The two mugs rested on the heavy wooden counter of Loureiro’s workshop, the shoemaker who crafted ideas with the same mastery he used to create bags and shoes. His works were original, unique; nothing copied from manuals or existing models. Upon encountering a product made by Loureiro, there was no need to look for a signature to know the author. The same applied to his ideas. He had a unique perspective on all things, people, and situations that reflected his demeanour, gentle yet firm, in such a way that these two attributes were not conflicting, but rather complementary. He returned with a pot of fresh coffee and filled the mugs. That aroma seasoned the conversations. The shoemaker asked me to close the workshop door. I considered that a customer might arrive. Loureiro declared that he had closed for the day. It was noon; he had opened the workshop at three in the morning; he had worked enough for that day. He allowed himself the right to enjoy the afternoon for other pleasures: “Contrary to what many believe, opening and closing are not movements that cancel each other out; both are important, necessary, and complementary. Opening doors speaks of opportunities and growth; closing doors establishes boundaries and respect.”
I confessed that I had difficulty understanding the right moment to open or close doors. Loureiro explained: “Sometimes, we keep open doors that we should have already closed; other times, we refuse to open doors through which we need to proceed. Any of these situations reveal periods of existential stagnation”. He paused so I could start connecting the philosophical arc that was beginning and continued: “Stagnation is not just the absence of movements fuelled by fears, subterfuges, and delusions; but also the escape routes and repetitive movements whose results have long proven ineffective. Life requires movement, but it’s not enough to walk; it’s necessary to have a route and direction, with a well-defined course and without daydreams; otherwise, even if you move, you won’t get anywhere. I’m not talking about traveling through cities and countries, or merely changing jobs, ending a marriage, or moving house; I’m referring to the journey that takes me beyond who I am today”. He furrowed his brows, as he did when escalating tones of seriousness, and said: “The initial movement happens within us to only then manifest in the world. It will never be the other way around”. Then he continued: “Stagnation, whether by inertia or lack of direction, will always be a place where the soul rots”. I asked how I could identify each of these moments. The shoemaker was precise: “Intrinsic discomfort. It means that the primordial voice was not heard; the soul was forgotten”.
I commented that almost every day I felt uncomfortable with some fact arising from one of my personal or professional relationships. Sometimes one thing, sometimes another, in greater or lesser intensity, there was always some disturbance. Loureiro pointed out: “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. The discomfort reveals something poorly processed within us. The world is neither good nor bad; it serves only as an incessant source of experiences. The result processed by consciousness will be converted into gentleness and lightness, strength and balance; or fear and suffering, insecurity and conflicts, depending on the individual capacity to process the situations experienced. Thus, the harmony or mess in which each individual goes through the days will depend on the mental constructions and emotional pacifications they achieve. That’s all. I say this to remind you that subtle feelings drive ideas; dense emotions imprison them”. He sipped the coffee before concluding: “Opening and closing doors at the right moments define the joy or anguish of the days”.
I asked him to explain through examples. The shoemaker was attentive: “No one needs to subject themselves to what they don’t like. Depending on the case, sometimes we have the ease of physically distancing ourselves from inconvenient people or places; other times, as in family gatherings, when there is one or more relatives whose demeanour is marked by harshness, among others with whom we have pleasant affection and, therefore, do not want to distance ourselves from; or in the case of colleagues with complicated temperaments in jobs we cannot do without, we are led to unwanted coexistence”. I interrupted to say that I understood that I just needed to distance myself from people not in tune with me, whenever possible. I asked how to deal with those whose presence was inevitable. Loureiro explained: “Close the internal doors. We live in a sacred place within us. Each one in themselves. It’s an authentic temple. We cannot and should not forbid anyone from walking around the surrounding streets. However, we have the legitimate right and power not to allow troublemakers and unbalanced individuals to enter and mess up and dirty a sacred space. Boundaries establish respect. Some still cannot enter the temple; others can enter but are not authorized to approach the altar; and there are those who can already consecrate themselves with us. Understanding how close each person should get is knowing how to deal with boundaries; understanding boundaries creates the ambiance of respect that, in turn, is one of the pillars of strength and balance of the temple. We dwell in who we are. This intimate universe, if organized, aired out, and illuminated, will establish the channels of communication with more subtle spheres of existence, as well as enable a deeper dialogue with the soul itself, the wise being that resides in each of us. The gains will be immeasurable. If taken over by abuses, conflicts, and suffering, the result will be the opposite; the connections with denser dimensions will become dangerous due to the imbalance and fragility that will arise. There will be losses and falls. Do not be deceived by postures of pride and vanity, arrogance and haughtiness, or even aggressive attitudes; they say nothing about confidence and courage. There is much fear, pain, and misunderstanding behind those who hide their weaknesses in characters that seemingly overflow with power. Do not be fooled; they are nothing more than masks, illusions, and deceptions. Despite their shiny and robust appearance, they are empty in essence. True strength and balance originate from a humble, simple, and gentle way of living. True power lies in virtues, the countless ways of loving wisely.”
