The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Therearesomebooksthatgobeyondbeingspecial.JonathanLivingstonSeagull,TheLittlePrince,ConversationsWithGodandTheProphetwouldallmakethelist.I’dliketoaddonemore,TheAlchemistbyPauloCoelho.ItisthestoryofSantiago,ashepardinSpain.HesetsofftofindatreasurebythepyramidsinEgyptthatisspokenofinareoccurringdream.Astoryasoldasthepyramidsthemselves.Alongtheway,hefindsoutthathisjourneyisaboutdiscoveringhisPersonalLegend,touchingtheSouloftheWorld,andlearningwhatloveisreallyabout;aswellasgettingtheloot.WelearnaswetravelwithSantiagomanyofthevaluablelessonsoflife,anduncovermanyofthemysteries.“Thewisemenunderstoodthatthisnaturalworldisonlyanimageandacopyofparadise.Theexistenceofthisworldissimplyaguaranteethatthereexistsaworldthatisperfect.Godcreatedtheworldsothat,throughitsvisibleobjects,mencouldunderstandhisspiritualteachingsandthemarvelsofhiswisdom.”NowcomewithSantiagoandmeaswestrollthefieldsofSpain,andrideoncamelandhorsebackthroughthesandsofthegreatAfricandesert.And,learnashedid,“I’manadventurer,lookingfortreasure.”Theadventureawaits!Enjoy!TheAlchemistpickedupabookthatsomeoneinthecaravanhadbrought.Leafingthroughthepages,hefoundastoryaboutNarcissus.ThealchemistknewthelegendofNarcissus,ayouthwhokneltdailybesidealaketocontemplatehisownbeauty.Hewassofascinatedbyhimselfthat,onemorning,hefellintothelakeanddrowned.Atthespotwherehefell,aflowerwasborn,whichwascalledthenarcissus.Butthiswasnothowtheauthorofthebookendedthestory.HesaidthatwhenNarcissusdied,thegoddessesoftheforestappearedandfoundthelake,whichhadbeenfreshwater,transformedintoalakeofsaltytears.“Whydoyouweep?”thegoddessesasked.“IweepforNarcissus,”thelakereplied.“Ah,itisnosurprisethatyouweepforNarcissus,”theysaid,“forthoughwealwayspursuedhimintheforest,youalonecouldcontemplatehisbeautycloseathand.”“But...wasNarcissusbeautiful?”thelakeasked.“Whobetterthanyoutoknowthat?”thegoddessessaidinwonder.“Afterall,itwasbyyourbanksthatheknelteachdaytocontemplatehimself!”Thelakewassilentforsometime.Finally,itsaid:“IweepforNarcissus,butInevernoticedthatNarcissuswasbeautiful.Iweepbecause,eachtimehekneltbesidemybanks,Icouldsee,inthedepthsofhiseyes,myownbeautyreflected.”“Whatalovelystory,”thealchemistthought.Theboy’snamewasSantiago.Duskwasfallingastheboyarrivedwithhisherdatanabandonedchurch.Theroofhadfalleninlongago,andanenormoussycamorehadgrownonthespotwherethesacristyhadoncestood.Hedecidedtospendthenightthere,Hesawtoitthatallthesheepenteredthroughtheruinedgate,andthenlaidsomeplanksacrossittopreventtheflockfromwanderingawayduringthenight."Well,usuallyIlearnmorefrommysheepthanfrombooks,"heanswered.Duringthetwohoursthattheytalked,shetoldhimshewasthemerchant’sdaughter,andspokeoflifeinthevillage,whereeachdaywaslikealltheothers,TheshepherdtoldheroftheAndalusiancountryside,andrelatedthenewsfromtheothertownswherehehadstopped.Itwasapleasantchangefromtalkingtohissheep.Wehavetobepreparedforchange,hethought,andhewasgratefulforthejacket’sweightandwarmth.Thejackethadapurpose,andsodidtheboy.Hispurposeinlifewastotravel,and,aftertwoyearsofwalkingtheAndalusianterrain,heknewallthecitiesoftheregion.Hewasplanning,onthisvisit,toexplaintothegirlhowitwasthatasimpleshepherdknewhowtoread.Thathehadattendedaseminaryuntilhewassixteen.Hisparentshadwantedhimtobecomeapriest...Oneafternoon,onavisittohisfamily,hehadsummonedupthecouragetotellhisfatherthathedidn’twanttobecomeapriest.Thathewantedtotravel.