Paulo Coelho's Blog - Latest Comments in Question of the week

Re: Question of the week

Carmen Larisa — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:19:37 -0000

I read "The Valkyries" and I remember this line very clearly. I guess that it's a pact but who has a gain from it?
Not wanting to win when victory is possible sounds so strange but still so real... It depends on what is there to win.
It can be the case when you take part in a race, just for the sake of the game, not necessarily wanting to win. This doesn't have bad effects. And there is another case, when you are not courageous and motivated enough to win, when you know it's possible but still, it implies too much effort and you are not willing to do that. This is the situation of spiritual search, I believe, when people think that evolving implies too much hard work, because it is easier to destroy than to construct and to criticize others than to do the respective thing by yourself the way you want others to do it for you.
It seems that perfection is a very remote dream and only those who are very determined and brave can get closer to it every single day, overcoming all the inevitable obstacles in the way because they know that no matter how long it is, any road starts with a step, any ladder seems just an endless possibility if you are not willing to do the first move and then continue with another one and so on.
People would prefer to evolve but to do somebody else the hard work for them; this is not the way things go forward, and even if they seem to go backwards sometimes, they still go forwards! :-)
Burdens can become feathers if you start counting them one by one, instead of seeing their whole volume. Who said that it would be easy anyway? Life imposes some sacrifices but later they are transformed into blessings, if you have the patience to see the results of what you have planted, you will be pleasantly surprised by the results! I am convinced that God loves sincere, selfless and determined people and offers them all sorts of blessings sooner or later! ;-)

All my appreciation and respect, including for the wonderful stories in the latest issue of "The Warrior of the Light" online magazine... Thank you so much, dear Sir! :-)
Lots of love and hugs,
Carmen Larisa

P.S. I liked "The Pilgrimage" infinitely more than "The Valkyries," maybe because those women were so strange, they seemed more devilish to me than angelic... Anyway, I love the sincerity of your writing, even though this implies revealing intimate things from your life and from your dear wife's too; I am coinvinced that it is not always easy and pleasant, but at least your words express reality and this is wonderful, wanting to reveal your soul in front of so many people, your readers, I greatly admire that!
Namaste!

Re: Question of the week

Rami — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:49:05 -0000

Although many desire to win, victory can sometimes be so close that its nearly suffocating. In this moment some fear the realization of their goals and freeze until winning is no longer possible. Many call this cowardly, I believe it can sometimes be courageous. If a person cannot manage their success then they may not be ready to succeed. It takes a brave person to realize he/she is not ready and that there is still more to learn. Sometimes we need to take a step back in order to take bigger and more steps forward. Consequently, losing when winning is possible is sometimes necessary for the further personal advancement of that person.

I have never personally chose to lose when winning was possible; yet I acknowledge that not doing so may be a direct cause of much of my immature nature. Not only can losing when winning is possible benefit myself, it can benefit others who's time to shine, while more well deserved, has always been clouded by others selfish intentions.

I feel it is vital for everyone to sometimes lose when winning is possible because, when success is finally realized, it will be far more rewarding, meaningful, and will further contribute in developing yourself into a more complete individual.

Re: Question of the week

Agnieszka — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:46:43 -0000

Dear 2bwritten,

Yes...to sacrifice, to die,...to save the world from sin. But..I don’t think that God wants us to die or sacrifice. Like in this movie: “Brother sun, sister moon” about St. Francis; when St. Francis says that God asks each of us only those things we can handle and serve the world in the name of love.
"Love one another as yourself"; that’s the greatest commandment of all, because... God is love.

love
Agnieszka

Re: Question of the week

2bwritten — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:39:43 -0000

Maybe that's the pact that Jesus made with God. How then, does this inform the way we ought to live our lives? Does anyone have any thoughts?

