Illustration by Ken Crane__________________________________
EM PORTUGUES AQUI: Somos diferentes
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A Samurai who was known for his nobility and honesty, went to visit a Zen monk to ask him for his advice.
When the monk had finished his prayers, the Samurai asked,
– Why do I feel so inferior? – I have faced death many times, have defended those who are weak.
“Nevertheless, upon seeing you meditating, I felt that my life had absolutely no importance whatsoever.
– Wait. Once I have attended to all those who come to see me today, I shall answer you.
The samurai spent the whole day sitting in the temple gardens, watching the people go in and out in search of advice. He saw how the monk received them all with the same patience and the same illuminated smile on his face.
At nightfall, when everyone had gone, he demanded:
– Now can you teach me?
The master invited him in and lead him to his room. The full moon shone in the sky, and the atmosphere was one of profound tranquility.
– Do you see the moon, how beautiful it is? It will cross the entire firmament, and tomorrow the sun will shine once again.
“But sunlight is much brighter, and can show the details of the landscape around us: trees, mountains, clouds.
“I have contemplated the two for years, and have never heard the moon say: why do I not shine like the sun? Is it because I am inferior?
– Of course not – answered the samurai. – The moon and the sun are different things, each has its own beauty. You cannot compare the two.
– So you know the answer. We are two different people, each fighting in his own way for that which he believes, and making it possible to make the world a better place; the rest are mere appearances.
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why in these type of stories, always the monks make some one to wait for long time? looks like monks have developed their own style.
yo pienso que es verdad, cada persona es un mundo como dicen. No todos buscan o sienten lo que el monje, no todos son tan profundos o tienen la oportunidad de tener una vida para meditar como el monje y esto de la sensibilidad para entender la vida no a todos se nos da.
me gusto por que yo me he sentido como el samurai.
Beautiful story, indeed.
Everything has its secret purpose in the universe. In this case I like to imagine the sun and the moon as two lovers. The sun offers his rays of love to the moon and the moon thankfully smiles back to the sun with a tender shine.
I keep thinking that we all need that special love to be complete. Even though sometimes I want to think that every human being is self-sufficient in his self because everything has always been inside of him, including love in itself. And I am not saying that we aren’t, but in reality we often do not see it at all or simply start to forget. And like the sun brings out every night the moon’s tremendous beauty, we also need our soulmate who reminds us of how beautiful we really are.
Everybody rise and shine ;)
Love
our mission is settled by god we are like rings of a chain,of a very long chain. A refrigerator can never act as a teapot. We are born to fulfill our mission, to fulfill perfectly so that when passing away to be able to say it was not all in vain.
siempre con las palabras justas gracias!
“the beauty is in the eye of who see it”
Ah, appereances, they are so deceiving and make the path so difficult, but they are there for us for a reason.To see through them is possible only with the eyes of the heart wide open.
Allí están, el sol y la luna los que quieran disfrutarlos, es para todos. Aveces son tan cotidianos para nosotros que ni nos detenemos a amirarlos, el dia que falten los extrañaremos. Así es la vida, para algunos rutinaria, sin sabor, sin sentido.para otros luz y vida cada uno escoge como vivirla.
This is really nice Paulo, quite phiosophical and what it is: TRUE. Thanks…
While I admire the story, I do not understand one thing. Why did he have to make him wait. He could have told him the sun and moon story right at the beginning.
Probably, to let the Samurai see his nature of work.. For him (Samurai) to reflect whether he would like to do the same, or be successful in that area. :)
probably to teach him about patience
The Monk certainly had to make the Samurai wait to make him perceive the truth of the natural wisdom. All great lessons are given so simply and subtly by mother nature. Yet only few can have the simple heart and natural wisdom to perceive.
Best Regards to Paulo. Surely I find you one of the best modern teachers or should I say preachers.
so it was late enough to be able to see the moon! ;-)
beautiful…awesome….true every humane has its own importance in this world..irreplacable….
