The Pilgrimage...magical is the word for this book...
It is the tale of Paulo Coelho's own personal pilgrimage along the road to Santiago ...he recounts his trials during the journey across Spain in search of a miraculous sword... However, slowly we realise that the true purpose of this trip is the spiritual wisdom that he gains as a spin-off of the search...
As he travels he recognises life's great truths...truths which we have actually known all along and dealt with in our day to day life...but refused or failed to acknowledge...
He talks of magic, mysticism, secrets, and mysterious ways...which I don't necessarily believe in...but there will be a learning from each of his experiences...something to apply in our daily lives...One does not have to say the prayer and hope that god will actually have pity...but there is so much that one can apply to one's practical life from that.
The scene where he is wounded but expected to erect the cross...he thinks its impossible...he wants to refuse...one hopes for a miracle to solve the problem...but applying his learnings he is able to do it...my take here is that...for all problems, one should look at the un-obvious ways to solve them too...
It’s a thought provoking book...about achieving the ultimate goal - the way to know oneself and the purpose of one's life.
Traveler that I am...I obviously enjoyed the travel perspective of the book and hope to do the trek myself someday!!!
Showing posts with label Paulo Coelho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paulo Coelho. Show all posts
19 October 2007
18 October 2007
Personal Vices
I am reading “The Pilgrimage” by Paulo Coelho…it’s a must read book…but more on that when I finish the book…this morning the chapter I read is really beautiful…(It touched me so much that I am actually typing out parts of it…)
The chapter titled “Personal Vices” is in the form of a prayer…some paras follow…
“Have pity on those who pity themselves and who see themselves as good people treated unfairly by life - who feel that they do not deserve what has befallen them. Such people will never be able to fight the good fight. And pity those who are cruel to themselves and who see only the evil in their own actions, feeling that they are to blame for the injustice in the world. Because neither of these kinds of people know thy law that says ‘But the very hairs of your head are numbered’
“Have pity on those who command and those who serve during long hours of work, and who sacrifice themselves in exchange merely for a Sunday off, only to find that there is nowhere to go, and everything is closed. But also have pity on those who sanctify their efforts, and who are able to go beyond the bounds of their own madness, winding up indebted, or nailed to the cross by their very brothers. Because neither of these kinds of people know thy law that says, ‘Be ye therefore as wise as the serpents and as harmless as the doves.’
“Have pity on those who are fearful of taking up a pen, or a paintbrush, or an instrument, or a tool because they are afraid that someone has already done so better than they could, and who feel themselves to be unworthy to enter the marvellous mansion of art. But even have more pity on those who, having taken up the pen, or the paintbrush, or the instrument, or the tool, have turned inspiration into a paltry thing, and yet feel themselves to be better than others. Neither of these kinds of people know thy law that says, ‘For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.’
“Have pity on those who bind themselves with the silken ties of love, and think themselves as masters of others, and who feel envy, and poison themselves, and who torture themselves because they cannot see that love and all things change like the wind. But pity even more those who die of their fear of loving and who reject love in the name of a greater love that they know not. Neither of these kinds of people know thy that says, ‘Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.’
The chapter titled “Personal Vices” is in the form of a prayer…some paras follow…
“Have pity on those who pity themselves and who see themselves as good people treated unfairly by life - who feel that they do not deserve what has befallen them. Such people will never be able to fight the good fight. And pity those who are cruel to themselves and who see only the evil in their own actions, feeling that they are to blame for the injustice in the world. Because neither of these kinds of people know thy law that says ‘But the very hairs of your head are numbered’
“Have pity on those who command and those who serve during long hours of work, and who sacrifice themselves in exchange merely for a Sunday off, only to find that there is nowhere to go, and everything is closed. But also have pity on those who sanctify their efforts, and who are able to go beyond the bounds of their own madness, winding up indebted, or nailed to the cross by their very brothers. Because neither of these kinds of people know thy law that says, ‘Be ye therefore as wise as the serpents and as harmless as the doves.’
“Have pity on those who are fearful of taking up a pen, or a paintbrush, or an instrument, or a tool because they are afraid that someone has already done so better than they could, and who feel themselves to be unworthy to enter the marvellous mansion of art. But even have more pity on those who, having taken up the pen, or the paintbrush, or the instrument, or the tool, have turned inspiration into a paltry thing, and yet feel themselves to be better than others. Neither of these kinds of people know thy law that says, ‘For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.’
“Have pity on those who bind themselves with the silken ties of love, and think themselves as masters of others, and who feel envy, and poison themselves, and who torture themselves because they cannot see that love and all things change like the wind. But pity even more those who die of their fear of loving and who reject love in the name of a greater love that they know not. Neither of these kinds of people know thy that says, ‘Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.’
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