EN ESPANOL AQUI: Narciso y el lago
(below the opening page of “The Alchemist”. May every single day of this new year reflect our joy)
The alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus.
The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who knelt daily beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus.
But this was not how Oscar Wilde, the author of the book, ended the story.
He said that when Narcissus died, the goddesses of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.
“Why do you weep?” the goddesses asked.
“I weep for Narcissus,” the lake replied.
“Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus,” they said, “for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand.”
“But…was Narcissus beautiful?” the lake asked.
“Who better than you to know that?” the goddesses said in wonder. “After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!”
The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said:
“I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful.
“I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.”
“What a lovely story,” the alchemist thought.
HAPPY 2012!
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awwsssmmmmmm
happy nw year………!!!!!!!!!11
remain blessed n keep writin such wondersssssssss…….!!!!!!!!
Happy New Year 2012. And a New Year always starts with a story from Paulo. What a gift, bringing our childhood fascination to us back.
FELICIDADES Y SIGUE COMPARTIENDO TANTA SABIDURIA, FELIZ AÑO 2012
FELICIDADES Y GRACIAS POR EXISTIR
Thanks :)
Happy New Year Paulo!!!!
¿Cómo puedo perder mi miedo a la muerte,a la enfermedad y al sufrimiento???
este miedo me paraliza,me impide hacer,afrontar la realidad.Me de mucho miedo la muerte.
Como puedo ser más positiva????
Muchas gracias
Words can not describe the respect I have for you. It is the strength of your soul, put into words, that has helped me embrace the strength of my own and the beautiful gifts the universe has given me rather then fear them. May the new year bring you peace.
Despidiendo el 2011, un a~o lleno de Cosas Maravillosas…Sinceramente este a~o aprendi lo q’ es amar sin condicion, aprendi a Querer sin Pedir, aprendi a respectar sin ignorar, aprendi q’ las palabras no son necesarias para decir -te amo-, aprendi q’ sin ti es posible vulever a ser feliz por q’ aunque ya no estas aun vives en mi, aprendi q’ tus besos no eran un contracto, aprendi acceptar mis derrotas con la cabeza y no con el corazon, aprendi a perdonar sin recordar, aprendi que la edad no tiene nada q ver con la madurez, aprendi que la humildad es mas fuerte q’ la arrogancia, aprendi q’ necesito aprender a dar mas y pedir menos Y por lo tanto con lo Q’ he aprendido y aprendere en el 2012 le doy gracias a Dios sobretodas las cosas y gracias a P. Coehlo por tener ese don tan maravilloso de escribir y desifrar la vida en unas cuantas palabras que me ayudan a ser mejor cada dia y a reflecionar para llegar a ser una persona enamorada del amor…
Como todos desearle Feliz año nuevo espero que como hasta hoy nos brinde mas de su maravillosa producción, quisiera decirle que desde que empeze a leer un libro suyo eh tratado de leer los mas que eh podido pero casualmente recien eh terminado de leer el Alquimista y eh quedado muy satisfecha e inspirada es una obra bellisima como todas pero esta en especial te permite interiorisar y ver la vida con un reto constante que uno debe buscar dentro del corazon. Gracias.
You’re simply awesome! Paulo, when will you write something similar to “eleven minutes”? Looking forward to hearing from you. Happy New Year full of inspirations :)
En francais
Ci-dessous la premiere page de ‘L’Alchimiste”. Puisse chaque jour de cette nouvelle annee reflete notre joie.
‘L’alchimiste ramassa un livre que quelqu’un avait amene dans la caravane. Feuilletant les pages, il trouva une histoire sur Narcisse.
L’Alchimiste connaissait la legende de Narcisse, un jeune homme qui s’agenouillait tous les jours aupres d’un lac pour contempler sa propre beaute. Il etait tellement fascine par lui-meme qu’un matin il est tombe dans le lac et s’est noye. A l’endroit ou il est tombe une fleur est nee qu’on a appele le narcisse.
Mais ce n’etait pas comment Oscar Wilde, l’auteur du livre a termine l’histoire.
Il dit que lorsque Narcisse est mort les deesses de la foret sont apparues et ont trouve que le lac qui etait un lac d’eau fraiche s’est transforme en un lac de larmes salees.
‘Pourquoi pleurez-vous?’ ont demande les deesses’
Je pleure pour Narcisse ‘ a repondu le lac.
‘Ah! Nous ne sommes pas surprises que vous pleuriez pour Narcisse’ ont -elles dit ‘ car bien que nous le poursuivions toujours dans la foret, toi seul pouvait contempler sa beaute tout pres’.
