10 Lessons from Einstein by Paulo Coelho on March 16, 2012

1. Follow Your Curiosity I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious. 2. Perseverance is Priceless Its not that Im so smart; its just that I stay with problems longer. 3. Focus on the Present Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. 4. The Imagination is Powerful Imagination is everything. It is the preview of lifes coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge. 5. Make Mistakes A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. 6. Live in the Moment I never think of the future it comes soon enough. 7. Create Value Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. 8. Dont be repetitive Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 9. Knowledge Comes From Experience Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience. 10. Learn the Rules and Then Play Better You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

15 SEC READING: Rebuilding the world

by Paulo Coelho on April 4, 2012 A father was trying to read the newspaper, but his little son kept pestering him. Finally, the father grew tired of this and, tearing a page from the newspaper one that bore a map of the world he cut it into several pieces and handed them to his son. Right, now youve got something to do. Ive given you a map of the world and I want to see if you can put it back together correctly. He resumed his reading, knowing that the task would keep the child occupied for the rest of the day. However, a quarter of an hour later, the boy returned with the map. Has your mother been teaching you geography? asked his father in astonishment. I dont even know what that is, replied the boy. But there was a photo of a man on the other side of the page, so I put the man back together and found Id put the world back together too.

The Gypsies and the Mother Goddess

by Paulo Coelho on April 1, 2012 Once a year, gypsies from all over the world head to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the South of France, to pay homage to Saint Sarah. According to tradition, Sarah was a gypsy who lived in a small seaside town when Jesus aunt, Mary Salome, arrived with other refugees trying to escape from persecution by the Romans. The statue of Sarah, dressed in beautiful robes, is taken from somewhere near the church (since the Vatican has never canonized her) and carried in procession as far as the sea, through narrow streets strewn with roses. Four gypsies dressed in their traditional clothes place the relics in a boat filled with flowers and repeated the arrival of the fugitives and their meeting with Sarah. From that moment on, everything involved music, feasting, singing and showing ones courage in front of a bull. It is easy to identify Sarah as another of the many black Madonnas to be found in the world. Sara-la-Kali, says the tradition, came from noble lineage and knew the secrets of the world. In my mind, she is one of the many manifestations of what they call the Mother Goddess, the Goddess of Creation. Every year the festival at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer attracts more and more people who have nothing to do with the gypsy community. Why is that? The reason is because God the Father is always associated
1

with the rigor and discipline of religion. On the contrary, the Mother Goddess shows the importance of love above all the prohibitions and taboos that we know so well. The phenomenon is no novelty; whenever religion makes its rules tougher, a significant group of people tends to seek for more freedom in spiritual contact. This happened during the Middle Ages, when the Catholic Church confined itself to imposing taxes and building luxury-filled convents; the reaction was the appearance of a phenomenon called witchcraft, which, despite being repressed on account of its revolutionary character, left roots and traditions that have managed to survive across all these centuries. In earlier traditions, the cult of nature is more important than reverence for the holy books; the Goddess is in everything, and everything is part of the Goddess. The world is just an expression of her goodness. There exists many philosophical systems, such as Taoism and Buddhism, that do away with the distinction between creator and creature. People no longer try to decipher the mystery of life, but rather, take part in it. In the cult of the Great Mother, what we call sin, generally a transgression of arbitrary moral codes, is far more flexible. Customs are freer, because they are part of nature and cannot be considered the fruits of evil. If God is a mother, then all that is necessary is to join together and worship her through rites that try to satisfy her feminine soul, such as dancing, fire, water, air, earth, singing, music, flowers and beauty. The tendency has grown enormously over the last few years. Perhaps we are witnessing a very important moment in the history of the world, when at last Spirit integrates with Matter, and they unify and change.
20 SEC READING: May we be forgotten by Paulo Coelho on March 31, 2012 EM PORTUGUES AQUI: Que sejamos esquecidos

At the Sceta monastery, the abbot Lucas gathered the monks for the sermon. - May you never be remembered he said. - What do you mean? replied one of the brothers. May our example not help those who might need it? - In the days when everything was just, no one paid attention to exemplary people answered the abbot. Everyone gave their best, without pretensions, and so fulfilled their duty to their fellow men. They loved their neighbor because they understood that this was part of life, and they thought nothing of respecting a law of nature. They shared their possessions in order not to accumulate more than they could carry, since journeys last a lifetime. They lived together in freedom, giving and receiving, without demanding or blaming anything on others. That is why their deeds were not handed down, and there is no story known about them. I hope we can achieve the same thing in the present: to make goodness such a common thing, that there is no need to exalt those who practice it. 2

