A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.

God always takes the simplest way.
All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. As far as I’m concerned, I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue. True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.
I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind.

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism – how passionately I hate them! He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice. Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.

Albert Einstein ( 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a theoretical physicist, philosopher and author who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and best known scientists and intellectuals of all time.

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FRANÇAIS (merci Marie-Christine!)

Un homme doit chercher ce qui est et non pas pour ce qu’il croit devoir etre.N’importe quel fou intelligent peut transformer les choses plus grandes et plus complexes. Il faut une touche de genie – et beaucoup de courage pour changer de direction – Tout devrait etre aussi simple que possible, mais pas plus simple.
Dieu utilise toujours la facon la plus simple. Toutes les religions, les arts et les sciences sont des branches issues du meme arbre. Quant a moi, je prefere le vice a la vertu ostentatoire. La vraie religion est la vie veritable, en la vivant avec toute son ame, avec toute sa bonte et sa justice.
Les grands esprits ont toujours rencontre l’opposition violente des esprits mediocres. Le bon sens est l’ensemble des prejuges que l’on a accumule apres l’age de 18 ans.
L’heroisme sur commande, la violence insensee et toutes les absurdites audieuses qui se rallient sous le nom de patriotisme – je les hais avec une telle passion! – Celui qui marche joyeusement au son de la musique en rang et file a deja gagne mon mepris. On lui a donne un grand cerveau par erreur, car pour lui seul la moelle epiniere suffit. Deux choses sont infinies, l’Univers et la betise humaine; et je ne suis pas sur en ce qui concerne l’Univers.
Vous devez apprendre les regles du jeu et ensuite vous devez jouer mieux que personne.

Albert Einstein (14 mars 1879-18 avril 1955) etait un physicien theorique, philosophe et auteur, qui est considere comme l’un de scientifiques et des intellectuels les plus influents et les mieux connus de tous les temps.”

The first symptom of the process of our killing our dreams is the lack of time. The busiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The truth is, they are afraid to fight the Good Fight.

The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life. We look beyond the walls of our day-to-day existence, and we hear the sound of lances breaking, we smell the dust and the sweat, and we see the great defeats and the fire in the eyes of the warriors. But we never see the delight, the immense delight in the hearts of those who are engaged in the battle. For them, neither victory nor defeat is important; what’s important is only that they are fighting the Good Fight.

And, finally, the third symptom of the passing of our dreams is peace. Life becomes a Sunday afternoon; we ask for nothing grand, and we cease to demand anything more than we are willing to give. In that state, we think of ourselves as being mature; we put aside the fantasies of our youth, and we seek personal and professional achievement. We are surprised when people our age say that they still want this or that out of life. But really, deep in our hearts, we know that what has happened is that we have renounced the battle for our dreams – we have refused to fight the Good Fight.

When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a short period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being.
We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct this cruelty against ourselves. That’s when illnesses and psychoses arise. What we sought to avoid in combat – disappointment and defeat – come upon us because of our cowardice.

And one day, the dead, spoiled dreams make it difficult to breathe, and we actually seek death. It’s death that frees us from our certainties, from our work, and from that terrible peace of our Sunday afternoons

Words from Petrus to me during The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

A boy was walking to buy bread when the mayor of the city crossed the street.

‘The reason he is so powerful, is because, he’s made pact with the devil,’ – a very devout woman in the street told the boy, and he was intrigued.

While traveling to another town, the boy saw a beautiful corn field. He asked who was he owner as soon as he arrived at his destination

‘All this land belongs to the same man. I’d say the Devil had a hand in that.’ – answered one of the villagers.

Later the same day, a beautiful woman walked past the boy. A priest also saw her and said aloud:

‘That woman was sent by Satan!’

From then on, the boy decide to seek the Devil out. One day he managed to see him face to face.

‘They say you can make people powerful, rich, and beautiful.’

