Archives

By Prof. Sunandra Mahendra

The Lebanese poet prophet Kahlil Gibran (1883 January 6 - 1931 April 10th) lived for a period of 48 years and had left a whole legacy of creative thought which from time to time remind us the need for a national awakening and a rationale for a nation building phenomenon.

Last week when I obtained a copy of Kahlil Gibran: a Spiritual Treasury (2001) compiled by Suheil Bushrui, one of the internationally recognized as the foremost authority on Gibran, I read with interest once again the creative thought embedded therein. One of the works, culled from the 'Garden of the Prophet' goes as follows, Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, and drinks a wine that flows not from its own winepress.

Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful. Pity a nation that despises a passion in its dream, yet submits in its awakening. Pity the nation that raises not its voice save when it walks in a funeral, boasts not except among it ruins, and will rebel not save when its neck is laid between the sword and the block. Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking. Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpetings, and farewells him with hootings, only to welcome another with trumpetings again. Pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years and whose strong emn are yet in the cradle. Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation.

The Garden of the Prophet

What actually transpires is the dual nature of the human in society who has woven for himself a false garb. In the first instance, his thoughts lay bare the necessity to achieve national goals in all areas of life. The failing to do so will result on the dependence to various extraneous adverse forces. The poet Gibran sensitively captures the real nature of the opinion leader and the statesman, and denounces all possible falsities and thuggeries. The true statesman, philosopher and the religious leader would have the soul full of national conscience and a soul devoid of pettiness. It is believed that Gibran's creative thinking had been kindled by all living religious thoughts. But he envelops the religious and spiritual thinking into sensitive creative fables, parables and sayings resulting in a total metamorphosis. In the voice of Master he laid down the following experiences. The other day I saw a rich man standing at the temple door, stretching out his hands, which were full of precious stones, toward all passers-by, and calling to them, saying 'Have pity on me. Take these jewels from me. For they have made my soul sick and hardened my heart. Pity me. Take them, and make me whole again. This experience underlines not only the vanity of all riches, but also the human heart devoid of human sympathy and understanding. Once again in the voice of the Master, Gibran raises some sensitive questions and tries to address several human issues enabling us to reconsider our stance as suppliers and consumers. Are you a merchant, drawing advantage from the needs of the people, engrossing goods so as to resell them at an exorbitant price? If so, you are a reprobate; and it matters naught whether your home is a palace or a prison.

Or are you an honest man, who enables farmer and weaver to exchange their products, who mediates between buyer and seller, and through his just ways profits both himself and others? If so, you are a righteous man; and it matters not whether you are praised or blamed. According to Gibran the concept of time has to be understood in its true nature. We complain that time flies and there is no time for anything, but in his 'Thoughts and Meditations' the concept time gets, another dimension. It goes as follows.

How strange Time is, and how queer we are! Time has really changed and lo, it has changed us too. It walked one step forward, unveiled its face, alarmed us and then elated us. Yesterday we complained about Time and trembled at its terrors. But today we have learned to love it and revere it, for we now understand its intents, its natural disposition, its secrets, and its mysteries.

As for me, Gibran stands behind us as a giver of a pacified knowledge, for all times, whether we are in sorrow or in joy. In 'Spiritual sayings' Gibran states: Your thought advocates Judaism, Brahminism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. In my thoughts there is only one religion whose varying parts are but the fingers of the loving hand of the Supreme Being.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager