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.”
{ 103 comments… read them below or add one }
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how to combine their separate pieces of wisdom…
Thank you. I needed to read, this and also all the beautiful replies.
Me ha encantado “Dialogos con Dios”, “el mendigo sorprendido” y “La actitud de los niños”
Gracias Paulo por compartir tantas cosas.
“A child knows nothing. It hasn’t yet learned what reality is.”
I lost my godmother two days ago. She left behind a loving husband and two kids (9 and 7). They haven’t received the news yet but we are dreading their reaction.
How can a child not sense that his mother is in danger? Only two weeks ago she herself lost her uncle and her son said to her “were I God I wouldn’t let anybody die”.
I am saying a prayer for you, the children, and their father, Nada. Open yourself to God’s love. There is a reason for everything. You all have extra angels around you at this time. Open yourself to their love. The answers you are seeking will be given to you through the spirit — just let it flow through you so that you can give this family the love that they need.
Extra love and warm light to you,
Lainee
Three traditions: God, Real Life & Defenseless People (children, blind man,… etc.)
God has always been the shield for the defenseless. And maybe today He calls us (one time more) to protect those who are helpless. And isn’t it our ‘duty’ as human beings to defend the weak and the powerless? SO, let’s spread joy by helping each other!
This witch wears four rings!
i like jewish story but i couldn’t catch the concept of muslim’s….how can a blind man define beauty of the day? and how does this story relate to other ones?
thanks for shareing this concept.
Dearest Paulo,
I love your stories, I don’t want to grow up, I will always be a kid :D
Have a beautiful Sunday evening. I will be working.
With love
C.
I love all three. Short stories to read in the afternoon.
I don’t know… Christian? Jewish? It’s a toss up!
“Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these.” Matthew: 19:14
Thank you for the stories… I’m going to share them with my daughter. In this period of Christmas, I find that it arrives very well:)… so that Christmas is more than presents at feet of the fir tree !…:))
Light & Love,
I think we should stand up for what we believe in…for PEACE and LOVE…we are all in it together…
Thank you for posting this! I love it!
Dear Paolo,
i have been a great fan of yours and i would like to share something with all here:
here is something that i wrote when i was in college and went through a Writing Phase which still comes back..
its a short narrative titled
“Whisper….”
People talk they don’t care,
their tongues move,so their brain,
each thought brings up the feeling,
i wanted to reach out and touch thy heart,
To feel the pain in vain,
To spread out like a flower,
to kill all thoughts of lame,
Iam not aware what might become,
of the people,I met,see and touch,
Maybe Iam a fool reaching out for a dream,
that might not come this way but leave me further away..
In this desert of Color,
there is no Oasis,
What might it Seems,
is a thought which never fulfills,
but leaves one enchanted,
feeling the sweet pain of refusal,
one might drown in this Quicksand of dreams,
Never coming out,even Thy reaching out for the Hand…..
My daughter is studying the Middle East in her homeschool geography lessons, so, as part of this, I started reading to her stories from a children’s Torah, a children’s Bible, and a children’s Quran. I go back and forth between the three, as many of the stories are the same or similar.
This is an experience for me too, because the stories, written for children, are broken down to their most fundamental level. Here, I see similarities between the faiths which are not always so apparent in the adult versions of these texts. It causes me to wonder even more how adults can come to war over their perceived religious differences. From a child’s perspective, the essence of the lessons taught by the stories of the traditions are much the same. It is only the adults who somehow get so caught up in the dogma that they come to blows over the matter.
If only we could all adopt the spirit of a child in matters of faith….
thanks a lot for sharing the stories with us, on this sunny and warm day in Barcelona!
Thanks Paulo for this… You know how to inspire people.
Sometimes ur words is a guidance for some of us, or when you remind us with some stories… Thanks again!
May you be guided to peace, bless, love & light :)
Happy Sunday to u too.
HELLO MR. PAULO COELHO AND ALL PEOPLE
L O V E
Corinthians 1 Vs 13
If I speak in the tongues(or other languages) of man ,and of Angels, but have no LOVE, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have a gift of Prophercy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have LOVE, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but i have not LOVE, I gain nothing.
LOVE is patient,LOVE is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,it is not easily angered ,it keeps no record of wrongs.
LOVE does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the Truth.
LOVE bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
LOVE never ends.
But where there are prophecies they will cease, where there are tongues they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will be pass away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part,but when perfection comes, imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I reasoned like a child.When I become a man , I put childish ways behind me.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face.
Now I know in part, then I shall know fully,even as I fully known.
And now FAITH , HOPE ,and LOVE remains, these tree.
But the greatest of these is LOVE.
P.S:Friend Metka YOUNG sent me this LOVE letter from America to Slovenia on 21.11.2009.LOVE CONECCTS HEARTS.
Thank You very much, Dear Metka ,for this precious Gift of God.I was waiting on this LOVE letter almost all my life.Now when I have recieved it, I would like to send this LOVE letter to all human hearts in the World
HOPE IS L O V E
AND ALL PEOPLE
ALL RESPECT TO YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOOING ,CONNECTING THE WORLD….
ONE MESSAGE FROM BIBLE:”
WITH RESPECT
ROMANO-MOHAMED
Es precioso
I love this message from the Bible. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the wisdom.