‘To be totally honest, this is not true’ replied the Devil. ‘You have just been listening to the views of those who are trying to promote me.’

UPDATE 31 JULY 2010
As for this morning, final day of July, we are over 811.000 hits ( 50.000 views in three days). Again, thank you for your strong support
I will give you fresh stats by November.

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I thought we might have a descending curve in July, as most people are currently on vacation. However, with still two days to go, we are already over 766.000 visitors this month (see the graphic above, the mouse is pointing to July)
So you may ask:

a] How many people work here?
Only two: Suphi and I.

b] Is this a non-profit blog?
If you consider only monetary terms, the answer would be “yes”. The clicks on the online bookstores this month are less than 3.000, all buttons considered.

c] You did not answer my question: is this a non-profit blog?
NO! You cannot measure your rewards only in monetary terms. I believe that, by sharing texts of mine, and writing about my favorite characters, the poems and music I love, etc. is the best reward I can have.

Each and every one of us needs to contribute to a better world. Twitter, Facebook and this blog are my way to share things that I do believe can help us in this task.
Thank you for your strong support. Please keep in mind that every comment you post here may be read by dozens of thousands of people.

Let’s hope together we can reach 1 million people by December 2010.

- Como purificamos o mundo?- perguntou um discípulo.

Ibn al-Husayn respondeu:

– Havia um sheik em Damasco chamado Abu Musa al-Qumasi. Todos o honravam por causa de sua sabedoria, mas ninguém sabia se era um homem bom.

“Certa tarde, um defeito de construção fez com que desabasse a casa onde o sheik vivia com a sua mulher.Os vizinhos, desesperados, começaram a cavar as ruínas; em dado momento, conseguiram localizar a esposa do sheik.

“Ela disse: “Deixem-me. Salvem primeiro o meu marido, que estava sentado mais ou menos ali”.

“Os vizinhos removeram os destroços no lugar indicado, e encontraram o sheik. Este disse:” Deixem-me. Salvem primeiro a minha mulher, que estava deitada mais ou menos ali.”

“Quando alguém age como agiu este casal, está purificando o mundo inteiro”.
 
 

EM PORTUGUES: Purificando o mundo
EN ESPANOL: Purificando el mundo
 

How do we purify the world?- asked a disciple.

Ibn al-Husayn replied:

– There was once a sheik in Damascus called Abu Musa al-Qumasi. Everyone honored him for his great wisdom, but no one knew whether he was a good man.

“One afternoon, a construction fault caused the house where the sheik lived with his wife, to collapse. The desperate neighbors began to dig the ruins; eventually, they managed to locate the sheik’s wife.

“She said: “Don’t worry about me. First save my husband, who was sitting somewhere over there.”

“The neighbors removed the rubble from the area she indicated, and found the sheik. He said: “Don’t worry about me. First save my wife, who was lying somewhere over there.”

“When someone acts as this couple did, she/he is purifying the whole world.”
 
 

A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.

Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.

The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood.

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.

Siddhārtha Gautama, regarded as the Supreme Buddha ( The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE)

1. Avoid museums. This might seem to be absurd advice, but let’s just think about it a little: if you are in a foreign city, isn’t it far more interesting to go in search of the present than of the past? It’s just that people feel obliged to go to museums because they learned as children that travelling was about seeking out that kind of culture. Obviously museums are important, but they require time and objectivity – you need to know what you want to see there, otherwise you will leave with a sense of having seen a few really fundamental things, except that you can’t remember what they were.

2. Hang out in bars. Bars are the places where life in the city reveals itself, not in museums. By bars I don’t mean nightclubs, but the places where ordinary people go, have a drink, ponder the weather, and are always ready for a chat. Buy a newspaper and enjoy the ebb and flow of people. If someone strikes up a conversation, however silly, join in: you cannot judge the beauty of a particular path just by looking at the gate.

