Paulo Coelho
A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.
However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.
The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.
With considerable patience, the Sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.
He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours’ time.
“However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, handling the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”
The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.
“So,” asked the sage, “did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”
Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.
“So, go back and see the wonders of my world,” said the wise man. “You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.”
Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.
“But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?” asked the sage.
Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.
“Well, that is the only advice I have to give you,” said the sage of sages. “The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.”
from the book “The Alchemist”
How to maintain the balance, are we to simply project happiness or be happiness? I know when I’m happy, excited about life, checking out everything, oblivious to those who would say no you can’t, then all of a sudden someone, as someone else put it, sticks their foot out and trips me, I spill the oil! So how do you avoid those, who’d, like a childhood bully try and trip you?
Well it is not drama as long as the two drops of oil aren’t that essential for some beloved life.Happiness is the product of satisfaction,that increases our sensetivity, and delivered by beauty that decrease the threshold of our feelings.
To me… the drops of oil are the anchor to our selves… keeping attention to it, keeps us close to ourselves… and prevents us wandering away, in thoughts about the beauty of the world, it keeps us in the now… it’s like a meditation anchor point… ♥
There is a very similar story in the Indian mythology.The God asked the sage to take a around of the heaven with a bowl of milk in his hand and recite the name of the god but the sage failed to do the both together, then the God shows the sage a poor farmer who works all day but still remembers to thanks god for life his has..
Good recite of Sage Narada’s story. We often forget in our lives.
The Alchemist has touched my life so much, and this is one of my favorite passages of all time.
This morning I was feeling so sad as I had arrived at work….I felt there is no way I can find joy in a place built with iron….I prayed for God to allow me to find joy in everything I do…..As usual I got a response and have been getting magic moments while visiting with some co-workers. It is no coincidence that this story is on the blog, I was getting too focused on the job and not paying attention to the wonderful moments God gives us to enjoy our lifes.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend dear WOL!!!!
Love
Monica
I just wanted to say that this story has just got to be enjoyed and internalized, not more, not less.
Love from Germany
Thanks for the interpretation Jane, I was trying to understand this story better….now it makes more sense…
Love
Monica
it’s not that i doubt i can contain the 2 drops.. it’s the folks who put their foot out to make me trip and spill them, that i am concerned about ;o))
Maybe we get additional practice in the UK with the egg & spoon race that primary schools used to give on sports day…
keep your eye on the egg…get through the hurdles and get to the finish line
;D
lol. i thought of the egg and spoon race too incidentally!!!
funny cause I imagined Santiago holding the spoon with his mouth…………….. now I realize i have seen it in cartoons, this egg and spoon competition!
I often remembered this story about the drops of oil. And I have often reminded myself this story – not to just pass life by, but to truly live it, enjoy it, pay attention to things around us, but also keep our balance in it.
I truly love this story.
Thankful,
Liina
The oil: the essence and mission we all have to fulfill.
The spoon: represent constant care and fragility; 50%attention on our mission,50% attention on the world
The World around: our school
We can find happiness after reaching the equilibrium
As I see it, it might just as well have been two drops of
water in the teaspoon…
Don’t take more then you need/is given.
Respect/have eye for the source of your taking, of your
well-being, your happiness…, whether it is a person,
an animal, a tree or Mother Earth and her resources…
Lots of love,
Vicky
Reflecting further on this story, I asked 2 questions:
1 – Why 2 drops? (why not 3, 4, etc. ..?)
2 – Why oil? (why not water, milk, etc. ..?)
That’s what I could find on the Wikipedia site :
We are used to interface between two dense media, talk of interfacial tension, interfacial energy or interface energy. Between a dense medium and a gas, often referred instead to surface tension, surface tension or surface energy.
This effect allows such insect to walk on water, a light object to remain at the surface of a liquid (illustration cons), the dew does not extend over the petals of flowers, and explains the capillary. The surface tension also explains the formation of soap bubbles and the coalescence of droplets or bubbles.
Coalescence of two drops :
If two drops meet, they will merge and thus form a single drop (coalescence), again to minimize the total energy produced by the surface tension by the total area. Indeed, the total surface of the liquid is well reduced.
The coalescence is a phenomenon by which two identical substances, but dispersed, tend to meet. The main phenomenon that comes into play is that the material enhances its surface under the action of surface tension in order to achieve a minimum energy. The coalescence usually occurs in fluids.
We can cite as examples the drops of mercury when they come to feel suddenly come together to make one single drop. Another example is the oil that was mixed with water and shaken vigorously (so that an emulsion). Then observed that small drops of oil gradually merging them to form one large drop reflecting the final separation between oil and water. This applies also to a liquid foam, when a soap film breaks and the two adjacent bubbles join to form but only one.
