selected by Paulo Coelho (feel free to share, by the way…)
Christian tradition
A protestant priest, having started a family, no longer had any peace for his prayers. One night, when he knelt down, he was disturbed by the children in the living room.
“Have the children keep quiet!” he shouted.
His startled wife obeyed. Thereafter, whenever the priest came home, they all maintained silence during prayers. But he realized that God was no longer listening.
One night, during his prayers, he asked the Lord: “what is going on? I have the necessary peace, and I cannot pray!”
An angel replied: “He hears words, but no longer hears the laughter. He notices the devotion, but can no longer see the joy.”
The priest stood and shouted once again to his wife: “Let the children play! They are part of praying!”
And his words were heard by God once again.
Muslim tradition
A blind man was begging on the road to Mecca, when a pious Moslem came over and asked whether the people were giving generously – as the Koran commands. The man showed him his little tin, which was almost empty. The traveler said:
– Let me write something on the card around your neck.
Hours later, the traveler returned. The beggar was surprised, for he had received a large amount of money.
– What did you write on the card? – he asked.
– All I wrote was: Today is a beautiful spring day, the sun is shining, and I am blind.
Jewish tradition
Dov Beer de Mezeritch was asked:
“Which example should one follow? That of pious men, who devote their lives to God? That of scholars, who seek to understand the will of the Almighty?
“The best example is that of the child,” he answered.
“A child knows nothing. It hasn’t yet learned what reality is,” people commented.
“You are all quite wrong, for a child possesses three qualities we should never forget,” said Dov Beer. “They are always joyful without reason. They are always busy. And when they want something, they know how to demand it firmly and with determination.”
Happy Sunday to you all!
i must say here,humanity is the thing dat is most necessary in this world.whatever you are whatever u believe in, we are humans in the end.at the end of day everyone would be answerable to his/her deeds.so must act like humans.peace and blessing on all those who care about humans.
spread smiles on every face,God will be happy for you.
786…al hum do li la for this truth that is beuond religion…. thank u Paul….love and light—sufi
I am reminded of the tales told by Nasrudin. The underlying theme, if there is one, of these three tales is grace, or rather the lack of grace and humility.
I see Christians (or to be exact, followers of the Church not of Jesus) attend Church on a Sunday, but a total disconnect from how they lead their everyday life. Even when they do attend church they turn up in their gas-guzzling 4×4s and people carriers, attired in what the world’s best sweatshops can provide.
There is a remote part of India known as Little Tibet. Prior to the construction of a military road, and their infection with Western culture, they lived a simple if arduous existence. Religion was not something they did on a special day in a special building, it was an integral part of their existence, it pervaded everything they did. When they planted their crops, when they harvested their crops, when they crafted their products, their spiritual existence was part of their everyday existence, it infused everything they did, and everything they did was in celebration of their spiritual existence.
I like to sit in an old country church, appreciate the tranquility and the beauty. The men, and sadly it was only the men, were communicating with God when they carried out their work. They were happy to remain anonymous. Even where no man could see, they still took a pride in their work, because they knew nowhere was invisible to the eyes of God.
I was touched by grace when I walked along the coast in Cornwall and a stunning view unfolded before my feet. I would sit for hours taking in this breathtaking view. When I listen to music by Hildegard von Bingen, who described herself as ‘a feather on the breath of God’, whose music and paintings were inspired by visions from God. Or when I listen to the Eric Levi Era trilogy, introduced to me by my lovely South African friend Estie, inspired by the Cathars who died in the Inquisition, a Catholic Crusade against heretics in France. When I sat and experienced tranquility and peace of mind under the shade of the trees in a square outside a Catholic church. When I watched a sparrow bathe in a fountain. It seemed an appropriate place to sit and read By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept.
There is a strong connection between shame and guilt and lack of grace.
Lewis Smedes, professor of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary, has identified three common sources of crippling shame (see Shame and Grace): secular culture, unaccepting parents, and graceless religion.
Secular culture, or pop culture, fashion fascists, skinny supermodels, and contrary, junk food, and moronic music; parents who never approve or praise but are quick to criticise their failures; and for graceless religion we only have to look at much of the Church today, arbitrary rules but no love and forgiveness for those who fall by the wayside.
Paolo Veronese found himself in trouble with the Inquisition for a painting of Jesus at a banquet (now hanging in the Academy of Fine Art in Venice, Gallerie dell’Accademia). Jesus is with his disciples, in one corner a man with a bloody nose, Roman solders in another, a few stray dogs roaming around, a few drunks, midgets and blackamoors. Paolo Veronese had to explain his irreverence to the Inquisition, he defended his work by explaining these were the people Jesus dined and associated with. He escaped with his life by changing the title of his painting to a secular rather than religious title Feast in the House of Levi. As now, the Church had somehow lost its way and somehow lost the message.
Children have a natural delight and curiosity in the world. What do we do to drive it out of them?
http://keithpp.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/god-and-real-life/
This is my first post on Paulo’s blog….I have just started reading his work, and I find it endlessly inspiring. Why did it take me so long to get into such a great writer? God Bless Mr. Coelho!
