The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran: A Book Review

Book: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Page Count: 107

Publication: Alfred A. Knopf

Edition: 1923

Summary

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran is a masterpiece of prose poetry, imbued with mysticism and universal truth. Gibran, a Lebanese-American writer, poet, and artist, was often regarded as a philosopher, though he himself rejected the label. The Prophet is said to have been translated over 100 languages and is one of the best selling books of all time.

The book presents the wisdom of Al Mustafa, the central character, who has lived in the city of Orphalese for 12 years. As he prepares to board a ship which will take him home, the people of the city ask him to share his wisdom on various facets of life, such as love, marriage, children, work, death, and more. Through Al Mustafa, the writer offers profound insights into these topics. 

Positive Side

The book is short enough to be read in one sitting, yet its true essence unfolds when savored slowly, allowing time to reflect on its profound messages. A thoughtful reader will naturally pause to ponder the insights woven into its sentences or paragraphs. Deep thinkers will find immense value in its pages. The book does not seem to emerge from mere intellectual reasoning; instead, it feels as though it is drawn from a higher, universal source. To borrow the writer’s style: “The book is not the writer’s creation; it is not his, though it comes through him.” It is a work of genius, an extraordinary blend of literary and spiritual insight.

Negative Side

Readers seeking actionable guidance or practical advice may find this book less satisfying. It does not provide a roadmap or list of tasks to improve one’s life in tangible ways. Instead, the book operates on a deeper, more subtle level, stirring the soul and altering the state of being.

In a world driven by productivity and material goals, this book might seem like a collection of beautiful but impractical words—more a luxury of introspection than a tool for achieving worldly success. For some, this could be seen as a limitation. However, those willing to embrace its mystical and transformative power will find that it changes them in ways that are profound, albeit intangible.

Conclusion

The Prophet is a must-read for anyone drawn to mysticism or seeking a fresh perspective on life’s timeless themes. It is a book that touches the soul, leaving readers feeling changed and enriched. Fans of Paulo Coelho’s works will likely find a place for this book in their hearts.

Highly recommended for deep thinkers, introspective readers, and anyone needing a brief yet meaningful escape from the noise of the world, this book is a treasure to be cherished.

Words from the Book

"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."

Rajendra Maharjan

Conact: teacher.rajen@gmail.com

पुस्तक समीक्षा - समर लभ

धेरै बर्षअघि, सायद सन् २००८ मा, म युके को एकजना साथीसंग म्यासेन्जरमा च्याट गर्दै थिएँ. बिबाह त भएको थिएन तर उनि आफ्नो प्रेमीसंगै बस्दै आएकी थिईन्, जसलाई त्यहाँको समाजले सहज रुपमा लिने गर्दछ, जुन कुरा हाम्रो नेपाली समाजमा अहिले पनि अपाच्य नै छ. यसै प्रसंगमा कुराकानी हुदै जाँदा बिबाह अघिको शाररिक सम्बन्ध (premarital sex) का बिषयमा प्रवेश भयो. उनि भन्दैथिईन्, "तिम्रो समाजले बिबाह अघिको शाररिक सम्बन्धलाई स्वीकार्दैन किनभने सेक्सलाई पबित्रतासंग गाँसेर हेर्छ. मेरो बिचारमा सेक्स न त पबित्र क्रिया हो न अपवित्र."

हिजो मात्र मैले सुबिन भट्टराई द्वारा लिखित नेपाली उपन्यास "समर लभ" पढेर सिध्याएँ. यस उपन्यासको उत्तरार्धतिर दुई पात्रहरु बीच शाररिक सम्बन्धको प्रसंग छ, जसका बिषयमा ती पात्रहरुको धारणा माथि उल्लेखित मेरो साथीको विचारसंग मिल्दो-जुल्दो थियो. उनीहरुले शाररिक सम्बन्धलाई पबित्र वा अपवित्र, पाप वा धर्म, सुकर्म वा कुकर्म, प्रेम वा बास्ना जस्ता व्याख्याभन्दा अलग्गै अस्तित्वको क्रियाका रुपमा सहजताकासाथ स्वीकार गरेको देखिन्छ. उपन्यासको यौनप्रतिको यो उदारताका कारण पनि भर्खरै खुल्दै आएको नेपाली समाजका युवा बर्गले यस उपन्यासलाई अत्याधिक रुचाएको हुनुपर्छ भन्ने मेरो अनुमान छ. कथामा नयाँ नौलो बिषय केहि नभए पनि, प्रेम प्रसंगको वरिपरी घुमेको यस उपन्यासले समसामयिक सोच र जीवन शैलीलाई चित्रण गर्न सफल भएको छ. कलेज जीवन र कलेजमा हुने प्रेम प्रसंगलाई समसामयिक रुपमा प्रस्तुत गरिएकोछ. उपन्यासको अन्तिमतिर,  प्रेम वियोगबाट मूल पात्रको मानस पतलमा उत्पन्न भएका सम्बादहरुमा लेखकले आवस्यक भन्दा बढी शब्दहरु र पृष्ठहरु खर्चेको भान भयो.

