Infidels of Every Denomination

NYT On Coelho

Great little New York Times profile today on the author Paulo Coelho, whose new book The Zahir is selling increasingly rapidly.

I've only come to the marvel of Coelho's writing recently, having just read The Alchemist for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Frankly, I don't know how it took me this long to discover his work for myself. His philosophies-- of life as a continual spiritual quest towards one's unique purpose in being, of synchronicity, of the power of love, of the essential interdependence of the material and the spiritual-- are very much in line with some of my deepest beliefs.

He's a wonderful author to read especially if you are feeling purposeless or lost or trapped or have begun to wonder whose life you're living. Listening to yourself is not something that most of us are ever taught, so a book like his can be a real eye-opener.

In this profile, I think he also has the final word on bad reviews:

"But the one thing I cannot stand," Mr. Coelho went on, "is criticism of the reader, that the reader is dumb. You can speak badly of me, of my books, but you cannot speak badly of the reader. It's like saying, 'Everyone is dumb; the only one who isn't is the critic.' That's not fair."

You tell 'em.

The Enchanted Forest

Here's a cool NY Times article about a composer who is something of a mystic and whose grand musical theater opus is creatively staged in a natural setting. The plot seems like it might be a bit heavy-handed, with the Earth Mother and various totem animals struggling against the evil developer who wants to cut down the forest, but the mythical elements sound intriguing and the whole experience sounds immersive and unusual.

Just a bit of light weekend reading for you all!

Peaceful Assembly

August 13th saw the celebration of Peace Day 2005, a celebration by Indians and Pakistanis to urge peace between India and Pakistan, in College Park, MD. Similar celebrations have been taking place around the US and in India and Canada. The report of the event is here:

“We believe that when people lead, the political leaders are duty bound to follow," was the unanimous message participants of the Peace Day celebration wished to convey to people of the subcontinent. The recent people-to-people interaction has established beyond doubt that common people on both sides of the border are eager to foster cultural, commercial, educational, and familial relationships with each other.

The events coincide with the Independence Day celebrations of both India and Pakistan.

Here's hoping that peace is possible in the midst of the strained relations and violence of that region...

There's A Hole In The World Tonight

Brother Roger of the Taizé community in France was murdered on Tuesday. He was attacked in front of his congregation as he led services, by an apparently mentally disturbed woman. He was 90.

Roger Schutz, a Lutheran monk, founded the Taizé community in 1940 after fleeing Nazi occupation of his Swiss homeland. He created a sanctuary dedicated to living a simple life of peace, love, hospitality, and reconciliation, and ultimately housed monks from a number of different Christian denominations. During the war, he took in refugees, hiding Jews, and going out of his way to make sure that those of other faiths (or none) did not feel alienated.

A musician, mystic, and humble man who preferred to keep the attention of those who sought him on their spiritual enlightenment rather than to focus on him as a leader, his community was characterized by his particular style of meditative sacred music and the appeal of the community to young people. From this Times Online article:

The Taizé songbook states: "Song is one of the most essential elements of worship. Short chants, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character. Using just a few words, they express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind."

The principles of the community were described thus: "to pursue joy, simplicity, and compassion". Seekers and pilgrims flocked there from around the world, inspired by Brother Roger's teachings and message.

The world is poorer for his loss.

More from the NY Times

Sound clips of the famous Taizé music

A sample of Brother Roger's writing, on the death of Mother Teresa