20 SEC READING: The Beloved Man (ENG, ESPA)

by Paulo Coelho on September 5, 2010

A Siberian shaman asked God to show him a man that He loved. The Lord advised him to look for a certain farmer.

“What do you do to make the Lord love you so much?” the shaman asked the farmer when he found him.
“I say His name in the morning. I work all day and say His name before going to sleep. That’s all,” the farmer replied.
I think I found the wrong man, thought the shaman.

Just then the Lord appeared and said, “Fill a bowl with milk, go to town and then return. Without spilling a single drop.”

The shaman did so. On his return, the Lord wanted to know how many times he had thought of Him.
“How could I? I was worried not to spill the milk!”

“A simple bowl made you forget Me,” said the Lord, “and the farmer, with all his tasks, thinks of me twice a day.”

_____________________________

El hombre amado

Un chamán siberiano pidió a Dios que le mostrase un hombre amado por Él. El Señor le aconsejó que buscara a cierto labrador.
-¿Qué haces para que el Señor te ame tanto? –preguntó el chamán al labrador cuando lo hubo encontrado.
-Digo Su nombre por la mañana. Trabajo todo el día entero, y digo Su nombre antes de dormir. Nada más que eso.
“Creo que me he equivocado de hombre,” pensó el chamán.

Y en ese momento apareció el Señor, diciendo: “Llena un cuenco de leche, ve a la ciudad y vuelve, sin derramar una sola gota.”

El chamán obedeció. A la vuelta, el Señor quiso saber cuántas veces había pensado en Él.
-¿Cómo podía hacer eso? ¡Estaba preocupado por no derramar la leche!

-Un simple cuenco ha hecho que me olvides –dijo el Señor-. Y el labrador, que nunca deja de trabajar, piensa en mí dos veces al día.

Previous post:

Next post:

{ 154 comments… read them below or add one }

Yeray September 6, 2010 at 1:01 pm

Esta historia me hace reflexionardes de el siguiente punto . . . Es verdad que cuando estamos concentrados en algo pocas veces nos acordamos de Dios como hizo el Chaman con la leche pero como dice Rumi si crees en él en vez de ver tu cara reflejada verás la cara de Dios ( respecto al vaso de agua). . .Esa es la verdadera Fé.
Pienso que todos somos amados por Dios tanto el Chaman como el labrador.Solo lo estaba poniendo a prueba para comprobar su fé.

Reply

D.k.Dwivedi September 6, 2010 at 12:56 pm

very … soft reality… n people used to … translate it into a Great/nice story….

pls feel it…. its existence… why all d great famous people mention it again n again… pls ….

Reply

Viola September 6, 2010 at 12:48 pm

You touched my heart. Lets see.. i think of him at least everyday, i am not aware how many time though. This man loves me, how can i not think and thank him daily…

Reply

eleonora September 6, 2010 at 12:38 pm

conosco persone, che ancora ad oggi cercano negli errori altrui la spiegazione ad un Dio che non esiste….penso da un po’ di anni che il cercare in questa direzione toglie tempo al tempo.Ciononostante,credo che la ricerca serva,ad una conclusione,che alla fine del cammino ognuno scopra che l’universo e l’amore sono il massimo dell’espressione…non mi sento arrivata in questa direzione,amo dire:sto cercando,sto imparando e non voglio smettere di assaporare la Vita…non amo la cattiveria gratuita….ciao caro amico*

Reply

maharsi dewi September 6, 2010 at 12:15 pm

I love it. in my reflection : The simple things is trusth with God to finished anything in we life….

Reply

May September 6, 2010 at 12:12 pm

I remember that from the Alchemist. That’s why as a Muslim we pray 5 times a day to have this constant connection with God. Prayer in Arabic is called ‘connection’, so we never forget God

Reply

polina September 6, 2010 at 12:08 pm

A simple truth… whatever, how true!

Reply

Maretha September 6, 2010 at 12:05 pm

Wonderful how this beautiful metaphor translates across cultures. Still wondering about saying/breathing God’s name consciously AND doing my job consciously. Some days it is one, other days they are seperate. Some days everything is one, other days everything is dualist. A bit like living in an oneness and dualist world simultaniously.
Paulo, not sure if you will understand what I am trying to say.
Maretha

Reply

MONIKA September 6, 2010 at 11:46 am

God makes it really hard for me to believe that He loves me.

