During a journey, Buddha came across a yogi with only one leg.
I burn all my past mistakes, explained the man.
And how many mistakes have you burned?
I have no idea.
And how many are left to burn? enquired Buddha.
I have no idea.
Then it is time to stop. Stop asking God for forgiveness, and go and ask those you wounded for forgiveness.

by Paulo Coelho

This story is attributed to the wise Mohammed Gwath Shattari, who was held in high esteem by Emperor Humayun. He died in 1563, and there is a temple built in his honor in Gwalior.
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Further to earlier blog posts about yesterday’s inauguration of Paulo Coelho as a European Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, in Brussels, at European Union Headquarters, here’s a nice photo of Marija Serifovic, also a European Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, and Paulo Coelho, plus a lovely quote about Paulo:

http://www.blic.co.yu/culture.php?id=1177

I just now sent a Friend Request to Paulo Coelho from www.myspace.com/cyrescafe:
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Further to blog posts earlier today on Paulo Coelho’s appointment as a European Ambassador, in Brussels, at European Union Headquarters (Berlaymont), yesterday …

These empowering and wise words in ‘Comments’ this morning from Paulo Coelho, can remind us to continue to have dreams and to know that we can experience them in more than imagination.

Whoever You Are reading this: Don’t you ever give up on your dreams!

Where there is light, and You are light, there is a way. And, we can be a light for each other.

DO what you feel you should be doing. Authentically express who you really are. And all around you will benefit from your truth.

Listen to your guidance.

Support your quest.

Be brave and bold.

The Path of Light circles around your heart and stretches ever ahead of you.

You can only succeed.

For your awareness and sensitivity to the truth, Paulo, again we say with a happy heart, “Thank You”.

Cyres reply circulates in Comments:

You are welcome

Whatever you write, on the Path of Light, you spell love.

You are visionary and contemporary.

You pursue the subject of Dreams in pages of powerful prose with perfect precision and beautiful variation.

You remind us that stony ground can grow the most fruitful ideas.

We love and appreciate your passion to tell stories and the craft to tell them beautifully in ways that touch lives of every description.

You don’t hide from life and its sometimes shocking realities; rather you live deeply, observe closely, and share unconditionally.

Your work is a reminder of interconnectivity.

You unfold hearts and dreams. Your arrow lights the way to truth, wisdom, wellbeing and freedom.

You make warm-hearted waves in the world.

We blend in that ocean that is all of creation, and will make you The-Coffee-Of-Dreams.

… Can’t Wait

Love and Appreciation

All The Hearts at Cyres Cafe

This is a quick report from my mid-winter day’s dream-come-true.

I had the great privilege today to encounter the author of The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho. I was able to greet him on behalf of Cyres.

Today the European Commission has honored Paulo with the title of European Ambassador in the context of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, and to him go our thanks for taking on this challenge.

Not surprising to me, droves of people were building around him at the VIP corner, where he joined a group of children with a culturally diverse background, before the conference. It was there that I got a first chance to express my personal gratitude and the one on behalf of Cyres. I also met his Assistant who kindly mentioned Cyres on Paulo Coelho’s blog, which is an inspirational platform of intercultural exchange, a meeting point of minds that conquer boundaries with love and light. It’s here where the written word goes beyond the bound pages of a book, and here the human being is able to interact, reach out over the limitations of their own perceptions, connect with like-minded ones in thought, and weave a colorfully patterned web between people of unimaginably different backgrounds, from various nations, all speaking different languages. It may just be me, but I perceived him, Paulo Coelho, just like them: his readers, fans, and friends; I feel he combines all in so many ways and reflects aspects of all these human beings that it is now difficult to point to the one I like best.

Virtually lead by serendipity, it was possible for our blogs to meet. With great pleasure we noticed that they have already started to engage into the so much needed intercultural dialogue. One wonders, why should connecting offline be so much more difficult than online? Hence my quest today… and whilst I leave this question open for you to comment, please read more about my encounter. (more…)

The art of retreat
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Lydia and I enjoyed a spontaneous party last night, looking forward to the appearance today of The Magician, Paulo Coelho, on Belgian soil.

Planting forward the experience …
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‘Paulo Coelho is being interviewed by Kevin Carroll.’