“Peoplefromallovertheworldhavepassedthroughthisvillage,son,”saidhisfather.“Theycomeinsearchofnewthings,butwhentheyleavetheyarebasicallythesamepeopletheywerewhentheyarrived,Theyclimbthemountaintoseethecastle,andtheywindupthinkingthatthepastwasbetterthanwhatwehavenow.”“Thepeoplewhocomeherehavealotofmoneytospend,sotheycanaffordtotravel,”hisfathersaid,“Amongstus,theonlyoneswhotravelaretheshepherds.”“Well,thenI’llbeashepherd!”Andhegavetheboyhisblessing,Theboycouldseeinhisfather’sgazeadesiretobeable,himself,totraveltheworld—adesirethatwasstillalive,despitehisfather’shavinghadtoburyit,overdozensofyears,undertheburdenofstrugglingforwatertodrink,foodtoeat,andthesameplacetosleepeverynightofhislife.Heownedajacket,abookthathecouldtradeforanother,andaflockofsheep.But,mostimportant,hewasableeverydaytoliveouthisdream.IfheweretotireoftheAndalusianfields,hecouldsellhissheepandgotosea.Bythetimehehadhadenoughofthesea,hewouldalreadyhaveknownothercities,otherwomen,andotherchancestobehappy.Wheneverhecould,hesoughtoutanewroadtotravel.Hehadneverbeentothatruinedchurchbefore,inspiteofhavingtraveledthroughthosepartsmanytimes.Theworldwashugeandinexhaustible;hehadonlytoallowhissheeptosettherouteforawhile,andhewoulddiscoverotherinterestingthings.Theproblemisthattheydon’tevenrealizethatthey’rewalkinganewroadeveryday.Theydon’tseethatthefieldsarenewandtheseasonschange.Alltheythinkaboutisfoodandwater.It’sthepossibilityofhavingadreamcometruethatmakeslifeinteresting,hethought.“Youcamesothatyoucouldlearnaboutyourdreams,”saidtheoldwoman.“AnddreamsarethelanguageofGod.Whenhespeaksinourlanguage,Icaninterpretwhathehassaid.Butifhespeaksinthelanguageofthesoul,itisonlyyouwhocanunderstand.But,whicheveritis,I’mgoingtochargeyoufortheconsultation.”“Ihavehadthesamedreamtwice,”hesaid.“IdreamedthatIwasinafieldwithmysheep,whenachildappearedandbegantoplaywiththeanimals.Idon’tlikepeopletodothat,becausethesheepareafraidofstrangers...”“Thechildwentonplayingwithmysheepforquiteawhile,”continuedtheboy,abitupset.“Andsuddenly,thechildtookmebybothhandsandtransportedmetotheEgyptianpyramids...”“Then,attheEgyptianpyramids,”—hesaidthelastthreewordsslowly,sothattheoldwomanwouldunderstand—“thechildsaidtome,‘Ifyoucomehere,youwillfindahiddentreasure,’And,justasshewasabouttoshowmetheexactlocation,Iwokeup.Bothtimes.”“Andthisismyinterpretation:youmustgotothePyramidsinEgypt.Ihaveneverheardofthem,but,ifitwasachildwhoshowedthemtoyou,theyexist.Thereyouwillfindatreasurethatwillmakeyouarichman.”“Itoldyouthatyourdreamwasadifficultone.It’sthesimplethingsinlifethatarethemostextraordinary;onlywisemenareabletounderstandthem.AndsinceIamnotwise,Ihavehadtolearnotherarts,suchasthereadingofpalms.”