Paulo Coelho

Comme le veut la tradition, entrant dans la maison du maí®tre zen, le disciple laissa dehors ses chaussures et son parapluie.

« J’ai vu par la feníªtre que tu arrivais, déclara le maí®tre. As-tu laissé tes chaussures í  droite ou í  gauche du parapluie ?

– Je n’en ai pas la moindre idée. Mais quelle importance cela a-t-il ? Je pensais au secret du Zen !

– Si tu ne fais pas attention dans la vie, tu n’apprendras jamais rien.

“Accorde í  chaque seconde l’attention qu’elle mérite ; c’est le seul secret du Zen. »

Um ovo de águia foi colocado, por acaso, no ninho de uma galinha. Quando o filhote nasceu, juntou-se aos pintinhos, e passou a depender da sua mí£e adotiva.

Aos poucos, porém, foi sentindo necessidade de voar.

Um belo dia perguntou para a galinha: “quando irei cruzar os céus?”

A pobre galinha, que ní£o sabia como ajudar fugiu da pergunta: “quando vocíª estiver preparado, eu lhe ensino”.

Passou-se mais um tempo, e a águia desconfiou que a mí£e ní£o sabia voar. Mas ní£o conseguia soltar-se e voar por si mesma.

“Por que ní£o bate as asas e sobe aos céus?” perguntavam seus irmí£os.

“Porque vou ferir minha mí£e, que me deu tanto carinho”, respon­dia a águia.

E por causa disto, jamais saiu do chí£o.

Abd Mubarak was on his way to Mecca when one night he dreamed that he was in heaven and heard two angels having a conversation.

“How many pilgrims came to the holy city this year?” one of them asked.

“Six hundred thousand”, answered the other.

“And how many of them had their pilgrimage accepted?”

“None of them. However, in Baghdad there is a shoemaker called Ali Mufiq who did not make the pilgrimage, but did have his pilgrimage accepted, and his graces benefited the 600,000 pilgrims”.

When he woke up, Abd Mubarak went to Mufiq’s shoe shop and told him his dream.

“At great cost and much sacrifice, I finally managed to get 350 coins together”, the shoemaker said in tears.

“But then, when I was ready to go to Mecca I discovered that my neighbors were hungry, so I distributed the money among them and gave up my pilgrimage”.

EM PORTUGUES: Purificando o mundo
EN ESPANOL: Purificando el mundo
 

How do we purify the world?- asked a disciple.

Ibn al-Husayn replied:

– There was once a sheik in Damascus called Abu Musa al-Qumasi. Everyone honored him for his great wisdom, but no one knew whether he was a good man.

“One afternoon, a construction fault caused the house where the sheik lived with his wife, to collapse. The desperate neighbors began to dig the ruins; eventually, they managed to locate the sheik’s wife.

“She said: “Don’t worry about me. First save my husband, who was sitting somewhere over there.”

“The neighbors removed the rubble from the area she indicated, and found the sheik. He said: “Don’t worry about me. First save my wife, who was lying somewhere over there.”

“When someone acts as this couple did, she/he is purifying the whole world.”
 
 

For those who are not frightened by the solitude that reveals all mysteries, everything will have a different taste.

In solitude, they will discover the love that might otherwise arrive unnoticed. In solitude, they will understand and respect the love that left them.

In solitude, they will be able to decide whether it is worth asking that lost love to come back or if they should simply let it go and set off along a new path.

In solitude, they will learn that saying ‘No’ does not always show a lack of generosity and that saying ‘Yes’ is not always a virtue.

And those who are alone at this moment, need never be frightened by the words of the devil: ‘You’re wasting your time.’
Or by the chief demon’s even more potent words: ‘No one cares about you.’

The Divine Energy is listening to us when we speak to other people, but also when we are still and silent and able to accept solitude as a blessing.

And in that moment, Its light illumines everything around us and helps us to see that we are necessary, and that our presence on Earth makes a huge difference to Its work.
 
 
taken from MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN ACCRA (now in paperback)

Je me sentais très seul en sortant d’une messe dans la cathédrale Saint Patrick, en plein New York.

Soudain, je fus abordé par un Brésilien :

« J’ai grand besoin de vous parler », dit-il.

J’étais tellement enthousiasmé par cette rencontre que j’ai commencé í  raconter tout ce que je trouvais important. J’ai parlé de magie, j’ai parlé de bénédictions de Dieu, j’ai parlé d’amour. Il a tout écouté en silence, il m’a remercié et il est parti.

Loin d’íªtre joyeux, je me suis senti plus seul qu’auparavant. Plus tard, je me suis rendu compte que dans mon enthousiasme, je n’avais pas príªté attention í  la demande de ce Brésilien.

Me parler.

J’avais jeté mes mots au vent, parce que ce n’était pas cela que l’Univers réclamait í  cette heure-lí  : j’aurais été beaucoup plus utile si j’avais écouté ce qu’il avait í  dire.

