Paulo Coelho's Classics: The Pilgrimage and The Alchemist [ Edited ]

[Jon_B]

Here Paulo Coelho details his journey across Spain along the legendaryr oad of Santiago, which pilgrims have travelled since Middle Ages. On this contemporary quest, he encounters a Chaucerian variety of mysterious guides and devilish opponents and learns to understand the nature of truth through the simplicity of life. The Pilgrimage holds an important place in Paulo Coelho's literary canon. His first book, it not only paved the way for his phenomenal novel The Alchemist , but it also fully expresses his humanist philosophy and the depth of his unique search for meaning.

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Join us as we celebrate the 20th anniversery of Paulo Coelho's spellbinding and world reknowned novel!

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

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Reply to this message to talk about The Pilgrimage or The Alchemist or to ask Paulo for his insights.

Message Edited by Jon_B on 09-04-2008 01:08 PM

[Anja_Panja]

Hej Paulo,

how come you still believe in God after having experienced so many bad things in your life? Or is it exactly because of them? Here we have the classical theodicy-question :-)

In some of your writings we learn something about the Sufi-Tales and the Islamic belief, as well. Would you say, you're a Christian or how would you depict your belief?

 
In your Interview with Juan Arias you say that you like being alone and also enjoy being with friends. What do you do if you're feeling sad or melancholic? Do you rather sit and think on your own or do you call friends to go out and have fun with them? Or do you sit down and write a book about your present state of mind?

I do have so much more questions as I find your way of thinking heavenly inspiring!

Keep on writing as it might be able to change the world (or at least some readers' thinking and this might have an effect on every one of us).

Love,

Anja

[thewolffather]

Olá Paulo and fellow readers,

After careful reading and analysis of Paulo's books over the past ten years I have found them to be of a profound nature. What nature is this you may ask? It is not only the language of the world it is also the language of the subconscious mind and to this end it is a great find for people in need of spiritual guidance and finding self worth in the universe. In relation to the Christ Man whose stories filled the peoples minds 2000 years ago, Paulo has adopted a new intelligent way of expressing spirituality, God and Magic in the Technological Age. Paulo's writings remind me of a scrap book one page filled with the past and the next filled with the present all the others filled with the magic of life.

One question I would like to ask Paulo at this crossing is; if you were to take someone from the earth, as a Master in RAM, and allow this person access to the secret society to become a Master, how would you foresee yourself doing that? What tests would you set and how would you like to present the initiation ceremony,  where would this ceremony be? What would you expect of this person and how do you think you would know when you would meet them for the first time? Do you think that this person could answer some of you questions?

Kealan

Message Edited by thewolffather on 09-10-2008 04:19 PM

[helenas]

Dear Paulo,

You are such a generous person. Thank you for sharing yourself in this way.  I had a question.  When you are pursuing a dream, how do you know when you should keep working harder to overcome obstacles, or when you should give up and do something different with your life? 

Thank you!

Helena S. in New York City 

[Paulo_Coelho]

Thank you very much for participating and sorry for my English mistakes (there will be many) as Portuguese is my mother tongue. I decided to start the discussion on this Saturday, so I can answer as many questions as possible.

[Paulo_Coelho]

how come you still believe in God after having experienced so many bad things in your life?

Dear Anja: first, when you experience something, it is not good or bad - it is part of your journey. That said, I always felt the hand of God supporting me in what you call "bad experiences".

Sufi-Tales and the Islamic belief: storytelling allow us to have more tolerance about other people beliefs. I am a Catholic, and a lot of teachings from Jesus are stories (parables, stories with religious contents). Therefore, being a writer, and now being a Messenger of Peace (UN) I feel it is my role to say that this bridge still exists.

Sad and melancholic: I can be angry very often, nostalgic for three or four days a year,  but neither sad nor melancolic.

[Paulo_Coelho]

to all of you: Kealan was in a party that I give once a year, and that I invite around 20 readers to socialize with my friends. I choose the readers based on the first come/first served in the social communities I participate (basically my blog, facebook, myspace).

RAM is a very small order, nothing important, a group of people who is much more interested in the language of symbols. There are no secrets - everything is there for us to see.

However, if I had to choose someone to walk with me for a short period (not to teach anything, just to wander together) I would choose a person who is totally different - so I could also learn.

[Paulo_Coelho]

Hello Helenas

in my case, I faced the obstacles. I suggest you to do the same.

[rosey1]

Dear Paulo,

Thank you so much for your books. They've all--beginning with the Alchemist—changed my life.

I have a question, and I think, in some ways your book characters might wrestle with it sometimes, too: How does one tell the difference between intuition and fear? How do you know if you're intuiting something, or whether it's coming from your human hopes or fears?

Thanks so much! And again, thanks so much for bringing forth your books and messages.