Consequences of the coalescence :
In a liquid foam or an emulsion, the frequent coalescence of pairs of bubbles is one of the mechanisms that give rise to a ripening: the average size of bubbles or droplets increases gradually since at each coalescence event, the volume of bubble or droplet of the resultant is the sum of the volumes of two bubbles or droplets adjacent initials. If the bubbles or droplets initially had all the same volume (foam or emulsion called monodisperse), then this is the case when the coalescence process come into play.
Propulsion oil or soap :
Cut a piece of plastic about 3 cm (the color makes it more easily visible).
Y cut a slit of a millimeter wide.
The land on the water in a container.
Place a drop of oil or liquid soap in the slot. The play is propelled by the force of surface tension.
We can repeat the experiment without changing the water in the container, because a single drop of dishwashing liquid lowers its surface tension so that a second drop may again decrease sufficiently.
For a book entitled “The Alchemist” is even more…interesting! :))
Light & Love,
it’s alchemy at its best!
I prefer to think ripening, processing … beauty is in the present and the best is yet to come! :))
A few months ago, I bought a card that’s precious to me as a source of discussion. It makes me wonder, here’s what is written: “Life is an aspiration to perfection” – Gandhi
Light & Love,
Oh Marie, I asked the same questions when reading this, why oil and why 2 drops?? and a third one! what kind of oil?? black gold (petroleum) or oil like olive oil, used in anointing oils?… ok this might sound silly, but that was the question I had in mind!
Thank you for all the info!
love and graDitue
Annie
Annie, I can’t find this silly question. There are always several levels of reading. It’s as the microcosm to macrocosm. None is superior to another and in between, there are different views. For me, it’s just otherwise to change his view. I’d be happy to read if you find more news :))
Light & Love,
fingers pointing to the moon may also be beautiful enough to behold !
love
aditya
it’s about leaving a print.. or two
“Don’t think; feel. It’s like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly glory.” Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon (1974)
This story reminds me of this Bruce Lee quote. :)
yes, this is how it feels.
the story’s effect/understanding goes beyond its words.
it’s like dancing: you cannot think and dance …
As is often the case with Paulo’s posts on this blog, the message in this story is one that seems to relate to my own life at this moment. Over the past few weeks, I have been the boy passing palace the castle, so intent upon the drops of oil in my spoon, that I forgot to lift my head and have a look around. So caught up have I been in my work and other concerns that I truly haven’t had the time or energy left to devote to reading or posting here on the blog. I miss it, and all of you, very much.
I have to say that I like very much Annie’s and Heart’s interpretations of the “two drops” – that the oil doesn’t simply represent the “mundane” concerns or “duties” of life. It can also represent those thing which we are most passionate about – our “calling” or “mission” in life. Still, even when we are following our mission, whatever that calling may be, we have to remember to lift our eyes from time to time and view the wonders all around. It is all a matter of balance. Just to find the right path, our personal destiny, is not enough. Even though following that path is an enormous joy in itself, we still have to maintain a certain sense of what is going on around us – “stop and smell the roses” now and then – and not be wholly consumed by our work, whatever it may be. Even the noblest work can drain the life out of us if we do not take the time to recharge our batteries now and then.
Thank you, Paulo. And thanks to all of you Warriors who bring so much light into my life.
Sincerely.
Savita
Hii Savita! Good to see you! I understand we might meet very soon…and we could plan to join one of the demonstrations against Tony Blair *kidding*
Love!
Heart
xxx
Please stop by more often,to ’smell the roses’, I miss you!
Love and GraDitude
Annie
Beautifully said Savita, thankyou. At one time, I could do much more.
“not be wholly consumed by our work, whatever it may be. Even the noblest work can drain the life out of us if we do not take the time to recharge our batteries now and then.”
Now, it has become important to be conscious about, and pay attention to simple things like rest and rejuvenation – even nourishment.
Thank you again!! Love, Jane : )
Summa summarum as universal Law.
Thank you for this story.. What a way of teaching we men have for each other. Let me ask you all, what is two lost drops of oil when you get to see so great wonders on the way? I call it simply room for improvement. Keep it in your mind if you will. :)
J#Mf
i remember when my teacher told me about this book & i read it
in that time i was in the tenth grade
it’s just amazing
The balance, equilibrium in our lives!
To be able to live in the Spiritual world, the other dimensions, but at the same time never to lose BALANCE. To live in the Clouds [clouds dwellers ;-] but to have full concentration in the PRESENT MOMENT: To look to the HORIZON! Your are the Alchemist of the Words, dearest Paulo Coelho, and you never cease or are tired to … teach us!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
‘the Alchemist of the Words’ just as ‘the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword’!
