AQUI EN ESPANOL: El fuego de la amistad
AQUI EM PORTUGUES: O fogo da amizade
______________________
When I arrive at the Moscow hotel with my publisher and my editor, a young woman is waiting outside for me. She comes over and grasps my hands in hers.
‘I need to talk to you. I’ve come all the way from Ekaterinburg to do just that.’
I’m tired. I woke up earlier than usual and had to change planes in Paris because there was no direct flight. I tried to sleep on the journey, but every time I managed to drop off, I would fall into the same unpleasant, recurring dream.
I hold out my hand to say goodbye and notice that hers is very cold.
‘Why didn’t you wait for me inside?’
‘I read your blog the other day and realised that you were talking directly to me.’
She takes out a piece of paper containing the article. I know it by heart, although I can’t remember who told me the story.
A man called Ali is in need of money and asks his boss to help him out. His boss sets him a challenge: if he can spend all night on the top of a mountain, he will receive a great reward; if he fails, he will have to work for free. The story continues:
When he left the shop, Ali noticed that an icy wind was blowing. He felt afraid and decided to ask his best friend, Aydi, if he thought he was mad to accept the wager.
After considering the matter for a moment, Aydi answered:
‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you. Tomorrow night, when you’re sitting on top of the mountain, look straight ahead.
‘I’ll be on the top of the mountain opposite, where I’ll keep a fire burning all night for you.
‘Look at the fire and think of our friendship; and that will keep you warm.
‘You’ll make it through the night, and afterwards, I’ll ask you for something in return.’
Ali won the wager, got the money, and went to his friend’s house.
‘You said you wanted some sort of payment in return.’
Aydi said, ‘Yes, but it isn’t money. Promise that if ever a cold wind blows through my life, you will light the fire of friendship for me.’
in ALEPH
Read comments on the book and post yours (NO CENSORSHIP) by clicking here
This book is banned in Iran but now I’m reading and I are very professional.
why?
Linda prova de amizade, pena que muitas pessoas trocam amizades verdadeiras por dinheiro…
This is such a beautiful story and a true example of friendship. :)
http://www.india-intro.com/history/akbar-birbal.html
something to ponder on…nice story
Is this true fire or a bargain? If I do for you, you do for me. The friend sounds like a beggar. If you truly do something out of love why expect anything in return. Love totally with no conditions. So if the other friend decides not to help you, who has truly failed, your expectations of them or their unwillingness. Your love to help should be enough unto itself, please don’t expect in return. Don’t be a beggar of love. Namaste!
Yeah, I agree with you. Why expect anything in return if you help your friend out of sheer love and for the sake of their friendship? What I believe is there are no conditions, rules or regulatrions in a true friendship.
A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed.
I love it!!! Although I don’t have that kind of friend to light the fire for me I know it would be sooo beautiful to have. Tha kind of friend
Xiomara, dont feel bad about not having that kind of friends (I dont have any friends at all) so, when I read your comment I thought ” maybe someone that you dont even imagine can light a fire for you when you need it the most”
Sorry for any mistake Im learning!
Hilal es el vivo ejemplo de tus enseñanzas, espero seguir creciendo espiritualmente, ya casi termino ese maravilloso libro, ese nuevo tesoro de tu corazón que nos regalas llamado Aleph! Dios te bendiga querido amigo! Un abrazo!
Wow!
If you are a true friend to yourself, true friends will always be around you to put a smile on your face when you feel down; understand you; lend you a hand in all times; care to share your dreams; give you love more than your heart can hold. In the end, friends are worth than Gold.
Freinds are precious, they are the best of all gifts that one can ever have. Nothing material can take tha place of the comradeship between you and I. Genuine friendship has no jealousy or pride, it has no envy and no lies, it has no room for lonliness and pain, because its all based on love.
Que bueno! Gracias Paulo! Saludos desde Copenhagen!
Beautiful! I don’t know why it made me wheep while I read the book.
