10 sec reading: don’t forget the evil men

by Paulo Coelho on November 25, 2011

The following prayer was found amongst the personal belongings of a Jew who died in a concentration camp:
 
Lord, when you come in Your glory, do not remember only the men of good, but remember too the men of evil.
 
And on the Day of Judgement, do not remember only the acts of cruelty, inhumanity and violence that they carried out,
but remember too the fruits that they produced in us because of what they did to us.
Remember the patience, courage, brotherly love, humility, generosity of spirit and faithfulness
that our executioners awoke in our souls.
 
And then, Lord, may those fruits be used to save the souls of those men of evil.

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{ 117 comments… read them below or add one }

arun January 17, 2012 at 12:48 pm

Thanks Ikrima for sharing beautiful words…. :)

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arun January 16, 2012 at 2:09 pm

Recently going through one of the comment I have realised that sometimes people take things in offended manner. We should remember theses are the words or expressions of one individual and we have all rights to be postive with this or disagree with it. It is not with any personal nor on any religion or path. all paths are good and if you believe any of it it is good or you may turn down all at one instance. We join this blog with our own choice than why we should be in other mode. One can be agreed with Gandhi, Osho, Geeta or Hitler it is one’s choice. When you start doing something you know one and only thing that is your own belief. Sometimes it is such strong that that any other thing is not acceptable to even an extent.but one thing shall be cleared in mind that we should treat all in receptive manner.

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Ikrima Idrees January 16, 2012 at 7:53 pm

That’s very beautiful indeed, I really do agree with You. But I also do believe, it’s good to have some logical explanations in support of one’s own belief. And when something is shared publicaly on a forum, other people do have the right to ask a few questions about it. That’s exactly what I did and to be very honest, there’s nothing for me to be offended by this. I was just trying to share my own thoughts that came to my mind after reading that “prayer”.

Ikrima Idrees January 12, 2012 at 2:03 pm

Ain’t it like giving GOD Almighty a suggestion or advice on what HE should or should not be doing to the Men of Evil on the day judgment? It doesn’t make any sense at all, asking GOD for forgiveness for those who suppress the weak.
I am a Muslim, our prophet MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon Him) never cursed his enemies, in fact he always did pray to GOD to show them the right path, but he never asked forgiveness for them. GOD Almighty is not unjust, HE is going to punish those who showed brutality to HIS creatures.
Not wishing anything bad to happen to your enemies and being kind to them in life is a different thing, while praying to GOD to forgive them, is totally a different thing.

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Muhammad Ibrahim Khan January 15, 2012 at 10:17 am

bht nice Sister , apne bht accha reply kia is shaks ko,

juan omaña December 25, 2011 at 6:58 pm

que gran hombre fue este señor judio y demostro su gran amor por el projimo a un el maltratandolo y sabiendo que tarde o temprano lo iban a mata. se regosijo en dios, le pidio por los que son buenos pero sobretodo que no se olvidara de los que le hicieron daño que los perdonara. se me hizo un nudo en la garganta y mis ojos se llenaron de lagrimas orgulloso de una persona que estubo fuerte en su amor por dios a un en sufrimiento. eso es admirable y ejemplo a seguir. amen

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Thomas Bogaty December 18, 2011 at 5:44 pm

how do you get so many great stories…..

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Ahmed Ajmal Khan December 6, 2011 at 12:07 am

Aga apni maut se koi bashar nahi, Samaan hai sao baras ka pal ki khabar nahe (Accumulated things for 100 years but do not know what will happen in next moment)-Iqbal. Some people garner hate and jealousy even for person who do good for them but look at wish of this soul, praying for his suppressor.

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Oscar G U December 4, 2011 at 2:43 am

Saludos Sr.
Yo simplemente soy un admirador y espectador de sus obras literarias y con toda humildad le envio un fuerte abraso espero conocerlo como hasta hoy lo conozco de sus obras hasta pronto. Gracias

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arun sharma December 2, 2011 at 9:59 am