 Rosey

[Mariella]

Hi Paulo,

First of all I want to start by expressing a big "THANK YOU"... and I guess you might have heard that million times before but i couldn't let this opportunity pass. I had to say that your books have been my sword during many personal battles and my shield when i felt weak. Every single of your books that I have read came into my life on the right moment.

The Alchemist, have taught me that I have a personal legend and that the universe will conspire to reveal my dreams if I truly believe on them. And, oh yeah!....I have BIG dreams!!!

I read "Eleven Minutes" when i was in the lower state of my life. I was lost and didn't really wanna be found. Then an important meeting took place, unexpectedly I have been given my soul back.

The person who put me back on track remind me to someone that i knew i had heard before. I read about him years ago on a book called "The manual of the warrior of light".

And that's the reason I am now writing this post. I wanted to share with him this book and by google your name I found myself on this forum, taking directly to you. How amazing!!!I have no questions. Now I know how would i feel if one day i run into you. I guess i will just wave hello!

Sincerely,

Mariella G.(from Peru)

[thewolffather]

Paulo,

Thank you for your insight into RAM. I feel that many questions I have wondered about while reading you novels have been answered, something that must come to light to interpret the work as it is. While looking at other books such as The Prophet it comes to mind in a metaphorical sense what a member of RAM is and how they live life. Much like the greater guardians of sheep they keep the energy of signs alive on the different vibrations. That is how the Masters separate themselves from the social constraints and follow their legends with high energy, emotion and magic. The power associated with reading the earth is also continually connected to the heart of the person reading, this person alone has the power to do both good and evil as we can see from "The Devil and Miss Prim." This can be matched to both "Brida" and "The Witch of Portabello" where each master of the Witch guides them as best they can towards the better things in humanity. Here the power of suggestion is apparent in the teachings, while they give good advise the Masters may slip to a time where their needs are greater than the people involved hence voiding the original contracts.

In reply to your words about walking with someone, your character from the Pilgrimage seems to have been the most excellent choice as he, like us all, was just a man.

Kealan

Message Edited by thewolffather on 09-14-2008 01:08 PM

[lance81]

Dear Paulo,

thank you for sharing your wisdom with us and for your wonderful books.

"The Pilgrimage" and "The Alchemist" are the books that can help a person discover his own self, develop his true character and realise his goals and dreams.

At this point, I would like to express a question that makes life rather unhappy. What would we say to a child born ill in a poor country with a practically inexistent national health system? A child that has the dream that one day he/she will become a scientist, a singer, a dancer, a poet, a writer ........

"Life" is generous with some people and hard with others. It makes people desire things and at the same time it removes from their hands the power to realise them.

Does "life" looks favourably some and treats others with contempt?

Lance (UK)

[Anja_Panja]

Oh, dear Paulo!

Thank you sooo much for your reply! You always seem to find the right words expressing what I - and I guess, all your other readers - feel.

You know, it is really just the way you look at things in order to describe them as "good" or "bad" experiences. If you believe in someting or someone then you might tend to see it like the way it is "meant to be". You have the feeling that if something (may it seem a "bad" experience at first) will turn out as your saviour (and the other way round).

In your Interview with Juan Arias you say something like: you can only be a good Christian if you have rejected the Christian (or religious belief in general) belief. So, in the end, you had to find your way back to what you see to be right for you. But do you also think, that a good Christian can be someone who always believed (sometimes more, sometimes less) in God? I mean, do you really need the way of rejection first, in order to find your way?

Someone once said: "If you'll get far enough away, you'll be back on your way home." 

Is that your attitute?

Take care, Anja

P.S.: I love the way you interact with your readers!! Really! It makes me believe, I can ask you anything I want anytime I want. Your like my life-guide ;-)

[Yajna]

Dearest Paulo, 

How are you today? My name is Yajna Ramdass. I have loved yours books since the time that I’ve discovered them, and they have influenced my life positively in many ways. I’ve also been an active reader and writer on your blog over the last year. I was curious though, do you recognise me? Not that my comments there are solely for your attention, I just wondered if you acknowledge many of your regular viewers, and if you read the comments written there (although I know it must be difficult with so many communities and comments)... And maybe even if you desire to meet some of them? 

In the Alchemist, you create an image the universe working in perfect sequence to get you what you desire. I don’t doubt that this exists, as I myself have experienced it, but recently it has confused me a bit. Sometimes in life, things are not what they seem. One day things will go perfectly and you get exactly what you want and the next it can be taken away from you. The same way the universe conspired to get you what you want, it can take it way. Have you experienced this? As much as I truly believe dreams are within our grasp, after experiencing how things can go against you, I wonder how you cannot doubt the system a bit, especially in trying times. When you went through difficult times, did you ever doubt things, and how did you deal with it? 