Castaneda and the warriors spirit by Paulo Coelho on March 30, 2012 Carlos Castaneda was an author who left his mark on my generation although in academic circles he was never considered someone worthy of attention. As a tribute to him, I present a summary of his most important writings: ******** The most difficult thing in this world is to adopt the spirit and attitude of a warrior. It is no use being sad, complaining, feeling unjustly treated, and believing someone is doing something negative. No one is doing anything, and certainly not to a warrior. ******** It matters not how we were brought up. What determines our way of acting is the manner in which we administrate our will. The will is a sentiment, a talent, something which lends us enthusiasm. The will is something which is acquired but it is necessary to fight for it ones whole life. ******** The humility of a warrior is not the same humility as that of a servile man. The warrior does not lower his head to anyone, and nor does he allow anyone to bow before him. The servile man, on the other hand, kneels before anyone he believes to be more powerful, and demands that the people under his command behave in a similar fashion before him. ******** The bad thing about words is that they make us feel as if we were illuminated and understanding everything. But, when we turn and face the world, we see that reality is completely different from that which we discussed or heard. A warrior seeks to act, and not waste time in useless conversation. ******** The ordinary man thinks that yielding to doubts and worries is a sign of sensibility, of spirituality. Acting thus, he remains distant from the true meaning of life. This type of person loves being told what he should do. Only a warrior can endure the path of knowledge. A warrior does not complain or lament anything, and sees challenges as neither good nor bad. Challenges are simply challenges. ******* The world is unfathomable and mysterious, just as we all are. The art of the warrior consists of reconciling the terror of being a man with the wonder of being a man. Maria and sex by Paulo Coelho on March 27, 2012 in my book Eleven Minutes The men she had met since she arrived in Geneva always did everything they could to appear confident, as if they were in perfect control of the world and of their own lives; Maria, however, could see in their eyes that they were afraid of their wife, the feeling of panic that they might not be able to get an erection, that they might not seem manly enough even to the ordinary prostitute whom they were paying for her services. If they went to a shop and didnt like the shoes they had bought, they would be quite prepared to go back, receipt in hand, and demand a refund. And yet, even though they were paying for some female company, if they didnt manage to get an erection, they would be too ashamed ever to go back to the same club again because they would assume that all the other women there would know. 3

Im the one who should feel ashamed for being unable to arouse them, but, no, they always blame themselves. To avoid such embarrassments, Maria always tried to put men at their ease, and if someone seemed drunker or more fragile than usual, she would avoid full sex and concentrate instead on caresses and masturbation, which always seemed to please them immensely, absurd though this might seem, since they could perfectly well masturbate on their own. She had to make sure that they didnt feel ashamed. These men, so powerful and arrogant at work, constantly having to deal with employees, customers, suppliers, prejudices, secrets, posturings, hypocrisy, fear and oppression, ended their day in a nightclub and they didnt mind spending three hundred and fifty Swiss francs to stop being themselves for a night. For a night? Now come on, Maria, youre exaggerating. Its really only forty-five minutes, and if you allow time for taking off clothes, making some phoney gesture of affection, having a bit of banal conversation and getting dressed again, the amount of time spent actually having sex is about eleven minutes. Eleven minutes. The world revolved around something that only took eleven minutes. And because of those eleven minutes in any one twenty-four-hour day (assuming that they all made love to their wives every day, which is patently absurd and a complete lie) they got married, supported a family, put up with screaming kids, thought up ridiculous excuses to justify getting home late, ogled dozens, if not hundreds of other women with whom they would like to go for a walk around Lake Geneva, bought expensive clothes for themselves and even more expensive clothes for their wives, paid prostitutes to try to give them what they were missing, and thus sustained a vast industry of cosmetics, diet foods, exercise, pornography and power, and yet when they got together with other men, contrary to popular belief, they never talked about women. They talked about jobs, money and sport. Something was very wrong with civilization, and it wasnt the destruction of the Amazon rainforest or the ozone layer, the death of the panda, cigarettes, carcinogenic foodstuffs or prison conditions, as the newspapers would have it. It was precisely the thing she was working with: sex. 20 SEC READING: The lady in Copacabana by Paulo Coelho on March 24, 2012 She was standing on the sidewalk of Atlntica Avenue with a guitar and a hand-written sign that said: Lets sing together. She began to play alone. Then a drunk arrived, then another old lady and they began to sing along with her. In a short time a small crowd was singing together and another small crowd played the audience, clapping hands at the end of each number. Why do you do this? I asked between songs. I dont want to be alone, she said. My life is very lonely, just like almost all old people. I wish they all could solve their problems in this way. 1 MIN READ: If I had my life to live over by Paulo Coelho on March 22, 2012 Of course, you cant unfry an egg, but there is no law against thinking about it. If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes. I would relax. I know of very few things that I would take seriously. 4

