A space to reflect on the university experience and the wider educational journey of life and love.

Friday, November 4, 2011

The Prophet

Kahlil Gibran was nothing short of a genius.  A poet, an artist, a philosopher....his many works have been translated into countless languages touching people worldwide for several decades after his death.  One of my all time favorite books is The Prophet by Gibran.  Here is one of the most wonderful passages ever written, in my humble opinion: 


The Prophet on Self Knowledge
by Kahlil Gibran


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 known 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.
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.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for posting this Emmy - I love the Prophet; it is always good to be reminded of it! This is a beautiful passage, definitely worthy of meditation - thanks for posting it.
    Hope you're having a great weekend.

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