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Member Forums  »  Spirituality & Metaphysics  »  "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran Post reply
 3-04-2007 07:13:19 AM
Trinity
Trinity
From: United Kingdom

“The Prophet” by kahlil Gibran was originally published in 1923. It has since become a spiritual classic and for many years now a firm favourite of mine!

"The Prophet is told in the form of a story with the finest interlace of deeply inspirational poetry.

Almustafa approaches the dawning of the ultimate spiritual liberation. As an instrument for divine expression he turns a mirror back upon the journey of human life from birth until death, inviting acceptance of all things, deeming both joy and pain of equal merit during the journey back to the source. In fact if he were to feel pain, he would welcome it with open arms counting it a blessing and opportunity to realise that he is not that pain, he is infact beyond all of it.

Gibran masterfully uses words to signpost the way to that which is through and beyond all words or comprehension. With artful poetic symbology he articulates the silent, boundless, nameless gift of profound inner peace inherent within us all.


"And then a scholar said, Speak of Talking.

And he answered, saying:

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;

And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.

And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.

For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

There are those among you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone.

The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.

And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.

And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words.

In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.

When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the market place, let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue.

Let the voice within your voice speak to the ear of his ear;

For his soul will keep the truth of your heart as the taste of the wine is remembered when the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more."

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 3-04-2007 09:23:09 PM
Karen
Karen
From: United Kingdom

What a wonderful book The Prophet is. I stumbled across it at an airport in 1978 when I was a teenager and not at all spiritual, I read it on the flight and was totally amazed and moved to tears. It made a huge impression on me in a way I can't describe and I felt at the time it was my destiny to find this book and try to understand its teachings, even to live my life in a better and different way. It is an incredible joy to read and I would urge anyone to find a copy and give it ago - Karen

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 17-10-2007 12:45:09 AM
Helen
Helen
From: United Kingdom

The Prophet is one of my most favourite books of all time! I have it beside my bed & often open it randomly.

Gibran had the art of synthesising 'all of life's lessons' into one small book. My favourite is:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit,
not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you
with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that
is stable.

I have tried my utmost to follow this advice when bringing my children up.

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 17-10-2007 10:37:47 AM
Ann
Ann
From: United Kingdom

I remember this also Helen, and tried to apply it to my children - sometimes with difficulty being a possessive Leo, as you will understand! :)

One of my most favourite books is 'Second Treasury of Kahlil Gibran' which I have read a few times. It is filled with so much wisdom and so much truth - I promise you it is a book to always keep by your side.

Ann x

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 17-10-2007 12:44:50 PM
W*HolisticUK
W*HolisticUK
From: United Kingdom
Trinity wrote:

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;

What a wonderful reminder Trinity :) Thank you

Although I do need to talk some times - Chuckles

2 years ago we had two Boarders Collies that passed in the same month the Bitch was Wiccan 11 and the Dog was Rufas age 17, he was Deaf. We had to use sign and body language with him IE pointing, ushering with hands, tilting our heads, all sorts of things..

We all learned that there was no need to speak to him because he couldn't hear us any way... We also all agreed that we found an eeiry silence that we all learned to make use of for a peaceful reflection on life and meditation....

Kind regards Gaynor AKA W*HolisticUK
Remember that the Earth is the living,
breathing heartbeat of us all

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 18-10-2007 05:29:27 PM
Trinity
Trinity
From: United Kingdom

Ah yes Helen, his words on children send shivers of recognition throughout my body! If we could all tune in to that way of seeing things the world would be a different place indeed.

Trin
x

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 18-10-2007 05:37:10 PM
Trinity
Trinity
From: United Kingdom
W*HolisticUK wrote:
Trinity wrote:

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;

What a wonderful reminder Trinity :) Thank you

Although I do need to talk some times - Chuckles

Glad that enjoyed his sharing too :)

Speaking does seem to have its uses in this world ;) although I admittedly feel most at home when silently sharing with nature. A world of beautiful translucency and profound honesty resonates with me deeply!

I rememember Kain on the Kung Fu movie saying something like this:

"If you should speak, let your words be better than your silence would have been"

Ahhhhh! That really struck a chord :)

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 19-10-2007 03:24:16 PM
W*HolisticUK
W*HolisticUK
From: United Kingdom
Trinity wrote:
W*HolisticUK wrote:
Trinity wrote:

"If you should speak, let your words be better than your silence would have been"

Ahhhhh! That really struck a chord :)

INDEED...

Thank You

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