EL DIA QUE NOS SIENTAMOS UNICOS, PODREMOS ENTENDER LA GRNDESA DE DIOS. EL NO HACE A LOS SERES HUMANOS EN UNA FABRICA COMO UN PRODUCTO; NO EL NOS HACE A MANO CADA DETALLE, CADA PATE DE NOSOTROS.
POR ESO NOS CONOSE TAB BIEN, EL MEJOR QUE NADIE CONOSE NUESTROS DEFECTOS Y VIRTUDES. NADIE PUEDE REMPLASARNOS Y NOSOTROS JAMAS PODREMOS OCUPAR EL LUGAR DE NADIE. Y SOLO EL CONOSIMIENTO DE NOSOTROS NOS HRA VER NUESTRA VERDADERA GRANDESA ;D
gud one.. each has its own beauty.. thats the simple essence of life. to accept and be in peace
GREAT ONE…
ESTOY EN LA TIERRA, POR ESO LA BELLA LUZ DEL SOL Y LA LUNA BRILLAN FRENTE A MI SER DE IGUAL MANERA.
Gracias PAULO, por fomentar la inspiración.
I really enjoyed reading this today. It reminded that I have a purpose in life and that it is my personal destiny to do what I do, the way I do it.
I felt the same, Kealan!
This is so beautiful! Thank you. God Bless you.
desde los 4 años mis capacidades extrasensoriales se ivan activando a medida que uno iva creciendo…..pero llego un momento en el que tu ve que decidir… si adaptarme a la sociedad que me rodeava…. o ser yo mismo….no hace falta decir cual seria el pensamiento de un niño …. con tanto peso encima…. a los 13 años.. me puse a fumar marihuana con mis amigos..( cosas de la edad)…..provocando la esencia de mi cuerpo…. mientras que viajava astralmente y replanteava todos mis esquemas…acabe a los 17 años buscando un tipo de estabilidad… que me quitara el peso de encima… al tiempo.. me di cuenta que solo era una felicidad ficticia creada… por ese peso que sobrellevava…… a medida que fue pasando el tiempo.. mi cuerpo iva ganando mas habilidades… sin la necesidad de estudiarlas….siendo conciente de que nadie podria ayudarme… porque la solucion la tenia yo mismo ..solo me faltava mas coraje para alcanzarla….tras llegar a los 24 años… con la total calma de mi conciencia… me puse a estudiar sin libros… 3 meses 10 horas al dia… hora abajo…hora arriba… con la unica finalidad de resolver.. la verdadera pregunta que nos lleva a esta conversacion… tras llegar a un sitio donde muy pocas personas llegan…..viendo lo que tendria que ponerme a hacer..sin aceptarlo…… ayer hablando con mi amigo rastafary…llegemos a la conclusion que limitava mi exito… y yo le pregunte el pq? porque lo hacia .. que sentido tenia … que protegia..de que tenia miedo?…hoy me di cuenta que tenia que dejar el peso en la orilla si decidia profundizar en el oceano…no se… quizas cuando yo vuelva .. vuelvo con alguna formula….. quizas no .. y pierda mi tiempo sin hacer nada de provecho en esta dimension…..no se…. sembre amor por toda gaia… pero me di cuenta que era inutil… si antes no creava un pozo …para sacar cubos de agua..
lo unico que se…. es que no se nada….sin necesidad de explicar que reside en la nada….
posdata: supongo que evoluciono mi pregunta… y ya por eso tengo que estar sadisfecho… pero hasta que punto deberia de estar contento conmigo mismo … si se sigue escapando la respuesta…contesto aqui… ya sabes que no me gusta llamar la atencion mas de lo necesario…podria haver incrementado el marcador para despertar a cierta persona…..pero es inutil cuando jugamos en el mismo bando…tenias razon…..en otro mensaje la respuesta… pero de momento profundizamos en la pregunta..lo haria todo?? o solo pensaria en una cosa? un abrazo..( me quite la coraza.. pero no su peso….