Whatever you do- pray first…
alla
http://www.allasobirova.com
They are always joyful without a reason? The man has no children. Yes, they can be joyful without a reason, but they can be as well very moody and they already know a lot.
religions are divine,we have plenty of them,but why do we have all this killing around the world?with all my awe and respect to all religions,problems are not solved.
yeah i think the religions must be shown as they are…there is no religion that do not predicate peace…so we must show that to all the world…we must be one ;) to have a better world…
I Like this short readings ..Sunday reflections -’nice one’ Paulo .I liked the Christian one about joy and prayer..it feels wholesome to develope a spirituality /of my undrrstanding in my life and your stories are g8 .Thank you.Love Breda
Actuall I have gained from reading all 3 little stories..about ‘Joy’ ..and being grateful that I can see the beauty of thhis world and develope my childlike qualities daily : )
So inspirational…Just love it. Thanks Paulo!
even if we aren’t children any more ,we still can have the same gifts :joyful without reason ,busy and enjoy in busy—presumed anything is our interests,for something you have to do ,this is the only way not make you feel distressed.let us forget the distress !GOd ,because actually there is no distressed thing.all the thing fallen upon on us is the god’s idea and want us study something by it .let us always remember this .I got the experience before!
the last one :we should known more than children about demanding the things firmly and with deterstation .
anyway we all have a child in our inward!let’s pray for it .
wish all the people around the world find their child inside!
What a coincidence! Yesterday I was thinking about the same thing too. God in the real life.
We keep some rules in our mind and obey to them, thinking that we are in the right way, letting our life become senseless because we become like robots and forget about the feelings. We forget that faith needs joy, needs love to be alive. It shouldn’t be just a monotonic ritual to follow.
when I was younger I couldn’t understand how could it be possible that all of those pious men or priests or whatever else , had decided to waist their life in total monotony? Why did they THINK that by acting like that they would be better at the eyes of God?
I didn’t knew about their love and joy. The love and joy it is given to them.
After all God is Love and Joy and we should work with love and joy to be with him. Monotony it is not part of it.
Remember Jesus has said that all the services we do to him he wants them to be with love.
Yesterday evening I was reading over a pilgrim who started his pilgrimage only because he wanted to find out what was this continuous prayer that apostle Paul talked about in the Gospel.
He meet priests and scholars during the way but for a long time he didn’t have any clear answer. After a year he found a monk who helped him to find out.
He of course had his difficulties on his mission but in every step he made he was felt with joy. It was his love and the Joy given to him to make him careless about those difficulties. The simple life he was doing to us it may seem a sacrifice but to him it was a blessing.
It is a beautiful story I liked it very much and I want so much to share it with the others because he describes very well about all what happened to him, to his heart and soul in every step he made but it is a 20pages material all in Albanian. And since my English is not that good I know I can’t make it. I could make it in Italian…Or since it is too long post here some parts of in Italian. If you want me to of course.
Dear Paulo, thank you for sharing these little stories !
Love
Olta
Well done Paulo!
I like them all, especially the tale of the jewish tradition.
I have a son and I’ve learned, in accordance to a sort of my personal “Tradition of the Sun”, to look in my son’s eyes.
I often loose myself in his eyes, or watching him playing. And it’s not a waste of time.
On the contrary it’s one of the best “school” I’ve ever attended.
I found out you can discover inside chieldren’s eyes Energy, Truth,Love in its real essence.
So yes, I agree with the Priest: children are really the best part of the prayer to God.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Christine
Dear Christine,
Merry Christmas to you, too. When my daughter was born, it was then that the realisation that we had been born before became an absolute reality for me.
She looked around, with these perfect, shiny mirrors for eyes, and it was as if she was saying, “where am I now”, there was so much fascination and intelligence there from the minute she was born, it was the most incredible and unforgetable moment for me.
Truth.
Best wishes
Pandora
Dear Paulo,
Thank you!! Children are amazing blessings.
Tonight I watched a video of this little 4 year old girl, singing. At the end, the judges expressed concern and were deciding whether or not to allow her to move ahead with the other competitors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XnQvfPE8QY&feature=rec-fresh+div-r-3-HM
Well, this little one really loves to sing, more than anything! And she made it to the finals. Children are love and love makes the world go around.
Love and more Love to All, Jane : ) xo
thank you paulo!
i just came back from a bunch of youths.
you reminded me of myself that I used to have all these qualities some time ago. :)
This is a story from Hindu mythology. Narada is considered to be the greatest devotee of Narayan (The Lord) uttering his name every other moment. Narada once asked The Lord who is his greatest devotee. The Lord pointed to a farmer. Who remembers god only a countable number of times – while getting up, before sleeping, before food… Narada was taken aback and asked for a reason. The Lord told him to do a task. Carry a pitcher full of oil around the world without spilling even a drop. Narada did the task successfully. After completing, The Lord asked how many times did you remember me. Narada told that you had given me a task which was difficult and required concentration and how could I remember you. That is exactly the reason why the farmer is my greatest devotee. He carries on his household chores and yet has time to remember me, even if it is a few countable number of times. But you forgot about me when given a simple task.
Always have the perfect words to explain something =)
I love it … Thank u …
Can you write something about letting go and fighting for your dreams? I’m in a dilemma between those 2 issues
Thanks, love,
Flora
try reading The Alchemist
Dear Angel PAolo ¨Coelho, Thanks for reminding me of the joy and the naturale way of children(one in each of us. I need it.
Beautiful stories. It illustrates how the various faiths are connected.. One thing I wonder though.. if as children we knew how to be close to GOd..when or rather HOW did we become distant?
Any ideas, my friends?
You lifted my Sunday with your winged words and story, to the spheres of the angels. Happy Sunday night to you too.
how to combine their separate pieces of wisdom…