Paulo Coelho
Having written a book about madness (Veronika decides to die) , I was forced to wonder how many things we do are imposed on us by necessity, or by the absurd. Why wear a tie? Why do clocks run “clockwise”? If we live in a decimal system, why does the day have 24 hours of 60 minutes?
The fact is, many of the rules we obey nowadays have no real foundation. Nevertheless, if we wish to act differently, we are considered “crazy” or “immature”.
Meanwhile, society continues to create some systems which, in the fullness of time, lose their reason for existence, but continue to impose their rules. An interesting Japanese story illustrates what I mean by this:
A great Zen Buddhist master, who was in charge of the Mayu Kagi monastery, had a cat which was his true passion in life. So, during meditation classes, he kept the cat by his side – in order to make the most of his company.
One morning, the master – who was already quite old – passed away. His best disciple took his place.
– What shall we do with the cat? – asked the other monks.
As a tribute to the memory of their old instructor, the new master decided to allow the cat to continue attending the Zen Buddhist classes.
Some disciples from the neighboring monasteries, traveling through those parts, discovered that, in one of the region’s most renowned temples, a cat took part in the meditation sessions. The story began to spread.
Many years passed. The cat died, but as the students at the monastery were so used to its presence, they soon found another cat. Meanwhile, the other temples began introducing cats in their meditation sessions: they believed the cat was truly responsible for the fame and excellence of Mayu Kagi’s teaching.
A generation passed, and technical treatises began to appear about the importance of the cat in Zen meditation. A university professor developed a thesis – which was accepted by the academic community – that felines have the ability to increase human concentration, and eliminate negative energy.
And so, for a whole century, the cat was considered an essential part of Zen Buddhist studies in that region.
Until a master appeared who was allergic to animal hair, and decided to remove the cat from his daily exercises with the students.
There was a fierce negative reaction – but the master insisted. Since he was an excellent instructor, the students continued to make the same progress, in spite of the absence of the cat.
Little by little, the monasteries – always in search of new ideas, and already tired of having to feed so many cats – began eliminating the animals from the classes. In twenty years new revolutionary theories began to appear – with very convincing titles such as “The Importance of Meditating Without a Cat”, or “Balancing the Zen Universe by Will Power Alone, Without the Help of Animals”.
Another century passed, and the cat withdrew completely from the meditation rituals in that region. But two hundred years were necessary for everything to return to normal – because during all this time, no one asked why the cat was there.
in my book “Like a flowing river”
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~ True story..thanks
Dear Mr. Coelho,
When we ask a question why, this is when we get in trouble. As we already know there is no right or wrong in this world, because each has a world of there own. We should stop relying on other people’s knowledge or opinion, by thinking that they know better then we do. All the answers are within us. There are people who rebel just for the sake of rebelling and there are people who rebel quietly. The quite once are people who make a difference. They do what is good for themselves only, without forcing there opinion or a way of life on to anyone and when another person sees there action and likes the idea they will “copy cat” that individual. A warrior plays a game by passing information to others (“stalking”) in the way that one does not realize.
Best regards, love and gratitude
Larisa
I love it! :)
Obrigada Patricia :))
I just wanted to let you know, there is a protected ‘room’ for bloggers going to Melk. Anybody going can contact Supi on arrarive@gmail.com to get a password and access to it. I haven’t seen you there yet.
Love,
Heart
xxx
What we say and do and think and feel..We have to take it with a pinch of salt…except what we dream. Listen to what we dream;
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-pinch-of-salt/
Thank you for sharing this story. I love it!
I’ve spent most of my life asking the question ‘why?’, but there don’t seem to be any answers! Maybe some of the answers would do me more harm than good! Maybe I will never know!
Thank you Theresa. Oh, one day you will know..I know :)
Madness- a word which was created by people who need to follow a strict rule or standard in order to survive…at least, this is my opinion. It is strange, how people look at you and point the finger at you as if you were some kind of monster… and it is funny how i look back and laugh at them for living in such a small world… Thx Mr Coelho, i very much like your everyday quotes and stories…
i dnt think if we r following sum rituals or tradition . . it wud be wrong to do. . cuz many of acts we follow in lyf that cuz it gives positive energy. . we shall too concern vid few faulty stories . . 1 thing i lyk is revolution is mother of new things in lyf. . .
