Notes from my favorite author - Paulo Coelho. Adapted from his beautiful book, 'Like The Flowing River', here is a list of ennobling words for us to live by.
1. We are are all different, and should do what we can to remain so.
2. Each human being was given two possibilities: action and contemplation. Both lead to the same place.
3. Each human being was given two qualities: power and the gift. Power directs us towards our destiny; the gift obliges us to share with others what is best in us.
4. Each human being was given a virtue: the ability to choose. Anyone who fails to use this virtue transforms it into a curse, and others will choose for them.
5. Each human being has his or her own sexual identity and should be able to exorcise that identity without guilt as long as they don’t force that sexual identity on others.
6. Every human being has a personal legend to be fulfilled, and this is our reason for being in the world. This personal legend manifests itself in our enthusiasm for the task.
7. One can abandon one’s personal legend for a time, as long as one does not forget about it entirely and returns to it as soon as possible.
8. Every man has a feminine side, and every woman a masculine side. It is important to use discipline with intuition, and to use intuition with objectivity.
9. Every human being should know two languages: the language of society and the language of signs. One serves to communicate with other people, the other serves to understand God’s messages.
10. Every human being has the right to search for happiness, and by ‘happiness’ is meant something that makes that individual feel content, not necessarily something that makes other people feel content.
11. Every human being should keep alive in them the sacred flame of madness, but should behave as a normal person.
12. Only the following items should be considered to be grave faults: not respecting another’s rights; allowing oneself to be paralysed by fear; feeling guilty; believing that one does not deserve the good or ill that happens in one’s life; being a coward.
We will love our enemies, but not make alliances with them. They were placed in our path in order to test our sword, and we should, out of respect for them, struggle against them.
We will choose our enemies.
13. All religions lead to the same God, and all deserve the same respect.
Anyone who chooses a religion is also choosing a collective way of worshipping and sharing the mysteries. Nevertheless, that person is the only one responsible for his or her actions along the way and has no right to shift responsibility for personal decisions on to that religion.
14. It is hereby decreed that the wall separating the sacred and the profane be torn down. From now on, everything is sacred.
15. Everything that is done in the present affects the future in the form of consequence and affects the past in the form of redemption.
Peace in oneself. Peace in the world.
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Coelho is a lucky man. He was born into a wealthy family and had many choices in life. The original version of 'The Alchemist' in his mother tongue was not well-received and was considered to be very poorly written. He had the huge good fortune of having an excellent translator, who produced a sublime English version of the book. The rest is history.
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Dear "anonymous", in everyone's life there is one or more people that come and have an impact... as you suggest, in Coelho's case, possible the translator was someone that made an impact and helped Coelho begin a journey of sharing with the world, indeed not only what he created, but, I think, this is less important and the world can and benefits out of it. His book "By the flowing river" has helped me hugely when I was recovering from the burn out situation I run into following mobbing and injustice I have suffered when I protested hidden agendas and abuses inside a company that is supposed to price integrity and loyalty... the world we live in is indeed so far from being perfect or equally good to everyone, however, it is up to us all, who are in a better position and able to act, to try to help improve the world... this can be done also by small actions and by taking and having the right attitude, etc. envying someone is not the right attitude... all the best to you!
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