अत्याधिक पाठकहरुले उपन्यासको अन्त्य खल्लो भएको प्रतिक्रिया जनाइरहंदा मलाई चाहि उपन्यासको पुरै कथा एकजना पात्रको कोणबाट बताइएको र अर्को पात्रको कोणलाई अधुरो नै छोडी अर्को sequel book का लागि थाँती राखी suspense मा कथा अन्त्य गरेको साह्रै मनपर्यो.

व्यक्तिगत रुपमा मलाई यो विधा (genre) का पुस्तकहरुमा खासै रुची लाग्दैन. तर पनि सर्वाधिक रुचाइएको उपन्यास भएका कारणले मैले यो उपन्यास पढेको हुँ . उपन्यास सारै सरल र समसामयिक भाषामा लेखिएको छ. हलुका साहित्यमा रुची हुने बिशेषत: भर्खरका युवाहरुलाई यो उपन्यास राम्रो लाग्न सक्दछ. साहित्यको गहिराइमा डुब्न चाहने वजनदार साहित्यमा रुची हुने पाठकहरुलाई भने यो उपन्यास फिक्का लाग्न सक्छ. संसारमा सबै कुरा सबैलाई कहाँ मनपर्छ र ? जे होश यो उपन्यास रुचाउने पाठकहरुले यसको sequel उपन्यास "साया" अवश्य पढ्नेछन् .

अन्तमा, यस उपन्यासको नाम "समर लभ" चाहि किन रह्यो भन्ने मैले बुझ्न सकिन .        

The Sun and The Wind

The wind always boasted of his mighty strength. The wind was of the view that fierceness, might, and strength always wins over gentleness. But the sun argued that gentleness and kindness are more important to get things done. The debate heated up. The wind challenged the sun for a test. 

A man was walking on a road. The wind said, "You try with your gentleness and I will use my strength to make that man take off his coat. Do you agree to test?"  

The sun consented. Then the wind began to blow the air with all its might. As the wind blew, the man who was walking grabbed his coat. The more the wind became fierce, the tighter was the grip on the coat. The wind blew with all its might causing a fierce storm. But, the man grabbed the coat even tighter. After a long effort, the wind got tired and gave up.

Now it was the sun's turn. The sun gently smiled. As the sun got brighter, the man felt hot and he took off his coat.

Moral: More things are accomplished with gentleness and kindness than strength and force. 

-Based on Aesop's fable

The Third Force

A myrmecologist said, "If you put 100 red ant and 100 black ants in a jar, nothing will happen. They will co-exist in harmony. But if someone shakes the jar violently, and puts the ants on a table, they start attacking each other and kill each other. The black ants think the red ones caused the tremble and the red ants think the black ones are responsible. They don't realize that the trembling is caused by the third force."

The above statement holds true for all human relations as well. Next time when you are about to have a conflict with someone, think first if there exists a third force. 

तेस्रो शक्ति 

एकजना कमिलासम्बन्धी अनुसन्धानकर्ताले भनेका थिए, "१०० वटा कालो कमिला र १०० वटा रातो कमिला एकै भाडोमा राख्दा केहि हुदैन. ती कमिलाहरु मिलेर बस्छन्. तर त्यस भाडालाई बेस्सरी हल्लाएर ती कमिलाहरुलाई टेबलमा छोडिदियो भने एक-अर्कासंग झगडा गर्न थाल्छन् र एकले अर्कालाई मार्छन्.काला कमिलाहरुलाई लाग्छ राता कमिलाले गर्दा त्यो कम्पन भएको हो र राता कमिलाहरुलाई लाग्छ त्यो कम्पनको कारण सेता कमिला हुन्. बास्तवमा त्यस कम्पनको दोषी तेस्रो शक्ति हो भन्ने उनीहरुले थाहा नै पाउदैनन . "

माथिको भनाई मानव सम्बन्धमा पनि लागू हुन्छ. अर्कोपल्ट कसैसंग मनमुटाब हुनलाग्दा सोच्ने गरौँ कतै यो द्वन्दको कारण कुनै तेस्रो शक्ति त होइन. 

The Oak and the Reeds

A giant oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender reeds. When the wind blew, the great oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the reeds bowed low in the wind.

