The Warrior of Light and strategy
A sword can last a short time, but the warrior has to last a long time. That is why he must not let himself be fooled by his own capacity and so be taken by surprise. To each thing he gives the true value that it deserves.
Often, when he is faced with serious matters, the devil whispers in his ear: “Do not bother about that, that’s not serious.”
Other times, when he is faced with trivial matters, the devil whispers: “You need to spend all your energy on solving this situation.”
The warrior does not listen to what the devil is saying. He is the master of his sword.
Pay attention to your allies
A warrior does not associate with anyone who wishes him harm. Nor is he seen in the company of those who want to “console” him.
He avoids whoever is only at his side in moments of defeat. These false friends want to prove that weakness has its rewards. They always bear bad news. They always try to destroy the warrior’s trust, under the disguise of “solidarity”.
When they see him injured they break into tears, but deep in their hearts they are happy because the warrior has lost a battle. They fail to understand that this is a part of combat.
A warrior’s true companions are at his side at each and every moment, in times both difficult and easy.
Negotiating with the enemy
When the moment of combat draws near, the Warrior of Light is prepared for any circumstance. He analyzes each possibility and asks himself: “What would I do if I had to fight against myself?”
This is how he discovers his weak points.
At this moment the adversary approaches, carrying a bag filled with promises, agreements and negotiations. He has tempting proposals and easy alternatives to offer.
The warrior analyzes each of these proposals; he also seeks an agreement, but without losing his dignity. If he avoids combat, it is not because he was seduced – but rather because he decided that this was the best strategy.
A Warrior of Light does not accept presents from the enemy.
On the defense and on the attack
The warrior is careful with people who think they can control the world, determine their own steps, and are certain that they know the right path. They are always so confident in their own capacity of decision that they do not realize the irony with which fate writes everyone’s life.
The Warrior of Light has dreams. His dreams carry him forward. But he never commits the mistake of thinking that the road is easy and the door wide.
He knows that the Universe works like alchemy: solve et coagula, say the masters. ”Concentrate and disperse your energy according to the situation.”
There are moments to act and moments to accept.
In the face of defeat
The Warrior of Light knows how to lose. He does not hold defeat as something indifferent, using phrases like “well, it wasn’t all that important”, or “to tell the truth, I did not really want that”.
He accepts defeat as a defeat; he does not try to change it into a victory or an experience. He suffers the pain of his wounds, the indifference of his friends and the loneliness of loss. At such moments he says to himself: “I fought for something, and I failed to get it. I lost the first battle.”
This phrase will give him strength. He is aware that nobody wins all the time – but the courageous always win in the end.
agonies and defeats
The closer to reaching light you are faced with the greatest darknesses.. Your scars beat with remembrance of the wounds they once were.Where
there were times when you were absolutely sure that there is only one side to every coin, truth to every hypocrisy, and merit in wearing weakness like a badge of honor. In all of us resides one who gnashes teeth in proclamation of angst, or disposes of people once loved now turned demons in an attempt to maintain an inner totalitarianism masquerading as balance. tell me faults, expose vulnerabilities, magnify flaws, destroy self, trade one addiction for another, want to belong, want to be part of you, a part of myself. Washed clean, there are tire tracks on our skins. Places forgotten that absolutely need no rememberance. No one knows how absolutely mad we are. No prejudgements just judge all that you see. There are no betrayals, just egos shattered like lightbulbs against cold skin, there are no longings or beliefs, only a dream all of us had once and will have again. These moments are but a brushstroke inevitably hurling towards it’s completion. what matters when your last breath leaves your body? what matters is the music you left behind, the colors you made others feel. preserving the idea that it all mattered in some deeply profound way… Get shallow to make it tolerable. dance in harmless superficiality. Party against the genocide outside. Just another moment, after moment after beautiful @#$%ing moment. cough dust and pray like a fanatic that cycles are broken…How can you remain intact if you feel the world on your shoulders….
How can you remain still when you love life too much. Run in the evening asking the sky to forgive you, collapse on a dirt road in the middle of the woods. Epiphanies by the dozen! Discoveries on demand! Enlightenment at the snap of your fingers! Your temples beat restlessly congratulating you on another breakdown. You are witness to your own survival in all the trial and tribulation of desire, train the beast to protect you…
all love mestre
Dear Paulo,
This strikes such a chord and I thank you for it. I’ve been having a ‘prolonged’ (my own making!) hard time weilding the sword, basically because in my heart of hearts I don’t want to even though it’s necessary and, if I don’t, my hand will be forced anyway. Esta la vida.