“It’sabookthatsaysthesamethingalmostalltheotherbooksintheworldsay,”continuedtheoldman.“Itdescribespeople’sinabilitytochoosetheirownPersonalLegends.Anditendsupsayingthateveryonebelievestheworld’sgreatestlie.”“What’stheworld’sgreatestlie?”theboyasked,completelysurprised.“It’sthis;thatatacertainpointinourlives,welosecontrolofwhat’shappeningtous,andourlivesbecomecontrolledbyfate.That’stheworld’sgreatestlie.”“MynameisMelchizedek,”saidtheoldman,“Howmanysheepdoyouhave?”“Enough,”saidtheboy,Hecouldseethattheoldmanwantedtoknowmoreabouthislife.“Well,then,we’vegotaproblem.Ican’thelpyouifyoufeelyou’vegotenoughsheep.”“Givemeone-tenthofyoursheep,”saidtheoldman,“andI’lltellyouhowtofindthehiddentreasure.”Butbeforetheboycouldsayanything,theoldmanleanedover,pickedupastick,andbegantowriteinthesandoftheplaza...There,inthesandoftheplazaofthatsmallcity,theboyreadthenamesofhisfatherandhismotherandthenameoftheseminaryhehadattended.Hereadthenameofthemerchant’sdaughter,whichhehadn’tevenknown,andhereadthingshehadnevertoldanyone.“I’mthekingofSalem,”theoldmanhadsaid.“Whywouldakingbetalkingwithashepherd?”theboyasked,awedandembarrassed.“Forseveralreasons,Butlet’ssaythatthemostimportantisthatyouhavesucceededindiscoveringyourPersonalLegend.”“It’swhatyouhavealwayswantedtoaccomplish.Everyone,whentheyareyoung,knowswhattheirPersonalLegendis.”“Atthatpointintheirlives,everythingisclearandeverythingispossible.Theyarenotafraidtodream,andtoyearnforeverythingtheywouldliketoseehappentothemintheirlives.But,astimepasses,amysteriousforcebeginstoconvincethemthatitwillbeimpossibleforthemtorealizetheirPersonalLegend...”“It’saforcethatappearstobenegative,butactuallyshowsyouhowtorealizeyourPersonalLegend.Itpreparesyourspiritandyourwill,becausethereisonegreattruthonthisplanet:whoeveryouare,orwhateveritisthatyoudo,whenyoureallywantsomething,it’sbecausethatdesireoriginatedinthesouloftheuniverse.It’syourmissiononearth.”“...TheSouloftheWorldisnourishedbypeople’shappiness.Andalsobyunhappiness,envy,andjealousy.Torealizeone’sPersonalLegendisaperson’sonlyrealobligation.Allthingsareone.”“And,whenyouwantsomething,alltheuniverseconspiresinhelpingyoutoachieveit...”“Whydoyoutendaflockofsheep?”“BecauseIliketotravel.”Theoldmanpointedtoabakerstandinginhisshopwindowatonecorneroftheplaza.“Whenhewasachild,thatmanwantedtotravel,too.Buthedecidedfirsttobuyhisbakeryandputsomemoneyaside.Whenhe’sanoldman,he’sgoingtospendamonthinAfrica.Heneverrealizedthatpeoplearecapable,atanytimeintheirlives,ofdoingwhattheydreamof.”“Heshouldhavedecidedtobecomeashepherd,”theboysaid.“Well,hethoughtaboutthat,”theoldmansaid.“Butbakersaremoreimportantpeoplethanshepherds.Bakershavehomes,whileshepherdssleepoutintheopen.Parentswouldratherseetheirchildrenmarrybakersthanshepherds.”“Inthelongrun,whatpeoplethinkaboutshepherdsandbakersbecomesmoreimportantforthemthantheirownPersonalLegends.”“Whyareyoutellingmeallthis?”“BecauseyouaretryingtorealizeyourPersonalLegend.Andyouareatthepointwhereyou’reabouttogiveitallup.”“Andthat’swhenyoualwaysappearonthescene?”