3. Be open. The best tour guide is someone who lives in the place, knows everything about it, is proud of his or her city, but does not work for an agency. Go out into the street, choose the person you want to talk to, and ask them something (Where is the cathedral? Where is the post office?). If nothing comes of it, try someone else – I guarantee that at the end of the day you will have found yourself an excellent companion.

4. Try to travel alone or – if you are married – with your spouse. It will be harder work, no one will be there taking care of you, but only in this way can you truly leave your own country behind. Travelling with a group is a way of being in a foreign country while speaking your mother tongue, doing whatever the leader of the flock tells you to do, and taking more interest in group gossip than in the place you are visiting.

5. Don’t compare. Don’t compare anything – prices, standards of hygiene, quality of life, means of transport, nothing! You are not travelling in order to prove that you have a better life than other people – your aim is to find out how other people live, what they can teach you, how they deal with reality and with the extraordinary.

6. Understand that everyone understands you. Even if you don’t speak the language, don’t be afraid: I’ve been in lots of places where I could not communicate with words at all, and I always found support, guidance, useful advice, and even girlfriends. Some people think that if they travel alone, they will set off down the street and be lost forever. Just make sure you have the hotel card in your pocket and – if the worst comes to the worst – flag down a taxi and show the card to the driver.

7. Don’t buy too much. Spend your money on things you won’t need to carry: tickets to a good play, restaurants, trips. Nowadays, with the global economy and the Internet, you can buy anything you want without having to pay excess baggage.

8. Don’t try to see the world in a month. It is far better to stay in a city for four or five days than to visit five cities in a week. A city is like a capricious woman (or a capricious man, if you are a woman): she/he takes time to be seduced and to reveal him/herself completely.

9. A journey is an adventure. Henry Miller used to say that it is far more important to discover a church that no one else has ever heard of than to go to Rome and feel obliged to visit the Sistine Chapel with two hundred thousand other tourists bellowing in your ear. By all means go to the Sistine Chapel, but wander the streets too, explore alleyways, experience the freedom of looking for something – quite what you don’t know – but which, if you find it, will – you can be sure – change your life.

As an old hippie, I know what I’m talking about…
The text was taken from my book “Like a flowing river”

Trans-Siberian train, 2006

Desde muy joven descubrí que el viajar era, para mí, la mejor manera de aprender. Continúo hasta hoy con este alma de peregrino, y decidí relatar en este blog algunas de las lecciones que aprendí, esperando que puedan ser útiles a otros peregrinos como yo.

1) Evite los museos. El consejo puede parecer absurdo, pero vamos a reflexionar un poco juntos: si usted está en una ciudad extranjera, ¿no es mucho más interesante ir en busca del presente que del pasado? Sucede que las personas se sienten obligadas a ir a museos porque aprendieron desde pequeñas que viajar es buscar ese tipo de cultura. Es claro que los museos son importantes, pero exigen tiempo y objetividad – tiene antes que saber qué desea ver allí, o va a salir con la impresión de que vio un montón de cosas fundamentales para su vida pero que no recuerda cuáles son.

2) Frecuente los bares. Allí, al contrario de los museos, la vida de la ciudad se manifiesta. Bares no son discotecas, sino lugares adonde la gente va, toma algo, piensa en el tiempo y está siempre dispuesta para una conversación. Compre un diario y quédese contemplando el movimiento del local. Si alguien inicia un tema, por más bobo que sea, acepte la charla: no se puede juzgar la belleza de un camino mirando solamente su puerta.

3) Esté disponible. El mejor guía de turismo es alguien que vive en el lugar, conoce todo, está orgulloso de su ciudad, pero no trabaja en una agencia. Salga por la calle, elija a la persona con quien desea conversar y pídale informaciones (¿dónde queda tal catedral? ¿dónde está el Correo?) Si no resulta, pruebe con otra; le garantizo que al final del día habrá encontrado una excelente compañía.

