By Nadiah Ashaary
Brazilian writer and lyricist Paulo Coelho was born in the year 1947 in Rio de Janeiro. His dream of becoming a writer started from a young age. One of his bestselling works would be “The Alchemist” which was originally written in the year 1988.
“The Alchemist” was written by Coelho within just two weeks. This profound spiritual novel now has over 80 million copies sold globally and has been translated to over 80 different languages. This book has dazzled millions around the world by the simplicity of its wisdom and narration.
The novel is a telling of a young shepherd named Santiago who embarks upon a journey from his hometown in Spain to the desert searching for a treasure buried deep in the Egyptian land. In his journey, he encounters a Romany gypsy woman, a man who calls himself a king and an alchemist in hopes for clues and navigations about the recurring dream he has been having about the buried treasure.
At the end of Santiago’s journey, what he found is not just the buried treasure, but also the treasure found within himself. The treasure in the book brings both literal and symbolic meaning.
For me personally, this book has its own unique grip to its readers. Santiago’s journey and spiritual quest, the things he learns from the people he meets, and the world or nature he speaks to can be said as the things that I can relate to. It may be something buried deep down in myself that I have forgotten or dismissed in midst of growing older, but I have become aware of it again after reading “The Alchemist”.
The effect inflicted on me by this book is almost similar with those of Le Petit Prince by Antoine Du Saint Exupery. Like Le Petit Prince, The Alchemist is ultimately also about finding one’s Personal Legend, which is one’s life spiritual purpose.
The narration of The Alchemist is nothing extraordinary but it managed to surpass the expectations I initially had for it since it was first recommended to me.
The core theme of this whole symbolic novel for me, lies in the quote, “When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” from the conversation between Santiago and the alchemist he encountered during his journey. That quote may reverse the reader’s minds to what the old king previously said about the greatest lie in the world being when we lose control over our lives while we become pawns of fate.
As humans, we grow accustomed into thinking that our lives are pre-destined, and we continue to do nothing about it. Although that is true, the belief in pre-destination especially as Muslims should come with the belief that God paves the path in our lives that we ourselves, choose to embark upon. That our present action manifests the fate of our future.
“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” (Paulo Coelho, 1988)
Above is another quote from “The Alchemist”. This miraculous short phrase gives me the reminder that I should not take anything I have in life for granted, and that I should constantly seek wonder in the so-called ordinary.
Although unrelated to the context of “The Alchemist”, personally, I was deeply moved by this reminder. The deep realisation I had when reading this quote from the novel is astounding. As someone who travels and discovers a lot, looking at how things are and can be at certain places remind me of how amazing nature is.
I am constantly reminded that nature is so great that it gives us everything we need without asking for anything in return except for us to preserve them. In which, nature’s preservation is indeed for the sake of us, humans. The wonders it present to us in this world in incomparable. This somehow teaches us compassion and that we should realise that everything that we co-exist with, is worthy of deep appreciation and should certainly not be taken for granted. Because in its absence, some things may cause a lot of damage.
Another of my favourite quote from the book would be, “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”.
This addresses the importance of love, which is the most basic building block to what we call “compassion”. Love exists in many forms, the way that Coelho wrote that we will always strive towards the better when we love is certainly true. Love is a force that trickles its way from the smallest places to the bigger ones. The practice of love which manifests in actions and attitudes creates an atmosphere of kindness and acceptance. It also leads towards unity in ourselves and in the people who exist around us.
Coelho in “The Alchemist” puts forward all these discussions that one may relate to in their own spiritual journey. Through Santiago, the writer addresses his readers with subjects of faith, gratitude, and love. All of which are the fundamental elements in achieving one’s individual spiritual transformation or Personal Legend.
In “The Alchemist”, Paulo Coelho narrates the spiritual journey of Santiago through his adventures and discoveries. Symbolically through this novel readers go through their own spiritual journey as they contemplate the messages presented by Coelho. ***
(The views expressed in the article are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of IIUMToday.)