With regard to animals, I always believe that I have seen an angel when I see a bird of prey – they are beautiful and elegant just soaring or hovering overhead. I always smile and say thank you when I see one!
What a great way to explain the concept. I havent got Like a flowing River. Is it another novel? Cant understand how Ive missed it, I thought I had them all.
Watching my cat lying for hours and watching – whatever she is watching then – ..seems like maybe SHE thinks about why things are, what they are ..or maybe just seem to be what they are ( for us)… ::)
“Ум-кормчий ослабел и пал..”(Корабль.Николаев)
Thank you for great story !!! Now I reed my X-mas prezent from my partner – “Alhemist” (englis ediction).I hope I will understand everything ;) You are Amazing person ! xxx
Thanks for sharing such a great eye opening and interesting story … I think I’ll enjoy “like a flowing river”
I put the link to this one on my friend’s Facebook wall. She likes cats and I like Buddhists :-)
Greetings
For the past months, that fact of obeying rules with no real foundation has been part of many of life experiences to discover. And I would say that a major part of my life was unconsciously rebelling to those foundations that could not in my heart give an appropriate answer to the WHY I was all the time confronted to. That story is a good example of the structures, meanings and evaluation of things that people take for granted. But as I see it, all were initiated by one person’s experience, one person’s interior reality or one person’s rational thinking about an aspect of his life that he transmitted or tried to impose. One day, I was looking at television and there was “Sister Angele” who cooks and who is so funny. When the guest had to cut the cucumber, she but both ends and started taking one to brush the ends of the cucumber. Sister Angele asked her why she was doing that (a thing that my mother was doing and that I did never asking my mom or myself why). The guest said that she did this because her mother did it. And Sister Angele told her that that did not do nothing to the value of the cucumber, for its taste, for whatever. That it was just one person who’s maybe habit to clean all in the house thought that she had to clean the ends of the cucumber. Was so funny! Do not remember all but then she went on to say that many people do things out of repetition that has no real foundation.
I am thinking here at family structures. The Bible says to “Honor your father and mother”, not to sacrifice your life for them and them to us. I think that, for me, that is the structure that can be most the prison. How often do we hear “all that I did for you, all the things that I sacrificed for you, and you …” I have deep love for my parents, but I need to go my path and they have to pursue theirs. For me, family structures can tie up so much that one cannot go on his adventure, staying always in the vicinity and in the same way of thinking and viewing life. It is said: You will leave your mother and father and go on your own” and Jesus said when he was told that his mother was there and brother, that all those that listen to him were his mothers and brothers.
Repeating and being in structures and respecting rules can prevent from undergoing and realizing our “Sacred Contract”. It is very important for me to not be attached and get myself trapped … no more.
Love, Jojo.
I remember reading it in Like a Flowing River. I understand the point you are making by sharing this story. I have a cat, which I saved from a garbage can in Barcelona, Spain. Having never lived with a cat before, I was very surprised when he came to join me in mediation. He especially likes a Tibetan Charkra Meditation CD which uses traditional singing bowls. My cat comes and sits on my lap every single time I play this one. So for those of you who enjoy mediating with your cat: its by Ben Scott & Christa Michell
Thank YOU Paolo Coehlo for your courage and your presense.
I must agree, we usually don’t think. but why should we think? its not normal to think about things that does not matter to you. why waste time on those things?
Dear Paulo,
After this day, wondering ‘why’ and ‘why not’. And ‘how’ too.
Really loved reading this story!!
Love to All, Jane : )
i bought and have read your book like a flowing river… very nice…lots of lessons in life…it has really moved me…thank you very much…
I read this a while ago, but today it brings more meaning into my life.
;)
Love it.