A strong, heartfelt thanks for posting this at this particular time … it makes total sense in a, sometimes, incomprehensible-to-others universe.
Big thanks - I salute you.
Alison
Just wanted to have the first comment on this article … hmmm, 3rd now, however. Maybe next time.
‘Even a stopped clock is right twice a day’
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
Heartly
Karoline
Bravo , Paulo !!!
You have the vision of an Eagle !
I’m reading this text several times , trying to have a better perception of my own life and obstacles to solve , planning a better strategy to use .
I was needing to read exactly this today ! You are far from us only in distance because you are inside the life of each one of your readers ! Congratulations !
Thank you for the guidance and help ! God Bless you for that !
Maria From Brazil
” Pay attention to your allies. A warrior does not associate with anyone who wishes him harm. ”
I read this over and over again and another saying pops into my mind ;
” Keep your friends close , but your enemies closer .”
I am not very familiar with strategy. Strategy seems to be a male thing and maybe something I have to study more closely at some point in my life. Obviously I do not want to be HARMED, but I do want to LEARN and GROW in awareness and conssciousness. How can I do this when I avoid everyone who wishes me harm ?
Sometimes I think I am ” The Fool ” of the Tarot. and God looks after drunks and fools, doesn’t ” it/he/she ” ?
Thank you for this and all your writings, Paulo.
Namasté !
Thanks Paulo,
I am using the Warrior of the light book as a daily bible. i am happy that i can share your beliefs and the way you see life. Your words give meaning to my life and i wake up every morning with a big positive smile. Your positive quotes and some years of meditation can make me feel like moving to the right path day by day.
Thanks for publishing that outstanding book!!!!
Baba nam kevalam.
Tassos from Cyprus
Dear Paolo,
I can only confirm what Maria from Brazil said in her comment. Bravo!
My experience of today:
Like every morning - I take my morning cup of tea over to the PC to look for mails which might have come in during the night from the US or so.
Since I had been brooding over a business-problem for about 3 months I got the answer about five minutes after having read the new issue of THE WARRIOR OF THE LIGHT which had just arrived this morning.
All of a sudded the problem was solved - just vanished - and I knew what I had to do… to quit
My kidney pains disappeared within the next hour.
What does this all mean?
Kindred souls are linked together - and just one can suffice - to get clarity and even to get healed - by the energies passed over through the PC.
This is living proof to me why The Lord created such a thing like a PC … which I am beginning to love after all.
Love is behind all matter
In eternal love and friendship
yours Monica
I have a question?
…How do you know when you are making the right decision and following your instinct and avoiding the “Devil” if you like; or if you actually listening to you fears and not your intuition?
The infinite words of Mike Tyson “every one has a plan until they get hit” Paulo reminds us that we will get hit with failure, but the voice that encourages us to keep going, the words of faith, remind us that we allready know the final score. We can look at our enemy and smile after his strongest attack, because we know that we are the victor, and if we can deal with failure, then we can certianly live with and expect victory.
It seems I have those two devils
on both of my shoulders
and an angel climbing on my chest
hammering on my breastbone,
trying to make me listen…
Aho mataka wasi,
My frailty can only be made into strength by my Maker.
My heart is with my nations.
My deep appreciation for my friends’ kind words.
[quote comment="48"]Dear Paolo,
I can only confirm what Maria from Brazil said in her comment. Bravo!
My experience of today:
Like every morning - I take my morning cup of tea over to the PC to look for mails which might have come in during the night from the US or so.
Since I had been brooding over a business-problem for about 3 months I got the answer about five minutes after having read the new issue of THE WARRIOR OF THE LIGHT which had just arrived this morning.
All of a sudded the problem was solved - just vanished - and I knew what I had to do… to quit
My kidney pains disappeared within the next hour.
What does this all mean?
Kindred souls are linked together - and just one can suffice - to get clarity and even to get healed - by the energies passed over through the PC.
This is living proof to me why The Lord created such a thing like a PC … which I am beginning to love after all.
Love is behind all matter
In eternal love and friendship
yours Monica[/quote]
Great , Monica !
Paulo is always the best to read to start a day: he always has a lesson to teach for us or a hint to touch our lifes deeply !
God bless you too !
A kiss from Brazil to you, Monica ! And a strong hug to Paulo ! Thanks , master !