Reply

Viola September 6, 2010 at 12:54 pm

I am tempted to respond….Ill say this, HE DOES LOVE YOU JUST BELIEVE LIKE A CHILD WOULD.

aksh September 6, 2010 at 12:56 pm

don’t beleive all teh stories dear monika, and don’t beleive all of ‘Gods’ words too. god is love and compassion personified; s/he loves u no matter what. if u also love god in return all the better for you, for you become godly, even otherwise god loves u. don’t beleive everything u read or hear.

love

Suhas Zore September 6, 2010 at 11:19 am

see so many Indians (including me) have heard this tale .
Point is just shows our connection with each other .Like a Brazillian telling siberian tale & Indians having heard it in their childhood.
Whole universe is linked.

Reply

Parvaneh September 6, 2010 at 11:11 am

I think the same story and the same message was conveyed in Alchemist. But good messages and stories are the only things you want to hear a thousand times…

Reply

Vishal Chhaperia September 6, 2010 at 11:09 am

Nice one Sir!

Today we all are getting more and more self-centered, in this fast moving and monotonous life we only remember god when we need him, we want something and start setting deal with god.
Prayer are way to get what we need in terms of comfort and needs, and a true fact that praying for eternal peace and thanking god for whatever we are is hardly practiced.

Many Thanks
Vishal

Reply

jasmin September 6, 2010 at 11:08 am

persis seperti cerita sufi! :)

Reply

Yeray September 6, 2010 at 10:59 am

Es bueno acordarse de Dios no sólo para los malos momentos sino también para los buenos . . .

Reply

kalyan September 6, 2010 at 10:51 am

Simply fantastic and a similar story like this is alchemist teaches us how to balance life by not spilling the oil and same time managing to see the beauty around the world .

You sir have the gift of telling life’s most important lessons in the simplest way .

this blog is fountain of wisdom ! love your work .

Reply

soudabeh September 6, 2010 at 10:32 am

i wish your letter tranlate to persion

Reply

AllaSobirova September 6, 2010 at 10:05 am

good lesson! never to forget about God!

Reply

puto September 6, 2010 at 10:04 am

Paolo, Thank you… for the Light in you continues to shine upon us… as we discover our own with your guiding words. Bless your heart! Keep the fire burning!!!

Reply

mikha chandra September 6, 2010 at 10:03 am

i do love your words. i do love you.

Reply

Enpie September 6, 2010 at 9:35 am

Hola a todos, me estoy leyendo “Las valquirias”. Yo quizá no me acuerdo de Dios demasiado, pero sí me acuerdo de mi Angel de la guarda, porque lo siento mucho más cerca.

Hasta pronto, me está gustando mucho como todos, lo podría acabar esta mañana, pero prefiero leerlo en casa aunque tarde más porque prefiero saborearlo mejor, tengo sed pero menos.

Gracias Angel de la guarda, hasta pronto.

Reply

frank nasre September 6, 2010 at 9:06 am

He oído la historia como un niño en forma de un campesino sencillo que corre una vida sencilla. . Dios no quiere extremos y a extremistas

Reply

Karin Örth September 6, 2010 at 9:05 am

Glömt idag att denna dagen är en välsignelse. Fick en god påminnelse. // Got a reminder that today as everyday are a bless from Him, God or what you choose to name it. Thank you.

Reply

marie-christine September 6, 2010 at 9:03 am

C’est salutaire.
Merci.

Reply

abhay choudhary September 6, 2010 at 8:44 am

“Dukh me simaran sabhi karen, sukh me kare na koy, sukh me simaran jo kare, dekh kabira roy.” These are the famous words from the saint poet Kabira which mean ” Everyone remebers God in time of sorrow, few remember him when they are happy, it brings tears to the eyes of Kabira to see someone preying when he is happy!!

Reply

aksh September 6, 2010 at 1:00 pm

there is a light variation in teh ‘story’ i read abhay. it ends with sukh mein sumiran jo kare to dukh kahe ko hoye, meaning if u remember Him in good times, chances of you falling on bad times are less.

origin of stories – don’t matter, what matters is that despite these stories being in existance since enternity, we are still asleep !! difficult to explain no. someone said that muslims remember god 5 times a day; good thing, for if they remember god really ( and not some dogma ) then they will become helper and protector of all.

love

Ranjit September 6, 2010 at 8:34 am

Nice! Most Indian religions have an almost exact story!

Glad that the theme is universal :)

Reply

Esti September 6, 2010 at 8:28 am

I recognize the story from The Alchemist; It’s so simple, and easy to understand. So thoughtful!

