|
> home > books > author biographies > Paulo
Coelho> Warrior of the Light Issue Issue 86
Warrior of the Light
Issue nº 86
The search for happiness
Download
this issue
 PDF
Format
The
whole in everything
When Ketu turned twelve years old he was sent to a master, with
whom he studied until he was twenty-four. Upon finishing his
training, he came back home filled with pride.
His father asked him:
“How can we know what we can’t see? How can we know
that God the Almighty is everywhere?”
The young man began to recite the sacred scriptures, but his
father interrupted him:
“That’s all too complicated. Isn’t there an
easier way for us to learn about the existence of God?”
“Not that I know of, my father. Today I am a learned man
and I need this knowledge to explain the mysteries of divine
wisdom.”
“I have wasted my time and money sending my son to the
monastery,” complained the father.
And taking Ketu by the hand, he led him to the kitchen. There
he filled a basin with water and poured in a little salt. Then
they went for a stroll in the city.
When they came back home, the father told Ketu:
“Bring the salt that I put in the basin.”
Ketu looked for the salt but did not find it because it had
already dissolved in the water.
“So you can’t see the salt any more?” asked
the father.
“No, the salt’s invisible.”
“Then taste a little of the water that’s on the
surface of the basin. How does it taste?”
“Salty.”
“Try a little of the water in the middle: how does it
taste?”
“As salty as on the surface.”
“Now taste the water at the bottom of the basin and tell
me what it tastes like.”
Ketu tried it and it had the same taste as he had felt before.
“You have studied for many years and can’t explain
simply how Invisible God is in all parts,” said the father.
“Using a basin of water, and calling God “salt”,
I could make any peasant understand that. Please, dear son,
forget the wisdom that moves us away from men and look again
for the Inspiration that draws us closer.”
Using
both pockets
A disciple remarked to Rabbi Bounam from Pssiskhe:
“The material world seems to suffocate the spiritual
world.”
“Your pants have two pockets,” said Bounam.
“Jot down this sentence and put it in the right pocket:
‘The world was created only for me.’ Now write
in the left pocket: ‘I am nothing but dust and ashes’.”
“Divide your money between the pockets. When you come
upon misery and injustice, remember that the world exists
only so that you can show your kindness, and use the money
in the right pocket. When you are tempted to buy things
that you haven’t the least need for, remember what
is written in your left pocket and think twice before spending
it. In that way the material world will never suffocate
the spiritual world.”
Making
the field fertile
The Zen master entrusted the disciple with looking after
the rice patch.
In the first year the disciple took care that the necessary
water was never lacking. The rice grew strong and it was
a good harvest.
In the second year he had the idea of adding a little fertilizer.
The rice grew fast and the harvest was bigger.
In the third year he used more fertilizer. The harvest was
even bigger, but the rice came up small and had no shine
to it.
“If you go on increasing the amount of fertilizer,
you will have nothing of any value next year,” said
the master. “You give someone strength when you give
a little help. But you weaken him if you help too much.”
Copyright
@ 2005 by Paulo Coelho
Warrior of Light Online, published by www.paulocoelho.com.br
|
|
|
PRINT