4) Procure viajar solo, o – si está casado – con su cónyuge. Le dará más trabajo, nadie lo (o los) cuidará, pero sólo de esta manera podrá realmente salir de su país. Los viajes en grupo son una manera disfrazada de estar en una tierra extranjera, pero hablando su lengua natal, obedeciendo a lo que manda el jefe del rebaño, preocupándose más con las murmuraciones del grupo que con el lugar que se está visitando.

5) No compare. No compare nada – ni precios, ni limpieza, ni calidad de vida, ni medios de transporte, ¡nada! Usted no está viajando para probar que vive mejor que los otros; su búsqueda, en verdad, es saber cómo los otros viven, lo que pueden enseñar, cómo se enfrentan con la realidad y con lo extraordinario de la vida.

6) Entienda que todo el mundo le entiende. Aunque no hable el idioma, no tenga miedo: ya estuve en muchos lugares donde no había manera de comunicarme a través de las palabras y siempre terminé encontrando apoyo, orientación, sugerencias importantes, y hasta aventuras amorosas. Algunas personas creen que, si viajan solas, saldrán a la calle y se perderán para siempre. Basta tener la tarjeta del hotel en el bolsillo y – en una situación extrema – tomar un taxi y mostrarla al chofer.

7) No compre mucho. Gaste su dinero en cosas que después no tendrá que cargar: buenas obras de teatro, restaurantes, paseos. Hoy en día, con el mercado global y Internet, puede tener todo sin necesidad de pagar exceso de equipaje.

8) No intente ver el mundo en un mes. Más vale quedarse en una ciudad cuatro o cinco días, que visitar cinco ciudades en una semana. Una ciudad es una mujer caprichosa, necesita tiempo para ser seducida y mostrarse completamente.

9) Un viaje es una aventura. Henry Miller decía que es mucho más importante descubrir una iglesia de la que nadie oyó hablar, que ir a Roma y sentirse obligado a visitar la Capilla Sixtina, con doscientos mil turistas gritando en sus oídos. Vaya a la Capilla Sixtina, sí, pero también déjese perder por las calles, intérnese en las callejuelas, sienta la libertad de estar buscando algo que no sabe lo que es pero que, – con toda seguridad – encontrará, y cambiará su vida.

Desde de muito jovem descobri que a viagem era, para mim, a melhor maneira de aprender. Continuo até hoje com esta alma de peregrino, e decidi relatar neste blog algumas das lições que aprendi, esperando que possam ser úteis a outros peregrinos como eu.

1] Evite os museus. O conselho pode parecer absudo, mas vamos refletir um pouco juntos: se voce está numa cidade estrangeira, não é muito mais interessante ir em busca do presente que do passado? Acontece que as pessoas sentem-se obrigadas a ir a museus, porque aprenderam desde pequeninas que viajar é buscar este tipo de cultura. É claro que museus são importantes, mas exigem tempo e objetividade – voce precisa saber o que deseja ver ali, ou vai sair com a impressão de que viu uma porção de coisas fundamentais para a sua vida, mas não se lembra quais são.

2] Frequente os bares. Ali, ao contrário dos museus, a vida da cidade se manifesta. Bares não são discotecas, mas lugares onde o povo vai, toma algo, pensa no tempo, e está sempre disposto a uma conversa. Compre um jornal e deixe-se ficar contemplando o entra-e-sai. Se alguém puxar assunto, por mais bobo que seja, engate a conversa: não se pode julgar a beleza de um caminho olhando apenas sua porta.

3] Esteja disponível. O melhor guia de turismo é alguém que mora no lugar, conhece tudo, tem orgulho de sua cidade, mas não trabalha em uma agência. Saia pela rua, escolha a pessoa com quem deseja conversar, e peça informações (onde fica tal catedral? Onde estão os Correios?) Se nao der resultado, tente outra – garanto que no final do dia irá encontrar uma excelente companhia.