The oak said proudly, "The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty oak, stand upright and firm before the howling tempest."

As the oak was speaking, a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the pitying reeds. The bowing reeds were unbroken and were unharmed by the wind.

Moral: Better to surrender when it is folly to resist than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.

-Aesop's Fable

Preaching

The master and his disciples were travelling. On the road, they were unable to eat properly. The master asked some of them to go and seek food. The disciples returned at the end of the day. Each brought with him the little he had been able to gain through the charity of others; fruit that was already going bad, stale bread and bitter wine. One of the disciples, however, brought with him a bag of ripe apples. 

“I would do anything to help my master and my brothers,” he said, sharing the apples with the others.

“Where did you get these?” asked the master. 

“I had to steal them,” the disciple answered. “People were giving me only spoiled food, even though they knew that we were preaching the word of God.” 

“Get away with your apples, and never come back,” said the master. “Anyone who would rob for me would rob from me.”

-From "Maktub" by Paulo Coelho

The Man and His Two Sweethearts

A middle-aged man, whose hair had begun to turn gray, courted two women at the same time. One of them was young, and the other well advanced in years. The elder woman, ashamed to be courted by a man younger than herself, made a point, whenever her admirer visited her, to pull out some portion of his black hair. The younger, on the contrary, not wishing to become the wife of an old man, was equally zealous in removing every gray hair she could find. Thus a time came when he had no hair at all on his head. 

Moral: Those who seek to please everybody please nobody.

A Tip

Back in the '30s, in the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 years old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" the little boy asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and started to count the coins he had. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing very impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy counted his coins again. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry. As she wiped down the table, there placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies. He couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough money to leave her a tip.

The Goatherd and the Wild Goats

One cold stormy day a goatherd drove his goats for shelter into a cave, where a number of wild goats had also found their way. The goatherd wanted to make the wild goats a part of his flock; so he fed them well. But to his own flock, he gave only just enough food to keep them alive. When the weather cleared, and the goatherd led the goats out to feed, the wild goats scampered off to the hills.

“Is that the thanks I get for feeding you and treating you so well?” complained the goatherd.

“Do not expect us to join your flock,” replied one of the wild goats. “We know how you will treat us later if some new strangers should come as we did.”

-Based on Aesop' fable

The Sick Stag

Once a stag got sick. He could barely move. Out of compassion, all of his friends came to see him. Each one of them ate some food in the stag's house. In few days, the stag starved to death.

-Based on Aesop's Fable

Just One More Night

At the age of twelve, Milton Erickson was a victim of polio. Ten months after he contracted the disease, he heard a doctor tell his parents, “your son won’t live through the night.”

Erickson heard his mother crying. 

“Maybe she won’t suffer so much if I get through tonight,” he thought to himself. And he decided not to sleep till dawn.

In the morning he shouted out, “Hey mother! I’m still alive!”

There was so much joy in the house that from then on he resolved to resist always one more night in order to postpone his parents’ suffering.

He died at the age of 75, leaving behind a series of important books on the enormous capacity that man has to overcome his own limitations.

-By Paulo Coelho

The Boy And The Nuts

Once a small boy was given permission to take as many nuts as he wanted to from a pitcher. The boy grabbed as many nuts as he could and tried to take his hand out of the pitcher. But he was not able to draw his hand out. After trying for some time, he began to cry. His mother, who was watching all this, came near to him and said, "Let go some of the nuts and you'll be able to take out your hand. If you need more nuts you can put your hands inside the pitcher as many times as you like." 

Morals: 

- Greed - wanting everything at once can lead to problems.

- You must let go when you need to.

-Based on Aesop's fable 

Who Wants To Go To Heaven?

A priest, who saw the devil in the pleasures of life, went to the town tavern and asked everyone there to attend the church that evening. Everyone obeyed. With the church filled to the last pew, the priest roared out, "Stop all this drinking! All those who want to go to heaven, raise their right hand!"

The entire congregation raised their hand, everyone but Manoel, who was held by all to be a dignified man who fulfilled all his duties. Surprised, the priest asked: "And you, Manoel, don’t you want to go to heaven when you die?"

"Of course I do. But I still haven’t experienced the life that God has given me, and you want to take it away from me right away".

By Paulo Coelho

Before God

By Paulo Coelho

An old man sold toys in the Baghdad market. Knowing that his sight was not quite perfect, his customers sometimes paid him with fake money.

The old man discovered the ruse but did not say anything. In his prayers, he asked God to forgive those who cheated him. “Perhaps they’re short of money and want to buy presents for their children,” he said to himself.

