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Title: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran ISBN: 0-394-40428-9 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 12 September, 1923 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.82 (162 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Fundamentally Flawed
Comment: Gibran reveals the fundamental optimism that shapes the rest of his thinking in his response to one of the city judges:
"Like the ocean is your god-self;
It remains for ever undefiled.
And like the ether it lifts but the winged.
Even like the sun is your god-self;
It knows not the ways of the mole nor seeks it the holes of the serpent."
This belief in a holy inner spiritual component of every man provides the foundation of such assertions as the moral nondistinction between criminal and victim. This may all sound good, but in practice has little to do with what we observe in the world around us (and is completely unworkable both individually and in society!)
The traditional Christian view, boring though it may at first seem, is that there is no perfect holiness within us; rather, we holistic unities of imperfection and rebellion. Granted, we consist of both material and immaterial substance, but the material and immaterial are inseperable except by death. Gibran deals with the rational problems arising from his irreconcilable view of the sprit versus the world by, of course, positing reincarnation upon us.
Christian theology deals with all the issues addressed by Gibran, but without making us all out to be God. And without relying on the terrible concept of reincarnation (the only thing I can think of that would be worse than enduring a lifetime of suffering would be to endure an endless procession of lifetimes of suffering). Sure, there are many wonderful, truthful passages in this book, but nobody should make the mistake of assuming it to be inspired. So let the reader beware!
Rating: 5
Summary: Worth your time
Comment: Most stories have some sort of existential or spiritual point to make. Gibran's story has many. But unlike most books this one sacrifices length and plot, employing a simple and poetic (in prose) directness in order to tell us not so much the meaning of life as how to live. The prophet in Gibran's story is asked by his people to talk about everything from the law to pain and death. And his sermons are both instructive and profound without being over righteous or narcissistic. In fact, so carefully woven and universal is Gibran's prose that one could conceivably adopt The Prophet as some sort of new age holy book. This would, of course, not only be potentially unwise but also unnecessary since its foundations are clearly derived from Judeo-Christian spiritual values. It certainly does not square with many eastern religions in its almost excessive romanticization of notions such as good, evil and God. And even for western readers, it is probably most valuable when considered as an eloquent reminder of our own spiritual heritage. I will keep this book and undoubtedly reread it many times over for its depth and wisdom. It isn't easy to write a modern set of spiritual aphorisms without sounding awkward, cliched, or downright wrong. But Gibran manages it with a natural attractiveness and spiritual sincerity that has assured its status as a modernized tome of timeless spiritual values.
Rating: 5
Summary: close to god
Comment: This is one my must have books. It is a masterpiece of spirituality. I'll be the first to admit, its literary quality isn't much. It is rather simplistically written, but the message behind it is so powerful that you have to read it. It will take you to enlightenment.
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Title: The Beloved: Reflections on the Path of the Heart by Kahlil Gibran, John Walbridge, Robin A. Waterfield ISBN: 014019553X Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: January, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: The Treasured Writings of Kahlil Gibran by Kahlil Gibran ISBN: 089009389X Publisher: Book Sales Pub. Date: September, 1995 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
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Title: Tear and Smile by Kahlil Gibran ISBN: 0394448049 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 27 June, 1950 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title: Madman by Kahlil Gibran ISBN: 0486419118 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 03 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $3.95 |
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Title: The Vision: Reflections on the Way of the Soul by Kahlil Gibran, Juan R. I. Cole, Robin A. Waterfield ISBN: 0140195548 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: January, 1998 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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