Reply

RAFAEL September 6, 2010 at 8:12 am

estupendo!!!1

Reply

Nagualero September 6, 2010 at 8:09 am

What a lovely tale. Thank you Paulo

Reply

Anand Pashiney September 6, 2010 at 8:05 am

nice..it reminds how busy we get with our daily chores..thanks for reminding us Ohm Sai Ram

Reply

Yash varsha September 6, 2010 at 8:03 am

Hi, this is very similar to the one in Hindu mythology, involving ‘Narada’, a devotee of Lord Narayana.

Reply

sayam September 6, 2010 at 10:17 am

ya i knw! even i’ve heard d narad story…
its similar…

Anand Srivastava September 6, 2010 at 8:02 am

Actually this story is very old narrated in Purans. Where a wise saint’Narad Muni’ who always chanted Lord Vishnu’s name asked the Lord to tell who is his beloved worshiper.
He actually expected that Lord will immediately say his name, but he told that it is a peasent.
rest story is same but instead of milk Lord Vishnu told Namrad muni to go with a bowl of oil .

Reply

aratrika roy September 6, 2010 at 7:56 am

it is not about how many times a day you take gods name. it is not about forgetting him and remembering him. it is only about your conscience. you have to think good and of value.

Reply

Akss September 6, 2010 at 9:04 am

Good and bad are relative things !!!,so your statement becomes redundant

seema September 6, 2010 at 7:47 am

These small things are very helpful. Time and often these reminders should b given

Reply

Devesh Bissa September 6, 2010 at 7:44 am

I like this story. I’ve read same story of King Janak in old religious book also.

Reply

chofis September 6, 2010 at 7:38 am

Dios concedeme la serenidad para aceptar las cosas que no puedo cambiar, Valor para cambiar aquellas que puedo y S
Sabiduría para reconocer la diferencia. Señor si yo me olvido de tí, tú jámas te olvides de mi, tengo días que no oro por eso al leer esto me entro deseos de pensar en él.

Reply

Sarah Rasouli September 6, 2010 at 7:26 am

Great story I love it sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. I always try to do the same.
Thanks

Reply

nitin September 6, 2010 at 6:38 am

Mr Coelho..
the above writing is already exist in Indian Mythology..
its u hv tried to spread it thn its gr8

Reply

Minakshi Karan September 6, 2010 at 6:38 am

Dear Sir,

So relevant and so important in today’s fast life where everybody is taking action for his own and thus just concentrating on his own. He/she should never ever forget the Almighty God who has given him the reason to exist on this earth. He is all powerful and without any expection than LOVE takes care of everybody existing here. He is great.

Thanks and Regards,

Minakshi Karan (INDIA)

Reply

alin September 6, 2010 at 6:34 am

i love it. 5 minutes story but you’ll remember forever.

Reply

neeti September 6, 2010 at 6:12 am

thanks a lot Paulo for realizing us such a basic thought so beautifully.

Reply

Lana Kravtsova September 6, 2010 at 6:12 am

Loved it! Thank you!

Reply

jean September 6, 2010 at 6:12 am

in the morning sunshine..in the dewdrops…in the smile of a child..and in all His creations we see God’s glory. Lets just stop awhile and thank Him.

Reply

angel luis September 6, 2010 at 6:04 am

Mi Dios Querido,,quiero siempre acordarme de TI !

Reply

Soviet Frontado Frontado September 6, 2010 at 5:53 am

Muchas veces me levanto y me olvido que Dios esta entre nosotros,me ocupo de lo material olvidando lo espiritual.Perdoname Dios por ser indiferente muchas veces a tus mensajes.

Reply

lala September 6, 2010 at 5:35 am

it’s such a good example for us to always remember God in all the things we do.whether it is good or bad..
i really love paulo coelho’s work.

Reply

Jorge September 6, 2010 at 5:31 am

Coelho como siempre sos maravilloso gracias por tanto arte maestro

Reply

Pronoy September 6, 2010 at 5:00 am

well I do not know to what culture this tale belongs…
but we have an exact story here in India where its Lord Vishnu and Lord Narad doing the exchange… and instead of the bowl of milk and the village
we have a bowl of oil and the universe

Reply

linamar September 6, 2010 at 4:58 am

Simplemente excelente.. Con Dios todo, sin el Nada….

Reply

May September 6, 2010 at 12:15 pm

Muy bien dicho!

Sya September 6, 2010 at 4:20 am

God want us to be thankful him for every single things in our life…

Reply

Alma September 6, 2010 at 4:17 am

Of course how can we say we love someone one when we don’t spend time with that person and don’t develop a relationship. The way to spend time with God is through prayer, that’s how we talk to Him and He speaks to us through His Word which is the Bible. I believe that the key to a good relationship is communication, so we need to communicate with God in order to have a good relationship with Him. Gracias Maestro, como siempre tan inspirador.

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: