An unknown joy welled up in the young man's heart.
He himself will now die for the myth of the self and for Fatima.
That was the essence of the unfamiliar joy.
What the signs showed turned out to be true.
Even though he had a knife in his hand, he had no fear of death.
The energy of all things was waiting for him, and soon he would become a part of it.

'What is a stranger doing in a strange land?'

'I came to find the myth of the self.
Find something you will never understand.'

--- pp.181-183

It is to create the myth of the self.
The only duty imposed on all people in this world
When you want something badly, the whole universe gives in to it.
I will help you make your wishes come true.

It is to create the myth of the self.
The only duty imposed on all people in this world
When you want something badly, the whole universe gives in to it.
I will help you make your wishes come true.

--- From the text

'What should I do now?'
'Keep going in the direction of the pyramid.
And pay attention to the signs.
Your heart can now show you its treasure.'
'Is that the one thing I didn't know?'
' That's not it.
Well, I think it's time now, so let me tell you.
Listen to me.
Before someone can achieve their dream, the spirit of all things always wants to test everything they have learned during their journey.
The reason the spirit of all things conducts such tests is not because of malice. It is to enable us to conquer the teachings we have learned.
That's the moment when most people give up.
In the language of the desert, it means 'people die of thirst when they see the palm trees of the oasis on the horizon.'
The challenge of finding something always begins with "beginner's luck" and inevitably ends with "harsh trials."

Santiago remembered an old proverb from his hometown.
The darkest hour is just before sunrise.


'What should I do now?'
'Keep going in the direction of the pyramid.
And pay attention to the signs.
Your heart can now show you its treasure.'
'Is that the one thing I didn't know?'
' That's not it.
Well, I think it's time now, so let me tell you.
Listen to me.
Before someone can achieve their dream, the spirit of all things always wants to test everything they have learned during their journey.
The reason the spirit of all things conducts such tests is not because of malice. It is to enable us to conquer the teachings we have learned.
That's the moment when most people give up.
In the language of the desert, it means 'people die of thirst when they see the palm trees of the oasis on the horizon.'
The challenge of finding something always begins with "beginner's luck" and inevitably ends with "harsh trials."

Santiago remembered an old proverb from his hometown.
The darkest hour is just before sunrise.

--- p.215

I had to stay locked in the lab for a very long time, watching the flames that were refining the metal.
As they gazed at the flame, all the vain thoughts of the world disappeared from their minds, and then one day, while refining the metal, they realized that they themselves had been purified.


I had to stay locked in the lab for a very long time, watching the flames that were refining the metal.
As they gazed at the flame, all the vain thoughts of the world disappeared from their minds, and then one day, while refining the metal, they realized that they themselves had been purified.

--- p.139

The Virgin Mary came to the monastery holding the baby Jesus in her arms.
Priests stood in a long line and worshipped the Virgin Mary.
Some recited beautiful poetry, while others illustrated passages from the Bible.
There were also priests who memorized the names of adults.
The priest at the end of the line was an unattractive man.
I never received any proper education.
All he learned was how to play ball from his father, who worked in a circus.
The other priests tried to prevent him from worshipping, for fear that it would tarnish the image of the monastery.
But he truly wanted to dedicate his heart to the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
He took a few oranges out of his pocket and started playing with them, throwing them in the air.
That was the only talent he could show.
Baby Jesus smiled brightly for the first time and began to clap his hands.
Our Lady allowed only the priest to hold the baby Jesus.


The Virgin Mary came to the monastery holding the baby Jesus in her arms.
Priests stood in a long line and worshipped the Virgin Mary.
Some recited beautiful poetry, while others illustrated passages from the Bible.
There were also priests who memorized the names of adults.
The priest at the end of the line was an unattractive man.
I never received any proper education.
All he learned was how to play ball from his father, who worked in a circus.
The other priests tried to prevent him from worshipping, for fear that it would tarnish the image of the monastery.
But he truly wanted to dedicate his heart to the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
He took a few oranges out of his pocket and started playing with them, throwing them in the air.
That was the only talent he could show.
Baby Jesus smiled brightly for the first time and began to clap his hands.
Our Lady allowed only the priest to hold the baby Jesus.

--- p.272-273

Santiago couldn't figure out what the 'myth of the self' meant.

