Book Beginnings on Fridays (hosted by Rose City Reader):
Just off the beach to the west of the village lies an island, and on it is a vast temple with many bells," said the woman.
⚔ I rarely talk about politics in this blog, as I'm not a political person. But just for once I'll make exception, because we have just got a new President! Mr. Prabowo Subianto has been sworn in as Indonesia's eighth president on October the 20th. Not only that he is an avid reader like me (his library is an enviable room for every bookworm!), his favorite authors include Alexandre Dumas (one of mine too), Sir Walter Scott, and Paulo Coelho.
⚔ Coelho is a well known Brazilian novelist who has penned more than a dozen international best-sellers, the most well known is The Alchemist. He might not be ranked as my personal favorite, but he has a special place in my life, because he happened to be one of two authors (the other is J.K. Rowling) that tied a special literary bond between me and my late father. Like me, Papa adored The Alchemist, and we both had read and discussed few more books together; By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, and The Devil and Miss Prym were our favorites.
⚔ You can imagine, therefore, how delightful I was when learning from one of our president's interviews, that his personal favorite book, which has also become his main inspiration, is one from Coelho: Warrior of the Light. Now, though the book was published in 1997, Papa and I have never read it. When I read the interview, I instantly thought of Papa; of how thrilled we would have been that we shared a favorite author with our president. At that moment, I knew instantly that I must read that book, Warrior of the Light. Partly because I wanted to know what had inspired our president, and partly, to connect with the memory of my beloved father. And today I proudly report that I had achieved both.
⚔ A mysterious veiled woman told a boy that there is a vast temple with many bells on an island "just off the beach", can he hear the bells? The boy listened but heard nothing. Local fishermen said there used to be a temple, which was longtime ago swallowed up by the sea on an earthquake. But sometimes they heard the bells. The boy became obsessed. He's no longer a boy now, but he keeps coming to the beach though never hears any bells. And just when he becomes used to the beach, the sound of waves breaking on the shore, and the seagull's cry, one day he hears the bells!
⚔ The mysterious woman returns just at that moment, and begins to teach him about the Warrior of the Light. It's not something endowed by others, but something that we work ourselves. Everyone could become a Warrior of the Light. Some key "ingredients" which makes a Warrior of the Light are adept, humble, free, persevering, honorable, courageous, reflective. A Warrior is not without flaws, he did foolish things in the past, made bad decisions, humiliated and defeated. But instead of regretting it, he lets it strengthening him in his fights to achieve his dreams.
Friday 56 Quote (hosted by Head Full of Books):
A Warrior of the Light always keeps his heart free of any feelings of hatred. When he goes into battle he remembers what Christ said: "Love your enemies." And he obeys.
But he knows that the act of forgiveness does not mean that he must accept everything; a Warrior cannot bow his head, for if he did he would lose sight of the horizon of his dreams.
⚔ In short, this is a manual book that instructs us to be happy, to be a better person, to overcome our fears, to prepare us for a good fight, and encourages us to achieve our dreams. It also works as a companion book to The Alchemist. It's such an inspiring little book that is quite doable and not at all preachy. Almost every instruction is useful or inspiring, that I could have highlighted them all along the way! I'm grateful of having read this, and feel honored to have shared this inspiration with our president. Now I am confident that he will do good for our country, as I recognized from his speeches or gestures, that traces of Warrior of the Light are in him. I pray to God I'm not wrong.
More quotes:
"The Warrior respects the suffering of others and does not try to compare it with his own. The cup of suffering is not the same size for everyone."
"Even though he fights against oppression, at no point does he attempt to judge the oppressor. Each person will answer for his actions before God and so, once the Warrior has completed his task, he makes no further comment."
"A Warrior of the Light is on in the world in order to help his fellow man, not to condemn his neighbor."
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read the book for:
Novellas on November 2024 #NovNov24
I need to read more Paul Coelho books. This one sounds amazing. I've only read The Alchemist which, of course, is amazing. I really enjoyed your insights about reading, your life, and this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anne. If you loved The Alchemist, I think you'll love this one too. Though this feels more like non fiction than fiction.
DeleteWhat a special connection you had / have with your father! Definitely something to cherish.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your new President has an interesting bookish life, and I see he has a famous cat, too. Bobby Kertanegara!
He's the first president we have who's a literary person, so yes, I'm pretty happy.
DeleteAnd I'm surprised that his cat is so famous that even you have heard about it! He's a cute guy too (the cat), isn't he? ;)