The prayer is a tune to sing about love and faith in a person/ almighty. In this life we keep several belongings till our death day come. It may be dozens of clothes, shoes, costly watches, pens, books and many luxury material items to show our earthly possession. The jew who died in camp had no choice as these things could be snatched away on first instance. so he asked his god to carry a token of love and faith in him as his last bodily possessions. We all have a day which is not our own day…the day belongs to almighty when we realise about the lived life in a day..this day the almighty has choice to remember each and every karma of our life. the karma makes an impact over the other as well as on us. Whatever happened with one may change the fate / thinking of oneself. What a strange thing this day is being mentioned by everyone as a curse day or suffering day. People use to curse by mentiong or making one remember that that day one would face the punishment of his life and sins be paid off.Here someone is taking this day as blessing day ….
Every life when going to be started, we are called by God. He gives us various options. These options are like a menu-card from which we decide what and how much quantity we want the particular emotion/circumstance in our life. It may like taking the dishes in a buffet in our respective plate. We are given choices to leave few of them as well. As life is an institute of learning and experiencing new things hence the soul choose all types of emotions. Some may be taken in repetition and some are new to experience. So we choose some pain, some repentance, some anger and its consequences, some tears, some recklessness, betrayal etc. We do choose some happiness, joyfulness, celebration, party-time, soul-food, romance,, love, companionship, friends etc. We also choose our parents so that they can help us to guide in having the chosen plate.
The choices which we made at the initiation of life decide what would follow at what time. It gives us ample experience to understand the self chosen life.
The JEW knew that the life whichheI had lived was not forced upon rather he had chosen it himself with freewill. This he had done with understanding the new meanings, to know new horizons and to gain new experiences in life gain mileage in his life journey. he knew that if he had to merge with God, he had to be well prepared and capable. he was happy that his friend-GOD had fulfilled his dream and relied upon him to give what he had desired. He let him chose his path and destiny to begin his onward journey.We have chosen our path and become what we always want to be. We are today what we thought at the beginning of our life.
Life never remained demand-type. It is always to give more and more. We should understand that what we have wanted is given to us. So when one feel deserted, lonely and in pain, never lose heart. Sooner this chapter of life will conclude and next chapter will commence. In the last you will be experiencing that you had chosen.
It would not be a full stop again another menu-card would be given with ample choice to choose and new dishes will appear in our plate accordingly. New tastes, new flavor and new colors will add dab to it.
All these choices make our life special and authentic. The originality of life is that the party goes at one place where we all share different note and enjoy the chosen food. So at one time one might be having chill-pill snack and other might be enjoying apple-pie. That creates different shades in environment and crowd. This world is a big party hall where we all gather to enjoy the gala party with choice of having a full plate of different dishes. from ‘arunaksarun.blogspot.com’……..

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Pandora November 28, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Why are men so evil to one another?

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Edgar November 30, 2011 at 10:46 pm

Because they have not received love enough. All you need is true love.

Andrian Lim December 1, 2011 at 7:50 am

One of my Hindus friend told me that in Hinduism, people are born evil. But the light of Ramayana and the teaching of our parents that had receive the light teach us goodness.

Anon November 28, 2011 at 3:48 pm

Forgiveness makes this man one of the most powerful people I have ever read about. And Gratitude. What a guy. What a spirit.

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Joan December 3, 2011 at 9:24 am

I could hardly finish reading the prayer because of the tears welling up in my eyes. Who could be almost God-like himself to have penned such magnificent sentiments.

carmen November 28, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Pour quand ?

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Siouxsie November 28, 2011 at 2:43 pm

tears in my eye.

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Empié November 28, 2011 at 12:42 am

Me quedo con el amor de Dios, y con la ayuda de los ángeles que ha puesto en mi camino, de los que me han hecho daño no me ocupo…

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lisa November 27, 2011 at 8:39 pm

….En el momento mas decisivo de nuestras vidas, frente a Dios debemos ocuparnos solo de nosotros mismos y no de los demas… Dificil es bendecir al que nos maldice, al que nos hiere pero es mas facil recordar que Dios nos amò con todas nuestros errores ….
El olor fragante de nuestro sacrficio es para la vida eterna, mientras que para otros no es percibido del mismo modo…

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Sheikh yousuf November 27, 2011 at 3:42 pm

I like your words. Ur wrds r worth to remember.

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Saurajyoti November 27, 2011 at 2:10 pm

I bow to the person!

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corinne hitelet November 27, 2011 at 2:05 pm

je ne suis qu’une humaine, avec toute la bonne volonté du monde et un égo pas mal dompté. Il y a des choses que je n’arrive pas à pardonner. J’ai beau me dire que ce serait mieux pour moi de faire table rase de certains événements, je n’y arrive pas. Et même lorsque j’ai l’illusion d’avoir pardonner parfois je réagis de façon mécanique, conditionnée, c’est assez troublant : ça me donne l’impression d’être comme un “animal”,… J’ai pu faire l’expérience dans des situations de survie, ça donne l’impression que des informations complexes ne sont plus traitées par le cerveau et que chaque partie de notre organisme à une mémoire propre… Il y a pas si longtemps j’ai dit à une personne : “c’est comme si mes mains avaient une mémoire propre… une mémoire qui ne passe pas par le souvenir … une mémoire qui est ailleurs que dans les mots” Quelque fois les événements sont indescriptibles avec les mots, parfois nous les traduisons par des maux. merci

