By Paulo Coelho
“Some disciples are always asking where the truth is,” said Maal-El. “So one day I decided to point in one direction, trying to show them how important it is to follow a path, and not just to think about it.
“Instead of looking in the direction I had pointed, the man who had asked the question started examining my finger, trying to find out where the truth was hidden.
“When people seek out a master, they should be looking for experiences which can help them avoid certain obstacles. But unfortunately, reality is different: they adopt the law of minimum effort, trying to find answers to everything.”
“He who accepts, without question, the truths of his master, will never find his own path.”
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Please share us your daily life such as your writing style, your current thing of interest, and how do you spend your day.
I travel constantly so days are never the same. Nevertheless I do have some “rituals”: when I wake up I like having my breakfast and then going out for a walk. Walking for me is vital and the one things that I can’t live without.
I agree with the teachings of the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who said that: “when you walk, you are massaging and honouring the earth. In the same way, the earth is trying to help you to balance your organism and mind. Understand this relationship and try to respect it – may your steps have the firmness of a lion, the elegance of a tiger and the dignity of an emperor.”
Normally in the afternoons I spend hours navigating the web: I consult my blog (www.paulocoelhoblog.com), my myspace (www.myspace.com/paulocoelho ) I read newspapers from the world, I write my stories. I also quite often give interviews. At 6 pm on the dot, I pray since for me this is the magical hour of the day. After that, I like having diner with my wife & friends. Before going to bed, I read.
How was your childhood? We know that you have entered Jesuits school at the age of 7 but had a question toward religion at one time in your life. Would you please tell us about the question and the pain you had?
My family was very strict and my father sent me to the Jesuit school so that I could have real discipline.
The chains of rigor were so heavy throughout my youth that very quickly I started to doubt this religion that showed no mercy, only constraint and suffering.
I remember being obliged to attend mess and the constant threats of hell in the mouth of the priests. Everything was sin, everything was forbidden, joy was ruled out.
I think that my rebellion was what saved me: I doubted about Catholicism, and felt that I must try something new. Later on, in my teenager years, I became a hippie. During this time, I traveled a lot, met people of different backgrounds, and had learnt different paths to come closer to spirituality. I started to see other paths and started to see that my own religion wasn’t restricted to the Jesuit perception.
After I did a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, I returned to the Catholic faith – just because it is in my blood, not because it is the best religion.
I don’t think you can put God in a church. God is everywhere. All religions have advantages and disadvantages.
Furthermore I don’t think love is at odds with Christianity. Jesus message was above all a message of love to humanity.
God is–as William Blake said–in a grain of sand and in a flower. This energy is everywhere.
By Paulo Coelho
Life moves very fast.
It rushes us from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.
(Eleven Minutes)
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There are numbers of people who believe that “by telling other people to have faith in their dreams will get people tied up to romantic imagination and overlook the true factors of life.” How do you feel about this idea?
What do they mean by true factors of life? I would like to quote John Lennon: “life is what happens when you are busy making plans”
By Paulo Coelho
The warrior knows that no man is an island, isolated in the middle of the ocean.
He knows that he cannot fight alone; whatever his plan, he will always depend on other people. He must discuss his strategy, ask for help and - during times of rest - have someone to tell stories of combat around the fire.
But he does not allow people to mistake his camaraderie with insecurity. He is transparent in his actions, and secret in his plans.
A warrior of the light dances with his companions, but does not transfer the responsibility of his steps to anyone.
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