Paulo, I like the way you present wonderful thoughts in these short stories. I’d like to suggest a small change in this story. From all I know about true friendship, a true friend will not even ask for that promise in return.
dis story aint complete……..wat happens is dat..next day wen man goes to his boss for money..his boss asks him dat how did he manage to spend da night!,,,,man tell him bout da fire!.,,da boss rebuffs n says dat he has cheatd dat da fire kept him warm…n refuses to give da money…..da man goes n tells his frnd wat happened…..next day ….da man invites his boss to a party at his place..sayin its in his honour..wen boss reaches dere…frnd says food shall b ready soon…bt evn after 4 hrs dere aint ny food…..so boss goess into kitchen n sees….dat da utensils in which food z cookin z atleast 1 metre high frm fire!!!,,,,boss starts shoutin ki its an insult…n blah blah..den da frnd smiles n says ….
“if a fire across mountain top cn keep a man warm..den we shall hv food cooked in dis way..”..da boss realizes his mistake….n rewards da frnd too for bein a true frnd!
One of my friends he wrote one day
All the people I loved jumped from the train, real friends the never jump the die with you.
Love, peace & serenity
having a friend who is their thru thick and thin..is really a gift from God:)
Great blog Paulo. Only one thing I would say “Friendship make prosperity more shining and lessens adversity by dividing and sharing it.” :)
This is absolutely triggering the fire inside of me for my best buddies. What a warmth… Thanks PC.
loved this one:)
I know this story well. It is The Fire on the Mountain. It’s an Ethiopian folktale. :)
It takes a lifetime to get a true friend indeed. Those who get it are the luckiest among us. No matter in how much problems you have in your life. Thanks for giving us such literary treat.
There was once a father, who had an only son. On the day he grew very very old and was on his death bed, he called his son and said to him
“My son, before I die, I want to tell you two things. First, even though I leave for you a big fortune, make sure to work everyday, because work makes a man happy.
And second my son, and the most important one, keep your friends near; and make new friends as well, but never forget about your old friends. They will be always there for you when you need them the most”
So said his father and he passed away.
Now the boy, being young and rich, started to have a life of fun and expenses. He spent all his fortune having the most luxurious parties and having all the best treatments one can ever desire. A lot of new friends came around him, and pledged for eternal friendship. His real true friends tried to tell him that it was no good for him to spend all his fortune like that, but he ignored them. He totally forgot about his father’s last advice.
As days went by, the young boy spent all his riches, and soon he realized that he no longer could afford his pleasures and he was soon risking to go to prison. Not only had he spent all his fortune but he was now in debt with the banks, who were asking for their money back.
The youngster turned to his newly made friends and asked them for help, but as fast they had come, as fast they disappeared. Now the boy reminded of his father’s last words and he felt so bad.
Very shameful and resentful, he went to look for his old friends and asked for an apology. He then told them about his problem and they helped him out of the trouble and found a job for him as well.
You see my dear friend, the light of friendship stays always lit, in the hearts of the true friends who love you and accept you not only through your happy days, but who cherish you through bad times as well…
EN MI VIDA SIEMPRE EL FUEGO, NO SE APAGUE AMIGO TA
Mé gustó mucho,la amistad es lo más hermoso qué nos puede pasar,x suerte tengo buenos y queridos amigos.Paulo Coelho es uno de mis favoritos,todo lo qué escribe son cosas de la vida.Mé gustaría conocerlo personalmente y qué me obsequiara uno de sus libros firmado”El guerrero de la luz”,mi preferido.
Yes, beatiful, i read that on ur Great Aleph, still reading, slowly, dnt want to miss smthg. Fire of friendship and thats all enough what everyone needs
<3
gracias Paulo ! saludos desde mexico!!
I am fortunate enough that I can say I have such a friend, who is here in my time of need and has shared in my joy. romantic love may be hard to find but my life has been blessed with the companionship of real friendship. thanks for reminding me to be greatful for that.