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Grimard Marie-Christine November 27, 2011 at 12:43 pm

Avoir une générosité si forte, qui fait que cet homme puisse encore prier pour le salut de ses bourreaux, surtout dans les conditions de vie qui étaient les siennes, c’est presque inhumain… On aimerait avoir une telle abnégation, mais il est déjà difficile de laisser partir celui qu’on aime quand on sait qu’il est plus heureux ailleurs et que cela vous blaisse, comment souhaiter le bonheur de vos ennemis, surtout ceux qui ont exercé une violence aussi terrifiante. Je souhaite que cet homme ait trouvé la paix, ce qui est probable compte tenu de son état d’esprit. J”espère surtout qu’on lui a accordé une seconde chance, pour qu’il vive enfin sur terre dans la joie et la paix, une vie qu’aucun monstre ne lui dérobera. M Christine Grimard

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kay November 27, 2011 at 10:04 am

Dear Paulo,
my 7 yr. old daughter wants me to thank you for your words as she knows I am your great fan and even though she could not write well,she has urged me to thank you.
so Thank you from Teju and her mum.

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Audrey November 27, 2011 at 8:22 am

thanks ^^

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hope November 27, 2011 at 7:47 am

ooh god…there was human like this n pushes me to think purpose of my life!

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PILAR November 27, 2011 at 5:44 am

Es fácil querer a la gente buena y que a nosotros nos quiere, pero tiene más valor y creo que es realmente un acto de fé el poder llegar a querer a la gente que en algún mometo nos hizo daño, pidiendole a Dios por toda esa gente es como se llega al verdadero amor y al verdadero perdón.

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Geeta November 27, 2011 at 5:22 am

That’s generous. That’s beautiful!

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jackienoriega November 27, 2011 at 5:10 am

que hermoso blog no te olvides de los malos cuan grande corazòn tenìa aquel hombre pues dejò escrito que debe rezar y pedir tambien por los malos por que ellos necesitan mas de DIOS ojalà y todos pudièramos pedir y clamar por los màs alejados de la iglesia de pronto se les podrìa tocar el corazòn y rescatar una almas màs para el bièn

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Edith Bonilla Santiago November 27, 2011 at 2:19 am

Jesus nunca se olivida de nosotros por que El Señor es lento a la ira y rico en clemencia su esperanza , fidelidad y amor perdurara por siempre. Para Jesus no existen hombres malos ,sino personas que se alejaron del camino del bien para poder odiar, humillar y asesinar millones de personas inocentes muchas de ellas no sabian por que eran tratados de esa forma tan cruel por esa razòn creo que Jesus no guardo rencor a Hitler por que el era un pobre hombre egoista enfermo mental que no tuvo compasiòn ni con èl mismo. Al morir Jesus lo debe haber perdonado como perdonò a lo que lo crucificaron. Dios es amor, perdòn y FE.

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Vanda November 27, 2011 at 12:01 am

I pray everyday and night to bring my heart and soul into the light like this mans.I am reminded of the many inspiring quotes I read.They make it sound like you can just heal,but in reality [even though you can] its the road you travel that teaches us what we must know for enlightenment.He has really walk that road and has Gods light shining in his soul.

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Jessica November 26, 2011 at 10:19 pm

Depeche Mode – Precious popped up in my mind when you wrote this !!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts2DXY0zfLs&ob=av2e

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Michael Tag November 26, 2011 at 9:21 pm

What a wonderful prayer. And to those who may doubt it, yes evil does exist, but 99% of what it gets blamed for actually comes from sickness, lunacy, and unforgiven loss.

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Brian Crockett November 26, 2011 at 9:18 pm

Uhh! Irenaeus!

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Doris L. / Germany November 26, 2011 at 9:15 pm

Wow. He must have been very close to enlightenment. Admireable!

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kaki November 26, 2011 at 9:02 pm

Sobre el mal y el bien que podemos decir?? El bien o lo bueno es todo lo que una persona puede ofrecer a los demás sacado de su naturaleza más sabia “la conección entre corazón y mente”, hay que ser capaz de ver más allá de una simple realidad y ayudar en la medida de lo posible a esas personas que han perdido la fé, porque la maldad o el mal comienza cuando se pierde la fé en uno mismo y en las personas que están a nuestro alrededor. La ventaja de esto es que cuando ayudas a los demás te estas ayudando a tí mismo.

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Tishlyn November 26, 2011 at 8:36 pm

I am humbled by this.
What a huge heart the writer of the prayer had.
What an understanding of spirit.

