I arrive at Santiago de Compostela, this time by car, to celebrate my pilgrimage twenty years ago. When I was in Puente La Reina, I had the idea of holding afternoon book-signings without any elaborate preparations: just calling the next town where we were going to spend the night, ask them to put up a notice in the local bookstore, and be there at the appointed time.
It worked wonderfully in the small villages, but it did take a bit more organizing in big towns, like Santiago de Compostela itself. I enjoyed these unscheduled meetings; I found that labors of love are best performed in the spirit of improvisation.
Santiago is now in front of me, with the Atlantic Ocean a few dozen kilometers beyond. Nevertheless, I am determined to go ahead with my improvised book-signing afternoons, since my plan is to spend ninety days away from home.
And since I have no intention of crossing the ocean right now, should I take a right (Santander, the Basque Country) or a left (Guimarães, Portugal)?
Better let destiny make the choice: my wife and I enter a bar and ask a man who is drinking his coffee: right or left? He says with some conviction that we should go left – perhaps thinking we were referring to political parties.
I telephone my Portuguese editor. He does not ask me if I have gone crazy, does not complain about being informed at the last moment. Two hours later he calls me back to say that he has contacted the local radio stations in Guimarães and Fatima and that in 24 hours I can meet my readers in those cities.
Everything works out fine.
And in Fatima, like a sign, I receive a present from one of the people present at the book-signing – the writings of a Buddhist monk called Thich Nhat Hanh, with the title “The long road to joy”. From that moment on, before I continue on this 90-day journey across the world, every morning I read the wise words of Nhat Hanh, which I summarize below:
1] You have already arrived. So, feel pleasure at each step and do not worry about things that you still have to face. We have nothing before us, just a road to be traveled at each moment with joy. When we practice pilgrim meditation, we are always arriving, our home is the present moment, and nothing more.
2] For that reason, always smile while you walk, Even if you have to force it a bit and feel ridiculous. Get used to smiling and you will end up happy. Do not be afraid of displaying your contentment.
3] If you think that peace and joy always lie ahead, you will never manage to achieve them. Try to understand that they are both your traveling companions.
4] When you walk, you are massaging and honoring the earth. In the same way, the earth is trying to help you to balance your organism and mind. Understand this relationship and try to respect it – may your steps have the firmness of a lion, the elegance of a tiger and the dignity of an emperor.
5] Pay attention to what is going on around you. And concentrate on your breathing – this will help you to get rid of the problems and worries that try to accompany you on your journey.
6] When you walk, it is not just you that is moving, but all past and future generations. In the so-called “real” world, time is a measure, but in the true world nothing exists beyond the present moment. Be fully aware that everything that has happened and everything that will happen is in each step you take.
7] Enjoy yourself. Make pilgrim meditation a constant meeting with yourself, never a penance in search of reward. May flowers and fruit always grow in the places touched by your feet.
The next text will be posted on the 9th of May.
P.S: Dear reader,
During this journey, that is filling my soul with very interesting experiences, one of the most magical moments comes every night when I read the comments posted on this blog. Even though I can’t answer all of you, I want you to know that it’s very important to me to know that I’m not alone on this path. Thank you so much for your support and for the words and ideas that are now engraved on my heart.
Paulo Coelho
thank you,Gabriela Tomicki ,for such a beautiful note.i admit that i am inspired by you as much as i was by the guardian angel who showed me this path.go bless!
Dear Paulo,
Great website. I wasn’t going to make a comment, however, after reading the above entry, well….I suppose that it just got me.
I remember walking a part of the Camino de Santiago, on a winding path thru a forest. After walking for many days something was troubling me, I can’t even remember what it was now!! I thought of this monk Thich Nhat Hanh, when he said that “to walk on God’s green earth is a miracle”….I was also thinking of the writings of a famous magician as a delighted in the sounds of that place.
