EN ESPANOL AQUI > Cain y Abel
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Cain and Abel came to the banks of an enormous lake. They had never seen anything like it.
“There’s something inside it,” said Abel, looking into the water, not knowing that it was his reflection.
Cain noticed the same thing, and raised his staff. The image did the same thing. Cain stood waiting for the blow; his image did the same.
Abel studied the surface of the water. He smiled, and the image smiled. He laughed out loud, and saw the other imitating him.
As they walked away, Cain thought:
“How aggressive those creatures are who live in there.”
And Abel told himself:
“I’d like to return, for I met someone both handsome and in good humor.”
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Toying with this story
Twisting both Abel and Cain,
makin’ a new story
Seeing I am neither Abel or Cain,
I am both Abel and Cain
toying more with the names
a thought whirlin like a hurricane
suddenly i have no name
“His name was Santiago”
I Ca(i)n and I am Able
to find my treasure
like he did in a fable
Love and gratitude
Annie
lovely………
Thank you. :-)
World is what we are !
In a deep silence, i called a halt to noise.
I closed my eyes and opened my life via my opened hands
to welcome myself as a guest to the temple of the knowledge of the good.
I’ve tamed my body’s empire and found myself invited in a subliminal trance’s party.
Then, suddenly a halo raised over my head and wrapped my mind,
with lotus’s perfume, for it to visit my spirit.
I am so glad, I did share my life story….and feel the freedom to be just who I am, unique and diffirent, not wrong or right, not worthy or unworthy, not weird or perfect but just okay…that’s the mirror I saw my self….Thank you !!!!!
forget the mirror…teach your eyes how to see!teach your heart how to love!mirror’S magic is in what it shows…us!
there are only reflections which you recieve from others in response of your activities.. world is like a mirror.. paulo sir your writing is really amazing to read..
En esta historia cada uno reflejó lo que es, parte de su personalidad. Por eso es que Caín pensó que su reflejo en el agua era agresivo, más no se dio cuenta de que el mismo es así…en cambio Abel pudo tomar otra referencia, osea, él pensó que tenían sentido del humor por que él mismo era quien se reía…el agua no fue sino un vehículo por el cual ambos dejaron ver cómo eran, lamentablemente no fue algo que ambos notaran…
haha very good story ! :)
Be careful what kind of image you send to the world!
Thank you!
In beautiful works of Paulo Coelho i find that eternal beauty which unfortunately slips by us..
It is about reflections of ourselves,but mirror does a devil work..more often it distort an image,or our look;and there is something more …..it depends on what angle and from which distance you look in it,and so, one beautiful appearance might be complete different and gruesome ..be careful to whom you allow to get closer to look at your reflection because one day they might use it against you,by showing and sending a mangled image of you.
Nice :) I like that. I have learned that I must be careful of who I let influence me, I like how Paulo Coelho has quotes on this kind of thing.
I can relate to this piece very much. I have a tendency to be very openhearted with everyone and I don’t know why, when the truth of the fact is that I need to be more careful about who I let inside my life, but i always have a difficulty keeping a distance, however i have been learning much over the past few years with different experiences with friendships which were very toxic. I think this might have to do a lot with the fact that I was raised by my grandmother alone and had to move around a lot, due to the fact that my mother was unable to take care of me and she was a single mother too, I had to find my own ways in life and although I have a successful life in every regards, when it comes to my personal relationships, i seem to struggle to keep a very relaxed healthy relationship. Thanks for this inspiring piece, it really speaks to me.
a third one looked into the lake, saw a bird fly and recognized the fish
love gives wings and challenges to dive…
Lots of love,
Vicky
This lovely story is not really about Cain or Able but about this enormous lake that reflects ones being..
Cain and Able represent archetypal human characteristics found in all of us but no one is Cain or Able.. so there is no need to go looking for them in oneself or in anyone else..
The world as a mirror shows not only ones being but how one is looking..
If one looks with the eyes of fear..distrust..dislike..hate..loathing..
That is what one will see and experience in the world..
If one looks with the eyes of love..trust..enjoyment..acceptance..delight..
Then your world will reflect that and you will be living in that loveliness..