“Notalwaysinthisway,butIalwaysappearinoneformoranother.SometimesIappearintheformofasolution,oragoodidea.Atothertimes,atacrucialmoment,Imakeiteasierforthingstohappen.ThereareotherthingsIdo,too,butmostofthetimepeopledon’trealizeI’vedonethem.”“Peoplelearn,earlyintheirlives,whatistheirreasonforbeing,”saidtheoldman,withacertainbitterness.“Maybethat’swhytheygiveuponitsoearly,too.Butthat’sthewayitis.”“Treasureisuncoveredbytheforceofflowingwater,anditisburiedbythesamecurrents,”saidtheoldman.“Ifyouwanttolearnaboutyourowntreasure,youwillhavetogivemeone-tenthofyourflock,”Therewasasmallbuildingthere,withawindowatwhichpeopleboughtticketstoAfrica.AndheknewthatEgyptwasinAfrica...Whilestandingattheticketwindow,theboyhadrememberedhisflock,anddecidedheshouldgobacktobeingashepherd.Intwoyearshehadlearnedeverythingaboutshepherding:heknewhowtoshearsheep,howtocareforpregnantewes,andhowtoprotectthesheepfromwolves.HeknewallthefieldsandpasturesofAndalusia.Andheknewwhatwasthefairpriceforeveryoneofhisanimals.Thewindbegantopickup,Heknewthatwind:peoplecalleditthelevanter,becauseonittheMoorshadcomefromtheLevantattheeasternendoftheMediterranean.Thelevanterincreasedinintensity.HereIam,betweenmyflockandmytreasure,theboythought.Hehadtochoosebetweensomethinghehadbecomeaccustomedtoandsomethinghewantedtohave.Therewasalsothemerchant’sdaughter,butshewasn’tasimportantashisflock,becauseshedidn’tdependonhim.Maybeshedidn’tevenrememberhim.Hewassurethatitmadenodifferencetoheronwhichdayheappeared:forher,everydaywasthesame,andwheneachdayisthesameasthenext,it’sbecausepeoplefailtorecognizethegoodthingsthathappenintheirliveseverydaythatthesunrises.“Thatbaker...”hesaidtohimself,withoutcompletingthethought.Thelevanterwasstillgettingstronger,andhefeltitsforceonhisface.ThatwindhadbroughttheMoors,yes,butithadalsobroughtthesmellofthedesertandofveiledwomen.Ithadbroughtwithitthesweatandthedreamsofmenwhohadoncelefttosearchfortheunknown,andforgoldandadventure—andforthePyramids.Theboyfeltjealousofthefreedomofthewind,andsawthathecouldhavethesamefreedom.Therewasnothingtoholdhimbackexcepthimself.Thesheep,themerchant’sdaughter,andthefieldsofAndalusiawereonlystepsalongthewaytohisPersonalLegend.Thenextday,theboymettheoldmanatnoon.Hebroughtsixsheepwithhim.“I’msurprised,”theboysaid.“Myfriendboughtalltheothersheepimmediately.Hesaidthathehadalwaysdreamedofbeingashepherd,andthatitwasagoodomen.”“That’sthewayitalwaysis,”saidtheoldman.“It’scalledtheprincipleoffavorability.Whenyouplaycardsthefirsttime,youarealmostsuretowin.Beginner’sluck.”“Whyisthat?”“BecausethereisaforcethatwantsyoutorealizeyourPersonalLegend;itwhetsyourappetitewithatasteofsuccess.”“Inordertofindthetreasure,youwillhavetofollowtheomens.Godhaspreparedapathforeveryonetofollow.Youjusthavetoreadtheomensthatheleftforyou.”“Takethese,”saidtheoldman,holdingoutawhitestoneandablackstonethathadbeenembeddedatthecenterofthebreastplate.“TheyarecalledUrimandThummim.Theblacksignifies‘yes,’andthewhite‘no.’Whenyouareunabletoreadtheomens,theywillhelpyoutodoso.Alwaysaskanobjectivequestion.