'It's exactly what you've always wanted to achieve.
Each of us discovers at the dawn of our youth what our own ego myth is.
In those days, everything seemed clear and everything seemed possible.
So young people do not hesitate to dream and hope for all of them.
But as time passed, some unknown force made me realize that the realization of that myth was impossible.'
...
'It's a feeling of bad.
But in fact, it is precisely this energy that helps us realize the myth of the self.
I will train your mind and will.
There is one great truth in this world.
If you want something with all your heart, it will definitely happen.
The desire for something comes from the mind of the universe.
And it is your mission on this earth to make that happen.'

Santiago couldn't figure out what the 'myth of the self' meant.

'It's exactly what you've always wanted to achieve.
Each of us discovers at the dawn of our youth what our own ego myth is.
In those days, everything seemed clear and everything seemed possible.
So young people do not hesitate to dream and hope for all of them.
But as time passed, some unknown force made me realize that the realization of that myth was impossible.'
...
'It's a feeling of bad.
But in fact, it is precisely this energy that helps us realize the myth of the self.
I will train your mind and will.
There is one great truth in this world.
If you want something with all your heart, it will definitely happen.
The desire for something comes from the mind of the universe.
And it is your mission on this earth to make that happen.'

--- pp.
46-47

The Secret of Happiness

"Remember that all things are one.
Also, don't forget what the cover says.
In particular, you must not stop until the end of the myth of your ego.
Before you leave, there's a story I'd like to tell you.

A merchant sent his son to the greatest wise man in the world to learn the secret of happiness.
The young man walked through the desert for forty days and reached the castle of Amdaum on the top of the mountain.
In that mansion lived the wise man whom the young man was looking for.
But in the narrow living room of the wise man's mansion, a truly chaotic scene was unfolding.
Merchants were milling about, people were chatting in a corner, and tables were filled with delicacies.
There was even an orchestra playing sweet music.
The wise man was talking to this person and that person.
The young man had to wait two hours for his turn.
Finally, it was the young man's turn.

The wise man listened carefully to the young man's words, but said that he did not have time to explain the secret of happiness right now.
He told me to come see his mansion first and come back in two hours.
And then he added:
'But before that, there is something you must observe,' said the wise man, and handed him a teaspoon containing two drops of oil.
'While you walk around here, you must not spill a single drop of this teaspoonful of oil.'

The young man couldn't take his eyes off the teaspoon even as he went up and down the stairs.
Two hours later he returned to the wise man.
“Now, where...’ asked the wise man to the young man.
'Have you seen the exquisite Persian carpets in my dining room? The beautiful garden that took the gardener ten years to cultivate? Have you examined the fine parchment books in my study?'

The young man was embarrassed.
He confessed that he saw nothing.
It was a natural thing.
His only concern was not to spill a single drop of oil.
"Then go back and look at some of the beautiful things in my house."
And the wise man added:
"You can't trust someone if you don't know the house they live in."
Now the young man, with a more at ease, picked up his teaspoon and looked around the mansion again.
This time, I was able to take a closer look at all the artwork hanging on the ceiling and walls of the mansion.
I could see the garden and the surrounding mountains, the colorful flowers, and the tranquil harmony of the artworks, each placed perfectly in its place.
The young man, having found the wise man again, described in detail what he had seen.

'But where did the two drops of oil I entrusted to you go?'
The wise man asked.
Only then did the young man examine the spoon and notice that the oil had run out.

'This is all I can teach you.'
The wisest of the wise said:
"The secret of happiness lies in seeing all the beauty in the world and not forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon."

The Secret of Happiness

"Remember that all things are one.
Also, don't forget what the cover says.
In particular, you must not stop until the end of the myth of your ego.
Before you leave, there's a story I'd like to tell you.

A merchant sent his son to the greatest wise man in the world to learn the secret of happiness.
The young man walked through the desert for forty days and reached the castle of Amdaum on the top of the mountain.
In that mansion lived the wise man whom the young man was looking for.
But in the narrow living room of the wise man's mansion, a truly chaotic scene was unfolding.
Merchants were milling about, people were chatting in a corner, and tables were filled with delicacies.
There was even an orchestra playing sweet music.
The wise man was talking to this person and that person.
The young man had to wait two hours for his turn.
Finally, it was the young man's turn.