But even more wonderful is this realisation that you are this enormous lake in whose presence these characters show up..
Your essential being is not a character.. you are not your name.. your thoughts.. even your body or mind because these can all change.. come and go..
You are this lake of consciousness.. the awareness that brings all of these appearances to the light of day..
This real-I-sation.. Do I like my reflection.. Love my creation ;)|(:
LoveM
What a Beautiful World and how we … destroy it! We forget that the material World is a … transient one, that we are the … travellers in our Way to Ithaca and the … feelings and ‘treasures’ we carry in our Heart are the only things that we take with us, when …. we FLY, when the Butterfly, the Psyche, η ΨΥΧΗ enters the Eathereal, Higher Spheres of existence! LOVE, LIGHT and BEAUTY, only, are … worth carrying with us and they are so … light! The gravity of the Earth cannot keep us … prisoners any more, with the material, Earthly DESIRES!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
even our own self doesn’t make us look inside ourself
and if we do
we don’t stop to get it avail it cherish it
ah
Fear or Love ……..this is our choice
peace
Smile ,you , (I) said (to) the mirror
the more you ll smile
the more others will smile at you
and so the more again you will smile
Love you- (I) said (to )the mirror
the more you ll love
the more others will love you
and so the more you will love
Thank you- (I) said (to )the mirror
the more you smile, love me and are grateful
the more I smile at you, I love you , and I thank you
for being me ..and you
<3
Love and Gratitude
Annie
Isn’t the mirror give reverse image of the reality? I wonder sometimes if what I see in the mirror is the same as other people see.
How come Abel didn’t recognize the reflection of Cain and verse versa?
It just make sense that they will be able to recogize one another.
I think we invented mirrors because we lost trust on other people to tell the truth and instead we sattled for the reversed image of us and the world.
I know this is off topic but I just wanted to share my thoughts.
Any idea?
Love
Here is one idea or 2 but keep it to yousef please
Why are they not talking with each other.?
Why are they not sharing ?.:)
Also, Keep in mind it was a big lake so they, perhaps were not too close from each other,. We have to give them the benefit of the doubt somehow.
Thank you, That was very brave of u .
Love will keep us together .
Quisch or 2
Your thought is very wise.
Humans are social beings – therefore, they should have regconized the others reflection and helped each other understand what was going on.
But Life is like that. People seldem help the other get a better knowledge of what is going on, afraid that this will make the other stronger or make oneself look stupid…..
Just a thought!
laugh then the world will laugh with you, weep and you will grieve alone
Maybe Narcissus did not fall into the lake after all.
Transmitter and receiver. I get back what I send out. I think of that when I read this story. This happens when dealing with others, and even if we deal with ourselves. One difference, perhaps. You can yourself, your own soul, inflict more harm than any other man. I am Cain and Abel. As probably everybody. And there’s really strange being in this lake. A mirror is magical.
I wish you all a wonderful day
:)
Когда бы Каин выронил свой нож..мы бы узнали,что Авель был хорош?(Вопросы крошки енота.Сказки)
I found an article his morning about Songnsvann, Oslo. The lake reflects how people from Oslo, from Norway, live. I lived this life for five years, for good and for bad. Angles and Demons met here;
http://tinyurl.com/6hh9tyw
How could we utilize this to the personalized existence?
There is two of you:-) And maybe even five………. Who knows anymore. But the good news is, if one of you messed up you still get 4 of you to get it right;-)
Cheers1
Abel has my vote.
Abel a toujours mon vote.
C’est pas bossa?
mine, too :o) <3
se lever du pied droit ou du pied gauche.
x
What do you think about yourself?
It is the same thing that they had to think in front of your reflection.
As it each one had a different experience, because each one tape-worm an different energy and charisma.
There by can to suppose, that Cain saw amability in Abel, and Abel saw an aggressive brother in Cain.
Same waters down reflects what each one perceives of others and what others perceive of us themselves every day, as a mirror.
It is the same concept of the corporal language.
Every morning do you get up, sides to Cain or Abel?
As we were driving home this morning from the super-market, a white electrical-van was in front of us. Suddenly, the back door of the van flew open.