‘Mais est-ce que Narcisse etait beau?’ a demande le lac.
‘Qui mieux que toi pour le savoir?’ les deesses dirent etonnees. ‘Apres tout, c’etait sur tes berges qu’il s’agenouillait chaque jour pour se contempler.’
Le lac se tut pendant un moment. Finalement, il dit :
‘Je pleure pour Narcisse mais je n’avais jamais remarque que Narcisse etait beau.
‘Je pleure parce que chaque fois qu’il s’agenouillait a cote de mes berges, je pouvais voir au fond de ses yeux mon propre reflet.’
‘Quelle belle histoire’ pensa l’Alchimiste.
Bonne Annee 2012!
gracias por la inspiración gracias por tus sabios textos tus libros provocan en mi 1000 sensaciones y siempre aprendo algo nuevo de cada libro espero que leas esto…yo soy de Costa Rica y talvez en este paraíso natural puedas inspirarte para un nuevo libro gracias Paulo Coelho por todo FELIZ AÑO NUEVO y como decimos aqui en Costa Rica ¡¡PURA VIDA!!
Happy New Year, Sir! I love your books,!I hope that you will write many more!
I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.” i love itttttttt
It sure is a mirror ….. for better and worse …. so I better be nice I suppose so I get some presents for Christmas next year ;-)
Love Jessica
Feliz 2012… Muita inspiração para continuar nos presenteando com textos com sabedoria e que tocam nossa alma..Proteção e benção divina……..
Happy New year 2012 your books are so inspiring
Hello sir,
It’s really a cosmic sensation when one reads your insightful words. Be it The Alchemist, or The Witch of Protobello, your projected splendid vistas have always touched the pinnacle of beauty, truth and self-exploration. For your writing, we all owe you a lot. It is you, who has made us to say “I am coming Fatima”.
I don’t know whether you would read my words or not but I know my thoughts would surely be mingled with the words of all those who believe in Love, Light and Illumination.
Thanks for each and every diamond.
Happy New Year to everyone.
Happy New Year Paulo Blessings For you and yours and I hope to keep reading u for all the years ahead !!!
Happy New Year Mr. Paulo! Thank you for your books!
What a lovely story, indeed.
May your worries be small
Hopes high,
Blessings, uncountable,
Joy and Love, immeasurable!
Best wishes for a Best Year Ever…Love to all,
Jane
Today sitting in front of the ocean on a white sandy beach of my country(mauritius) was explaining with my limiting knowledge, to a friend how to mingle the soul of the sea and mine, through contemplation before a nice ‘tête’ in the lagoon.
I’m not able to see my own beauty this is absoluetly true. Maybe I’m a kind of lake… thanks a lot for your clever vue. Infintie Light, Cris
HAPPY 2012! (post in English, Espanol, Portugues)La ringrazio Paulo. Penso che adesso questo mi farà meditare. La invio la traduzione italiana, per le persone che possano gradire. Here the italian translation. Spero di avere rispetato al massimo la sua scrittura.
Un abbraccio nella Luce a lei e a sua famiglia. Siamo nel 2012 :)
Cris
(Sotto la pagina di apertura dell’ Alchimista”. Possa ogni singolo giorno di questo nuovo anno riflettere la nostra gioia)
L’alchimista prese un libro che qualcuno della carovana aveva portato. Sfogliando le pagine, trovò una storia su Narciso.
L’alchimista conosceva la leggenda di Narciso, un giovane che ogni giorno si inginocchiò accanto a un lago a contemplare la sua bellezza. Era talmente affascinato da se stesso che una mattina cade nel lago e annegò. Un fiore nacque nel punto in cui era caduto, per ciò fu chiamato il narciso.
Ma questo non era come Oscar Wilde, autore del libro, concluse la storia.
Disse che quando Narciso morì, le dee del bosco feccero loro apparizione e andarono a trovare il lago, la cui acqua fresca era stata trasformata in un lago di lacrime salate.
“Perché piangi?” Chieserò le dee.
“Io piango per Narciso,” rispose il lago.
“Ah, non è una sorpresa che piangi per Narciso”, hanno detto, “perché sebbene l’abbiamo sempre inseguito nella foresta, sei l’unico ad avere potuto contemplare la sua bellezza da vicino ed a averla avuto a portata di mano.”
“Ma …Narciso è stato bellissimo?” Chiese il lago.
“Chi meglio di te a saperlo?” Disserò meravigliate le dee. “Dopo tutto, è stato sulle tue sponde che si inginocchiò ogni giorno a contemplare se stesso!”
