The story below is taken from my book “The Alchemist”, currently 170 weeks in the New York Times Bestselling list + one of the Top 20 Bestselling Books from all times
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT!
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EN ESPANOL CLICAR AQUI: Las dos gotas de aceite
EM PORTUGUES, CLICAR AQUI: As duas gotas de óleo
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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”
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Mr Coelho
I did not read any of your books. I simply did not want it because you “smelt” to me too much ” Hollywood”.
Too much commercialised.
Something like Madonna or Michael Jackson.
I met lot of idiots in my country from high society who tried to read your books because it was “in”.
All of that built a wall in my mind.
But then in my horrible life days I found this blog and start to read, post by post.
An amazing chanage in my life.
I am also writer but with chronical writer’-block.
Your blog is my therapy. My initiate therapy.
You helped me to understand some roots of my chornical disatisfaction.
And first time in my life i wished to read your book.
I took in library your Alchemist.
I will write my impression….
read them and you`ll find yourself
L O V E
Sometimes true happiness comes unexpectedly. True, it came from the balance of our responsibilities and our rights. Never take too much of those, just simply balance it.
When i’ve done all of my responsibilities and still feeling pleased because i still enjoy my life and not focusing only on how to do all of the perfectly, that moment of happiness comes. Just remember not too focus only for making a living but don’t forget to make a life as well. In the end, keep the balance. Just, you will know how true happiness felt like :)
Achieving balance in EVERYTHING can guide us to knowing the secret of happiness. There will be a lot of things that make people sad for it is how the system “works”. I would like to share this to everyone for this has been shared to me by a total stranger. Think of your daily routine, scenarios, etc. write down HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE BALANCE even to the simplest things that happens everyday.
Dear Mr.Coelho, I cant figure out why keep making my life so hard by questioning everything and doubting everything. But everytime i decide to quit forging ahead and just settle down in a life of acceptence, this little voice keeps pushing me forward. My question is: in the end what is the difference between someone who took the chance and traveled their own path or the person who took the path handed down to them and lived easily but with regrets of the path they would have chosen. I dont want to be the latter, so i keep going down this hard road, however, in the end, when we reach the end of our paths, what is really going to be the difference?
the first book was Ali n Nino which i loved sooo much.n now this is the second between all books which i have read.Thank You
Sir, I couldnt get what you meant by the “two drops of oil”. Did you mean responsibility,work,etc or something else?
I didnt get it…
In the time where i was wondering about life, i red Alchemist and i realized that i’m not alone!!
Paulo every piece that you write becomes a new form of insipiration for my embittered soul…..want to say like Shakespeare, ‘If music be the food of life, play on.’ Your writings are like music for me.
Lots of Love Paulo…You are a great soul…The world is blessed to have a writer like you..God Bless You..Hope to meet you some day…
thank you for all the inspiring books
I bought this book in South Africa and it has a different cover……
Do different countries have different printing rights?
I’ve just started it an will be truly disappointed if i’ve recently purchased it and it’s not authentic.
they have different covers
My understanding of your passage is that excessive happiness isn’t good. Being too much happy makes us overlook and neglect our duties and obligations. =)
The real passage I think is “Real happiness only can be reach by looking around and never neglect duties”. You won’t feel the real happiness just by looking around and neglect your duties and vice versa.
For me, the first step to feel happiness is looking inside myself and knowing well what I really want. Only you who knows what could make you happy.
love is a secret of happiness… for the ones which would like to change something in their life, I recommend the Alchemist…
„ every man on the globe has treasure which somewhere to it is him facing. Where there is your treasure, is and your heart. And you must discover this treasure, so that everything can pick the true meaning up, as for this time you found on your road. ”
The secret of happiness is to learn appreciate and being content what you have….
this book is your masterwork. I am able to read again.
Its about experiencing the journey ..not focussing on the destintion only!!
Love
Bredaxx
Hi Paolo
I didn’t like the Alchemist but Brida has enchanted me, I was tied up by 11 minutes and for the Zahir I used 1 day to read it, I just couldnt stop to the end:-)
Obrigada Paolo for the fantastic books and for sharing your thoughts on Facebook
I wish I could meet you one day..
rgds from Zurich
Mimi
Balance, I believe is the moral of this story. Don’t get too absorbed and greedy with the luxuries and at the same time, don’t loose your main purpose on earth. Moderation is key!
“The Alchemist” is the 1st book I read from you. It has a great meaning to me that it leads me a new way of thinking. It helps me to come across the darkness when I’m lost.
I remember this story. Everyone has his own resposibility or something have to be done; though, it does not mean that he has to ignore evertthing else. ‘Enjoy’ and ‘Work’ are not something contraditory, but just the way how we serves ourselves and others.