HI paulo !! friends
when i read this passage for the first time, it hit like a bolt, and …
since past few years, whenever i read it, it fills my heart with pain, what close and yet how far i still am from getting that devise created which can actually help in this.
the two drops of oil represent to me – our purspose, whatever goals we have set for ourselves, and the wonders of teh world are our duties, obligations, our environment, mental and physical. mind is the key, it prefers to maintain a single awareness, inside or outside whatever catches its fancy. Our awareness needs to be dual, of the environmnet and also of the two drops of oil, it is anything we CHOOSE, gardening, music, making someone happy, anything that makes us happy but is not forced on us by environment.
love
aditya
thank god you are back! I missed you a lot!
love,
Heart
xxx
Me too… X
HI heart ! Pandora, freinds …
i too missed u all a lot, nothing short of a universal conspiracy i mean a consipracy of universal proportins could keep me away from this blog. some It head ( must be headless i am sure ) decided that visiting this ite is taboo and access was denied, now suddenly they seem to have wisend up once again ! good, and that coupled with a hurricane last month and first month of this year. heart and pandora thanks for your kind words.
love
aditya
come by ,you too, more often , pleaseeee!!! <3
Love and GraDitude
Annie
Hi aditya,
nice to see or better to read you here again!
This is one of my all time favourite books! And when we live the present moment fully and bring all our attention to it, the beautiful environment lifts our souls and we find the energy and will to continue fighting the good fight. But as soon as we become distracted and mental garbage begins to cloud our eyes and our ears, the oil spills and we don’t notice the beauty around us.
Thank you Paulo.
Love and graTitude
Karin
Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response. ~Mildred Barthel
Yes, we search a thing we dont know where it is, but we are so weird for following only a certain route…he he
If we dont know where it is hidden that thing, secret of happines, or something like that, we must keep our senses aware to each stymulus, that way we live with more intensity and we have more chances to find that thing. In other words, the importance of the road, not only of the aim…
and what prevents us from living more intensely, what keeps us from being more aware of each stimulus —-
—– mind is a monkey and it behaves on its own, wnat is teh antidote – remembrance, they say in spirituality. just remembering that i need to be more intense in my observation and respond rather than react, just this remembrance. but tough, as we know mind is a monkey till its trained, it becomes human, on way to divine.
love
aditya
You back, how great. Nice to see you here again.
Dear Aditya
Oh it’s wonderful to see you here again…
I really missed you.
With loving kindness,
Satora
Merci… Alexandra and Aditya…nice to embrace you …
Love
Hildegarde
so sweet of Hildegarde,satora and Alex !! embraces all around !
Oh I love this story!
To enjoy life and not forget:
Personal drops of oil are being centered (balance), and paying attention to my wellbeing.
Love to All, Jane : )
And thank you Paulo,
Love, Jane
Thank you Jane
Love
Hildegarde
Thank you very much for this and he history and for your books, which provide the opportunity and make us think about the meaning of things and the meaning of life, and help to see the signs, which gives us the universe …
Your works have turned my world
(apologize for the inaccurate translation – I do not know much English and use the translator)
happiness is balancing what you already have and what you want to have, the drop of the oil in the spoon symbolizes people or things you already have or that are already part of your life, most of the time we tend to take them for granted to pursue in getting what we wanted and thats what this “The two drops of oil” remind us, we can pursue our dreams and reach our goals without losing the people that are already important to us.. I just love this book =)
Dear Paulo,
I love you. :)
i love you 2
balance is the life… If you cant keep it balance you cant be happy…
life is alchemy. this book is eternal.
thank you for re-posting this excerpt.
the purpose of life is to evolve. we are all spiritual beings (where ever we may be in that process, regardless if we believe or don’t believe in a God/Higher Being) in a physical body. the challenge is to manifest that spiritual experience (what gives value and beauty) in the physical manifestation (the tea spoon with the oil). me thinks….
Thanks for the timely reminder, I was going through a bad patch reading this relieved me to great extent. I have not yet read the alchemist? but being a Indian have read about Narada’s story but keep forgetting it;( Thnx to @Naveen for reminding it.
This is a perfect story. A wisdom so useful in life. I salute your generosity Mr Paulo Coelho for sharing your talent/blessing to us.
**** this book has so much message to give, and it was given in the simplest term so everyone can conceive it, which will forever retain in your heart, mind and soul ^_^
I am curious what other wols will say about the drops of oil..
