A Lesson From the Alchemist We All Missed

Summary

The article reflects on the personal interpretation of the book "The Alchemist," emphasizing that each reader takes away unique lessons based on their life experiences and that our deepest desires are predetermined and supported by the universe.

Abstract

The author shares their experience of reading "The Alchemist" and the confusion followed by inspiration that the book provided. They highlight that the book's layered lessons are interpreted differently by each reader, depending on their individual perspectives and life experiences. The article delves into the concept of "Maktub," explaining that it signifies our desires, which are predestined and rooted in the soul of the universe, rather than a predetermined destiny. It suggests that while our desires are written, we have the free will to either pursue them or ignore them. The universe, however, will conspire to help us achieve what we truly desire if we choose to listen to our hearts and follow our true calling. The author illustrates this with an example of a man who pursued his dream of becoming a doctor later in life and connects it to the book's theme of finding one's treasure, or true purpose, often close to where one started.

Opinions

The author believes that "The Alchemist" offers distinct lessons to each reader, shaped by their unique worldview.
They assert that the book's message is not about a fixed destiny but about our innate desires that are encoded within us.
The concept of "Maktub" is reinterpreted to mean that our desires are predestined, and the universe aids in their fulfillment when we align with them.
The author suggests that we have the autonomy to choose whether to follow our desires, implying that effort and personal agency are crucial in achieving our goals.
They share a personal belief that our true desires originate from the soul of the universe, emphasizing a spiritual or cosmic connection to our aspirations.
The article conveys the idea that

We would've had to read between the lines.

Towards the end of last year, I read The Alchemist. I know it is such a cliche for someone to read the book and be inspired by it. However, the truth is that the inspiration came with a lot of confusion.

I read multiple articles on the internet to try and figure it out. The one thing I understood from it is that The Alchemist is a book filled with numerous lessons layered on top of one another.

They overlap so much that each person who reads it only learns lessons they can elicit based on their perspective of the world, which has developed as a result of their life experiences.

Each person who reads the book reads the same lines, yet receives a different message from it. We would only learn the lessons we were prepared to learn at the time of reading.

Two quotes stood out to me the most. I genuinely believe they have paved the path in my life over the past few months:

“Whoever you are or whatever it is that you do when you want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. When you find your path, you must not be afraid.”

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

There is a word mentioned in The Alchemist, “Maktub” and the merchant in the story describes it as “It is written”. For the longest time, I thought it meant our destiny was written.

I believed it indicated things will always turn out the way they are supposed to. And if that is so, why would any of us put any effort into trying to achieve our goals?

Now, I have finally put the pieces together. What is written, isn’t our destiny, but our desires.

I believe that when we are born, the intense desires we will have has already been determined and written. These desires originate in the soul of the Universe. That is why when we have a strong desire to do something, all the universe conspires to help us achieve it.

What I like about it is that we can always go against these desires. Whether or not we choose to work towards them is entirely up to us. But only if we do listen to our hearts and find our true calling will external forces work in our favour.

I watched a Youtube video of a man who wanted to become a doctor but decided to settle for engineering instead. Years later, at the age of 37, he started medical school. And he discovered that it was truly where he belonged.

In the Alchemist, the main character took years, multiple detours, faced many challenges, and traveled miles from home before he was able to find his treasure, which in the end was always at his doorstep. Life is the same way.

I think we have always known what our desires are and what is meant for us. We have always been chasing the wrong things. At the end of the day, we will find our treasure exactly where we began; At home.

But not without an adventure first.