German Translation
Das Feuer der Freundschaft
Als ich mit meinem Verleger und meinem Redakteur in einem Hotel in Moskau eintreffe, wartet eine junge Frau draußen auf mich. Sie kommt zu mir, und nimmt meine Hände in die Ihren.
“Ich muss mit Ihnen reden. Ich bin den ganzen Weg von Ekaterinburg hierhergekommen um genau das zu tun. ”
Ich bin müde. Ich wachte früher auf als sonst und musste in Paris umsteigen, weil es keinen Direktflug gab. Ich habe versucht, auf der Reise schlafen, aber jedes Mal, wenn ich es geschafft hatte einzuschlafen, fiel ich in den gleichen unangenehmen immer wiederkehrenden Traum. Ich strecke meine Hand aus, um Lebewohl zu sagen und stelle fest, dass Ihre sehr kalt ist.
“Warum warten Sie nicht drinnen auf mich?”
“Ich habe Ihren Blog gelesen und realisiert dass Sie direkt mit mir reden.”
Sie nimmt ein Stück Papier, darauf der Artikel. Ich kenne ihn auswendig, obwohl ich mich nicht erinnern kann, wer mir die Geschichte erzählte.
Ein Mann namens Ali ist in Geldnot und bittet seinen Chef um ihm zu helfen. Sein Chef gibt ihm eine Aufgabe: Wenn er eine ganze Nacht auf dem Gipfel eines Berges verbringt, dann wird er eine große Belohnung erhalten, wenn er scheitert, muss er umsonst arbeiten. Die Geschichte geht weiter:
Als er den Laden verließ, bemerkte Ali, dass ein eisiger Wind wehte. Er fühlte Angst und beschloss seinen besten Freund, Aydi zu fragen, ob dieser dachte, er sei verrückt gewesen, die Wette zu akzeptieren.
Nachdem er einen Moment über die Angelegenheit nachgedacht hatte, antwortete Aydi:
„Mach dir keine Sorgen, ich werde dir helfen. Morgen Abend, wenn Du oben auf dem Berg sitzt, schau geradeaus.
„Ich werde auf dem Gipfel des Berges gegenüber sein, wo ich ein Feuer brennen lassen, und die ganze Nacht für dich bewachen werde.
„Schau zu dem Feuer und denke an unsere Freundschaft, und das wird Dich warm halten.
“Du wirst es während der ganzen Nacht so machen, und danach werde ich Dich im Gegenzug etwas fragen.”
Ali gewann die Wette sowie das Geld und ging zu seinem Freund nach Hause.
„Du sagtest, Du wolltest eine Art von Zahlung als Gegenleistung.”
Aydi sagte, „Ja, aber es ist kein Geld. Versprich mir, wenn jemals ein kalter Wind durch mein Leben weht, dann wirst Du für mich das Feuer der Freundschaft entfachen”.
Auszug aus Aleph
Hola soy de tampico, tamaulipas y soy tu admiradora desde hace tiempo, desde q comenzast a publicar pequeñas publicaciones sobre tu nuevo libro Aleph t fui siguiendo mas q de costumbre, staba pendiente de tu blog y esperaba con ancia su llegada a mexico, desgraciadamente no lo encontré hasta q un dia un admirador lo encontró y me lo regaló yo casi lo beso al ver el libro de la emoción jejeje pero me contuve lol y solo me bastó una semana para terminarlo hasta fue mucho pero solo lo leía al terminar la esc. te juro que a veces estaba tan emocionada que ya queria q terminara la escuela para ir leyendolo camino a casa. Realmente me fascinó, bueno eso es poco, me imagino ques Hilal es la que esta en esta fotografia, que AFORTUNADA fue tenerte en todo ese viaje a su lado. Sabs me enamoré de ti, eres un gran escritor, gracias por hacerme soñar con cada una de esas lineas que plasmas en tus libros, esas historias maravillosas, ojalá pudiera conocert en persona algun dia, no sabes que feliz me harias y pudieras autografias mi libro.Dios te bendiga siempre en donde quiera que estes. Te amo.
sweet one
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Paulo, you light that fire of friendship for all of us by caring enough to write stories that touch our hearts and spirit.We all have a chance to pass it on to others and more importantly to ourselves. Much love to you.