EM PORTUGUES AQUI— > MATANDO OS SONHOS
EN ESPANOL AQUI —> MATANDO NUESTROS SUENOS
_________________

The first symptom of the process of our killing our dreams is the lack of time. The busiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The truth is, they are afraid to fight the Good Fight.

The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life. We look beyond the walls of our day-to-day existence, and we hear the sound of lances breaking, we smell the dust and the sweat, and we see the great defeats and the fire in the eyes of the warriors. But we never see the delight, the immense delight in the hearts of those who are engaged in the battle. For them, neither victory nor defeat is important; what’s important is only that they are fighting the Good Fight.

And, finally, the third symptom of the passing of our dreams is peace. Life becomes a Sunday afternoon; we ask for nothing grand, and we cease to demand anything more than we are willing to give. In that state, we think of ourselves as being mature; we put aside the fantasies of our youth, and we seek personal and professional achievement. We are surprised when people our age say that they still want this or that out of life. But really, deep in our hearts, we know that what has happened is that we have renounced the battle for our dreams – we have refused to fight the Good Fight.

When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a short period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being.
We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct this cruelty against ourselves. That’s when illnesses and psychoses arise. What we sought to avoid in combat – disappointment and defeat – come upon us because of our cowardice.

And one day, the dead, spoiled dreams make it difficult to breathe, and we actually seek death. It’s death that frees us from our certainties, from our work, and from that terrible peace of our Sunday afternoons

Words from Petrus to me during The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

Como já devem ter notado, faz tempo que ní£o dou entrevistas quando publico um novo livro. E isso ní£o se deve, de maneira nenhuma, a uma atitude de arrogancia ou desrespeito com jornalistas. Junto com os livreiros e os leitores, eles colaboraram muito para o meu sucesso.

Entí£o por que decidi parar com entrevistas – exceto para alguns amigos, com quem tenho laços de gratidão. Em “A Espiã”, resolvi substituir a entrevista pelo video cast (Facebook Mentions e Periscope )
Existem várias razoes para isso.

1] as comunidades sociais hoje me permitem chegar diretamente ao leitor, e dizer: “aqui está meu novo tí­tulo, leiam e recomendem se gostarem”. Portanto, a idéia de promover um livro através da mí­dia termina sendo redundante.

2] sempre precisei lutar com a idéia de explicar o que escrevi. Penso que o texto deve ser claro o suficiente.

3] os cadernos de cultura, que floresciam na minha época, terminaram acabando. A mais recente perda foi a Ilustrí­ssima, da Folha de São Paulo.

4] em virtude disso, surgem perguntas que ní£o tenho a menor paciência para responder, tais como “Explique o seu sucesso” ou “o que faz com seu dinheiro”. Nada que seja relacionado ao processo criativo em si.

Isso ní£o quer de maneira nenhuma dizer que NUNCA dou entrevistas.
Quando vejo um assunto que julgo importante opinar – como, por exemplo, defender o conteúdo livre na internet (Pirateiem tudo que escrevi) – eu estou sempre acessivel.

O mesmo ocorre quando se trata de promover autores que julgo relevantes – como por exemplo Khalil Gibran ou Malba Tahan, que iluminaram minha juventude. Jamais me furto de fazer com que minha palavra seja ouvida quando vejo alguma barbaridade no terreno polí­tico ou cultural.

Só para vocíªs terem uma idéia, meio bilhí£o de pessoas em todo o planeta leram meu texto contra a guerra no Iraque, Obrigado Presidente Bush.
Outro exemplo: quando Tony Blair foi convidado para ser “consultor” das Olimpí­adas do Rio, eu imediatamente me manifestei, e consegui impedir sua presení§a. ((leia aqui)

Esperam que me entendam. Ní£o vou ficar quieto quando precisar falar em alto e bom tom. Quanto ao mais, o que preciso dizer hoje em dia está nos livros ou nas comunidades sociais, que administro pessoalmente.

Paulo

Un homme doit chercher ce qui est et non pas pour ce qu’il croit devoir etre.N’importe quel fou intelligent peut transformer les choses plus grandes et plus complexes. Il faut une touche de genie – et beaucoup de courage pour changer de direction.

Tout devrait etre aussi simple que possible, mais pas plus simple.
Vous devez apprendre les regles du jeu et ensuite vous devez jouer mieux que personne.

Toutes les religions, les arts et les sciences sont des branches issues du meme arbre. Quant a moi, je prefere le vice a la vertu ostentatoire. La vraie religion est la vie veritable, en la vivant avec toute son ame, avec toute sa bonte et sa justice.

Les grands esprits ont toujours rencontre l’opposition violente des esprits mediocres.

Le bon sens est l’ensemble des prejuges que l’on a accumule apres l’age de 18 ans.

L’heroisme sur commande, la violence insensee et toutes les absurdites audieuses qui se rallient sous le nom de patriotisme – je les hais avec une telle passion! – Celui qui marche joyeusement au son de la musique en rang et file a deja gagne mon mepris. On lui a donne un grand cerveau par erreur, car pour lui seul la moelle epiniere suffit.