I said I was still a little confused. Loureiro was kind: “There is nothing wrong with avoiding the physical company of arrogant, boastful, insincere, or aggressive people. Without realizing it, they are an insult to the soul, as they hinder the clarity emanating from their own light. If we do not take care to establish boundaries, they spread their darkness into those around them. However, it is not always possible to avoid contact with such people. In these cases, close the doors of your temple out of self-respect, without worrying about those who, lost within themselves, wander around outside. Do not be shaken if they shout, mock, or threaten. You will be safe; true power resides in the light of the soul”.
He paused as if recalling an important aspect and emphasized, “Pay attention so that the complicated person isn’t you; this happens more often than one might think. Transferring responsibility is a common shadow that distances us from the truth; misunderstanding oneself fuels stagnation, the root of sadness and resentment. It is worth remembering that when we distance ourselves from others due to jealousy, envy, vanity, or pride, we are not closing the external doors of the temple, but rather the internal passages through which we need to advance beyond who we are. When this happens, we imprison ourselves in our own misunderstandings. We habitually close our eyes to the presence and influence of our personal shadows; we justify these dense emotions through twisted reasoning and lies, using faulty arguments that divert us from intimate issues we refuse to face and resolve, whether due to the difficulties they present or the effort required. Such behaviours are equivalent to escape routes. In short, we close external doors because we refuse to open internal ones out of fear of the truth and the effort needed for necessary transformation. Moving against the light equates to stagnation, as it does not lead to any legitimate achievement. We attribute to others mistakes and flaws, sometimes non-existent, sometimes exaggerated, in an attempt to hide our own difficulties, an entanglement of still-obscure internal misunderstandings that require better understanding and essential reconstruction so that, later on, they may be expressed in a gentle and light way of walking through life and dealing with the world. This is about the ability to love, to be free, happy, dignified, and to live in peace; this is called plenitude.”
He took another sip of coffee and added, “When we struggle to guide ourselves through crystalline truth due to fears and wounds that, deep down, we believe we are incapable of undoing and healing, we create convenient or situational truths, which are nothing more than mere deceptions. These are known as escape routes. Initially pleasant for the mental and emotional comfort they provide, they soon become a source of discomfort due to the imbalance and fragility caused by distancing from the truth. Far from the truth, distant from the soul. When the truth is blurred, scrambled, or narrow, virtues appear to be inappropriate and ineffective tools for everyday use; we fail to see the best moment for the correct use of each one. We continue like a broken faucet, pouring out veiled aggressiveness or manifesting sadness. The world seems like a horrible place to live in, forgetting that the world is merely a valuable source of experiences; the ability to process each situation lived will create the firm or precarious foundations upon which each person will build themselves. Pay attention to the elements used to process each experience. If you process them with pride, envy, vanity, or jealousy, the result will be one thing; if you process them with humility, simplicity, compassion, and sincerity, you will achieve a very different outcome. Notice that the experience was the same, but the result was not.” Then he reminded me, “Knowing yourself with greater breadth and depth is fundamental to not closing doors when we should open them and vice versa.”
He took another sip of coffee and added, “Distancing yourself from people and places we do not need to engage with is not difficult. Closing doors and establishing intrinsic boundaries to avoid abuse and invasion, without self-deception, is part of the great art. In the same vein, it is necessary to understand that the doors to reconciliation and peace must always be available for the resumption of a loving coexistence. However, being available does not mean being wide open, as we cannot allow undue and ill-intentioned invasions into a sacred temple. Knowing and being aware of evil is important to avoid it, just as finding and giving an opportunity for good to manifest is fundamental to light. Being available means sincerely willing to offer a new opportunity to yourself, to others, and to life, while remaining vigilant about whether there is honesty on the part of the other person; otherwise, the temple will be desecrated. In some cases, it may even be destroyed. It is important to emphasize that waiting for someone to restore a peaceful and affectionate relationship is only valid after we have done our part, that is, after we have exhausted all possibilities for forgiveness and peace. Never allow pride to close the doors of initiative; never let naivety leave the doors of respect unguarded. There is love and wisdom in both movements.”
I asked how to do this in practice. “We cannot let anyone’s mess disorganize who we are. It would be like gathering trash from the streets to decorate our home, something absurd and senseless; we do not act this way in the physical realm. However, in the emotional sphere, we still do this with some ease and frequency. Leaving doors open when they should be closed reveals, in some cases, naivety; ignorance of evil makes us vulnerable to danger. In other situations, it reveals a certain degree of immaturity by exposing levels of emotional dependence; it shows how much we still seek approval, validation, or applause from someone who does not share our same will or vision. Every time we place in someone else’s hands the permission to enjoy life’s sweetness, we relinquish power over our own existence, our self-determination, and our full realization through individual evolutionary movements; freedom will take on aspects of fiction, happiness will become a dreamlike landscape.”
He furrowed his brows and said seriously, “On the other hand, accept that no one is obliged to conform to your concepts, truths, and desires. Remember that some are behind, but others walk ahead of where we are. When we make it a condition of coexistence that others be as we idealize them, without realizing it, we become the barbaric invaders, full of misunderstandings.” He stroked his goatee and clarified, “Opening and closing doors, primarily, is a movement of consciousness, that is, the understanding and acceptance of a liberating idea that, once properly constructed within, will be expressed in the world with gentleness and lightness, without the need for friction in relationships or bitterness in the heart.”