Il lago rimase in silenzio per qualche tempo. Infine, disse:
“Io piango per Narciso, ma non ho mai notato che Narciso era bello.
“Piango perché, ogni volta che si inginocchiò accanto a me, ho potuto vedere, nelle profondità dei suoi occhi, la mia bellezza riflessa.”
“Che bella storia,” Penso l’alchimista.
Happy New Year, Paulo! I love your books, they are very inspiring. I hope that you will write many more! :)
happy new year Mr. paulo
happy new year for all
Mr.Coelho,
i hope you read the poem below, this has been written by me. looking forward to your comments and all the other readers of this blog are also welcome to post what the think……your comments are appreciated
a grey cloudy sky
but still a bright light shines
a cloudy and unclear path
but a destination firm in sight
if there is no struggle in a war
then how is it a victory
if there is are no mistakes made
then how can u call it a life
be uncertain about the path
but certain of the destination
but dont ever break your principle’s
so as to go forward on any path
accept the uncertain
and not fight it
fight every failure
and not blindly accept
then you will
reach a destination
where the whole journey will make sense
but be sure of this while on that journey,
the past is true,the present uncertain,and the futre unknown
very nice poem …..its really touchng d heart deeeeply………..
hey its really nice one..good work dear!! …:)
nice
Thought provoking poem………. very nice
very nice…A poem straight from your pen to our heart… God bless you!!!
inspiring really. good job. thanks for sharing
In swedish:
1 min läsning: världen som en spegel
(nedan är öppningssidorna till “Alkemisten”. Må varje dag av detta nya år avspegla allas vår glädje)
Alkemisten plockade upp en bok som någon i karavanen hade haft med sig. När han bläddrade genom sidorna, fann han en berättelse om Narcissos.
Alkemisten kände till legenden om Narcissos, en yngling som varje dag knäböjde vid en sjö för att betrakta sin egen skönhet. Han var så fascinerad av sig själv att en morgon, föll han i sjön och drunknade. På den plats där han föll i, föddes en blomma som man kallar narciss.
Men det var inte så här som Oscar Wilde, författaren till boken, slutade berättelsen.
Han berättade att när Narcissos dog uppenbarade sig skogens gudinnor och de hittade sjön, som tidigare hade haft sötvatten, nu förvandlats till en sjö av salta tårar.
“Varför gråter du?” frågade gudinnorna.
“Jag gråter för Narcissos skull”, svarade sjön.
“Åh, det är ingen överraskning att du gråter över Narcissos”, sa de, “för trots att vi alltid jagade efter honom i skogen, kunde du ensam begrunda hans skönhet på nära håll.”
“Men … var Narcissos vacker?” frågade sjön.
“Vem om inte du, vet det bäst?” svarade gudinnorna i förundran. “När det var vid dina stränder som han knäböjde varje dag för att beskåda sig själv!”
Sjön var tyst ett tag. Slutligen sa den:
“Jag gråter över Narcissos, men jag märkte aldrig att Narcissos var vacker.
“Jag gråter eftersom varje gång han knäböjde vid mina stränder, kunde jag se, i djupet av hans ögon, min egen skönhet speglas.”
“Vilken vacker berättelse,” tänkte Alkemisten.
GLATT 2012!
Paulo Coelho på svenska: http://www.facebook.com/PauloCoelhoSverige
Översättning: oLaVie (kommentera gärna)
Happy New Year to you too Sir!
Thanks beyond words for all the feelings, hope, thoughtful meanings, bright world and insights that you give us through your books.
Whenever I feel down, helpless and disappointed I tend to find my cure in your books and among your words. I wish to be able one day to express my inner thoughts and feelings in a fascinating way like yours.
Best regards and greetings from a special place where the alchemist found his treasure!
Wish you and all a wonderful year.
The world is my mirror. And I’m sometimes the object and sometimes its image.
stared at lakes and ponds in Khadir – an island in rann of kutch, i underwent transition from 2011 to 2012. Roamed around for long hours and discovered new places…talked to localites….so untouched and rooted i found the whole region……..and then………with urban companions the conversations happen, and reflections were obtained – good and bad. i realized what i was seeing was my own self…i come back home and read this article by you.. what should i say?? just a co-incidence or some sign or something beyond and before words? i know and am proud that many would be feeling like this while reading u….our dearest………………………….when two mirrors face each other – they clash and there is no distance. it simply is. should i say thank you? should is stay silent and drink this praline? the only thing i know is….words suffice less to describe the ineffable and later the same aleph gives strength and power to describe it and share it. I am still to read aleph and i know there are going to be moments which has already happened or about to happen. lets take the communication further. love. light. life.