Deux choses sont infinies, l’Univers et la betise humaine; et je ne suis pas sur en ce qui concerne l’Univers.

Albert Einstein (14 mars 1879-18 avril 1955) etait un physicien theorique, philosophe et auteur, qui est considere comme l’un de scientifiques et des intellectuels les plus influents et les mieux connus de tous les temps.

A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.
I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind.

All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. As far as I’m concerned, I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue.
True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism.He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt.
He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.

If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.

>
Albert Einstein ( 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a theoretical physicist, philosopher and author who is widely regarded as one of the most influential and best known scientists and intellectuals of all time.

« Le prix í  payer pour vivre un ríªve est-il beaucoup plus élevé que ce qu’il en coí»te de vivre sans se risquer í  ríªver ? » demanda le disciple.

Le maí®tre l’emmena dans une boutique de víªtements. Lí , il lui fit essayer un costume exactement í  sa taille. Le disciple obéit, et fut émerveillé par la qualité du víªtement.

Ensuite, le maí®tre lui demanda d’essayer le míªme costume – mais d’une taille très supérieure í  la sienne. Le disciple le fit.

« Celui-lí  ne va pas. Il est trop grand.

– Combien coí»tent ces costumes ? demanda le maí®tre au vendeur.

– Ils coí»tent tous les deux le míªme prix. Seule la taille est différente. »

í€ la sortie de la boutique, le maí®tre déclara í  son disciple :

« Vivre le ríªve, ou abandonner le ríªve, cela coí»te aussi le míªme prix, en général très cher. Mais la première attitude nous mène í  communier avec le miracle de la vie, et la seconde ne nous sert í  rien. »

We forget that the world is what we imagine it to be.
We stop being the moonlight and become, instead, the pool of water reflecting it.
Tomorrow, the water will evaporate in the sun. And all because, one day, someone said: ‘You are ugly.’ Or: ‘She is pretty.’ With those three simple words, they stole away all our self-confidence.
And we become ugly and embittered.

At that moment, we can draw comfort from so-called ‘wisdom’, an accumulation of ideas put together by people wishing to define the world, instead of respecting the mystery of life.
This ‘wisdom’ consists of all the unnecessary rules, regulations and measurements intended to establish a standard of behaviour.

According to that false wisdom, we should not be concerned about beauty because it is superficial and ephemeral.

That isn’t true. All the beings created under the sun, from birds to mountains, from flowers to rivers, reflect the miracle of creation.

If we resist the temptation to allow other people to define who we are, then we will gradually be able to let the sun inside our own soul shine forth.
Love passes by and says: ‘I never noticed you before.’

And our soul responds:
‘Well, pay more attention, because here I am. It took a breeze to blow the dust from your eyes, but now that you have recognised me, don’t leave me again, because all of us desire beauty.’
 
 
taken from THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN ACCRA

Lorsqu’on demanda í  l’abbé Antonio si le chemin du sacrifice menait au ciel, celui-ci répondit :

« Il y a deux chemins de sacrifice. Le premier est celui de l’homme qui mortifie sa chair, fait pénitence, parce qu’il pense que nous sommes condamnés.
“Cet homme se sent coupable, et il se juge indigne de vivre heureux.
“Dans ce cas, il n’arrive nulle part, parce que Dieu ne réside pas dans la culpabilité.”

« Le second est celui de l’homme qui, míªme en sachant que le monde n’est pas aussi parfait que tous le voudraient, prie, fait pénitence, offre son temps et son travail pour améliorer les choses autour de lui.
“Dans ce cas, la Présence divine l’aide tout le temps, et il obtient des résultats au Ciel. »

Dans un petit village du Maroc, un imam contemplait le seul puits de toute la région. Un autre musulman s’approcha :

« Qu’y a-t-il í  l’intérieur ?

– Dieu est caché lí .

– Dieu est caché dans ce puits ? C’est un péché ! Ce que vous voyez doit íªtre une image laissée par les infidèles ! »

L’imam lui demanda de s’approcher et de se pencher au bord. Reflété dans l’eau, il put voir son propre visage.

« Mais c’est moi !

– Voilí . Maintenant vous savez oí¹ Dieu est caché. »

Every day, God gives us the sun – and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy.
Every day, we try to pretend that we haven’t perceived the moment, that it doesn’t exist – that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow.

But if people really pay attention in their everyday lives, they will discover that magic moment.
It may arrive in the instant when we are doing something mundane, like putting our front-door key in the lock; it may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and one things that all seems the same to us.
But that moment exists – a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.

Joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest.

Our magic moment help us to change and sends us off in search of our dreams. Yes, we are going to suffer, we will have difficult times, and we will experience many disappointments – but all of this is transitory it leaves no permanent mark.
And one day we will look back with pride and faith at the journey we have taken.

taken from Manuscript found in Accra

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