At the intersection, I winded the window down and told the driver about the door.
He gave a big grin and said “:Its the ‘apprentice’s fault”
The face of the “apprentice” said it all.
…I knew I should be wearing my bright orange socks more often…
I really love this story! Its great and its completely true. I used to think that its false but lately i have been noticing that its 100% true.This story has compeled me to think about my past and present actions. I think its time to forget the universal priority( to compete on an international level ) and concentrate on one person- the soul. It´s high time to look into the mirror and to keep in mind that a healthy and peacful soul = happiness, success and wisdom.
Thanks a lot to everyone who have posted their opinions, i truly agree with each one of you and am glad to see that there are people out there who share my points of view aswell.
God bless, love to everyone
was funny.I know has a moral.We might understand how we influence the others behaviour,all that we do would come back to us ,like a boumerang.If we are good,good things will come back to us.And we understand that we are seing otherst through our filter,if we are bad ,we think others are too.
Anlao- nice poem.
indeed another interesting piece… i’m enjoying every book you wrote… simple yet meaningful
The nature of “Maya” – a term from the ancient Sanskrit, used to denote the illusive character of the world in which we live. It shimmers, it tantalizes – sometimes it even frightens or enrages us – nonetheless, this that we experience as daily “reality,” this tangible world and all of its myriad situations and circumstances is like that lake, naught but a reflection of our own soul as it moves through the process of growth and evolution.
This is what I find fascinating about Jungian psychology, as well. It teaches us this vital lesson: that whatever arises before us in the realm of our experiences, it is, in essence, a reflection of the current state of our innermost self. Thus, there is no one to “blame” for the situation. We have only to look for the deeper meaning – the symbolic or “archetypal” meaning – hidden in the situation. This is not always easy, but when we find it, we unlock within ourselves the potential to turn the situation, whatever it may be, into an opportunity for personal growth and spiritual evolution.
There are so many systems out there that we can use to help us see the reflection for what it is – a reflection. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which philosophy we choose to explore, so long as we find a way to stop slapping and grunting at our own reflections in the water.
Savita
so, true, savita.
& we recognize in the mirror only what we are capable of experiencing within ourselves.
(that’s the reason kain only see anger & abel sees friendliness.)
this can be horrifying … recognizing how small our universe can be based our missing willingness to expand …. to expand what?
our heart, curiosity to do new things, willingness to look at something from a different point of view; dropping our well elaborated life philosophy that we love to defend with our stubbornness.
<3
TO heart/football:
What would you say if God would reply to your question: “But I did give you that chance, this morning, and the morning before, and each morning with your first conscious breath. Why do you forget it by the time you reach your bathroom mirror?”
This reminded me of a note I wrote this spring, when an old friend of mine from back home read me a piece of paper I wrote him 5 years ago, wishing he would become it. I saw his video and started crying, because he did became that beautiful personna, but at the same time because I felt I was not it. That’s when I wrote another message, this time for myself.
Note to self
Stop.
Now. Right now, what you are doing,
Breathe in and let the world sink in
Look closely at all musts and all the have to’s
To find those few wants hiding in between.
Seek.
Explanations, not excuses,
And don’t waste time by chasing blame
You’ll either build or find your answers,
Or fail, and if you do just ask again.
Choose.
Not the color of your kisses
For you’ll find more than you can name
Simply make those type of choices
That rush to hug you meeting them again.
Practice.
Forgiveness in the mirror
Disrupting every single judge
For all non actions of reaction
Until reflection holds no grudge.
Stay.
Fit, stay strong, stay crazy, bold and wreckless
Stay true and keep your heart sailing its course
And when you feel like running, run, but mindful
Running is healthy only if towards.
Feel.
Skin, beats, waves splashing, sun and raindrops
Wind as you’re falling from the airplane just because
Feel free to not look pretty when you’re crying
And to let love melt igloos from your face.
Remember.
Share your heart, and share your burden
Watching one grow and than the other gone.
Remember loneliness as just a lesson
On how to treasure moments not alone.
Love.
And with first conscious breath each morning
While the world opens up for you to see
Make use of your own power of creation
My soul, how do you want to be?
