I mentioned in the story “The End” how a man named Orian asked me, “Can you develop your full potential without sacrificing? Whatever those sacrifices might mean, involving whoever?”
I came upon this by pure serendipity! If Orian–any Orian–ever wants to know the answer, to the extent below, I hope he finds this. I will expand on it as I understand it better.
By Paulo Coelho
“I am willing to give up everything”, said the prince to the master. “Please accept me as your disciple.”
“How does a man choose his path?” asked the master.
“Through sacrifice,” answered the prince. “A path which demands sacrifice, is a true path.”
The master bumped into some shelves. A precious vase fell, and the prince threw himself down in order to grab hold of it. He fell badly and broke his arm, but managed to save the vase.
“What is the greater sacrifice: to watch the vase smash, or break one’s arm in order to save it?” asked the master.
“I do not know,” said the prince.
“Then how can you guide your choice for sacrifice? The true path is chosen by our ability to love it, not to suffer for it.”
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Hi Annie!
I discovered your blog through Oriah Green Bough. One evening I browsed the comments on Oriah page and just entered the text – what to remember on your site. I somehow entered the first page and the words – “the teacher appears when the student is ready” as well as the words of ST. Augustine (the book I had read just last year…) made everything still, time stopped..
It made me quiet to read that what you wrote there was exactly the things I had gone through last year, last month and that day. As you were pass on the anchor. It made me really silent and my flesh creep. As wrote on Oriah pages, it is something on our readiness to see and hear – somehow this I just come back. It is something to be honest towards ourselves and our longings, dreams. As you wrote here – following our heart. And as Paulo is writing – it is not important to see or hear through our mind that is under our sense. It is our heart that tells us what our soul is longing and loving. It is through our love we can guide our choice for sacrifice.
So many things, separate acts and discussions, things that seem to happening by chance (and nothing is chance) that really surprises me. As your mind tries to work through your fears and you really move towards that fire, even with the fear with you – these chances comes around and after week or month – you see, you are there. Waking up in the middle of night and just smiling to the answer, smiling to the truth that has been there for all this time.
That night when the quiet moment entered to the room – I really felt like I was next to you, sitting. You were more close to me than any of my friends during that day. You gave me something, the one missing piece. For that reason I feel even today and probably for the rest of my life you near. Not knowing anything about you or even email address to send this message.
Longing to tell you how important this one chance was and to share this beautiful moment. One of those never ending miracles that our creator, life, keeps on giving to us – through our “small” actions – love of life.
@Patricia – I am humbled, I am touched, I am grateful that some words of mine not only had a positive impact for you but that you took the time to share it so sincerely. Thank you. Interestingly enough I am working on a short piece about ‘love of life’.
Annie. I like your writings. This one is a masterpiece. May your legacy grow. May you speak beyond your generation. May we get to see more books out of you. You are relevant for our time
You touch on areas many fear to tread upon. You are shaping the lives of many. Thank you so so much
@Rabi Shumba – Dear Rabi…This one is not mine but I found it by happenstance. Paulo Coelho wrote it. It was relevant to a story I had written titled “The End” and hence I posted it here. Thank you so much for your positive energy. I write to understand.