I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less bran. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary troubles. You see, I have been one of those fellows who live prudently and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I have had my moments. But if I had it to do over again, I would have more of them a lot more. I never go anywhere without a thermometer, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do over, I would travel lighter. If I had my life to live over, I would pay less attention to people telling us we must learn Latin or History; otherwise we will be disgraced and ruined and flunked and failed. I would seek out more teachers who inspire relaxation and fun. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted a little earlier in the spring and stay that way a little later in the fall. I would shoot more paper wads at my teachers. I would keep later hours. Id have more sweethearts. I would go to more circuses. I would be carefree as long as I could, or at least until I got some care- instead of having my cares in advance. I doubt, however, that Ill do much damage with my creed. The opposition is too strong. There are too many serious people trying to get everybody else to be too darned serious. (there are several versions of this text circulating in Internet. The one above is attributed to Don Harold) The prayer that I forgot by Paulo Coelho on October 31, 2011 By Paulo Coelho I was out walking one day in So Paulo, when a friend Edinho handed me a pamphlet entitled Sacred Moment. Printed in four colours, on excellent paper, with no mention of any particular church or religion, this pamphlet bore only a prayer on its reverse side. Imagine my surprise when I saw the name of the author of this prayer ME! It had been published in the early eighties on the inside cover of a book of poetry. I did not think it would stand the test of time, nor that it would return to my hands in such a mysterious way; but when I re-read it, I did not feel ashamed of what I had written. Because it appeared in that pamphlet and because I believe in signs, I felt it only right to reproduce it here. I hope it encourages every reader to write a prayer of their own, asking for themselves and for others the things that they judge to be most important. That way we place a positive vibration in our heart which touches everything around us. Here is the prayer: Lord, protect our doubts, because Doubt is a way of praying. It is Doubt that makes us grow because it forces us to look fearlessly at the many answers that exist to one question. And in order for this to be possible Lord, protect our decisions, because making Decisions is a way of praying. Give us the courage, after our doubts, to be able to choose between one road and another. May our YES always be a YES and our NO always be a NO. Once we have chosen our road, may we never look back nor allow our soul to be eaten away by remorse. And in order for this to be possible

Lord, protect our actions, because Action is a way of praying. May our daily bread be the result of the very best that we carry within us. May we, through work and Action, share a little of the love we receive. And in order for this to be possible Lord, protect our dreams, because to Dream is a way of praying. Make sure that, regardless of our age or our circumstances, we are capable of keeping alight in our heart the sacred flame of hope and perseverance. And in order for this to be possible Lord, give us enthusiasm, because Enthusiasm is a way of praying. It is what binds us to the Heavens and to Earth, to grown-ups and to children, it is what tells us that our desires are important and deserve our best efforts. It is Enthusiasm that reaffirms to us that everything is possible, as long as we are totally committed to what we are doing. And in order for this to be possible Lord, protect us, because Life is the only way we have of making manifest Your miracle. May the earth continue to transform seeds into wheat, may we continue to transmute wheat into bread. And this is only possible if we have Love; therefore, do not leave us in solitude. Always give us Your company, and the company of men and women who have doubts, who act and dream and feel enthusiasm, and who live each day as if it were totally dedicated to Your glory. Amen Dont scold the Lover by Paulo Coelho on October 28, 2011 Moses heard a shepherd on the road praying: Lord, where are you? I want to help you, to fix your shoes and comb your hair. I want to wash your clothes and pick the lice off. I want to bring you milk to kiss your little hands and feet when its time for you to go to bed. I want to sweep your room and keep it neat. God, my sheep and goats are yours. Who are you talking to? Moses could stand it no longer. Only something that grows needs milk. Only some one with feet needs shoes. Not Gd! The shepherd repented and tore his clothes and sighed and wandered out into the desert. A sudden revelation came then to Moses. You have separated me from one of my own. Did you come as a Prophet to unite, or to sever? I have given each being a separate and unique way of seeing and knowing and saying that knowledge. What seems wrong to you is right for him. What is poison to one is honey to someone else. Purity and impurity, sloth and diligence in worship, these mean nothing to me. I am apart from all that. Ways of worshiping are not to be ranked as better or worse than one another. Its not me thats glorified in acts of worship. Its the worshipers! I dont hear the words they say. I look inside at the humility. Forget phraseology. I want burning, burning. Be friends with your burning. Burn up your thinking and your forms of expression! Lovers who burn are another. Dont scold the Lover. The wrong way he talks is better than a hundred right ways of others. When you look in a mirror, you see yourself, not the state of the mirror. 6