-i had asked friends what they thought of these drops.. most answered about duties, our job, what may consume us so much that we may lose all the wonders of life..
-“When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.” – chinese proverb
-for me the two drops of oil is the equivalent to the rose of the Little prince..i will not call them ‘duties’, because it is something/someone you love.. it is something that you are grateful that it/he exists, and you are responsible for it/him.. it is a chain of gratitude and love..
Love and GraDitude
Annie
Dearest Annie,
For me the two drops of oil is like an anointment, whatever life has anointed us to be, like ‘the secret of the sword’ in the Pilgrimage.
Love & admire you,
Heart
xx
love your interpretation sis <3
the Personal Legend is included you know.. the 'rose' , that something you cannot live without/ you love so much that you cannot seperate yourself from it.. you are responsible for it..you do not want to live without… our meaning of life.. for example, my rose is my piano-my pal, all the time I have spent on it, my special friend, my pal in happy and dark times,writing my songs, opening my heart and soul to it, frankly i do not want to see all the wonders that might be out there without having my drops of oil, the music.. that would be a day i wouldn't want to wake up, cause then I would not appreceiate the wonders of the world either..
Love and GraDitude
Annie
Thank you, Annie, and you too, Heart. Both of you have helped me to see this story a little more clearly.
Sincerely,
Savita
Dear Annie,
I think it also refers to our origins…….never forget the lessons life gives us.
Love
Monica
L’Alchimista è un libro che tutti dovrebbero leggere nella vita.
Grazie per avercelo donato…
The two drops of oil are eyedrops in our eyes.
The spoon is the soul behind those eyes.
It’s a true art of balancing confidence and perseverance … o—O
Light & Love,
They say there are now coincidence in the world. Its funny that i read this today because i had a moment today where i paused and listened to the “signs” that were all around me about a major decision and thought about this story from the book. Thank you so much for this work it really is a mind altering work of literature if you take it for its lessons.
გენიალურიაა, მე აღფრთოვანებული ვარ თქვენით, როცა მე წავიკითხე თქვენი წიგნი “ზაჰირი” მე გაოცებას არ ვმალავდი, დავდიოდი და თქვნს ციტატებს და აზრებს ვავრცელებდი ვყვებოდი , ბერვრს ჩემი არემსოდა ეგონათ რომ ცუდათ ვიყავი ან რაიმე მსგავსი ,ნუ არც კი ვიცი რა დავწერო, რა მოგწეროთ თქვენ გენალურ მწერალს!!
I love love love this book..I give it to my friends all the time..everybody should read the alchemist…so much message to your soul..its so amazing that this book really goes straight to the heart for so many people..love // Sarita
As always, I say… Paulo, you changed my ways of thinking and responding to the world. :)
I’ve been thinking about this story a lot lately — it’s so interesting to see it posted here today :)
Hi, I’ve been a fan of yours since ages ago, but this is the first time I leave my comment after reading your writings. I can’t stand myself without leaving a comment after reading this, this is definitely one of my favorite part in the alchemist. And I believe, you are the wisest man alive.
Thank you for all your inspiration to my life. Greetings from Indonesia. We all love you here!
I was checking your site and I found out that you don’t, so no need to answer that =)
buy the way you are so popular in Arab world and we love you
Ahh! I get it!
I dont get it amber please explain.
Dear Hugo,
I feel every book has a different interpretation for the person who’s reading it. It all gives the reader what he/she needs…..
Monica
The alchemist is and will always remain one of my favrite books.
This story is simply brilliant.
So simple, yet so deeply powerful
Warm regards
Preeti
I read that in your book, such amazing book it’s really catchy. And it’s really nice to remained us that.
But I am wondering if you are speak Arabic?!!
Good story ..really a nice job. we have a similar religious story in hindus about Narad muni(renowned sage) asking Vishnu(God) about who is his best worshiper. Vishnu said a farmers name who was all day working and whenever entering and exiting his house took God’s name. Narad muni who was a sage and worshiper got angry and demanded an explanation but Vishnu told him not to disturb him and do him a favor to take a bowl of oil across the universe and to take care not to spill the oil. After return Vishnu asked Narad how many times did he take God’s name while on the work and Narad said I was doing your work so how could I take your name with focus on your work.
To this God said that farmer has the work given to him by me still he manages to remember and take my name 3 times a day. Thats why he is my favorite worshiper
this story really changed my way of thinking…..enjoy the life without loosing your focus of life
I lovee this book so much! It makes me dream and takes me to another place where I think everything is possible, thanks for this master piece!
Enjoying life’s pleasures as well as being responsible for one’s duties?