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Paulo Coelho
Stories for Parents, Children
and Grandchildren
Foto: cortesia Istoé Gente
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Paulo Coelho
Stories for Parents,
Children and
Grandchildren
Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa
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True skill
The yogi Raman was a true master of the art of archery. One morning, he
invited his favourite disciple to watch a display of his skill. The disciple had seen this
more than a hundred times before, but he nevertheless obeyed his teacher.
They went into the wood beside the monastery and when they reached a
magnificent oak tree, Raman took a flower which he had tucked in his collar and
placed it on one of the branches.
He then opened his bag and took out three objects: his splendid bow made of
precious wood, an arrow and a white handkerchief embroidered with lilacs.
The yogi positioned himself one hundred paces from the spot where he had
placed the flower. Facing his target, he asked his disciple to blindfold him with the
embroidered handkerchief.
The disciple did as his teacher requested.
'How often have you seen me practise the noble and ancient sport of archery?'
Raman asked him.
'Every day,' replied his disciple. 'And you have always managed to hit the rose
from three hundred paces away.'
With his eyes covered by the handkerchief, the yogi Raman placed his feet
firmly on the ground, drew back the bowstring with all his might - aiming at the rose
placed on one of the branches of the oak tree - and then released the arrow.
The arrow whistled through the air, but it did not even hit the tree, missing the
target by an embarrassingly wide margin.
'Did I hit it?' said Raman, removing the handkerchief from his eyes.
'No, you missed completely,' replied the disciple. 'I thought you were going to
demonstrate to me the power of thought and your ability to perform magic.'
'I have just taught you the most important lesson about the power of thought,'
replied Raman. 'When you want something, concentrate only on that:
no one will ever
hit a target they cannot see
.'
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How to be remembered
In the monastery of Sceta, Abbot Lucas gathered the brothers together for a