Maria From Brazil
Like every good book, it’s lessons often seem to contradict each other. They are a path to an understanding: half the meaning hidden in the words, and the other half buried between the lines. I never find an absolute message here, but waystations along a winding path to sight.
All my thanks for everything,
R.
Adabz
(Means Hello In Urdu Language)
Paulo Coelho’s generosity of spirit colored his words with a pure, simple grace, casting a spell that crossed the barriers of age, economics, geography, language and politics.
The powers of his artistry and world vision continue to touch people all over the world. I am anxiously waiting to see you here in my part of the world (Pakistan). Kindly reply back to my email tittle A trip with a Vision and Mission…. becuase i am extreamly hopeful to see here …. as only Hope has always dominated my life …. so don’t take it away from me.
My Teacher Paulo Coelho i really need to speak to you as soon as possible. Please tell me where to contact you.
My Teacher and Magician all my prayers,love, care and respect for you.May Allah always Bless you.
Fatima Saeed Khan.
can i add something too? a warrior of the light doesn’t spend energy and time comparing himself to other warriors (especially to the achievements of other warriors). This is because he knows and believes that his ultimate enemy is himself and he needs to conquer himself in order to achieve his goal… a warrior knows and accepts his strengths as well as his limitations.. and for this he knows the perfect strategy. a warrior of the light doesn’t always find affirmation but he finds consolation in the fact that he is following his dream and the path the Creator told him to follow. He is following His will and for this, he can’t go wrong although the path is full of adversaries and tempations to quit..
Paolo, i am trying my best to be good warrior.. I am trying to live my dream and follow my path.. Thank you for teaching me how to be a better warrior. God bless and more power!
Anne
I am struck, again, by the section, “Pay Attention To Your Allies”.
I’ve read these sentiments before, and they always raise some questions in my mind. I wonder how it is when it seems you are forced to associate with those who would wish you harm? I live in a very close quarters single dorm room with an individual whom has declared outright an intense dislike of me and a desire to fight it out. While the intensity of this conflict ebbs and flows, it can be very difficult to live my life so closely to one who might try to do me harm in some way, shape or form.
I also sometimes wonder if sometimesI am not like the enemy Mr. Coelho speaks of. I know in my heart that I have not always been supportive of those close to me in their times of happiness, and I have been the consoler. Not always, but sometimes. What to do when you recognize that you have the capacity to be the enemy of some other perfectly bright Warrior Of The Light, even if you do not intend it? In my heart I wish all those in my circle to achieve their highest dreams and have a life of satruating depth and happiness. On the other hand, occassionally upon facing the success of someone close to me, I can often feel the secret desire that they will fail for just a little bit longer so as they will remain near by. Jealousy. Not all-consuming, or spoken alloud, but lingering on the edges of thought. Prayers to God that I might not be left behind just yet.
Perhaps it is the recognition of the Enemy within ourselves that makes us Warriors of the Light to begin with.
Thank you, Paulo… I really really enjoyed your recent post about the blind man who scaled Everest. I do not want to heap endless praise on your work but let it be said that I am deeply thankful to you for doing what you do. It has moved me, and many other people whom I know, incredibly.
I’m very impresed of your books Paulo
I like reading them and wandering about my whole life
than I realised that I have lost many opportunities
but there is always the second chance
and this idea keep my alife
Hi,
i think everyone has the power to see the right path, but this power will guide us throgh our heart. unfortunately many people believe that their brain is much stronger than their hearts, and after making many wrong decisions by their limited logic, they don’t want to accept this fact. they get stucken in their own faults, they can only get out of this mess by a friend’s hand.
God Bless You All
Mr. Coelho,
I am searching. I hope that I have found an answer here. I am writing an important paper on spiritual leaders and I chose to write mine on you. After seeing your web site my decision is a clearly a good one.
Do you consider the devil a real being or perhaps even a welcoming experience into growth of the human soul through temptation?
If God’s Hell is merely His love of man, then why must He provide a Satan to for further torture?
i just started reading warrior of the light manual. I wanted to thank you for sharing and also HAPPY BIRTHDAY
PEACE AND LOVE
MARIE
On the 14th of august i drove on my bike trough the city of rotterdam, my 7 year old son was sitting with me on the back seat. I was gonna drop of some dvd’s we rented.
As we drove on the street, wich is hectic cause there are cars, trams and bicycles evereywhere, a car didn’t see us and almost hit me but espacially my son sitting on the back.