Personally I think EVERYTHING is better if done with a cat. I was one of those anti-cat people, until -in the middle of a dark illness- a tiny kitten chose me. She chose me, & with the help of her rough little tongue & her heart the size of the world, she brought me back from the edge. She’s sitting curled up by my side as I write this. I don’t question her presence anymore. Perhaps I should. All I know is that life is precious, & I would have one if it weren’t for said cat.
xx
I read this in Like A Flowing River :)
Yes, it is in “Like a Flowing River”
Why all these speculations? Life and things in it can be so simple, but we have become so clever in complicating everything. Everything should be looked upon from a very individual point of view. Because we, all and each of us, are unique and without repetition. Yes, we have created systems, and now we are caught into them, so we cannot escape, unless the strong decision of doing it. But then, we are putting ourselves out of the societies. In my world, there is place for everything and everyone, as long as things or people around are not damaged or hurted. If we only could put down all the prejudices we have. If we only could… By the way, I have managed to read all your books, Paulo. Many of them stays close to my heart. The closest is Veronika decides to die. I would love to see you in the country I found myself, there is many in this city who loves your writings, to sit down and talk… and take some coffee and cakes maybe…
Amazing story!
It was the same also in Italy with wine.
some years ago media said that scientific studies had proved that red wine was bad for heart, so those who had little heart desease could drink little and only white wine.
some years after, scientists discovered that a substance in red wine (“tannino” in italian) protected the heart (of course in small quantity).
Where is the truth?
So the better way is never trust too much what we hear, or read or see, but walk our path in our own way.
Love Chris
“There is nothing new under the SUn”
so, “What’s new Pussy Cat.?”
:)
I knew this story ,it is in Japan .I heard the other story as same mean as this one .it’s the keyboard . we all know the keyboard but why are the letters not in alphabet order ?at the beginning of using the keyboard ,the letters indeed are in ahphabet order .the keyboard was stuck oftenly for the people typed quickly .to conquer this question,one Dr.disorder the Alphabet to slowly the typing speed . till nowadays ,the technic has improved ,but the keyboard keep the old way !
not like the cat withdrawing from the medation field ,the keyboard maybe would be kept for ever .
in fact it is just a rooted habit .
nether nice nor bad ,but if someone must take it as a law and hold on it ,it would become a sad illness .
If we don’t make clear agreements, it will be a complete chaos
in the world.Indeed in our society we use sometimes useless
habits.It’s to us to decide which habit the most suits.
And meditation, the most people among us, are thinking that
meditation is a technique,but it isn’t.
Zele
:o) yeap!
Of all animals the cat is the most meditative one.
Of course you need no cat for meditation – but it can really help. Whoever once had a cat lying on his lap feeling and hearing its constant, gentle purr, knows how relaxed and relaxing these animals can be.
By the way – the frequency of a cat’s purring is similar to the “om” of meditation. It causes the whole body to vibrate.
…and fish of course! Not on the plate, but in a aquarium. Sitting in front of my aquarium watching the fish I can fall into a real stade of trance.
The more I think about this theme the more I tend to write a book: “Balancing the universe with the help of cats and fish” ;-).
since we are born we are taught that rules must be obey, that being different is a reason to be segregated. We are also taught the importance of being safe and avoid unnecessary risks. As children our free spirit will ask why, sadly the usual answer is: because I say so!
With this kind of set up how are we supposed to doubt that the cat is not improving our meditation. If your are crazy enough to ask if the cat is really necessary, by sure the rest will look at you in disbelief, will label you as problematic and stubborn and will sent you to continue meditating till your repent yourself (with the cat sitting next to you).
Love the story, thanks for sharing
loveNlight
Gabi
You are right. It’s just like the hype of labeling children, especially boys, with all kind of disorders in school. If the child does things different than other children, acts different, etc, the child is labeled with ADHD, autism, etc. And if parents don’t believe in those hypes, they are considered bad parents, and before they know, the government is ready to take their child away. And why, because some teachers in school considers themselves psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians etc., while this is not their education. And everybody believes they are, and no one questions their ability to diagnose children. It then becomes true, because when the child is sent to the psychiatrist, physician or psychologist, the child will be labeled, because the teacher says so! A lot of childrens futures is destroyed by this.
All is changing, I think at fashion first, how shocking were the women wearing short skirts(mini) at the beginning? Or trausers?
Now is a common thing. And the theories about coffee, some say is good for health, some that harms…So on. Of course we dont need to follow everything, I remember a saying: “If everybody is jumping from a mountain cliff, shoud you do that too?”