4] Procure viajar sózinho, ou – ser for casado – com seu conjuge. Vai dar mais trabalho, ninguém vai estar cuidando de voce(s), mas só desta maneira poderá realmente sair do seu país. As viagens em grupo são uma maneira disfarçada de estar numa terra estrangeira, mas falando a sua língua natal, obedecendo o que manda o chefe do rebanho, preocupando-se mais com as fofocas do grupo do que com o lugar que se está visitando.

5] Não compare. Não compare nada – nem preços, nem limpeza, nem qualidade de vida, nem meio de transportes, nada! Voce não está viajando para provar que vive melhor que os outros – sua procura, na verdade, é saber como os outros vivem, o que podem ensinar, como se enfrentam com a realidade e com o extraordinário da vida.

6] Entenda que todo mundo lhe entende. Mesmo que nao fale a lingua, nao tenha medo: já estive em muitos lugares onde nao havia maneira de me comunicar através de palavras, e terminei sempre encontrando apoio, orientação, sugestões importantes, e até mesmo namoradas. Algumas pessoas acham que, se viajarem sózihas, vão sair na rua e se perder para sempre. Basta ter o cartão do hotel no bolso, e – numa situação estrema – tomar um táxi e mostra-lo ao motorista.

7] Não compre muito. Gaste seu dinheiro com coisas que nao vai precisar carregar: boas peças de teatro, restaurantes, passeios. Hoje em dia, com o mercado global e a Internet, voce pode ter tudo sem precisar pagar excesso de peso.

8] Não tente ver o mundo em um mes. Mais vale ficar numa cidade quatro a cinco dias, que visitar cinco cidades em uma semana. Uma cidade é uma mulher caprichosa, precisa de tempo para ser seduzida e mostrar-se completamente.

9] Uma viagem é uma aventura. Henry Miller dizia que é muito mais importante descobrir uma igreja que ninguém ouviu falar, que ir a Roma e sentir-se obrigado a visitar a Capela Sixtina, com duzentos mil turistas gritando nos seus ouvidos. Vá à capela Sixtina, mas deixe-se perder pelas ruas, andar pelos becos, sentir a liberdade de estar procurando algo que não sabe o que é, mas que – com toda certeza – irá encontrar e mudará a sua vida.

Einstein and Tagore, 14 July 1930, exactly 80 years ago!

Spiritual life is the emancipation of consciousness. Through it we find immediate response of soul everywhere. Before we attain this life, we see men through the medium of self-interest, prejudice or classification, because of the perpetual remoteness around us which we cannot cross over. When the veil is removed, we not only see the fleeting forms of the world, but come close to its eternal being, which is ineffable beauty.
Some seek for the evidence of spiritual truth in the outside world. In this quest one may stumble upon ghosts or some super-sensual phenomenon of nature, but these do not lead us to spiritual truth, as new words in a dictionary do not give us literature.

So busy used I to be under the belief that I was indispensable, that I hardly dared to wink.
My doctor now and again would warn me, saying: “Stop, take it easy.”
But I would reply: “How will things go on if I stop?”
Just then my health failed me, the wheels of my car broke down and it came to a stop beneath this window. From here I looked out upon the limitless space. There I saw whirling the numberless flashing wheels of the triumphal chariot of time,–no dust raised, no din, not even a scratch left on the roadway. On a sudden I came to myself. I clearly perceived that things could get along without me. There was no sign that those wheels would stop, or drag the least bit, for lack of anyone in particular.
But is this to be admitted so easily as all that! Even if I admit it in words, my mind refuses assent. If it be really quite the same whether I go or stay, how then did my pride of self find a place in the universe, even for a moment? On what could it have taken its stand? Amidst all the plentifulness with which space and time are teeming, it was nevertheless not possible to leave out this self of mine. The fact that I am indispensable is proved by the fact that I am.

THE question is: “In which Truth is my entity to realise its fullest value,–in Power or in Love?” If we accept Power as that truth we must also recognize conflict as inevitable and eternal.

Thought Relics by Rabindranath Tagore