I said that this point seemed to be the central aspect of the matter to me: opening and closing doors without internal or external conflicts. Loureiro was pedagogical: “Understand what is yours; accept what is not. This is the fundamental step. Your entire internal universe belongs to you; moving through the world requires softness and respect for everyone. Moving the doors of consciousness expresses the way each individual walks through life. Although it is often necessary to raise tones of firmness to move according to the truth as I understand it, I must never forget that aggressiveness is unnecessary. Firmness establishes the non-negotiable yes and no, the boundaries of respect, and the scope of vision; depending on the interlocutor, it requires a more incisive manifestation with less sweetness so that persistent attempts at invasion cease. On the other hand, aggressiveness is characterized by the intention to harm, as if the intention to build barriers were not enough; destroying the other person is part of the pleasure, a crude mistake. There is no need for that. Unnecessary fights and breakups reveal the immaturity of an ego that has not yet learned to dialogue with the soul. It is more concerned with material losses than with spiritual gains; pride is more important than humility, ornaments are more valuable than simplicity, and resentment outweighs compassion. It values the contours of the context over the message of the text. The days become heavy. We feel like living far from everything and everyone; that way, nothing and no one will bother us. An easy but simplistic decision. Do not confuse quietude and silence, essential for the indispensable dialogue with the soul, with isolation or abandonment. Living far from everything and everyone does not make anyone a sage. Isolating oneself does not have the power to undo the misunderstandings that generate all fears and sufferings; each person carries themselves in their own baggage. The discomfort will persist as long as the wounds that bleed in the heart remain open and accompanied by the internal tormentors that mentally afflict them. Wherever they may be. Heaven or hell are the results of how experiences are processed. They reflect the advancement of consciousness in the mirror of time”.
I insisted that, at times, some of the choices we make cause enormous turmoil and confusion. Loureiro was incisive: “I see no reason for that to happen. I repeat, learn to separate what is legitimately yours from what does not belong to you. As long as you do not disrespect the fundamental rights of others and understand the limits of your moral, professional, and emotional commitments, yes, everything requires limits so that it does not become abusive, the way and direction in which you move is solely your concern. No one else’s. What happens is that, at times, we retreat in the face of the world’s roars and noises; we are dependent on others’ approval, as if we had to wait for permission to become who we can be. This is a common mistake. If your conscience says yes, open the door and move forward; if it says no, close it to prevent invasions. Mistakes will likely happen; do not worry, nor blame yourself; this is a journey of learning and evolution. Have the humility to recognize them, the greatness to correct them, and carry with you the sincere commitment to do differently and better next time. If you manage that, you will turn the mistake into a teacher. There will never be room for sadness, agony, irritation, or resentment. This is the movement that marks a traveller capable of dispelling the darkness of the Path through his own light”.
At that moment, someone knocked on the workshop door. Through the glass, we saw a poorly dressed man. The conversation was pleasant, constructive, and far from over; we were still on our first pot of coffee. I felt annoyed by the interruption. I looked at Loureiro as if asking what to do. He returned my gaze, indicating that I should decide whether to open the door or not. Somewhat reluctantly, I went to meet the man, already pulling out some bills to give as alms. I wanted to return to my dialogue with the shoemaker as soon as possible. To my surprise, he refused the money; he said he only needed a hug. That and nothing more. He explained that his wife had passed away that morning and that his family lived far away; a little comfort would do him good, he pleaded. Embarrassed and somewhat ashamed of my hasty judgment, I exchanged a tight and prolonged hug with the man. With tearful eyes, he thanked me, emphasized the importance of the gesture, and left. I was moved.
I returned and sat down in front of the wooden counter. I poured a bit more coffee into my mug. I drank. We remained silent for a while; I needed to process that experience. The shoemaker broke the silence: “The context of appearance conceals the text of essence. There are factors of the world and elements of the soul. It is necessary to understand which content will be decisive in processing each lived event.” I said that, at first, I felt uncomfortable with the man’s presence; however, the feeling that remained was different; there was something wonderful that I had not yet fully understood. Loureiro helped me: “We are many in one. Various voices inhabit us; they are the results of everything we have lived. Not everything is light, nor is everything shadow. Frustrations and achievements, prejudice and overcoming, fears and virtues, joys and defeats coexist in intense conflict within us. There is a little, or a lot, of everything in us. The percentage of the immature ego is inversely proportional to the fraction of the awakened soul; during the maturation process, the ego merges with the soul in the quest for the wholeness of the voice. Then come unshakable balance and strength. Pay attention to who is guiding you every time you open or close a door. The matter is serious, for it speaks of respect and abuses, stagnation and progress, prison bars and freedom.” I nodded and asked if he knew who that man was. The shoemaker shrugged and murmured: “Possibly, an angel.” Seeing my astonishment, he explained: “They have a thousand disguises. They appear to show us the doors we refuse to open and those we stubbornly refuse to close. Mistakenly.”
Translated by Cazmilian Zórdic.
