Photo: Leland Francisco

You must know the principles of alchemy.

This realization can perhaps best be understood by reviewing a best-selling novel that has often been better categorized as a “self-help” guide.

Since first published in 1988, Paul Coelho’s “The Alchemist” has gone on to become an international bestseller. It has sold more than 30 million copies in 56 different languages, becoming one of the best-selling books in history. It achieved the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author.

When questioned about the writing process (it was written in under two weeks), Mr. Coelho responded that the story was “already written in [his] soul”. From “already written” to most translated book—clearly this speaks to the universal magnetism of the language of the soul.

Since I recently wrote an article on “Healing the Whole Heart”, this subject matter has continued to occupy much of my attention. One of my favorite Alchemist quotes that speaks to the universal heart is:

“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky. “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams.”

This quote is not only suffused with metaphor that implies that suffering is aligned with a lack of reflected light; but also with pathos, in that fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself. The beauty of this quote finishes with accessible wisdom—no degree in philosophy required—that unequivocally states that one can be protected from both fear of suffering as well as suffering itself, simply by following their heart. Wow!

“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

Here again connecting to the heart (the source of all love), we see that not only does it allow us to open ourselves into a better place; indeed as though by contagion, our individual opening leads to betterment all around us.

“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”

With the simplicity of this statement we are made aware that the subtle level is indeed where the source lies. A wise person knows to look deeply within, and by looking deeply finds all things extraordinary.

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.”

I admit I just love this quote, quite possibly more than any other. It’s true that such prose can be too pretentious for some, but there is not one word to spare in the beauty of this quote.

The implicit movement allows us to sense that all of life is forever in a state of change and flux even as it is eternal. It says everything one needs to remember in order to stay awake and enjoy a spectacular journey in life.

“Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.”

This line is truly yoga. We know that opening our third eye inward is where we connect to the wisdom of our soul, and that our individual soul is merely a spark of the infinite and cosmic soul. It is through intuition that we each can gain access to life’s pulsating universal current

“Your Personal Legend is what you have always wanted to accomplish…when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”

In this final quote I have selected, lies the ultimate challenge. A choice that each of us takes on or not—to find out what it is that you and only you most want to accomplish in life; that is your Dharma/Personal Legend. Once that is discovered, all you need to commit to is living in search of your dream with perseverance, with passion and with integrity.

If those attributes are authentically engendered by your desire, you will surely succeed in attaining your dream because “all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”.

 

Like elephant journal on Facebook.

Asst. Ed.: Linda Jockers / Ed.: Catherine Monkman