Wisdom from Paulo Coelho

This is an exert from his column Meeting the guru in The Intelligent Optomist's summer issue.

Context: Coelho is telling the story of his friend Mick, who met a guru named Mahaguru Yogi Arka.

Excerpt begins:

"Have you a question to ask me?" Arka asked.

Mick had several, but they all seemed to have vanished his mind. The only question he could think of was:

"What are people looking for when they come to a guru like you?"

"Imagine that you are sitting before the ocean," Arka said. "What do you want from the ocean?"

Mick thought for a while and replied: "Peace."

Arka nodded.

"Peace. You look at the ocean and you understand that it can bring you peace. Another person might ask for fish to eat. Another might think about the oil that lies at the bottom of that ocean, and want to know where those riches are hidden. People want different things, but the ocean is wide and can give each person what he or she ask for."

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