I was really angry and shouted something at the man in the car.
He then got out of the car and started to shout back in an agressive way treathening me, but when you know me i was not gonna give up and full of fire, even forgetting my son and even willing to fight this (me being a tiny woman but i am not afraid when i know i am right).
It was pretty tough and trough this all i saw this old black man across the street telling us to calm down. I heard it somewhere far like the man was in slow motion and i was in a different world. But he came closer and closer to me.
It was an old drunken fool for many people and the neighbourhoud i was at is full with these ‘types’. But he came over to me touched my arm and looked me in the eye. He said ‘dear lady today you are not gonna win this fight, you will always loose this one cause you have your son with you, you will win this fight another day, let it go’. And i started crying and said he was right, i just walked away with my son not even noticing the angry man even more and let it go.
And i saw the devil and god on one day in only 20 minutes and i choose to listen to god’s words.
Happy Birthday
Many Many Happy Returns of the Day
May Allah always Bless you.
FSK
Thank you Paulo Coelho.
I am always reading warrior of the light everyday before work, though I had read it all, I open a page in random so I can read a passage that mystically reminds, teaches and answers my everyday questions then I reflect on them with what I am doing which I believe is my personal legend. Even friends have benefited from the wisdom that seemed to be angels had put in my mouth that after it, I couldn’t believe I was able to speak such ideas.
All you said was true to every letter. After one of the largest battles of my life, I was questioning myself if I did the right thing. When I got the book, it confirmed that I took the right decisions afterall.
The battle is not yet over. I need to sharpen my sword more for the next big battle.
Maybe it will be so wonderful to die lying on the ground eyes still focused on the blue heavens that I wish to go than to play dead and finally lose my breath, face down on the ground like someone executed.
A prayer with love for you , Happy Birthday , dear Paulo , THE brazilian !!!
It’s an honor for all of us that you are a brazilian son !!!
May the blessings of God stay with you all your life and forever !!!
Be blessed : your hands , mind and heart , they have the Light !!!
Thank YOU for your wonderful books !!!
Kiss :*
Maria From Brazil
Thank you for these blessings of wisdom.
I read a lot, books are my passion. But, when I been introduced to “Alchemist” by my brazilian friend, I understood that everything I read before faded in comparisone with the depth of Paulo Coelho stories. After first book I started to buy and put in my treasured collection every Paulo’s new creation printed in Australia. What a well of wisdom! Every book by any writer leaves some print on the memory of reader, but never before I felt a need to read and re-read again Paolo Coelho’s books.Thank you for become part of my everyday life.
Larisa
I was very moved with the messages readers sent me for my birthday. You can’t imagine how much you are important to me. Every day I read the emails, the comments and this gives me strength to move ahead. Thank you so much and I wish that we, warriors of light, might always be together.
Dear Paolo,
so sorry for having missed your birthday… but believe it or not - my niece had her 30th irthday on the 24th …. and you know what I gave her:
COMME UN FLEUVE QUI COULE:
I THINK IT IS JUST WONDERFUL THAT WE ARE REALLY CREATING A GLOBAL SPIRITUAL NETWORK…
Hello and hello and again, dear Paolo
and dear Maria from Brazil,
Naria, thanks for your sweet answer - I give you a big hug.
I just read it today, as I had been away.
Isn´t it wonderful to have this sharing of energies with Paolo and his followers?
Although I have found my personal spiritual Master - PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA -
sorry - the message goes on from Monica:
Paolo certainly is one of his followers whether he knows it or not.
Paolo, I´m sure you have read AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI:
yOGANANDA
Something seems to go wrong with the PC.
Maria from Brazil - could I please have your e-mail address?
With love
Monica
Happy Birthday, Paulo!!! I couldn’t tell this earlier, but better late than never.:-) I send you all my friends’ smiles with this message (and mine, of course), let them be with you.
PS.”Warrior of the Light Online” is veeeeeeeery interesting thing! :-))
Paulo,
Thanks a lot for being part of my life. I love to share your newsletter with my English students although my mother tongue is Spanish.
I value your messages a lot.
Keep in touch,
Lizzie (Lima, Peru)
Beautiful,
Certain things just hit you hard, making you realize that what lifes all about and this is one such thing.
Maria from Brazil - could I please have your e-mail address?
With love
Monica
Hi Paulo ! Hi Monica ! And hi bloggers around the world !
First of all : it was such a great moment of happiness to see that you wrote a comment for all of us here , Paulo !