“But,ifyoucan,trytomakeyourowndecisions.ThetreasureisatthePyramids;thatyoualreadyknew.ButIhadtoinsistonthepaymentofsixsheepbecauseIhelpedyoutomakeyourdecision.““Don’tforgetthateverythingyoudealwithisonlyonethingandnothingelse.Anddon’tforgetthelanguageofomens,And,aboveall,don’tforgettofollowyourPersonalLegendthroughtoitsconclusion.”“ButbeforeIgo,Iwanttotellyoualittlestory.“Acertainshopkeepersenthissontolearnaboutthesecretofhappinessfromthewisestmanintheworld.Theladwanderedthroughthedesertforfortydays,andfinallycameuponabeautifulcastle,highatopamountain.Itwastherethatthewisemanlived.“Ratherthanfindingasaintlyman,though,ourhero,onenteringthemainroomofthecastle,sawahiveofactivity:tradesmencameandwent,peoplewereconversinginthecorners,asmallorchestrawasplayingsoftmusic,andtherewasatablecoveredwithplattersofthemostdeliciousfoodinthatpartoftheworld.Thewisemanconversedwitheveryone,andtheboyhadtowaitfortwohoursbeforeitwashisturntobegiventheman’sattention.“Thewisemanlistenedattentivelytotheboy’sexplanationofwhyhehadcome,buttoldhimthathedidn’thavetimejustthentoexplainthesecretofhappiness.Hesuggestedthattheboylookaroundthepalaceandreturnintwohours.“‘Meanwhile,Iwanttoaskyoutodosomething,’saidthewiseman,handingtheboyateaspoonthatheldtwodropsofoil.‘Asyouwanderaround,carrythisspoonwithyouwithoutallowingtheoiltospill.’“Theboybeganclimbinganddescendingthemanystairwaysofthepalace,keepinghiseyesfixedonthespoon.Aftertwohours,hereturnedtotheroomwherethewisemanwas.“‘Well,’askedthewiseman,‘didyouseethePersiantapestriesthatarehanginginmydininghall?Didyouseethegardenthatittookthemastergardenertenyearstocreate?Didyounoticethebeautifulparchmentsinmylibrary?’“Theboywasembarrassed,andconfessedthathehadobservednothing.Hisonlyconcernhadbeennottospilltheoilthatthewisemanhadentrustedtohim.“‘Thengobackandobservethemarvelsofmyworld,’saidthewiseman.‘Youcannottrustamanifyoudon’tknowhishouse.’“Relieved,theboypickedupthespoonandreturnedtohisexplorationofthepalace,thistimeobservingalloftheworksofartontheceilingsandthewalls.Hesawthegardens,themountainsallaroundhim,thebeautyoftheflowers,andthetastewithwhicheverythinghadbeenselected.Uponreturningtothewiseman,herelatedindetaileverythinghehadseen.“‘ButwherearethedropsofoilIentrustedtoyou?’askedthewiseman.“Lookingdownatthespoonheheld,theboysawthattheoilwasgone.“‘Well,thereisonlyonepieceofadviceIcangiveyou,’saidthewisestofwisemen.‘Thesecretofhappinessistoseeallthemarvelsoftheworld,andnevertoforgetthedropsofoilonthespoon.’”Theshepherdsaidnothing.Hehadunderstoodthestorytheoldkinghadtoldhim.Ashepherdmayliketotravel,butheshouldneverforgetabouthissheep.IfGodleadsthesheepsowell,hewillalsoleadaman...Herecalledthatwhenthesunhadrisenthatmorning,hewasonanothercontinent,stillashepherdwithsixtysheep,andlookingforwardtomeetingwithagirl.Thatmorninghehadknowneverythingthatwasgoingtohappentohimashewalkedthroughthefamiliarfields.Butnow,asthesunbegantoset,hewasinadifferentcountry,astrangerinastrangeland,wherehecouldn’tevenspeakthelanguage.Hewasnolongerashepherd,andhehadnothing,noteventhemoneytoreturnandstarteverythingover.WhenIhadmysheep,Iwashappy,andImadethosearoundmehappy.Peoplesawmecomingandwelcomedme,hethought.ButnowI’msadandalone.I’mgoingtobecomebitteranddistrustfulofpeoplebecauseonepersonbetrayedme.I’mgoingtohatethosewhohavefoundtheirtreasurebecauseIneverfoundmine.AndI’mgoingtoholdontowhatlittleIhave,becauseI’mtooinsignificanttoconquertheworld.Nowheunderstoodwhytheownerofthebarhadbeensoupset;hewastryingtotellhimnottotrustthatman.