The wise man listened carefully to the young man's words, but said that he did not have time to explain the secret of happiness right now.
He told me to come see his mansion first and come back in two hours.
And then he added:
'But before that, there is something you must observe,' said the wise man, and handed him a teaspoon containing two drops of oil.
'While you walk around here, you must not spill a single drop of this teaspoonful of oil.'

The young man couldn't take his eyes off the teaspoon even as he went up and down the stairs.
Two hours later he returned to the wise man.
“Now, where...’ asked the wise man to the young man.
'Have you seen the exquisite Persian carpets in my dining room? The beautiful garden that took the gardener ten years to cultivate? Have you examined the fine parchment books in my study?'

The young man was embarrassed.
He confessed that he saw nothing.
It was a natural thing.
His only concern was not to spill a single drop of oil.
"Then go back and look at some of the beautiful things in my house."
And the wise man added:
"You can't trust someone if you don't know the house they live in."
Now the young man, with a more at ease, picked up his teaspoon and looked around the mansion again.
This time, I was able to take a closer look at all the artwork hanging on the ceiling and walls of the mansion.
I could see the garden and the surrounding mountains, the colorful flowers, and the tranquil harmony of the artworks, each placed perfectly in its place.
The young man, having found the wise man again, described in detail what he had seen.

'But where did the two drops of oil I entrusted to you go?'
The wise man asked.
Only then did the young man examine the spoon and notice that the oil had run out.

'This is all I can teach you.'
The wisest of the wise said:
"The secret of happiness lies in seeing all the beauty in the world and not forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon."

--- pp. 60-62

The alchemist was holding a book that one of the subjects had brought him.
The cover was torn off, but the author's name was legible.
It was Oscar Wilde.
As he was leafing through the book, his eyes stopped on the story of Narcissus.


The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus.
Narcissus, who visited the lakeside every day to look at his beautiful reflection in the water.
He was so captivated by his own beauty that he eventually drowned himself in a lake.
A flower bloomed where he died, and people named it Narcissus after him.


But Oscar Wilde's story had a different ending.

When Narcissus died, the forest nymphs, the Oreias, came to the lake and saw that the lake was shedding bitter tears.

"Why are you crying?"
The Oreias asked.

"I am mourning Narcissus."
The lake answered.


"I guess so.
We chased Narcissus through the forest, captivated by his beauty, but it was you who could see his beauty up close."
The forest fairies spoke.

"Was Narcissus really that beautiful?"
The lake asked.


"Who knows better than you? Every day Narcissus bent over your waves and looked into his own face!"
The surprised fairies asked back.

The lake remained silent for a while, then carefully opened its mouth.

"I am mourning Narcissus now, but I never knew he was so beautiful.
Every time he bent his face over my waves, I could see a beautiful image of myself reflected deep in his eyes.
But now that he's dead, oh, that can't happen anymore."

"Oh, what a beautiful story!"
The alchemist burst into admiration.
The alchemist was holding a book that one of the subjects had brought him.
The cover was torn off, but the author's name was legible.
It was Oscar Wilde.
As he was leafing through the book, his eyes stopped on the story of Narcissus.


The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus.
Narcissus, who visited the lakeside every day to look at his beautiful reflection in the water.
He was so captivated by his own beauty that he eventually drowned himself in a lake.
A flower bloomed where he died, and people named it Narcissus after him.


But Oscar Wilde's story had a different ending.

When Narcissus died, the forest nymphs, the Oreias, came to the lake and saw that the lake was shedding bitter tears.

"Why are you crying?"
The Oreias asked.

"I am mourning Narcissus."
The lake answered.


"I guess so.
We chased Narcissus through the forest, captivated by his beauty, but it was you who could see his beauty up close."
The forest fairies spoke.

"Was Narcissus really that beautiful?"
The lake asked.


"Who knows better than you? Every day Narcissus bent over your waves and looked into his own face!"
The surprised fairies asked back.

The lake remained silent for a while, then carefully opened its mouth.

"I am mourning Narcissus now, but I never knew he was so beautiful.
Every time he bent his face over my waves, I could see a beautiful image of myself reflected deep in his eyes.
But now that he's dead, oh, that can't happen anymore."

"Oh, what a beautiful story!"
The alchemist burst into admiration.

--- pp.13~15