said another time in this inspiring Blog, we are .. conceived and born under the … Law of Cause and Effect [Karma]. We are here, at this moment for a …’good reason’: To take and give experiences and make up for our past mistakes and learn the lesson: To undress from EGO and become LOVE.
I think and already said above, that being in material bodies we have needs and desires and dreams. It is not necessary that I say that Karma is always ‘bad’. It is interesting to think how it may work and feel grateful for the presents of life and for all those beautiful people that we are, have been and are going to be blessed to meet in our Path/Journey. I feel warmth, love and tenderness for every creature – even for my black and white cat named Maroulla, like my mother!!- that has given me from their energy and light and warmth. But for those who have given me ‘bad experiences’ I feel also grateful because by that they have free me from my … bad karma!! If their actions against me were .. unfair, I am sure that Divine Law is going to .. teach them their lesson.
Yes I love life and enjoy the miracle of being … in shape. Sometimes it is … painful, some times it is a happiness, sometimes it is an … Ecstasy. This happens whenever we meet with .. soul mates or people with ‘Bright Auras’.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Aditya, Thelma
I have really enjoyed reading your posts on this,the concept of karma fascinates me.
Here’s to enlightenment :-) … and hitting the dance floor.
Lots of love
XXX
It feels like home :)
Dear Thelma
Did she predict your future accurately?
I know that in certain traditions Solomon is used in a magical sense, but the Wisdom of Solomon is part of the King James Bible, which is where this quote has come from.
Wisdom is Wisdom, no matter when it was written, or who said it, it is ageless.
Lots of love
Pandora
XXX
Hi Carolena!I like you cause you always are yourself!You say what you think that’s cool.Reading that,I was like I couldn’t believe that a girl so pretty like you don’t get a good sex life(yeah I go to the point too,people don’t like it,they don’t read,lol)well I wish you get a nice guy soon,that only will satisfy your sex life but also conquers your heart.Guess I’m a lucky person here,I tend to forget so many times,to cherish the things you already have.All the best.
Love
Candie
Thanks Candie
It’s rather not that big a deal as people think, not having sex for a long time. Sometimes my girlfriends will say, how could you stay without sex for so long. There have been many periods that I have abstained from it. It is in a way empowering, to get the Chi flowing in the body.
Anyways, thank you!
Love and Kisses
Montega,
u may diagree but why be upset, we agree to disagree.
before we can embark upon our life’s journey, what is it that we truly want, we will have to look within peacefully, see things as they are, and then decide which way u want to go.
my view about enjoying whatever u maybe doing at any moment was only to highlight that no point cribbing and doing something. it was about now alone. tomorrow is another day, next hour is another hour. if i really want to do something i will use my time creatively.
one must act from a state a peace, and then controlled stress, i feel. But yes running around, being in thick of action, everything is necessary before we can look for peace within. one has to ripen so as to say.
love
aditya
Carolena!
I love your childish enthusiasm. And I do wish Paulo answers your question positively.
Don’t be dissapointed because I answered first.( I’m just kidding, you can be as dissapointed as you want ).
As to your question about the real sword to Luminita , I usually read all the interviews Paulo gives if they are in Spanish, English or Russian. I remember having read one in which the journalist says she saw the sword Paulo said having gotten on his pilgrimage to Santiago among common things in his apartmant. I don’t remember if it was at a closet, but she mentioned that when she was about to take it Paulo did not allow her to do so. So, the sword exists, and it’s real.
I think, even though I’m not absolutely positive, for women the equivalent must be a wand.
You really want Paulo to be your Master. Don’t you?
I can tell you something else you might not know.
I read this in the biographical book written by Fernando Morais , The Magus. One of his disciples is the woman on whom he was inspired to write ” By the river Piedra I sat down and wept”. I also remember having read in that book that he has disciples out of obligation, not because he likes it.
Wishing you perseverance brings good luck,as Paulo himself said.
Lots of love.
Dear Carolena,
As Marta says, I have to admire your enthusiasm. And this is no small thing, as enthusiasm is the fire within that leads us to where we need to be.