The flute player puts breath into a flute, and who makes the music? Not the flute. The flute player! Whenever you speak praise or thanksgiving to Me, its always like this dear shepherds simplicity. from Rumis Moses and the Sheperd, translated by Coleman Barks 10 sec reading: After the Deluge by Paulo Coelho on October 23, 2011 At the end of the forty days of deluge, Noah came out of the ark. He was filled with hope, but all he found outside was death and destruction. Noah protested: Almighty God, if You knew the future, why did You create man? Just for the pleasure of punishing him? A triple perfume rose up into the sky: incense, the perfume of Noahs tears, and the aroma of his actions. Then God replied: The prayers of a just man are always heard. I will tell you why I did this: so that you will understand your work. You and your descendents will always be rebuilding a world which came from nothing and in this way we share the work and the consequences. Now we are all responsible. Crabs in a bucket by Paulo Coelho on October 19, 2011 Early evening was one of my favorite times to walk the beach with my mom and my older brothers. We were all clean and fed and slightly sun weary but still desperate to be outside. So, we would grab flashlights, dip nets and a bucket and search the oceans edge for crabs. More often than not, as a crab would begin to inch its way higher to the edge of the bucket, the other crabs would latch on to him and pull him back down. I watched this scenario play out again and again, year after year. Fast forward to this morning. As I was drinking my coffee and perusing my twitter stream, and up pops @paul0coelho (He wrote The Alchemist, one of my all time favorite books): Only mediocrity is safe. Get ready to be attacked, and be the best. I did a quick google search and discovered that Crab Mentality is actually an official phrase that roughly means if I cant have it, neither can you. And it is talked about. A lot. So now Im thinking about the Escaping Mediocrity journey with this lens. There will always be people who will subtly or not so subtly try to keep us from escaping. Why? Because our escape threatens their mediocre existence. 7

Pulling us down, sabotaging our efforts, picking apart our brilliant ideas all of that keeps them feeling safe. And living undisturbed mediocre lives. So what if we added a new piece to the crab mentality picture? Imagine a crab, or a group of crabs on the other side of the bucket building a ladder to aid your escape. They managed to crawl out of the bucket in spite of all the energetic attempts to pull them backwards. Because theyve tasted freedom and they know your struggle, they are putting energy into aiding and abetting your escape. I believe that for those of us determined to get out of the bucket, such a group exists. It may take some time to find them, but they are there, ready throw a safety rope over the edge and pull us out. Start listening for them. Start looking for them. They are there. Reach just a little further and theyll meet you at the edge of the bucket.

A book uncaps a volcano by Paulo Coelho on October 25, 2011 Interview to Steven MacKenzie The Big Issue(UK) Aleph is currently a bestseller all over the world. Is the global success of your books proof that everyone shares the same fears and dreams, and people are not as different as we sometimes think? Questions. I think people all over the world have the same questions. I would not say fears and dreams probably also but when I write a book I concentrate on my personal questions. What I realise from reading tweets and comments from social communities is that although we dont share the same answers and we dont we share the same questions. This is something that helps a lot. I dont feel alone as a writer. Because you always ask yourself, Im writing this for myself, but does anyone else know what Im talking about? And they do. Having brought inspiration to so many, it might surprise some readers of Aleph to discover that you were undergoing your own crisis of faith. Faith is not a straight line. Its like if you climb a mountain. You have your ups and downs. I need faith to believe in God. Atheists also need faith to not believe in God. Like everybody else I have my moments of doubt. Like The Alchemist, Aleph recounts a physical journey, which is ultimately a spiritual one. Why did you have to travel across a continent to discover something inside yourself? In 2006 I was in my comfort zone; bestselling author all over the world, looking like I had no more challenges in life. And this is not good because life is a constant challenge. People tend to stay in the comfort zone because it is safe but if you dont accept challenges you are dead! Everyone is stuck in a routine and reluctant to leave their comfort zone. Nobody is really living 8

Lets not generalise Steven! Many people, but not everyone, otherwise I would not have any readers! Its a tendency we have and we have to fight against it. Some people arent fighting hard enough. Yah true. We fear to change. Do people read your books to help them fight? My books can act as catalysts. They can provoke a reaction in a person that is already ready for change. I dont think my readers are reading the books trying to learn how to change. You read a book at the right moment and then you see that you have already this volcano inside of you ready to explode and the book uncaps this volcano.