Re: Question of the week

Joy — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:31:48 -0000

I don't know...
Maybe, I guess...
But Trina... broke that pact for me...

~~~

Yeah, I did make that pact.
...
Because it feels so lonely to be up there all alone...

In the words of The Corrs:
"don't want tot wake up alone anymore"

Re: Question of the week

Liliana — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:17:01 -0000

In my opinion winning is all for the ego, so if we come from ego we will never make that pact because ego will always want to win.
On the other hand if our goal is to grow as spiritual beings than we will make pacts not to win all the time, for in that case winning is not important but being humble and appreciating the experience.
When the time comes in which the experience is not serving us anymore, then is time to move on. This is most of the times more difficult in love relationships than anything else, for fear of being alone seems to be humanities worst enemy. We cannot let the fear be our master, we always need to chose love...
Blessings to all...

Re: Question of the week

Liisa — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:20:45 -0000

When I feel that winning does more good to the other party and they need it more than I do, to gain more confidence in themselves, I have knowingly not given my best.

In fact, now that I think of it, I do this a lot.

I guess it is to do with growing up and living with people who have a short temper and a very strong will – people who cannot handle losing. It is better to agree to their will rather than fight over every meaningless little thing, cos to them these things are not little.

But at the same time, when I feel something is important and worth fighting for, I am very persistant and will not give up. Especially if my winning means that the other party will learn from the combat and the losing situation, rather than it destroying their confidence and will to try again.

Re: Question of the week

Tania — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:16:43 -0000

Pacts are sometimes about winning and losing ,or giving yourself to it or letting it go ..but when it does not go our way it is for a very good reason ...and this in turn gives us more empowerment and can set us free.
The best pacts are those made with the Father ,son and Holy spirit ..trust the outcome positive or negative and give thanks that this is how it is ,bless it and just be .
Soon or later we all see the bigger picture .
Blessings Tania

Re: Question of the week

Agnieszka — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:59:55 -0000

Great story Derek,
and... true what you wrote Paul, the light should be spread..

love
Agnieszka

Re: Question of the week

wanbliska — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:33:05 -0000

So many times.
This is first a lack of confidence in oneself and blindness.

We know now many ways of breaking pacts. First to recognize it. And what is a pact?

A pact is like a piece of paper, on which we would sign a big yes. It gives enthousiasm first, and lasts or dicrease.

Sometimes we sign, without knowing why we are doing. But just because it makes us happy. Because it is new.
Sometimes, we sign a big no, just because one person told us, we'd be unable to win. And we let one of our gift alone. For a while. Or forever.

When we have a dream, we want to reach it. So we want to win. Love helps us to, and love is the journey as the victory.

It happens we can't move anymore, we can't make any decisions still. We can feel we are closer to death that before. But it is only a new door to open, to feel lighter. It depends on the way we're able to see it.

A pact is just a sign at the end of a paper, we can burn whenever we want.
But one has to know why he interrupted a gift to grow. Something maybe too easy to play and figure as a work, with certainty.

...why he seeks for taking energy from others, since he knows it will only make him happy for a time.
In himself he fights. In himself, he goes to search energy. That one he can only make light forever. In himself, he goes to know why his fruits are so poor, in regards with his first dreams.
There, he sees all the pacts he signed "yes", though he felt the contrary. He realized he listened more to others, than his inner voice.
So, he breaks pacts, and sign new ones.
Ones that answer to his gift(s). His.

Your story is merely funny Derek, thank you.

I send you all my love.

Re: Question of the week

Maria-M — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:20:15 -0000

"We have a contract, you and I : not to win when victory is possible,” she insisted."

I absoultely agree, and I have made this pact with my husband. We have agreed there should be no winners in a marriage. In relationships sometimes "when you win, you lose"

Re: Question of the week

Paul from Austria — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:44:19 -0000

Derek, that's a wonderful short story, and the moral is that we must not keep knowledge to ourselves, we must pass it on for he good of future generations. Who knows, by doing so we may avert great tragedies. Thank you, Paul

Re: Question of the week

Derek — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:55:48 -0000

Ok, so here is my story...maybe it will make some sense to some people.

"A man was walking down the street when he fell into a very large, very deep hole. Looking around he could find no way. He looked up and saw a doctor walking by:

The man called up to the doctor and said, "Doctor, I am stuck in this hole, can you help me out".

The doctor took out a pen and pad and wrote down a prescription and dropped it down the hole to the man.

Next the man saw a priest walking by. "Hey father, I am stuck down in this hole, can you help me out? he yelled up the priest.

The priest look down, said and prayer for him and continued walking.

Next the man saw and old friend walking walking by. "Hey buddy, I am stuck down in this hole, can you help me out".

His buddy looked down, and quickly jumped into the hole with him.

"Great" the man said, "now we are both stuck down in this hole".

"Yes" said his friend, "but I have been in this hole before, and I know the way out"."

Re: Question of the week

Derek — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:42:38 -0000