Indeed, I really want to thank you; I want to say ‘Thank you!’ directly to you, and now I can do so!
Thank you so much!!
Take care!
Your life will be filled of joy and challenges. Once you learn to face the challenges your moments of joy will be longer and more frequent.
nuestra vida esta en la busqueda incesante busqueda de la verdadera felicidad biene y se va es esfimera
y cuando la buscamos nos encontramos con obtaculos pasa y no la apreciamos y no la disfrutamos cuando nos damos cuenta ya paso y volvemos al principio seguimos buscandola y asi se nos va la vida
attention, be Aware
:)
Worldy happiness is momental!! Eternal happiness is when you find yourself and GOD.
excellently presented sir…
The alchemist is a beautiful book, a true classic; my children will read the book one day
perfect — this story specially is avery wise lesson ..
<3
‘Two drops of oil’ is used as an allegory by Coelho… .very beautifully put things in perspective :)….The term refers to counting your blessings always…never falling in the trap of ‘he/she has so much and I don’t'…profound !
Do the 2 drops of oil have to remain in the spoon, or may i put the oil on my hair & carry it with me in this manner, while giving all my attention to the wonders around me?the hair will absorb the oil and the eyes will take in all of the wonders.???
I agree with this: good life :o)
I have currently 3 teaspoons in each hand, each has 2 drops of oil…
once in a while I put them down & run around the house & look at things with speed. never could 2 things in my life at once.
Very clever!!
Nice one! I like!
Querido Paulo , que bello y expresivo que es esto te hace ver que uno debe ver lo mas maravilloso del mundo sin perder su escencia .Gracias por poner en palabras el sentir de muchos…Es un placer leer tus libros.
I love it… what a touching story and simple …great one
you are the best but unfortunately I am always a sad person.
many thanks for uploading the Persian translation of your books to download.
read it, don’t remember how many times, everytime i find something else which absorbs my interest.love it. One of my favourites, eventhough it’s not easy!
God or whatever may bless you!!
My two drops of oil are who I am and where I come from. I can envy all that the rich have but I will always have those basic things to fall back on if all else fails.
I remember that one. I thought you were supposed to throw the oil out and just enjoy the wonders of life, but I guess the world is not like that.
Lavishly elegant and refined, exceptionally well written! A different world with many collors described in words…….
In a single word – Exquisite!
Thank YOU!
it’s my favourite story) i saw it for the first time even before reading the whole book at school. i had to write some kind of review on this story at the literture. and since then i addicted to your books)
thanks a lot Mr.Coelho
Dear Pauolo, i try to do both of them at th same time, but i arrive finally by juste one.
Best book ever. Always recommend it to people in search of their path. We all have the ability to make magic in our own right.
“You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.” very wise words. Whether humble or lavish a home holds no guises and reflects the essence, nature and spirit of man. The best has always been a simple home, decorated with love and flair. filled with laughter and joy.
Dear Mr. Coelho
It is an awesome piece of Philosophical work.
I believe that all the beauty in and out of the house simbolizes everything life has to offer to us and the two drops of oil actually means that we must enjoy all those pleasures without forgetting the most important things in our lives which may be different for every individual.
The 2 drops of oil(the focus of life) and wonders of the world(interruptions). The challenge is to manage them. Spilling the oil(losing focus) and enjoying the wonders(attending to interruptions). Enjoying the wonders holding the drops of oil(attached to your focus) is effective management.
We must not forget that spilling the oil(losing focus), that’s your essence, would turn the memories of the wonders of the world into bad memories at the end.
Sir,
this is a very awesome book i have ever read, full of deep thoughts n worthier feelings n lastly a good message…
Good work man.
beautiful !!!
Happiness depends on what you are, not on what you have.
to each to his own but dont spill the oil please
Thank you — Time to listen to the audio version again…this book soothes something inside me and then makes me realize that I must be brave and move ahead…..thank you Mr. Coelho
Just decided to re-re-re-re read the Alchemyst!
About the attention for the spoon with the oil while walking through the palace full of beauty… Who doubts about the fact that you have to pay attention to every single detail and never neglect any to experience the whole? There is no huge without the little, no big without the small… Love the metaphore!
Whatever may seem contrary to one’s wishes, it will indeed prove later to double the joy when the contrary of that previous contrary occurs. So let’s welcome also what doesn’t fit the comfort of the moment!
Sorry this comment was meant for the rainbow after the rain!!!
The book is a gift beyond measure to many. Thank you, Paulo!
For me, the oil represents responsibility. All the things in my heart I know I must fulfill for myself, but also for the world, the earth, mankind. The beauty of the palace represents awareness and enjoyment of life’s rich pageant. Awareness and pleasure are equals to responsibility, the carrying out of what we know we must do as individuals deeply in our hearts.
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