I have another question about dreams. I know that dreams can be anything, but what of love? I have often heard people say that their dream is to find their love or to love someone. Do you think you can mix the two? I believe that love should never prevent you from reaching your dream, but how does it work if your dream is love? Isn’t love an entity on its own, not under control/ ours to be decided on? I’m honestly not sure on this one; I just love, but would appreciate your views. 

Lastly, I’d just like to say, thank so much for being true to whom you are. Because you were, you changed my life, and your blog got me through one of the most difficult times in my life, just by giving me a forum to write, and surrounding me by inspiration and people who believed. Thank you again sir. As much as you my not know me, and I you, I’ll always love you, and I hope and pray to meet you some day.  

Thank you for being.

Yajna 

PS I’m a South African, do you think you will visit my country anytime soon? If so, will consider having a cup of coffee with me, should the situation permit? 

Message Edited by Yajna on 09-14-2008 07:16 PM

[mstrwzrd]

Paulo,

I was discovered by "The Alchemist" while walking through a newsstand in Australia two years ago, and have found myself reading more and more of your stories (three in the past week).  Thank you for such simple, direct and heartfelt pieces of yourself and of others you have discovered in your travels.  As each of us wake up to our path, it is encouraging to find the way so clearly marked.  Thank you for so much.

Dave

[Paulo_Coelho]

Dear Rosey,

the difference between intuition and fear is that your intuition will guide you towards action, while fear only paralyses. As Jorge Luis Borges says in his writings "there is no other virtue than being brave". And one has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strengh to keep on going forward despite the fear.

Your intuition is your guide out of fear.

Love

[Paulo_Coelho]

Dear Mariella,

thank you for your message. It moves everytime I see this type of connection being formed with my readers.

You're a true warrior of light

Love

[Paulo_Coelho]

Dear Lance,

 Injustice exists and I can't pretend to have an answer for that. I'm not a guru and I can't explain why bad things hapen to honest, innocent people.

Nevertheless I think that we are all responsible if the world is the way it is. That's why instead of looking for the guilty of the weak , we should rather focus in our attitude.

We cannot set out to change the world without first changing ourselves. If we are capable of that : mending our ways, being generous towards life, then we will be good to leave a trace of goodness in this world. There's a wide range of heroes that work in silence and that try to enhance the state of the world.

We are the building blocks of "life" - change is in our hands.

Love

[Paulo_Coelho]

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Anja_Panja wrote:

Do you also think, that a good Christian can be someone who always believed (sometimes more, sometimes less) in God? I mean, do you really need the way of rejection first, in order to find your way?

Someone once said: "If you'll get far enough away, you'll be back on your way home." 

Is that your attitute?

Take care, Anja

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Dear Anja,

I don't pose myself as a judge - each person has his/her own path in this world.

In my case I passed through disbelief - but of course there are many way towards the light.

Love

[Paulo_Coelho]

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Yajna wrote:

Dearest Paulo, 

 I’ve also been an active reader and writer on your blog over the last year. I was curious though, do you recognize me? And maybe even if you desire to meet some of them? 

In the Alchemist, you create an image the universe working in perfect sequence to get you what you desire. I don’t doubt that this exists, as I myself have experienced it, but recently it has confused me a bit. Sometimes in life, things are not what they seem. One day things will go perfectly and you get exactly what you want and the next it can be taken away from you. The same way the universe conspired to get you what you want, it can take it way. Have you experienced this?

I have another question about dreams. I know that dreams can be anything, but what of love? I have often heard people say that their dream is to find their love or to love someone. Do you think you can mix the two? I believe that love should never prevent you from reaching your dream, but how does it work if your dream is love? Isn’t love an entity on its own, not under control/ ours to be decided on? I’m honestly not sure on this one; I just love, but would appreciate your views. 

PS I’m a South African, do you think you will visit my country anytime soon? If so, will consider having a cup of coffee with me, should the situation permit? 

Message Edited by Yajna on 09-14-2008 07:16 PM

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Dear Yajna,

I do recognize you and even have been to your blog. Love the Plato quote.

Concerning your question if I meet with readers - I organize as much as possible meeting with readers and post it in my blog (as well as my myspace profile and facebook fan page). So if you're near a place where I am, don't hesitate to send an email to my team (we always give an email address).

In regards to your second question : the universe always conspires - either what we are asking is a positive or a negative thing. It echoes our soul - either if it's light or darkness.

Concerning love - it is the ultimate goal. Our personal legend is merely a path, a way we trace in this world in order to fulfill ourselves. But as Saint Paulo says in his letter to the Corinthians (13:1) : "If I speak in the languages of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal."

Concerning a future visit to SA - I'm not planning in the near future, but of course it would be a pleasure meeting you.

Love