Hello,
I’m virginie from Lourdes. My husband offered me Aleph for christmas and it gave me beautiful vibrations to read it. Those vibes gave me the desire to meet you.
When began my conscious personnal legend The Alchemyst has been one if my favourite book.
I often recommend it to the people that come to see me as an intuitive healer.
l feel joy and gratitude to share with you that several of your books have been signs and inner answers for me.
I did’nt have finish Aleph yet but i feel that it will reveal another Divine key in my way of experiencing The Aleph.
I used to love another version of Narcisse, in the story somebody told me, he look at himself deeply in the lake and as he felt trully in love with him, he disappeared in a shining cloud.
Today, a bird came on my knee for a few second for the first time when i was drinking a tomato juice in Bagnere. I hope Life had given to you magical surprises today as this unusual beautiful sunny weather.
Thank you for gaving to me the opportunity to express and share today. I enjoyed writing feeling you will read me.
May 2012 reveal our true loving and joyfull essence. Joyfull New Year !
Happy new year!!!!!!! Great book tibias the Alchemist!!!!
Happy new year dear Paulo,
I wish you a great year ahead.. I wish that you and everyone in this world discovers their beauty this year and can enjoy the whole year without any worries and pain… God bless everyone.. :)
Thanks for your warm and encouraging wishes. I wish you have a wonderful New Year too! A year of discovery and understanding. 2012!!
Ola Paulo, sou uma grande admiradora sua, ao ler seus livros entro em uma outra dimensaö. Obrigada por ser essa pessoa magnifica que è! Feliz 2012:-)
Happy New Year!
You can not start the year much better than with Oscar Wilde. Or with the Alchemist. That may be a character flaw, I stand by it. Thank you for this wonderful book. It is a gift. It is so full of secrets, the biggest secret is surley that there is no secret. But that’s just my opinion. I wish you a happy new year.
I wish you a all a happy new year
Feliz 2012 vaya a todos la luz que olvidamos y de pronto empezamos a recordar,Narciso tal vez veía lo que mostraba su corazón y no era qye se mirarara solo miraba lo esencial y el lago lo sabia por eso le lloraba a todos un Feliz despertar !! que el gran arquitecto les guíe y muestre las señales a ese despertar ! pero escuchenlas son importantes!
Happy New Year.Thanks for your wonderful stories.I like your books.
Hello Paulo!
I’d just want to greet a happy new year to you and to everyone reading! You’ve always been an inspiration to many, and The Alchemist has become one of the most wonderful books I’ve read. It motivated me (along with other books) to to a new year’s resolution project called “20 Dozen Changes Project” for this year, in hopes to create a better life and a better self!
….may we all attract only those that mirror the best and most beautiful parts of ourselves. Thank you Paulo.
Paulo’s work reflects, converses, converges and cultivates this cosmic energy driving amongst all those who read him……. its not only his writings that we feel are so personally meant for us…but even the whole group energy is just awesome.
i m replying to ur msg….because thats exactly what i was wanting to read ….. and……………………………………………………….i didnt know bout it till i read it.
doesnt matter from where it came. i dont know u …but the fact is………..universe lines up things in a very cosmic way for u to either believe in its greatness or call it off as momental excitement. whatever it is dear friend, i just want to wish you a great fantastic 2012. may all of us reflect ………………….from each other……………………………………………
:) Happy New Year!
The Swan /Mary Oliver/
Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music – like the rain pelting the trees – like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?
The dreamers can’t tame (Alef).
Happy New Year!
<3 Hanna-Kaisa
Happy New Year, a warm, twinkling 2012, young at heart…
Lots of love,
Vicky
Happy new year dear Paolo.. Thanks for making the world a better place for living with your books at least for me.
xox
hello sir,
could you tell me the meaning behind this beautiful story.
Who knows maybe Narcissus was a lonely boy? In his desperation he hoped he would be able to clone himself by looking at his reflection. Maybe he was not that enamored by his face but he was enchanted by the idea of company. But perhaps he was also intelligent enough to understand that the lake was his only true friend and inreturn he gave her the most precious thing he had . HIMSELF ?!?!
Narcissus fell in love with the River or Himself. World is a mirror, it reflects our thoughts/moods.
nice thinking …
hello paulo… because of your books i become insightful enough to understand things. you affected my life in a good way… may god bless you.. more power!
Happy New Year Paulo! Long live.
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