Transcend Human Subjectivity to Find Godlike Objectivity
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The Prophet is about a mysterious religious thinker who is about to leave for his native land. Before he goes, many people have just one question to ask him. In a very few words, he tells them his accumulated wisdom primarily in a nondenominational way. The only exceptions come in the references to rebirth. The essence of each brief lesson is that we have to step outside of our own perspective to see things in the way that God does and wants us to.
Let me give you an example. When someone transgresses either man's laws or God's laws, we tend to condemn the person harshly and focus on punishment. This is like treating the person as though they have fallen below some level of what it is still to be human. Yet no one does anything worse than what some person has done wrong before and will do wrong again.
Surely, our reaction should still focus, like a Mother's, on the fundamental humanness of the person and our desire to have the person be a contributing, loving, and helpful part of our community.
Another way to think about the lessons of The Prophet is to notice that nature loves a balance. If we interfere with nature, nature overreacts in some new way that counters our interference. This happens when we put too much phosphate into lakes. Algae blooms expand exponentially to eat the phosphate. These lessons help us to see the balance that is missing in our initial reaction.
A good parallel can be found in the study of the brain. Our initial reactions when frightened or threatened are focused in the oldest parts of the brain. This part of the brain triggers strong chemicals to be released that engage us in "fight or flight" reactions that can save our lives in the near-term. In the "civilized" world, we often have these reactions just to stress. Gibran is helping us move to our highest level of consciousness by choosing our reactions, and selecting reactions that integrate all parts of our brains plus our near- and long-term best interests as individuals and as a community.
Many Eastern religions encourage one to become free of the conscious mind, and that sense of objectivity is captured nicely here. I have a feeling much like when meditating while I read The Prophet, because of its calming influence on my overreactive senses.
I also think of this perspective like being on the Moon and observing the circumstances on Earth through a telescope. With such extreme distance should come detachment from the ego, to permit good thinking.
But none of these perspectives are directly suggested or alluded to. The moral lessons are simply there, with the briefest possible examples to make them clear. As such, they are masterpieces of good thinking, moral ethics, and fine communication.
The answers are so brief and so profound that you will want to discuss them. I suggest you select another member of your family, or a group of people from your house of worship. The lessons are best explored by discussing tangible situations that you face every day. Certainly, it is desirable and appropriate to consider the direct teachings of your religious heritage and beliefs in this connection.
Whenever you feel overwhelmed, turn to the page in The Prophet that addresses your issue. Like taking a warm bath, you will be soothed by the love for humanity in the answers Gibran provides.
Before you speak, ask yourself who is about to speak for you and what do they want.
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Prophet
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This may be a short book, but it is full of insight. It is perfect to dip into at odd moment for that renewed spiritual focus or uplift, or just as good to read in one sitting. It is a classic with good reason and cuts to the core with it's deceptively simple style. There is much depth to this book to be explored and comes highly recommended.
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Moving
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This is his most well known book and if you read it you will understand why. The book is about a 'prophet' who is about to leave a town, but before he goes the towns people ask him to answer some questions. The questions are those which we have all asked. The answers in my view are insightful and revealing for those who wish to delve a little deeper into their perceptions of life. It is spiritual, but I do not believe religious beliefs or spirituality are pre-requisites to enjoyment of what I see as an eloquent and moving book.
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Compared to Most Out There Today, Extremely Deep
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This is one of the first (literary) books I recall reading. My mother kept a collection of Gibran's works that she often read. I was curious to see what attracted her, so I looked into them too ( I was either eight or nine at the time). I believe that was my first taste of spirituality and seemed at the time more relevant than what I was being force-fed by nuns in catechism class. Rereading Gibran now, I'm struck by the notion that Hesse must have been aware of these texts before he wrote Siddhartha. They contain many of the same themes: No one else can guide you on your path. You must select your own course. Preachers and prophets are a dime a dozen. True wisdom comes from within. The prophet's teaching on love is particularly relevant to me at this stage of my life: "For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast." Look into these books. They may appear simplistic to the jaundiced eye, but they may also provide the inspiration you need to see you through life's travails
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A guide for life
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This is a book that answers life's questions: it tackles the theme of love, family, children, the joy of giving and the gift of friendship amongst many other important aspects of our lives. It acts as a guide and teaches us to be better individuals by not taking life for granted, but most importantly teaches us to be ourselves.
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