It wasn’t long before I again saw how incredibly beautiful the forest was. Continuing with just the thought, “I’m walking on the Camino” I felt such a great peace, I felt blessed and your article has again brought that to me. (or me to that…)
Best wishes on your new journey,
John.
Dear Paulo,
Since I read your books my life has changed completely.Before I was always impatient and wanted to know exactly what will happen next day, in one year.I lived in the future not in the present.Thanks to your books, I calmed down, now, I am only a bit impatient as I know everything happens for some reason.I enjoy the present and try to live every moment of my life happily.The setting of your books,the desert made a great influence on me.I bacame curious how it is, what feelings it brings to the surface ?One week ago I had the opportunity to see the desert in Qatar. I laid in the sand, closed my eyes and thought of Santiago.I listened to the wind and felt myself to be extremely free, happy. Cant describe that feeling. I was glad to experience it on my own after reading your books.Thats how much you changed me. The experience I have I could share with many people and by this you helped not only to me but to many other people too.We need you very much.I wish you joy, happiness and love through your whole life.
The more I try to make sense of my own Odyssey, the more the notions of time and relevancy seem reapproaching. As you move through your journey you become multiple personalities, emerging one into other. In a way, we are folding, unfolding, and refolding our own being in ways that appear significant to us at that very moment. As we are gazing into the world through the kaleidoscope pattern of our own being, we are living the myths of multiple humanities. And this realization all encompassed in the particle of now is most beautiful to me.
With greatest admiration for your courage,
Dasha
Dear, Paulo Coelho
Adabz
(means Hello in Urdu Language)
I am Fatima… And you are there In Fatima Too..
Your words have mystical power to keep on touching my soul deep down inside.
Giving me more hope and to tell you the truth Hope has always dominated my life
I am curious, curious about what lies beyond my reach. I love human soul because everyone has something to offer, something to teach.
In my world, there are no boundaries to fascinations.
Mr. Coelho your words put a smile on my face and made me think from different dimension and always take me to another tangent in life’s journey of self discovery.
so just want to say to you a very simple word with all my heart and soul
“Thank You ”
Your words are the vibration of life.
Time goes on. People forget…people need to be constantly reminded and you do that by your repeated come backs…then its a matter of whether you live to satisfy yourself or you live to satisfy others…keep a balance between the two.
Keep making the difference and be on the journey of self-discovery forever…. Mr. Paulo Coelho in your life journey do you have any plan to visit my part of the world also that’s Pakistan? And When?
ps : waiting for your more comments about the equation 0=1. ( i mentioned about this equation in my last response to `The tempest is approaching` )
Warmest Regards,
Fatima Saeed Khan.
Mr. Coelho,
Thank you for your amazing writing. Whenever I find a spark of magic in one of your stories I hold on to it for a very long, long time. Life is an incredible journey thus we should search within our soul and make the most of our existence in this world.
Thank you, again
Kasia
Paulo,
What a wonderful treat to read your blog of this adventure!
Some of the simplest things we read often have the greatest impact. It almost brought tears to my eyes when I read, “If you think peace and joy always lie ahead, you will never manage to achieve them.”
I have spent many years missing a lot of peace and joy because I thought I would find them when this was finished, or I reached some goal, or if I could make more money. What a shame and I almost feel tears coming again as I type this.
Hopefully, this will help me change my attitude. Thank you.
I also love the suggestion of smiling as you walk. One of the most interesting things is the change on the faces of others, when we smile as we walk. Even the countenance of coworkers changes when I smile as I walk through the office. Unfortunately, they are sometimes surprised by my smile. That also makes me sad, but gives me hope that at least I now realize this and feel some emotion.
Thank you so much, and I especially love that your writings stir emotions within me that I have grown accustomed to not feeling. I am a better person for it.
May God bless the remainder of your trip.
Stan
“Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called ‘present’”.
My guide, my Pole Star, thank you for being there…Shine forever…
With Love;
Hande