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Rasha November 26, 2011 at 8:15 pm

I love this!
It has rather become very rare to see people who wish good for those who were cruel and unkind to them.. I think this is something that all religions teach us, but people, however, fail to behave and treat others according to the teachings of their own religion :)

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Adriana November 26, 2011 at 7:54 pm

“To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
English poet

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kay November 27, 2011 at 10:06 am

Hi i live on a street that was named after him in london.

Rishabh Bhasin November 26, 2011 at 7:34 pm

Amazing

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babs keyner November 26, 2011 at 7:29 pm

This is so beautiful, but my God, to reach this state of compassion … it must be so painful to have to go through all the suffering before you reach this state of awareness. I feel like an amateur.

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Konstantina November 27, 2011 at 1:47 am

Such a beautiful and heartfelt response…thank you. I too feel like an amateur. Blessings xo

I November 26, 2011 at 6:55 pm

Qué alma tan generosa. Yo no me siento capaz de escribir algo tan puro contra quienes me lastiman. Tengo mucho que aprender.

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marie November 26, 2011 at 6:55 pm

This beautiful prayer brought a tear to my eye. How wonderful is the heart of humanity!

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aditya November 26, 2011 at 6:48 pm

a man in a concentration camp wrote this… wow. simply, wow!

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micky tolbert November 26, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Just love this prayer…..touched my heart in a mighty way!

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zoyeb batliwala November 26, 2011 at 6:29 pm

For everything on that fateful day shall be equated in deeds and substance…..

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Empié November 26, 2011 at 6:01 pm

Bueno, mientras me curo, seguire solo, gracias a los que estais a mi lado pese a todo, a los que no… ya me curaré y tendremos la misma no-relacción, y a los que me hacen daño porque ven la oportunidad y porque son malos, les deseo mal.

Si algún día cambio, cambiaran mis pensamientos, pero supongo que no todo lo que soy y lo que pienso es erroneo.

Hasta otra…

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Josephine A. November 26, 2011 at 5:18 pm

This is too beautiful. Too beautiful.

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Omar November 26, 2011 at 5:17 pm

Mohamed ALRhmani : Sir, you are totally wrong. Allah will ask only about you, not about all of the creature. And, He who created men from dead cell, is able to control all the things that going wrong,But dn think whats your role to do in the world? He created you and thn control you? Thats the diff. between Angels and Humans,[Ashraful Makhluqaat].. You are responsible for whatever you’av done, and whatever you’ll do.. You will be get your results on the day of doom. Peace =].

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Theresa November 26, 2011 at 4:45 pm

It is said that even a crooked line has a purpose in God’s plan…what could be a better example than this ??Praise the Lord!!

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WorMartiN November 26, 2011 at 4:25 pm

What motivation do I have to do good in my life if someone is going to pray for my soul to be saved nevertheless? Whatever, I’m trying to be a good person just because of empathy.

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wendy November 26, 2011 at 4:22 pm

Wauw.. Makes me silent.

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Yude November 26, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Las malas personas deben arrepentirse del daño que hacen a los demas para poder ser perdonadas. Si no lo hacen, no se merecen el perdon de Dios. Te acuerdas de la historia de Lázaro y El Rico?

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Mohamed ALRhmani November 26, 2011 at 3:55 pm

i ask my god( ALAH )in day of Judgement to save all humanity men of good and men of evil coz you are created all the things and all the things that happened you are allow to happened in evil case or in good case and

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Heimo Kruschinski November 26, 2011 at 9:05 pm

As a Christian and Muslim, we both have a very similar idea of Judgement Day. I also hope it is as you say. I do not know if it’s that simple. However, I think the following. Everyone is his own judge. No one can judge you as hard as you yourself. Everyone knows deep inside what is right and wrong. After that you will judge. God sees into the hearts of men. There are things that are not forgiven. There are things I could never forgive me. That’s just my opinion. Ultimately, nobody knows what happens when we die.

I wish all a wonderful evening

Aditi November 26, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Evil does not exist.
Evil is just the absence of “Good”.
Just like darkness. Darkness doesn’t exist, it is the absence of light.

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Nilesh November 26, 2011 at 6:10 pm

We can’t say that there is no evil. Where humanity and kindness end there evil begins, but in the case of light it is all around unseen and untouched object which can only be felt by our inner sense and whoever are not able to feel this then that we name as darkness…

Ganesh Seth November 26, 2011 at 9:09 pm

Hi Aditi,

Thanks for this brilliant explanation :) It’s so simple, yet so profound! I think you read a lot on spirituality and philosophy. Please share some good articles and suggest some good books.

Isabella November 26, 2011 at 10:30 pm

Evil exist. You cannot have good without the bad and the bad without the good. It’s up to us to know the difference and how would pretend to know what is good if there weren’t any bad.

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