I am preparing for a Sunday school lesson that I am about to give to a group of older adults that I have always looked up to. They have lifted me up when I was down. Ohhhhh they are beautiful and in the “twilight” part of their years. When we have discussions, their wisdom is so spiritual that the room fills with a warmth very hard to describe. It has truly been a humbling experience because I am used to teaching young adults. It makes me sad and happy to turn the young adults loose into the world, but it truly breaks my heart to have my older “kids” die. I should not be sad because I had a death experience and I know where they are going and Yes, it is so beautiful, but it is hard to have someone go. We have lost three in the last four months and today I found out that a sweet little lady (one of my favorites) has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s…
That aside (sorry for venting, but It feels good to get it out) The lesson today is about being good citizens. Thank you so much for these stories and The Man on the Ground — I do hope it is okay to use them for the opening of the lesson. They are so appropriate. Thank you
Love and warm light to you,
Lainee
PAULO, Just got home from teaching my lesson to the older adults. They loved your stories – (I think you can add a few more readers from the Western USA!!!) The highlight of the day was when a beautiful, elderly man stated, “A righteous man or woman is more powerful than a battleship.” One person can make changes in our communities, in our government and in our world. You have, believe it or not, and I (one of many) thank you for bringing us truth. :-)
Love and warm light,
Lainee
God bless your work, Elaine.
Hindu tradition:
A spiritual guru was stepping out of a river after taking a bath, when a flying crane pooped on him. The guru glanced up with anger and burnt the crane. Later in the day, the guru went into the city to ask for alms. He came across a trader and asked him for offerings. The trader said: “I am busy at the moment so wait for some time till I get back.” The trader then went to feed his parents and attend to their chores. The guru waited for a long time. Getting impatient and angry at this man who dared to disrespect him, the guru glared at the trader with the intention of burning him. The trader looked up and said: “I’m not a crane that you would glare and burn me.” Upon hearing these words, the guru was astonished. The trader asked: “Why? Are you surprised how a low and menial trader that I am, managed to outwit you – the leader of spiritual beings?” The guru still being dumb founded, asked the trader: “I have been practicing since the dawn of my adulthood and until today I thought my grasp and knowledge of God-ship was unsurpassed. I’m humbled and I would be grateful if you could teach me how you managed to do what I have not.” The trader said: “Spirituality and closeness to God is not attained merely through meditation. You feel close to God only through service to others. So beware Brahman and go in peace!”
That was beautiful. Thanks
thank you for sharing this on my birthday!!! it’s like a surprise gift you get from a friend(:
thanks for interesting ways of gently reminding us to be joyful fro within
.. be pure of heart.. the only way to find God.. no matter what religion.
Beautiful!
Love
May God Bless you every day of your life, thanks for sharing light with all.
I loved the one with the kids, I mean from the Jewish tradition . Maybe because sometimes I am so childish myself. And I just love kids so much. But the others are great too, just I already knew them from before reading .
Thanks
i love your way of seeing things. thank you for the stories.
Thank you for the reminder. I have a child whos joy sometimes interferes with my “business”. It is I who should follow her example, not the other way around. Peace
I like :)
Thank you
Thanks for sharing this. Be blessed, brother!
Good in front of God is good in front of people. Thx 4 the story n Gbu.
Thank you for letting me know about these words. They made me smile again. The lord is always with us. Kari
its funny how religion works…
in all religions i feel that it is imperative to understand the joy and harmony of living together its the way the world goes round.. with out joy life is very bland…
I love the Jewish One!
Christian tradition…
thats too true….nice share…
Thank you for sharing these wonderful excerpts!
I love the path of religion…..
i’m a Muslim
and i haven’t heard this story before
thanks for sharing
they are all great
happy sunday to you too paulo
Happy Sunday to you too!
Remarkbly inspiring Mr. Coelho….. Your notes are very true.. For sometime I have been trying to be a child once more…but still difficult for me.
The blindman in Mecca: Today is a beautiful day, and I can not see it..
Likely more touching written that way :)
beautiful:)
Love the Jewish tradition and Christian tradition stories…hope to read lots MORe :x
Simplicity is YOU … Thanks love always !! Abhi :)
Thank you Paulo or these words, I miss the sound of children playing in the street so much, their laughter, joy and enthusiasm is sorely missed by me here in London.
When I was a child I played with all my neighbours children, jumping around, freely till the early evening when I was called for bed, now children are confined to their houses, or if they are lucky a visit to the park….
I noticed that a lot of the toys and games for children are all geared to keep them indoors, Wii, xBox, etc., such a shame in my opinion, and I wonder seriously how this will effect their lives into adulthood.
ótimas leituras!Espero que todos que as lerem possam entender sua real mensagem…que esse domingo seja realmente feliz!=)
I am not a muslin but the muslim tradition storie brought tears to my eyes.
This post reminds me of stories that nuns shared with us at the moral science classes. All of these above stories strike a chord instantaneously. Wish i were a child again!
Who is stopping you from being a child Neha, keep your child like innocence.
Muio bons esses textos, adorei lê-los aqui, como sempre, adoroo que tu escreves, Paulo.
I really enjoyed reading these texts here, as always,I love what you write Paulo.
Best wishes and a great Sunday everyone:)
nice one I read ur posts on twitter they are very inspirational and help me to get over during tough times.
Well, nobody in particular. but times make you forget how to enjoy in childlike abandon. you are ground so much that you have to search for that innocence. but you are right, that innocence and that gay abandon must be kept for life! :)
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