Hi Alexandra,
Funny, just as I clicked to reply, a television ad aired. It was about cat food!
Yes, I agree about your points! Thinking about pioneers, courage. And can see how this applies with laws and such too.
Love, Jane : )
Its amazing how we all fall prey to such things. This I guess is just one of the many examples of how foolish the human mind can become when it comes to attaining excellence. Everyone wants to be Numero Uno..
a b c w x Y zEE- THE CATS IN THE CUPBOARD AND CANT SEE ME ..iS THE CAT IN THE MONKS CUPBOARD ?
Were all in the dumps for diamonds are trumps,
the kittens have gone to St Pauls, the babies are Bit- the moons in a fit- and the houses are built without walls ..
Blessings Tania
actually, I don’t know exactly about what science reason between car and meditation. perhaps, the first master felt that his cat could help him being concentrated and could absorb his negativeness during meditation period. so that, the first master felt comfortable with his cat on beside him.
hmm, I have almost similar story, not with the cat but with my plant–jasmine. one day, my close friend asks me to take care a jasmine and I follow his suggestion directly. I always stare with my growing jasmine and I see that it’s so interesting for me to look at it. when I feel irritated and then I see my jasmine silently in front of it, I feel some positive energy comes within my mind. and later, I feel calm and relax. perhaps, I can imagine what kind of situation and condition which was occurred inside the first master at that time. because I think that the cat had been helped the first master to feel calm and relax as same as my jasmine helps me.
danke…
Amazing!! very nice story , thanks for sharing!
we are so afraid to ask the questions or sometimes the questions never appear in our mind as we are so busy in tracing the footstep of others…we just accept the theories of others blindly..so much tamed the way we do to animals ..
Funny story. Most of the time i usually get into trouble in asking authorities “Why should i do this”? Glad to be affirmed that it is not trying to provoke something but working with reasons. Thanks a lot Mr. Coelho =)
After readin the story i got to knw how ppl blindly belive superstitions. . with out any logic they jus blindly follow wat other ppl say with out even having the guts to speak out as to y they are really followin a particular superstition. . strange ppl strange believes . .
one who asks may be fool for some time and who does not will be fool for a life time ! asking questions makes life curious and interesting and this is amazing inspiration to start asking questions.. excellent Paulo , loved it ..
Thank you Paulo for yet another great story — read this in one of your new books!!! Other brilliant stories of truth can be found in them too!!!
Love and brilliantly beaming light to you,
Lainee
great story …… :o)
my observations with my cats:
they like only chanting in english.
they dislike chanting in korean or mantras.
one comes up, spanks with a soft paw my arm and tells me to stop with a shrill scream.
however, when I just sit quietly, they come and sit around me, and look quite content :o)
and then I “purr.”
Hm.
but I think I had several cat-situations as in this story.
causes?
- trust and believing that other people were right.
- believing that in a bigger system, it is set up in such a way that it can balance out and eliminate injustice that is done by single individuals.
- being busy with other things, so that the meditating cat is not so important.
- when things become quiet busy, it feels good to have a routine that gives some stability without asking, so just leave the cat where it is.
things are also done because one grew up in an environment where it was “normal”.
I just think about: physical, emotional, verbal abuse in relationships.
there is as if in a special time of our raising imprinting occurs – as in Konrad Lorenz geese :o); and it looks to me as if this imprinting goes into the unconsciousness. to question it, one needs to get it out and being able to formulate.
whether it will be questioned in a society depends also on the society’s development. For example, think about the current discussion of children abuse, compared to 10,20 …, 50 years ago.
It though looks simple but it is a very complicated thought, in first place most of us are so involved in our day to day lives that we without thinking blindly follow the dogmas followed by our earlier generations and I totally agaree with @Annie, it takes one person in thousands over many generation to go against them and lay new rules, this is how it is happening from dawn of civilization. as Chris had said only truth needs no question. one shouldn’t be just copy cats or we should not have blind sheep mentality, but is it possible;)
Oh I have the biggest smile right now, I love this story! And I just realised that every four year old knows something that most adults have forgotten: no-one ever has a satisfactory answer to the question “WHY?”. But why? But why? But whyyyyy? :)
How very true? But, to break the barriers and to come out of it we need a lot of will power and independence. Sometimes in the monotony of life we lose all sense of reasoning.