“I’mlikeeveryoneelse—IseetheworldintermsofwhatIwouldliketoseehappen,notwhatactuallydoes.”“Whenyouwantsomething,alltheuniverseconspiresinhelpingyoutoachieveit,”hehadsaid.Theboywastryingtounderstandthetruthofwhattheoldmanhadsaid.Therehewasintheemptymarketplace,withoutacenttohisname,andwithnotasheeptoguardthroughthenight.“Learntorecognizeomens,andfollowthem,”theoldkinghadsaid.Anomen.Theboysmiledtohimself.Hepickedupthetwostonesandputthembackinhispouch.Hedidn’tconsidermendingthehole—thestonescouldfallthroughanytimetheywanted.Hehadlearnedthattherewerecertainthingsoneshouldn’taskabout,soasnottofleefromone’sownPersonalLegend.“IpromisedthatIwouldmakemyowndecisions,”hesaidtohimself....herealizedthathehadtochoosebetweenthinkingofhimselfasthepoorvictimofathiefandasanadventurerinquestofhistreasure.“I’manadventurer,lookingfortreasure,”hesaidtohimself.Butinsteadofbeingsaddened,hewashappy.Henolongerhadtoseekoutfoodandwaterforthesheep;hecouldgoinsearchofhistreasure,instead.Hehadnotacentinhispocket,buthehadfaith.Hehaddecided,thenightbefore,thathewouldbeasmuchanadventurerastheoneshehadadmiredinbooks.Thecandysellerhadasmileonhisface:hewashappy,awareofwhathislifewasabout,andreadytobeginaday’swork.Hissmileremindedtheboyoftheoldman—themysteriousoldkinghehadmet.“Thiscandymerchantisn’tmakingcandysothatlaterhecantravelormarryashopkeeper’sdaughter.He’sdoingitbecauseit’swhathewantstodo,”thoughttheboy.Herealizedthathecoulddothesamethingtheoldmanhaddone—sensewhetherapersonwasneartoorfarfromhisPersonalLegend.Justbylookingatthem.“It’seasy,andyetI’veneverdoneitbefore,”hethought.Whenhehadgoneonlyashortdistance,herealizedthat,whiletheywereerectingthestall,oneofthemhadspokenArabicandtheotherSpanish.Andtheyhadunderstoodeachotherperfectlywell.Theremustbealanguagethatdoesn’tdependonwords,theboythought.I’vealreadyhadthatexperiencewithmysheep,andnowit’shappeningwithpeople.IfIcanlearntounderstandthislanguagewithoutwords,Icanlearntounderstandtheworld.“Allthingsareone,”theoldmanhadsaid....thecrystalmerchanthadnochoice.Hehadlivedthirtyyearsofhislifebuyingandsellingcrystalpieces,andnowitwastoolatetodoanythingelse.“Icancleanupthoseglassesinthewindow,ifyouwant,”saidtheboy.“Thewaytheylooknow,nobodyisgoingtowanttobuythem.”Themanlookedathimwithoutresponding.“Inexchange,youcouldgivemesomethingtoeat.”Themanstillsaidnothing,andtheboysensedthathewasgoingtohavetomakeadecision—Takingthejacketout,hebegantocleantheglasses.Inhalfanhour,hehadcleanedalltheglassesinthewindow,and,ashewasdoingso,twocustomershadenteredtheshopandboughtsomecrystal.“Youdidn’thavetodoanycleaning,”hesaid,“TheKoranrequiresmetofeedahungryperson.”“Wellthen,whydidyouletmedoit?”theboyasked.“Becausethecrystalwas