So lo que aveces no se encuentran las respuestas correctas ni la forma de darse cuenta de como las personas se interesan por hacernos entrar en razón. no sabe como hacer,comunicacion,solo sabe que el amor es lo la persona siente,y no quire ser lastimada.
Very inspirational, and true.
100% right..
Life is beautiful but ugly at the same time. Our nerves are always being tested since birth till death.
If u compare your self with others, u actually insult yourself. Nice Share Paulo !
Thank you Mr.Paulo
Thanks for sharing the know how of living the best life
We are in this world to learn and to give. To learn about life and to give our love. So many people are not happy with who they are. So many people are comparing themselves with those who are better than them.
At least they are aware that there are people better than them and hopefully they will improve themselves for the sake of making themselves to be better people. Along the way, hopefully, they gain wisdom and stop the comparing and start giving to the world.
Those who are confused about themselves or give up on lives are the ones that really need help. Some are living in dreams that destroy them as their dreams are unrealistic or fatal to them or to those around them. To live their dreams they do things that destroy others, hurt others….
Everyone has his/her own individuality and one should be proud of that !
nice story.. it makes us realize that really there’s no need for us to be inferior of other people. we are uniquely made by God.
True Que, I totally agree with you.
Definetely.If we are all from the same source, how can we be inferior or superior? We are all born naked and we will all leave our bodies one day. A color is beautiful, but thank god that there are many more than just one. Each color has its own beauty and some prefer one over the other. And if you think about it, actually there is no color in reality, it is what we see when light is broken. It comes from the same source, one light. And is nature not like this in many ways? =)
Love.
Awesome..!!!
Thanks Paulo; you made my day :)
Beautiful story!
The role of the ego is to differentiate us from one another and not to make us feel superior or inferior!
Your five fingers in your eyes are yours and each different from another but not superior or inferior to another finger! Similarly, in the eyes of God we are all like fingers of God not superior or inferior!
Love
In this universe there isn’t anything which has not it’s value,every thing has there own merits the flower and the thorns, sun and the moon, day and night, teacher and the student,black and white.If there was only white race the value of the white colour would have finished, it is the black which make the white beautiful. Everybody tries to contribute for the society in their own way.We shouldn’t make fun of anybody.Today in the news I saw President Obama’s picture the way people portrayed him as a baby chimpanzee. It really hurt me,why there is so much discrimination.Then I read this master’s story which says we are all fighting in different ways everybody is important for the society.May God give everybody wisdom.
Kevin John Shared this on facebook with me.. and i loved it. you are a very good writer.. And so this is true for you as well.. As you are one who does what you do for those who find refreshment in it.. you are the drink of water to a thirsty soul.. thank you for the drink!
Dear paulo, happy to c u again through ur thoughts..thnk u, must also tel u tht love all d paintings wid ur thought, esp wid valkyries, bt in dis shouldnt der b full moon.. Luv n regards..
Each one of the individual is different and they are never the same. Each one has its own two sides.. We can’t compare two things as they both are unique..just like the 5 fingers in hands each carrying its own purpose but they both are equally important.. thanks Paulo for the beautiful story line
:)
gracias paulo ers mi idolo me encantas me facisnas y te admiro ers grande chaval ….mi maestro zen gracias
La Luz Brilla Para todos,en forma igual,es como tu quieras verla,aprovechar el sendero… Sea de Noche …Dia…pero siempre,confia en ti,porque,todos tenemos un camino,y ese camino tenemos que encontrarlo,para saber:”QUIENES SOMOS”…Gracias Paulo Coelho.
Uhhh que lindo escribe q Dios lo guarde para q pueda seguir deleitandonos yo leo sus libros Senor Felicidades posee un gran Don.Su Admiradora
Wonderful one minute reading, Sir Paulo!
Each one of us has his/her own destiny. We should not compare ourselves to others. Instead, let others inspire us (and let us be inspirations, too!).