So this is what happens when you fail to ask questions.
love CM
I couldn’t agree more. People waste too much of their times preserving symbols that they don’t even understand the meaning of. I’ve questioned these sorts of things in numerous occassion, and, of course, no one has ever able to provide me with a satisfying answer.
“because during all this time, no one asked why the cat was there” i like it very much. and even though one questioned it, people tend to make-up answers to support their devotion.
Whenever I can get away with it in life I do not conform to society, however, there are always situations in which I have to keep to the rules to keep peace and harmony. Especially within family situations. I know sometimes because I live differently to others around me it causes confusion and unease because people feel ‘comfortable’ when everyone is the same. I think that is because they do not have to question their own lives if everyone is living the same life as each other. When someone breaks out of the cycle, it makes others wonder if they could be happier doing the same. To keep the status quo, people generally do not want the cycle broken!! Crazy !!
Also, about the cat story, I believe that when a cat is making the purring noise, it is in the same state as when we are meditating. They seem to go into a happy trance and want to release the happiness from their bodies in the form or a purr. Like when humans say Ommmmm, cats say purrrrrr.
xx
I agree with you!
Purrrr!
(Purring is also a sign of agreement and liking.)
Eesmärk pühendab abinõu. (translation: The goal dedicates the appliance)
Sometimes asking why is neccecary.
Sometimes asking why ruins the lesson.
Sometimes asking why will stop Your dreams.
Why?
L.
Great story. Only truth needs no question, all others we should question or do something useful instead of just going with the flow.
Women see all sides and question…which makes capriciousness a valued trait. LOL
The truth will outshine
the greater majority of the time.
Love and warm light to you,
Lainee
I love your 1min stories! Recently I read the excerpt from 11 Minutes, which reminded me how much I loved that book. Thank you!
We produce a video series called 120 Seconds where artists & creators speak about a topic they feel passionate about. http://friendswelove.com/category/video/120-secs/
We would be honored to feature you if you’re ever in NYC. The invitation is always open!
Wow. Just wow. Why do we do some of the things we do? If there are no reasons behind what we do, how are we to know we are doing the right thing? I might not be crazy after all! Not if the “normal” things aren’t really “normal” at all. Thank you Mr. Coelho! Love, Jackie
Minha mãe costuma contar a história de uma mulher que por ter apenas uma forma pequena, sempre cortava a cabeça e o rabo dos peixes para poder assá-los no forno. A filha dela, já adulta e em sua própria casa, mesmo tendo uma forma grande, continuava a cortar o rabo e a cabeça do peixe para assá-lo.
A falta de questionamento é uma desistência da inteligência e uma resistência às mudanças.
Eu medito e tenho gatos mas, por sorte, sempre achei que uma coisa independe da outra :)
Ótimo texto, Sr. Paulo, obrigada!
Paulo , i loved reading everything of yours , can i have your autograph please? i m from Pakistan
Like a Flowing River, is it translated into Norwegian?
Paulo,
- a flowing river or gone with the wind, life is all about moving on, with following heart and passing times.
- a nice story, it is quite true that when something new pops up in the society or some culture, we just first try to ignore it, then accept it and later it vanishes.
-mind rules over heart and makes us decide to do lot of other things but as you have pointed out in your book, “Alchemist”, the treasure is near you not away from you.
-we are not alone and we are never alone, one good example would be, a shadow- which also divides into one or many forms.
-God bless you and God bless mankind.
…knew I had read it before… Thanks for confirming the source… Lvv ya, Lainee
yeah, fish ….
I like to see how a cat lies down when she relaxes. totally flat, as if she does not have bones.
then there is a difference between touching cats and dog:
cats feel soooo soft and as if they have cartilage instead of bones.
they also smell better :o)
write the book: should be fun :o)
my cat goes through day and seems to purr always – whenever I see her. once in a while, she swallows her saliva wrongly and then she coughs.
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
And your cat is so lovely!
:-)
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