Maktoub (By Paolo Coelho)

Maktoub is an Arabic work meaning ‘Written’. This book is a collection of short anecdotes and quotes that have been collected over a long period by the author. A bit loose, and with varying depth, the book is a stimulating and easy read.

From the book:

The Buddha was asked by a man in the morning: “Does god exist?” ; He replied “God Exists”. After lunch, a second man asked :”Does God exist?” ; The Buddha replied : “No.. He doesn’t exist.” Later in the afternoon, a third man asked the same question: “Does God Exist?”, and the Buddha said : “that is up to you to decide”. At that point one of his students asked: “Master – how can you answer the same question in three different ways?” and the enlightened one said : “Because these are three different people, and each has his own way to be closer to god.”

The Young Bonaparte was shaking like a leaf during the Toulon siege. A soldier saw him and mocked him : “Look at this one – he is very frightened” he shouted. Bonaparte replied : “That is true, but I am fully present in the battle. If any of you felt half the fear that I feel, he would run away instantly”

It is Friday. You come home, and read papers that you missed during the week. Turn on the TV with no volume, and listen to music as you jump from one channel to another. Your wife looks after the kids, sacrificing the best years of her youth without knowing why.. and you think : “Well, this is life” – No , Life is not like that. Life is enthusiasm. Remember where you lost yours.

“Things have energy. When they’re not used, they become like stagnant water. If you hang on to what is old and unneeded, what is new won’t have room.”

“There are two gods : The one that crushes under the weight of our mistakes, and the one that frees us with his love.”

“Faith is pure and transparent and can’t be vague”

A wise man was walking in a meadow covered with snow, and he saw a woman crying. “Why the tears?” he asked. She said “Because I remember the past, and the days of youth and beauty. God has been cruel to me as he gave me a memory to remember and cry for the spring of my life.” The wise man was then attentively watching the meadow, gazing at it with all his attention focusing on a specific spot, and the woman asked : “What are you staring at?” , and the wise man replied : “The place of the roses .. God has graciously given me the gift of memory so that in the coldest days of the winter I will be able to remember spring and smile”.

A swan, and in the face of a cruel cold winter, tears its own flesh and feeds its young ones. She survives for a few days, and finally dies. One of the chicks says to his brother: “This is better – I was annoyed by having to eat the same food every day”

“Abraham welcomed the visitors, and god was pleased with him. Elias didn’t like strangers, and god was pleased with him. David was proud, and god was pleased with him. John the Baptist went to the desert, and god was pleased with him. Jona went to Nineveh, and god was pleased with him.”

“Never fear that people might treat you as insane. Defy logic and the serious attitude that you’ve learned.”

“If your heart had spiritual treasures, use them instantly, or they will be ruined”