Inner Light Of Love

Inner Light of love

This is the first book I have read of the most widely read author Paulo Coelho. I was impressed by the philosophical touch and novelty in his writing. The  book  “Eleven Minutes”  tries to address the subtle difference between love and sex and how often these words are interchanged. Though there are related but the concept and intricate bonding in these relationships is radically different.

It is a story of a young Brazilian who wants to explore the world on her own and want to have a luxurious life. Just like a typical country girl, dreams of a marrying a prince-charming, young, handsome and rich. She dreams of a being a happy housewife and having a good family life. But sudden turn of events brings rapid changes in her life. On one of her dream visits to Rio di Janerio, she eventually gets introduced to a man who takes her to Geneva . Though she was initially excited at prospect of working in a different country and earning in dollars. All her dreams slowly shatter weeks after joining the new job as a samba dancer at night club. She leaves the job and when her attempts of a career in modelling fail, she ends up working as a  prostitute.

 

The protagonist of the story was a very brave, dynamic and independent girl . She had great fighting spirit and high will-power. In spite of being in a profession which is least respected. She starts reading good books on positive thinking and self-help as she felt that all her customers don’t come to her just for pleasure. She starts categorising them into three different groups and offers different kinds of services accordingly. She was soon envied among her colleagues and was considered an intellectual for her unusual traits. She notices that a large section of men suffer from loneliness  and stress which have been their constant accomplice. People in the high profile are under severe depression, as the level of expectation in the job and family were  extremely high. Life takes a new turn when she meets a painter by accident who discovers some kind of light in her. This kind of individual attention and help offered by him brings some unexpected change and an internal turbulence between the ecstasy of sex and real love in her life. She starts experiencing true love in his company. Finally realisation of this inner light of love fills her life with complete joy and happiness. She shuns her profession starts a new live a fresh.

This book made a sincere attempt to bring about some facts about sex into life. During medieval period, sex was considered sacred but in later days it was treated with profanity. Though almost entire humanity is ready to lose anything for the intense pleasure of the eleven minutes of encounter. Sex is still looked upon as a taboo and the problems associated with it are least  spoken and discussed in public. The story is based on the life of a prostitute who lives in Switzerland.

The new definition and concept of love elucidated in this book emulates profound, reasonable, logical understanding of the author. Some of the greatest attributes of Love when realised would bring a great change in individuals perspective about life. Love alone has the strength to change a person. Some of the aspects which are relevant in our daily lives are briefly discussed in the book.  A person who loves himself alone can offer real  love. Love is not voluntary enslavement. Love without freedom is just a slavery. A person who loves whole-heartedly alone feels free. In love, nobody can harm any one else; we are responsible for our feelings and cann’t blame someone else for what we feel. No body loses anyone because no one owns anyone. Several  emotions like pleasure, pain, jealousy, patience, desire and passion are well illustrated in different instances.

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