However, in regards to swords, I would also say this. If it is a real sword that you want, you can order one online easily enough. I could send you some links if you like. Or, if you want Paulo, or any other master to hand you over a sword, they could do that to, if they were so inclined. But, that sword…how can I say this…? It would ever only be a piece of metal, worth nothing more than it’s resale value, UNTIL the moment that you do comprehend the deeper meaning, the metaphorical meaning of it. The metaphorical sword IS the real sword. The actual sword is just the material representation of it.
In The Pilgrimage there were the exercises, yes, but even the exercises could only take Paulo just so far. At a certain point, even the Master stepped aside, and Paulo had to complete the journey – the quest for his sword alone. He had to find the answer to the question: What is the purpose of my sword? And no one, not even his Master, could answer this for him. The sword and it’s purpose are one, indivisible. And the material sword is not just a “trophy” one receives at the end in recognition of having completed the physical journey or having executed all the exercises properly. The sword is a thing alive, that consumes and takes over one’s life. It is a force larger than life itself.
Of course I say all of this in complete ignorance, never having completed any such pilgrimage myself, never having received any sword of my own, being no part of The Tradition. I speak only from my own heart, and my own peculiar understanding and experience.
In the Grail legends of old I see this same quest reflected. And in these legends there is often utterance of a question which is very similar to the question which Paulo had to answer in The Pilgrimage: What is the purpose of my sword? In these legends the question takes the form of: Whom does the Grail serve?
For each individual who sets out upon the Quest, the answer is unique and individual, and, at the same time, universal. The form which that sword (or Grail) takes, as well as its purpose is highly specific, and yet it serves not that one individual but all of humanity. Its purpose, therefore, is universal.
I am rambling on here, and so I will stop. I wish you all good fortune, Carolena, in your quest for your sword. As for seeking out a Master to guide you on your path, sometimes I think we do not realize the presence of that which we already have.
With Love,
Savita
Thank you Marta for loving my childish enthusiasm, that’s probably what keeps me looking 23 at 35! :D
And even more so than ever I have tapped into my childish enthusiasm, I have learned from my dearest Paulo how to keep my child more alive than ever! :D
I have seen Paulo’s sword in his apartment, it’s Beautiful!
And Savita, I am quite surprised at what you wrote, you really think I just want a metal sword? that if I wanted one, you don’t think I could order one online??
The exactly symbolism you are stating IS the exact reason I want the sword, so if I get the sword…. What would that mean??
And btw, I do know the purpose for my sword!
Did you really think I wasn’t aware of this??
Thank you for writing anyways!!!
And thank you Marta!
Love and Kisses
Im talking about risks that end up being troublesome. I mean yes, we ought to take risks. We only are considered alive when we take risks, Ive always said i want my tombstone to say “lived life and made a difference” rather than “lived…indifferently”, but sometimes it turns around, you get tests and experiences where risks are indespensible with, yet you still feel the pain of them. As I mentioned, you can take one risk and assume it is fine, but then it turns against you, and then you have to take another to fix it. Which is the chain of being alive, but the process at time is an ordeal, and you feel tired, helpless.
I know that everything happens for a reason, and I know that eventually the puzzle is cleared and finished up, but still, does it stop the weeping at night, one it is only between you and yourself where you can admit that you are helpless on this. does it deny the fact that you messed up with that risk. I read before that Warriors make mistakes, I read that they ought to make mistakes to make things better, but we cannot deny then that Warriors are hurt, weep, are disappointed. I know it is part of the whole deal, but I guess I just needed to acknowledge that it is difficult, it gets hopeless at times, and sometimes it simply hurts…
actually nancy – thanks for reminding me…
last week – for the first time [in say 7 years ] i drew a tree… one very healthy, fruitful, strong, thriving…
i was suprised.
the last time i had drawn a tree, it was for someone who was doing one of those insighful readings, not of a palm, but from a drawing. it wasnt my best tree – a bit abstract.
so yes, perhaps from thsi blog, i have been alllowed to return to draw a wonderfully normal, healthy tree ;o)
it really made me happy and smile inside ;o))
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