Time passed and the old man died. Standing before the gates of Heaven, he prayed once more, "Lord!", he said. "I am a sinner. I did many wrong things, I am no better than the false coins I was paid. Forgive me!"

At that moment the gates swung open and a Voice was heard, "Forgive what? How can I judge someone who all through his life never once passed judgment on others?"

The Perfect Woman

- By Paulo Coelho

Nasrudin was talking to a friend, who asked him,‘Have you never considered getting married, Mullah?’

‘I have,’ replied Nasrudin. ‘In my youth, I resolved to find the perfect woman. I crossed the desert and reached Damascus, and I met a lovely, very spiritual woman, but she knew nothing of the world. I continued my journey and went to Isfahan; there I met a woman who knew both the spiritual and the material world, but she was not pretty. Then I decided to go to Cairo, where I dined in the house of a beautiful woman, who was both religious and a connoisseur of material reality.’

‘Why didn’t you marry her then?’

‘Alas, my friend, she was looking for the perfect man.’

सर्वगुण सम्पन्न 

- पाउलो कोएलो  

नसिरुद्दिनका एक मित्रले सोध्यो,"बिहे गर्ने बारेमा कहिल्यै सोचेका छैनौ, नसिरुद्दिन?"

"सोचेको छु", नासिरुद्दिनले  जवाफ दियो,"म जवान हुँदा म सर्वगुण सम्पन्न महिलाको खोजीमा थिएँ। मरुभूमि पार गरी दमस्कसमा पुग्दा एक प्यारी आध्यात्मिक प्रकृतिकी केटीसंग भेट भयो।  तर उसलाई संसारको बारेमा केहि थाहा थिएन। यात्राको क्रममा इस्फाहन पुग्दा ज्यादै धार्मिक प्रकृतिकी सांसारिक ज्ञान पनि प्रचुर मात्रामा भएकी एक महिलासंग भेट भयो, तर उनी सुन्दरी थिईनन्। त्यसपछि म काइरोमा गएँ।  त्यहाँ एक ज्यादै नै सुन्दरी महिलासंग भेट भयो जो धार्मिक पनि थीई र सांसारिक ज्ञान भएकी पनि।"

"अनि उसंग किन बिहे नगरेको त?"

"अफ्शोज, ती महिला पनि सर्वगुण सम्पन्न पुरुषको खोजीमा थीईन्।"  

Loved by Others

Someone asked Abu Yazid al-Bitrami,"Teach me the quickest way to reach God."

Al-Bitrami replied,"Love Him with all your strength."

"That I already do."

"Then you need to be loved by the others."

"But why?"

"Because God looks at the hearts of all men. When He visits yours, He will surely see the love you have for Him and He will be happy. However, if He also finds your name engraved with affection in the hearts of others, He will certainly pay far more attention to you."

In the name of loving God, people often forget to love the people around them, which is equally important.

सबैबाट प्रेम 

अबु अलि यजिद अल् -बित्रामीलाई कसैले सोध्यो,"भगवानसम्म पुग्ने सबैभन्दा छोटो तरिका के होला?"

बित्रामीले जवाफ दियो,"भगवानलाई समग्रताले प्रेम गर।"

"त्यो म अहिले नै गरिरहेकोछु।"

"त्यसो भए अब तिमीलाई अरुले प्रेम गर्न जरुरी छ।"

"तर किन?"

"किनभने भगवानले सबैको हृदयमा हेर्छ।  तिम्रो मनमा हेर्दा भगवान प्रतिको तिम्रो प्रेम देखेर भगवान प्रसन्न त हुन्छन् त्यसमाथि जब अरुको हृदयमा जब तिम्रो नाम प्रेमपूर्वक कुँदिएको देख्नेछ, तब भगवानको ध्यान तिमीमा अझ बढ्नेछ।" 

भगवानलाई प्रेम गर्ने नाममा धेरैले आफ्ना नजिकका मान्छेहरुसंग प्रेम गर्न बिर्सेको पनि हामी धेरै देख्न सक्छौं जुन भगवानको नजरमा पनि सहि नहोला।  

Heaven

Once upon a time, a man, his horse and his dog were travelling along a road. As they passed by a huge tree, it was struck by lightning, and they all died. But the man failed to notice that he was no longer of this world and so he continued walking along with his two animal companions. Sometimes the dead take a while to register their new situation. It was a long, uphill walk, the sun was beating down on them and they were all sweating and thirsty. At a bend in the road they saw a magnificent marble gateway that led into a gold-paved square, in the centre of which was a fountain overflowing with crystal-clear water. The man went over to the guard at the entrance.' "Good morning." 