Sr. Coelho, when will Aleph be published in Canada?
Let each of us be able to be such a friend and let each of us have such a friend in this life !
Let each of us be able to be such a friend, and let each of us have such a friend in this life !
best short story.
The best friendships are the ones where the giving and taking are equal. We may give one thing and take another, it doesn’t matter, as long as both friends feel that they are getting something out of the relationship and giving something of value, they will remain friends. The friend in the story was a true friend and also a responsible one. He gave something that involved personal sacrifice for that night, he was a true friend because he shared the hardship, empathised with the feeling, made himself equal in experience to his friend and provided love and validation and encouragement to his friend in his night of need. He made it clear that this was not an act of charity, because charity is not what equal friendships are made up of. Charity has the ability to provoke resentment. A friend is not a servant. A true friend will chose their friend wisely and give in this way to people who have proved themselves worthy. In friendship, you reap what you sow. The man in need must have been a good friend for his friend to have done such a thing for him.
Unfortunately, very difficult to find friends like that, in today´s ultra competitive World!
Lovely!
I So Love that story !!! :)
‘walk beside me and be my friend…’
”Friend ” is a word we cannot use casually
MYSELF AND ME
You know…My Love…Somewhere along the way…
I stopped believing in you… And all those lovely words you did say…
You disappeared too many times…Way…Way…Off the track…
I thought I would have a heart attack…
Tried to drag you back…
A waste of time…
You enjoy your shoddy life totally…To you it is so fine…
And now …When I say I want to go…To finally quit…
It seems you are having a fit…
Of …Deep… Despair…
I never wanted to leave you…Behind…
But…My Darling…You have messed too much with my – Mind…
And …I have to shut you completely…Out of my life…
You say…You wanted me to be your…Everlasting wife…
It is a lie….
I know you so well now…And truly…I won’t cry…
For in many – So many – many ways…I feel at Peace…x
And though – My love for you may never cease…
I am now set…. Free…
I truly have to say …You did mean the world to me…x
Those thoughts and dreams are broken now…So far …Gone
And …I sincerely just want to ‘be on my own’
The first moment you spoke to my heart…
I didn’t realise how you could tear it apart…
You did….My Darling Dear…
You made me want you so near…
Then we met…
I will never regret…
The time we spent loving…
Giving…
Each other so much…
Held together by much more …Than a momentary…Tingling touch…
I truly adore your tender…Sweet….Lips…
You say you absolutely adore – My hips…
I love so much you have the gentlest – Kindest – Heart…
I‘m so very scared someone or something will tear us…Apart…
If you possibly can – My Own Sweet dearest Love…So …So very fine…
Please…Please…My Darling…Please if you can..Always….Always…Be Minexxxx
Thanks Annie…
What a truely beautiful verse…
I’m sure your heart is full of rose blossoms…
It’s floral perfume is spilling…
Everywhere on everyone….
With gratitude
LoveM<3
I am thankful for the fire my friends keep burning for me and more thankful for I have to keep a burning one for them.
Bom dia Guerreiro !
Esse texto é lindo demais. Hilal teve o coração tocado por ele e foi atrás d vc não por acaso ne, é mesmo mto lindo.
Q Deus nos faça sempre ter alguém para acender fogueiras para nós e q possamos sempre ser acendedores de fogueiras.
Viu q o Pe. Fabio de Melo tirou uma foto de um rio e postou pra vc? #amovcsdois
Guereiro qrido, vc já leu “Os PIlares da Terra”? Achei maravilhoso, imagino q o livro deva ser sensacional tbém, qro comprar logo. Pq só o filme já é sensacional, se vc não viu ainda, acho q vai gostar.
Um beijão. Pensei tanto em tantas coisas q aprendo com vc neste fds.
Deus te ilumine.
Amo vc. S2
This is absolutely heart warming =)
true friendship…doesnt want anything in return…