Kahil Gibran

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Since we are all here to look for a symbol of love which ultimately leads us to a life of living, loving and sharing together, I thought everyone would appreciate a passage from the book titled "The Prophet" authored by Kahil Gibran. I have been reading his works for about ten years now and get something new out of the passages everytime I read them.






Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other''s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other''s keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other''s shadow. /idealbb/images/smilies/wavey.gif

 

[Mikesgirl]

Seems more like a challenge than advice. It's true, though, that getting lost in each other is as dangerous as getting lost alone. My mom always said 2 halves make a whole, but it takes two wholes to make a marriage.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Very well put Marty....




Healthy relationships involve support from both parties...




Sounds a little strange but I view marriage as 2 people living two seperate lives together and sharing their individuality with each other when the day is done always offering support for the other half...




Great couples will bring the best out of each other which always adds to the whole....

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Don't intend to flood the forum with these passages but heres another for now on LOVE..






Love



Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love."

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them.

And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

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.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."

And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Maybe we can all read these passages and remark on how each of us interprets them. Some statements might symbolize or carry different messages each unique to the individual...

 

[Mikesgirl]

These are amazingly evocative. Most of these lines make me think of the love I feel for my children. They run you through the ringer and you love them no matter what. The highest highs and the lowest lows have come from experiences I've had with my children. My husband challenges me to be my best and live up to my potential. My children challenge me in ways that make me face the worst in me. They strip me bare.

What our parents can't teach us, our children will.

 

[kage13]

what do you think by his poem "the sea"?

 

[rubydick]

Date: 11/18/2003 8:24:54 PM
Author: Mikesgirl
These are amazingly evocative. Most of these lines make me think of the love I feel for my children. They run you through the ringer and you love them no matter what. The highest highs and the lowest lows have come from experiences I''ve had with my children. My husband challenges me to be my best and live up to my potential. My children challenge me in ways that make me face the worst in me. They strip me bare.

What our parents can''t teach us, our children will.

How true. thanks to the both of you for making it real.

 

[blueroses]

I''ve been to a few weddings w/ readings from The Prophet. Lovely.