"Good morning," the guard replied.

"What is this lovely place?" 

"It's Heaven." 

"Well, I'm very glad to see it, because we're very thirsty." 

"You're welcome to come in and drink all the water you want." And the guard indicated the fountain. 

"My horse and dog are also thirsty." 

"I'm terribly sorry," said the guard, "but animals are not allowed in here." 

The man was deeply disappointed for he really was very thirsty, but he was not prepared to drink alone, so he thanked the guard and went on his way. Exhausted after trudging uphill, they reached an old gateway that led on to a dirt road flanked by trees. A man, his hat down over his face, was stretched out in the shade of one of the trees, apparently asleep. '"Good morning," said the traveller. 

The other man greeted him with a nod. "'We're very thirsty - me, my horse and my dog." 

"There's a spring over there amongst those rocks," said the man indicating the spot. "You can drink all you want." 

The man, his horse and his dog went to the spring and quenched their thirst. The traveller returned to thank the man. "Come back whenever you want," he was told. '"By the way, what's this place called?" 

"Heaven." 

"Heaven? But the guard at the marble gateway told me that was Heaven!" 

"That's not Heaven, that's Hell." 

The traveller was puzzled. "You shouldn't let others take your name in vain, you know! False information can lead to all kinds of confusion!" 

"On the contrary, they do us a great favour, because the Ones who stay there are those who have proved themselves capable of abandoning their dearest ones."

- From The Devil and Miss Prym By Paulo Coelho

The Cloud And The Dune

A young cloud was born in the middle of a great storm in the Mediterranean Sea. But it hardly had time to grow there; a strong wind pushed all the clouds towards Africa.

As soon as they arrived on the continent, the climate changed; a warm sun shone in the sky, and down below the golden sand of the Sahara desert spread into the distance. The wind continued to push them towards the forests in the south, since it hardly ever rains in the desert.

However, just as it is with young people, so with young clouds; this one decided to break away from its parents and older friends, to see the world.

"What are you doing?" complained the wind. "The entire desert is exactly the same! Come back to the group, and let’s go to the center of Africa, where there are beautiful mountains and trees!"

But the young cloud, a rebel by nature, did not obey; little by little, it lowered its altitude, until it was able to float on a gentle, generous breeze down near the golden sands. After wandering all over the place, it noticed that one of the dunes was smiling at it.

It was because the dune was also young, recently formed by the wind which had just passed. Straight away, the cloud fell in love with its golden hair.

"Good morning" – said the cloud. "What is it like living down there?"

"I have the company of the other dunes, the sun, the wind, and the caravans which pass by from time to time. Sometimes it is very hot, but it is bearable. And what is living up there like?"

"There is also the wind and the sun, but the advantage is, I can wander across the sky and get to know everything."

"For me life is short" – said the dune. "When the wind returns from the forests, I will disappear."

"And does that make you sad?"

"It gives me the impression that I am of no use to anyone."

"I feel the same way. As soon as another wind comes, I will go south and become rain; however, that’s my destiny."

The dune hesitated for a moment, before saying: "Did you know that, down here in the desert, we call the rain Paradise?"

"I didn’t know I could become something so important" – said the proud cloud.

"I’ve heard several legends told by old dunes. They say that, after the rain, we are covered in herbs and flowers. But I’d never know what that is like, for in the desert it only rains very rarely."

This time it was the cloud which hesitated. But then it started to smile joyfully: "If you like, I can cover you with rain. Although I’ve only just arrived, I am in love with you, and would like to stay here forever."

"When I first saw you up in the sky, I too fell in love" – said the dune. "But if you turn your lovely white hair into rain, you will die."

"Love never dies" – said the dune. "It transforms; and I want to show you Paradise."

And so it began to caress the dune with droplets; they remained together like this for a long time, until a rainbow appeared.

The next day, the small dune was covered in flowers. Other clouds passing towards central Africa, thought that must be part of the forest they were searching for, and poured down more rain. Twenty years later, the dune had become an oasis, which refreshed travellers under the shade of its trees.

And all because, one day, a loving cloud hadn't been afraid to give up its life in the name of love.

-Paulo Coelho

Struggle

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole. Then it stopped, as if it couldn't go further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body,
 

Neither happened! In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around. It was never able to fly.
 

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that restricting cocoon and the struggle required by the butterfly to get through the opening was a way of forcing the fluid from the body into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once that was achieved.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.

We will not be as strong as we could have been and we would never fly.

Tip

This is an old story, back in the '30s, in the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less. A 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" the little boy asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins he had. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing very impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry. As she wiped down the table, there placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough money to leave her a tip.