In Paulo's Coelho's best-seller novel "the Alchemist", there is a profound passage that reads: "There is one great truth on this planet, whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve your dreams".
Ubud is a very special place for the dreamer, the dream and the dreaming. The tranquil and beautiful landscape of Ubud awakens the force of imagination and inspires the dreamer to dream once again. For many people, Ubud is a dream come true. It is the heart of Bali, home to one of greatest art and culture centers in the world, a deeply spiritual place that transforms mind, body and spirit. For many people, it is a paradise on earth.
And what of dreaming? According to Coelho, dreaming begins with a desire that originates in the heart. This heart-felt calling expresses a true soul purpose, a wish, a hope, a prayer - a dream. Coelho explains that when this desire is born from the heart - from love - it originates in the very soul of the universe. Is this because the universe is an expression of love itself?
Coelho speaks of conscious dreaming, of being awake while you dream your dreams. In this sense, dreaming is a phenomenon that occurs not only during the nighttime, but each second and every moment of your existence. Every thought, word and act contributes to the dreaming process. You are the creator of making your dreams come true. Another word for conscious dreaming is prayer. The Balinese people deeply understand the notion of conscious dreaming. Their passion for prayer is seen everywhere.
Understood in this sense, dreaming is a creative process and you are a creator. Like an artist begins with a blank canvas and dreams up the world through the force of imagination, then paints the imaginary world into form, so too, the dreamer creates the dream through every word, thought and action. The artist uses a paintbrush as a tool for creation; the conscious dreamer uses thought, words, and deeds to create reality. This really makes you stop to question, What am I thinking? What am I saying? What am I doing? Are my thoughts, words and actions consistent with living my dreams?
In Ubud, like most spiritual places, the dreaming process is intensified, almost instantaneous, as if the spirit of Bali is listening and ready to answer every prayer, wish, thought, intention and dream. Ubud reveals the truth to Cohelo’s claim, that when you want something, the universe conspires in helping you achieve your dreams. When we were young and had limitless dreams, we believed dreams come true. We believed if we blew out the candles on our birthday cake, our wishes would come true. We believed that by saying our bedtime prayers, our prayers would be answered.
Ubud is a place of answered prayers. All you have to do is believe. When I arrived in Bali for the first time, I was lost, alone and afraid. Desperately missing my boyfriend, among the falling tears, I prayed for an answer of whether I should believe in our love. Later that day, I walked into a small book shop in Ubud and borrowed a piece of paper to write directions down, and there on the paper, my prayer was answered. It was written,
Never, ever give up.
The spirit of Ubud had answered had my prayer and I never stopped believing. Ubud is a special place for the conscious dreamer. It will teach you that life is about awakening to a greater truth, yet always remembering to create and live your dreams.
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