Letter to Paulo Coelho

Dear Paulo Coelho,

I have stretched my hand deep into the space of my mind and caught hold of the questioning thought of love, fear, faith, compassion and most importantly destiny since I read your book - The Alchemist. It was a book that took me through a long journey, similar to the one the young boy in the story goes through and every moment, every breath of it felt very real somehow. This story, or better said 'journey' that I experienced while I read this book was magical and surrealistic. It didn't supply my mind with deep wisdom but instead taught me what wisdom is. It taught me the essence of life and it taught me how through faith, through love one can even turn into the wind or become the master of the desert, and yet hold respect and dignity amidst this great show of power.

Since the dawn of my life, I have been filled with the subtle wonder, which playfully questions my mind with the question of how, just how can one find their own destiny? or what is the purpose of life? why does life exist? Or are destiny and purpose even real things? I wouldn't say that this book holds the answer to those questions, but I can say with guaranteed clarity that this tale beautifully explains the essence of these questions, and gives reason enough for our minds to hold strength and faith and know that one day we will find the answer. That is why I fell in love with this book. Although The Alchemist is the tale of a long journey of patience, faith, belief, respect and countless other nuances, it explains God in a truly mystical fashion and with great simplicity and truth.

It's amazing how by only reading one book, I have fallen in love with the concept of destiny, or better said 'the strength of destiny'. It fascinates me, and I am sure millions of other people too. This tale has directed all of us toward this path of destiny, this path of love. And I am truly grateful for that. This book has taught me the language of the world, the only language which doesn't depend on words for communication and probably the language most used around us, and yet we don't even realize when we use it. This tale has sorrows, this tale has life lessons, this tale has kings and journeys, battles and what not. This tale has death, this tale has life. And this tale teaches me everything I need to know to live with joy and satisfaction. This story has touched my tired, searching heart and opened its gates to love and compassion. I sincerely thank you for this gift you have given me.

Faithfully,

Aalap Bhatt