And Monica , here is my e-mail address , like you asked me :
mariafrombrazil1@gmail.com
I also would like to say that I agree with you, Monica!
Paulo’s books, ideas, hints, and the Warriors of Light Blog, are helping us to build a SPIRITUAL GLOBAL NETWORK and there is the power of internet: Paulo is just one, but a great one, and he is connecting people through his own work, that’s the expression of unconditional love, that makes him share his wisdom and, at the same time, keep him linking souls around the world!
Thank you , Paulo , many times and God bless you for that too !
We are soul-friends , we are one !
You are deeply loved and you know that !
Send a sweet kiss and a hug for Christina too, ok ?
Love & Light ,
Maria From Brazil
Hello Paulo,
I have been away from the computer for a while and am sorry I didn’t get to wish you a ‘Happy Birthday’ in a timely manner. I hope it brought you all that you may have wished for. I am assured you are a year wiser, yes?
I tried to buy a copy of ‘The Alchemist’ today at our local bookstore for a friend’s birthday, and was dismayed that it was out of stock. It’s the third birthday this month that I was buying the book for someone’s birthday…I guess I have been wiping out the supplies in town! Ha!
I wanted to comment on having just read ‘The Devil and Miss Prym’ last month, when it finally came out in English locally. LOVED IT, as I expected I would, as did my 17 year old son who loves all of your work as much as I (and all the rest of us here!) do!
Sending you lots of love, and peace and good health energy. I feel I need to stress this: Please take extra special care of yourself, healthwise, will you? We love and need you to stay around for many more birthdays.
Sincerely,
-Deb ;), who, by the way, is also a follower of Yogananda.
PEACE…..:)
amazing
What I love most about this piece and Mr. Coehlo’s writings are the absolute perceived blind courage. What is it Eleanor Roosevelt wrote?
“I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life. Events of the past should never dimish your choices, your opportunities for the future.”
Is that it then? In one age a heretic, in another acclaimed, I for one am glad to be of his readership and the messages we share.
To be a warrior each day is to have faith that transcends fear, the daily struggle.
This warrior remains silent
In the face of defeat
The Warrior of Light knows how to lose. He does not hold defeat as something indifferent, using phrases like “well, it wasn’t all that important”, or “to tell the truth, I did not really want that”.
quote: “He accepts defeat as a defeat; he does not try to change it into a victory or an experience. He suffers the pain of his wounds, the indifference of his friends and the loneliness of loss. At such moments he says to himself: “I fought for something, and I failed to get it. I lost the first battle.”
This phrase will give him strength. He is aware that nobody wins all the time – but the courageous always win in the end. ”
-
dear paulo,
these past couple of days I’ve faced somethign of a personal defeat, a blow to my pride and just plain old pain. tonight I was feeling particularly down, and yet I just kept thinking I should check out “the warrior” website. I even had trouble getting the page at first but I persisted because the idea that i had to read something here would not leave.
in the end, though this is not your most recent post, it found me and gave me the wisdom i needed to “accept my defeat” and get on with it.
thankyou so very much.
God’s blessings to you, especially a continued outpouring of wisdom and insight.
karen
Dear Paulo,
what is wisdom….being part of a great circle of inner power gives me the strenght to live my life to the fullest….sharing the books you wrote with people I love and care about….just bought last week the manuel of the Warrior of Light in Peru…..where I travelled around with my daughter & backpack. I bought it in spanish for my dear friend Frank, here in the Netherlands ….hoping he will get closer reaching the light….and wisdom.
Thanx for being who you are and what you write….Love and light, Wilma
[quote comment="73"]sorry - the message goes on from Monica:
Paolo certainly is one of his followers whether he knows it or not.
Paolo, I´m sure you have read AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI:
yOGANANDA[/quote]
I am always a sucker for those that talk of the Autobiography of a Yogi. Its often a sure way to get my attention. I only wish that someday I can walk out of the sunlight and share a smile with people whom I would hope to know would want to share that.And then walk right back and behind it. That and those are the true warriors of light for me - beyond poetic imagination and or childhood nostalgia of the worlds one has just come back from (may be that may be a reason for the fantasy world of children(?!).But yes, that book talks of the warriors of light, beyond dimensional experiences or the common average or beyond average imaginations - in fact or in fiction. May regards and many wishes.
Don Juan (by Carlos Castaneda)
At the end of the life defeat and victory are the same.
During the life time it is more enjoyable to win