Conversation with Paulo Coelho

Not exactly answered my 'direct' question wherein I asked at which point does one stop being nice and becoming a doormat or laughing stock - this was regarding the degree of tolerance one must reserve especialy when interacting with others. Nevertheless, Coelho's message is insightful (probably because I'm a fan). See Paulo Coelho's response below and my email request:

His response email

Dear Israel,

I write from my life and am inspired by all that is around me. My readers are part of my life and a main reason I continue to write, therefore I must express my gratitude to you for your continued support. Continue to follow your dreams, wherever they may lead you. The great blessing of life is... the existence of tomorrows, and ...having dreams to realize. Everything in life has its price. This is what the Warriors of the Light try to teach. A Warrior takes every opportunity to teach himself. Faith parries all blows. Faith transforms poison into crystal clear water.

Paulo Coelho
www.paulocoelho.com
http://www.wariorofthelight.com/

My request email:

I am great fan, I must say that the insight that you impart through your books is invaluable and I make sure I retell the story to my non-reader friends so the lesson can ripple.

My question:
Most of your teachings are about righteousness and how to follow one' s heart. And more so, the respect of all beings around and within us. Now, what happens Mr Coelho, when you do all the best that you can to be better in your community and interact humanely with others, especially your friends - and they throw it all back in your face. Remember that there are many people out there who don't see the value in values that govern human nature and interactions.

There are friends, whose friendships we value a lot, but they do things that hurt us and knowingly so (lately I told myself that I will do what Jesus did: "forgive them for they know not what they are doing", but won't that make a martyr of myself? And Robin Sharma says that a martyr, and this is also a general definition that I share, is one who tries to achieve something of some sort (mainly good) and gets terribly burnt whilst at it, and most of the time, loses their own strength that should sustain them for the next fight they probably could have won.

I'm still young, but to date I've forgiven many people, close and strangers to me, after they'd hurt me too bad. And my question is, if a line must be drawn at all, at which point can it be drawn? Will our hearts tell us? Will a higher energy impart such judgment into us giving us wisdom to do it in the least retaliant or belligerent manner?

I'd gravely appreciate your prompt answer on this, in detail, if you can spare a moment please. PS: Great unconventional work with The Witch of Portobello. I enjoyed the teachings, especially, of the Bedouin.

Although a great in his own right and extremely busy, Coelho manages to steal a minute to interact with his readers - that alone makes him good times more in what he does. Many busk in the success and avoid the 'small people' in life.

_Email this to a friend by clicking on the 'envelope' below_