Paul, I would actually hope that the point of this site is to encourage us to digress at times. I love coming here and seeing all the different answers and thoughts regarding the same question.

I do not think it is that anyone here is right or wrong, it is that these questions are very though provoking and often we all look at them a little different. We bring our own backgrounds and life expirences to our responses. Even our moods that given day influence how we look at these questions.

That of course leads to more personal discussions regarding what we are all going through in our lives. It is an amazing connection that we form here and it is great to see the support given from other to perfect strangers. It reminds me of a story I heard that I will post next about helping strangers.

This post is one of my favorite things to read each week. Please never stop expressing your feelings, never stop digressing, nothing is insignificant or off topic when it comes to talking with each other.

Re: Question of the week

Lya — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:52:08 -0000

I have this contract running right now. I have something to do and it is very important for my future. It is something i have been working for fro 3 years and this morning i have messed my life up by not giving this thing back. First it is because it is not finished and second because when i do it i... am bloked, start crying.
why am i doing this to myself?

Re: Question of the week

Annie — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:47:50 -0000

We are all walking together, that s a fact..and i love all of you -you are the great rivers that i encounter in my path- that make me more strong..
Thank you Mr Paulo , cause like the water that flows through the mountains and goes on its way, despite all the rocks it encounters - problems, mistakes, circumstances, faults- you 'pushed' me to find myself and be that water...
Love you all
Annie

Re: Question of the week

sue — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:27:13 -0000

I have often made pacts with myself to stick to my principles even when it becomes clear that victory could easily be mine by forsaking them. In the short term I always seem to be losing out but the rewards are great.
Love and compassion are far greater victories than those our egos think are important.

Love to all
Sue

Re: Question of the week

Krokodil Ngwenya — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:01:08 -0000

The ability not only to make that pact,but especially to keep it at all cost is the first step towards finding enlightenment in the times we live in.

We need to stop being defined by the ills of this post-postmodern age in order for us to be able to develop the skills we require to deal with them. We feed too much on the ills of our world.

Re: Question of the week

Agnieszka — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:41:51 -0000

You're welcome Paul, I am so happy for you,
and..that you thought of me.

and..yes...because of Paulo...we're here, and we're becoming a better people...thank You Paulo.

love
Agnieszka

Re: Question of the week

aditya — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:57:42 -0000

strange that I too may have made such a pact, but then how to recognise for sure and how to break the pact !

love
aditya

Re: Question of the week

Paul from Austria — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:19:30 -0000

Firstly, I would like to thank our dear Paulo Coelho for his kind understanding, for the fact that we sometimes digress somewhat from his direct themes or questions. I'm sure though, that he will not mind when he realizes that his Blog is cultivating an abundance of love and positive solutions via our interaction.

Dearest Annie, I can't tell you how happy this makes me feel, knowing that the "Excercise" worked in your favour, and that your "pain" has been relinquished.

You know why this worked don't you dear Annie? It worked because we and all our dear "PauloCoelhoBlog" friends, believed that it would. We all walked together, as we do mostly every day in this Blog.

This has in turn strengthened my belief in myself, and has convinced me that it is my destiny to use my power to help others.

Thank you Paulo, Annie, Agnieszka, and all of you here in this Blog, for walking with me.

Lots of Love Paul xxx

Re: Question of the week

Walaa Hamdan — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:12:47 -0000

Each and every person who has ever lived has made such a pact one time or another..thinking its enough trying something, and not just striving for victory in it, what ever way that might be..
We do such pacts bcoz we dont want to feel bad bcoz we never tried something..we want to be able to say: "i tried..i honestly did, but it didn't work out"
so we do pacts to avoid winning, even though that means losing but for the sake of feeling it wasn't in our hands and we did all we could...

I could go on and on about this and other things, but since its 2:12 am here, I won't

Good night all :)

Re: Question of the week

Annie — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:05:36 -0000

You know something dear Paul..? The most incredible thing happened...all these days, i was waking up with a feeling like carrying too many bags in my back, full of stones..that heavy..or like big bus had come through me and i was carrying it....!! today, i woke up and i didnt feel such a thing..and i cried..so many tears through my face..and now i read your post..and yes, this pain was my pain..
you can t imagine how you have helped me..and all of you dear friends in this blog..all of this an act of love..a leaf from the Big Tree of Love..so beautiful, like all of you..
i really can never thank you enough..today it s a whole new day .. a whole new world..
i will always have you deep inside my heart, dear Paul! i will never ever forget this.. thank you so much..

Re: Question of the week

Tanja — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:47:17 -0000

It's not good to be too confident. We can never be 100% sure in winning any batle. Never understimate oponent or a situation. I think that we can learn something even if winning is "guaranteed".
But also we should always try to have higher goals.

Love
Tanja:)

Re: Question of the week

maria — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:26:44 -0000

Paulo:

How are you dear?

...