I am like the samurai too. i am too inferior towards myself. No confidence. But i am improving my self motivation by reading your post every morning so that i could start off my with positive attitude. Thank you Paulo. You are inspiring my life now and then.
wow the moon is so beautiful and could never equal the energy of the sun
Yes Paulo, Beautiful story……
All people are different…and all people are the same at the same time…everything is different in this World…and everything is the same at the same time…the same because it was created by the same origin…and different because it was created in a form of a vast variety of different expressions like different mirrors and reflections…and the nature of existence of all these forms and reflections is to live in harmony… similar to the nature of origin…
beautiful :)
You can’t ever please everyone, so why even try to compare yourself to others? Ultimately you should never feel inferior to others based on the fact that perfection is up to the individual’s standard, societal, and raising of the individual. Those factors determine, on an individual basis, what is superior. If you always do your best, why compare. Heaven is on earth and is created by the individual, why try to copy someone else’s heaven or superiority? We are each our own. Who is anyone to tell me that I am inferior to achieve my own happiness. Thanks for the reminder, exactly what I needed today.
Every mind is different, everyone has its own understanding and goals in life, and there are possible flaws and talents in every soul to be unleashed!
Heading on the right track are the most succcessful one’s
We all have something to contribute for the betterment of humanity and the world in general. Like everything else that God has created, each of us is endowed with unique qualities befitting the specific role we have to play in this world and our lives. We oft see ourselves as inferior because one of the ironies of life is our common failure to see ourselves for who and what we truly are, when in fact we have no choice but to live with ourselves for the entire span of our individual lives.
Thank you! Only if the world can see that too…that everybody is beautiful just the way he/she is and not to compare but to praise.
One night I went to bed depressed that I could not be like those who seemed to always be in the limelight. I thought so bad that after an experience I would’ve become someone “special”, someone whom the entire world seemed to gravitate towards.
That night I had a dream and in that dream a man showed me a book. I thought the book was written by you Paulo. But it was to grab my attention. It said, “Each person is an individual expression of the Divine. Each one has their own individual purpose and talent.”
The man, whom I thought was my uncle, then said, “Some people are like John the Baptist. They pave the way and live a life more seemingly peaceful. There are others who are like Jesus. They are said to be movers and shakers and stand in the spotlight. But each one has their own function and make their contribution to the light.”
I remember crying longing to be in the spotlight for so long. This story reminded me of that dream and that though I may not be a hunter or a warrior or a socialite, I can and do still make a contribution to the light by being the best ME that I can be.
I wish you the best on your way. Very touching words :)
But it still hurts.
/A
Take heed,
Soak up the sun,
Let it filter through your thoughts,
And shine forth in every deed.
As dearkness decends,
Greet the moon,
She will sing to you,
a lullaby of stars at day’s end.
With love, Daniel
for Moon its beauty is in complete without the Sun.
Each of us has his wonderful life,each of us can believe in himself,each of us is very important person ,each of us is member of the world.We are grains of sabble of a great “strand”.and as the wind likes,wind can sweep away us,when the wind is blowing we are all of the same size.Rich or poor,small or great,free or slave,king or subject,powerful or powerless,we have the same destiny :we are common mortal.We must live life with dignity ,because life is the only, unrepeatable and magic opportunity to stay in the world.When I was young I was with a child I feared my child’s sorrow in this world and I was dubious what I should have done;that night I had a dream I dreamed my child was talking to me:”mammy -he said me-life is only chance to know ,only opportunity that I has to know what is Good and Evil,if you do’nt want me I ‘ll not know anything never,I want to be alive,I want to live”,I woke up and I wept silently,my future child learned me life’s meaning,my tears were tears of happiness,because in that dubious night God talked to me .I think each of us must wish to live as he has only chance to know and to see the world in a special way.
Thank you Maria
Your words are about to change my perspective of life
This was one of the most meaningful reasone why we are here
Thanks again
Dear Maria, very beautiful.. your words touched my heart… thank you
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