This book addresses universal themes that permeate each of our lives – conquests, defeats, choices, destiny. It is an invitation to go more deeply into oneself, where a warrior of light lives, capable of hearing the heart and providing the spiritual instruments that will lead to the path of overcoming fear, discouragement and weariness. Este livro aborda temas universais que permeiam a vida de cada um de nós – conquistas, derrotas, escolhas, destino. Um convite para um mergulho no mais íntimo de si mesmo(a), onde vive um guerreiro da luz, capaz de ouvir o coração e prover os instrumentos espirituais que vão guiar ao caminho para vencer o medo, o desânimo e o cansaço
The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. In 1986, PAULO COELHO did the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella, an experience later to be documented in his book The Pilgrimage. In the following year, COELHO published The Alchemist. Slow initial sales convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time. Other titles include Brida (1990), The Valkyries (1992), By the river Piedra I sat Down and Wept (1994), the collection of his best columns published in the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo entitle Maktub (1994), the compilation of texts Phrases (1995), The Fifth Mountain (1996), Manual of a Warrior of Light (1997), Veronika decides to die (1998), The Devil and Miss Prym (2000), the compilation of traditional tales in Stories for parents, children and grandchildren (2001), Eleven Minutes (2003), The Zahir (2005), The Witch of Portobello (2006) and Winner Stands Alone (to be released in 2009). During the months of March, April, May and June 2006, Paulo Coelho traveled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella in 1986. He also held surprise book signings - announced one day in advance - in some cities along the way, to have a chance to meet his readers. In ninety days of pilgrimage the author traveled around the globe and took the famous Transiberrian train that took him to Vladivostok. During this experience Paulo Coelho launched his blog Walking the Path - The Pilgrimage in order to share with his readers his impressions. Since this first blog Paulo Coelho has expanded his presence in the internet with his daily blogs in Wordpress, Myspace & Facebook. He is equally present in media sharing sites such as Youtube and Flickr, offering on a regular basis not only texts but also videos and pictures to his readers. From this intensive interest and use of the Internet sprang his bold new project: The Experimental Witch where he invites his readers to adapt to the screen his book The Witch of Portobello. Indeed Paulo Coelho is a firm believer of Internet as a new media and is the first Best-selling author to actively support online free distribution of his work.
1. You must leave behind the man you are used to being: he will remain there and only the good part continues to be nourished by the energy of the Goddess, who is a generous mother. 2. In order to dominate the soul, you must also learn to dominate the body. And in order to dominate the body, you cannot fear pain. 3. One must learn that which is necessary, and not simply what one wants. 4. Do not forget: seek to win all your battles, including those you fight against yourself. Do not fear the scars. Do not be afraid of victory. 5. The path is taken by walking, and not by thinking about it. 6. When you have done wrong, it is better to pay up quickly and forget the matter. 7. Solutions are generously provided by God, but people always seek complicated explanations, and end up doing nothing. 8. What you brought from your past, is of no use in your present. 9. Whoever is capable of not minding what others say, is a man on the path to wisdom. 10. The best way of dominating a desire, is to satisfy it. I would rather you had the sweets in your bellies - their rightful place - than in your minds, which should be filled with nobler things. 11. During a war, one’s capability to surprise the adversary is the key to victory. 12. This is why they are warriors of the light. Because they err. Because they question. Because they seek a reason - and they will surely find it. 13. If he waits for the ideal moment, he will never move from his position; he sees that a little madness is needed for the next step. The warrior uses a little madness. Because - in war and in love - one cannot foresee everything. 14. Truth is that which gives us freedom. 15. Respect my own tempo. 16. You too will come to an end one day - replied a Spanish woman. - Can you imagine if, at that moment, an angel asked God: “why so much work for nothing?” 17. If I do not make the most of these blessings, I shall lose them forever. I must accept the blessings of today, to create that which is mine; if I do this with objectivity and without guilt, tomorrow I shall receive more. 18. When we light up our inner light, the first things we see are the cobwebs and dust, our weak points. They were there all the time, only you saw nothing in the darkness. Now it will be easier to cleanse your soul. 19. How can you know that what has happened has been a misfortune/blessing in my life? 20. Even if you have fired a bow and arrow many times, continue to pay attention to how you place the arrow, and how you draw the bow. 21. Each of us can only offer the other that which is his. 22. Meanwhile, the old and wise forest laughed, at seeing how men tend to blindly follow the way already open, without ever asking whether it re- ally is the best choice. 23. The highest ideal, the miracle of Buddhism, is to allow any human being with an empty heart to become a person filled with love and compassion 24. I have God in my soul. Your Majesty, on the other hand, has only this king- dom. 25. They are exactly the same as the bones of country folk, the poor, beggars and slaves. 26. I believe that words can relieve pain, and help me to discover the right path to a cure - he said. - But you do not wish to talk, and I cannot help you. This is the man you need: my friend here is a veterinarian, and does not generally speak to his patients. 27. God is wherever He is invited in. 28. All of us, at some point, grow old and start to acquire other qualities. We can always make the most of each one of these new qualities and obtain a good result.(the cracked pot)
I have mixed feelings about this one. Some passages I read and re-read, then sit and think about for a while, thinking how amazing it is. Other parts I just skip through because they don't interest me.
Vol 2 and 3 are still going to be read, yet I think this is a kind of a book that shouldn't be read in one go. One should just read a little bit everyday, leaving those short stories to marinate inside.
I like this it. True, beyond appearances, life has other meanings.... The warrior was never distracted.
Most suitable for me, amongst many, is from the story of the old cracked jar. “All of us, at some point, grow old and start to acquire other qualities. We can always make the most of each one of these new qualities and obtain a good result."
THIS IS AN AMAZING BOOK. IT JUST WARMS MY HEART TO KNOW THAT THERE IS STILL SOME WARMTH LEFT IN THE WORLD EVEN IF IT IS THROUGH A BOOK. THANKS FOR WRITING THIS BOOK.
A collection of short writings by a Brazilian author, generally spiritually themed. Very nice little stories and essays. I'll read the next two volumes. They're all available free from the author on the inter webs via Feedbooks, etc.
This was worth reading just to learn about Shugendo, a type of Japanese proto-Buddhism which venerates mountains and practices suffering as a path to enlightenment. I might convert.
"Solutions are generously provided by God, but people always seek complicated explanations, and end up doing nothing."
I really like the story about the lost horse. I don't know but i really enjoyed reading this. There is so much values to learn, about life and ourselves.