And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge."And he answered, saying:
Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always know in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.
And it is well you should.
The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.
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But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.
Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth."
Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.
--Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"--
8 comments:
I knew that was The Prophet before I got past the first couple of lines. I'm at an age where we memorized entire sections. I've forgotten most except "let there be spaces in your togetherness".
I'm grandma again. Jim & Melissa have an 8 lb 9 oz boy (Johathan) born about an hour ago. This makes 10 grandkids.
Short post on granny and isamericaburning.
Ann
Ah, The Prophet. I have loved this book since I read the first few words many years ago. I still go back to it when I need a moment of clarity.
Thanks for posting it. We all need a reminder to bring us back to center.
Hi DA,
A poem of profound thinking that generates profound thinking.Thanks for sharing it.
I like the lines "your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knoweledge" and "Say not i have found the truth but I have found a truth"
Love this.
thank you
This book was actually one of the few things I inherited after my grandmother. I have read it countless times, and will read it over and over and over again until I actually live by his words. They are beautiful and powerful and oh so true.
Very nice - I love Gibran. I keep a copy of the Prophet next to my bed.
It sure beats the fundamentalist creed:
Say not "I have found a truth" but say rather, "I have found the only truth there is and if you disagree with me, you're in deep shit."
Truth can be so beautiful.
XO
MB
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