Para Abel o que é de Abel…
Para caim o que quis Caim…
Beijos,
Mari Raphael.
Como siempre he leído… la vida es un reflejo de todas tus acciones… y que mejor manera de describir dichas acciones, que usando a personajes tan antagónicos como los históricos hermanos! :D
What can I do to stop being a mirror? You know what I mean? The most beautiful and lovely beings are those elegant by nature; when I grow up I wanna be one of them. I wanna be a human being and leave behind the beast. Do you know a beautiful and lovely being?
Supongo que crecí.
it is so easy to smile when you are not overhelmed with heavy troubles…
it is so easy to smile when you are not overhelmed with heavy troubles…
god, give me the chance to be like abel… only small chance… and my smile and good humor will make happy everyone of you, amen!
One man had a dog, angry and full of rage. He left it asleep in room made of mirrors thinking it was angry because it was lonely.
As dog woke up and saw all arround him dogs staring back, he started to growl and attack finishing wounded, bleeding all alone.
Man brought another dog and put him in room of mirrors. Second dog woke up, saw another dog, happy not to be alone started vigorously move its tail, all dogs arround did the same. Dog fell asleep happy to be circled with friends.
Heard this story many years ago in local church and never forgot it.
Love
Luce
god! give me only the chance to be one day like abel… only small chance… and my smile and good humor will make happy millions of people! amen
Seems that when you are disconnected from something, not understanding it.. that is when one is most likely to be confused, even distort the situation.
La cuestión no es tomar una actitud positiva en la vida. La vida no tiene que llenarse de Abeles. Los Abeles son tan estúpidos como los
Caínes. Tanto el uno como el otro son estúpidos, o dicho de otro modo, están ciegos. Son dos Narcisistas dormidos.
La cuestión es lo que hay ahí; delante de sus ojos y que no logran ver:
- Que no hay nadie en el agua.
- Que el lago es un mundo paralelo repleto de peces y plantas, muy distinto al nuestro.
Todo es una ilusión.
Caín y a Abel… a cuál más tonto el pobre.
Paz y Amor
I guess that this is the beauty of human nature, we all read the same story, yet we all have different interpretations as to what the story really tells us.
Maybe the story reflects on how little we truly know our own persona, how we stare at our own image yet glare at what we believe is someone else. Maybe we are more capable to testify for our own being when safely guarded by distance. Maybe when disconnected from our own self we gain the strength to be objective enough to accept and acknowledge whom we have become.
We can sometimes see ourselves in things but we sometimes don’t even realize it.
Angeline
The story about Cain and Abel is a story about brotherhood… which didn’t turn out too well. Here, one appears an optimist and the other a pessimist. What a difference these two attitudes to life makes.
Talking about brotherhood. Thanks to Paul from Austria for the link to the article about secret societies. I read it, and can only shake my head. A story about evil incarnated.
My mother used to say to me, refering to my behaviour towards others, an old Cypriot proverb: “the mirror will show you exactly what you show to it. If you smile it smiles, if you show an angry face it is angry too”.
I think this is a similar story. The world and life, returns to us exactly the same image that we have inside us. We ‘see’ what we are.
We must transmute everything into ..Light and Love.
LOVE,
THELMA
So pleased to read again from Thelma as her thoughts are inspiring as yours are Dear Paulo.
it is indeed as the life itself, when you smile and treat nicely other people this energy returns to you through a child smile on a street. when you are angree and passive the same returns to you through various people and circumstances. i liked this story of another reflection, as when you truly realise and become aware that all situations and people that are around you at this moment is the creation of your own mind then you can move on to be a happy person bringing happiness and love to others without expecting anything in return as you would know for sure that one day it will all catch up with you!
thank you paulo for all your wisdom! i would also advise you to read the science of happiness which was writen in russian langauge by Antarova Konkordia, the ideas of pure thinking are amazing.
well…the story is quite good….it tells us about the fact that life gives us back what we give it….give out hate and you get back hate…..give away love and you get love……
it tells us that life around us acts as a mirror …..reflecting what we have with us….
it is not possible that we keep hatred inside our hearts and move around and expect love from people around us…….
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