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Title: The Beloved: Reflections on the Path of the Heart by Kahlil Gibran, John Walbridge, Robin A. Waterfield ISBN: 0-14-019553-X Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: January, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (8 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: OK
Comment: This book was ok, but didn't touch me as much as "the prophet" did.
Rating: 4
Summary: Reflections on the path of the heart
Comment: For Khalil Gibran, love was a way perhaps a supreme way of achieving self-realization and completeness as a human being. Anyone can live their life transformed by the all consuming power of an encounter with "The Beloved". Particularly in the Eastern cultures there are people trapped in joyless or organized marriages; their passions sacrificed to convention. It is these segments of people that Gibran has brilliantly targeted. Gibran can write very complex social issues in quite simple terms. He can make these issues in a way that can make the reader feel one is taking a walk in a quiet wood, or bathing in a cool stream.
During the course of his reading one can observe that Gibran is a fervernt and outspoken champion of the cause of human rights. He has waged a struggle to strengthen the recognition of youth's freedom of action in love, and abolish from the social structure some of the prevailing ancient marriage customs. He has a strong condemnation of traditions of pre-arranged marriages of children by their parents, in complete disregard of the wishes of those so betrothed.
The ill-fated story of Lyla in 'The Brides Bed' is an eye witness account recorded by Khalil. Lyla with courage, anguish and heroism broke in fury from this custom. She brought as a result on her self consequences extremely tragic. This is best described in Khalil's prose:
"... Come you cowards! Fear not the specter of death whose greatness will refuse to approach your littleness and dread not this dagger, for it is a divine instrument which declines to touch your filthy bodies and empty hearts. Look at this handsome youth, he is my beloved and I killed him because I love him. .... We sought a bed worthy of our love in this world which you have made so small with your ignorance and traditions. .... Then the bride lifted her dagger towards the sky, and like a thirsty person who brings the edge of a drinking glass to her lips, she bought it down and planted it in her chest..."
In the 'Vision' he describes the social convention issue faced by one:
".. I am a lost human heart, imprisoned in the foul dungeons of mans dictates; tied with chains of earthly authority, dead and forgotten by laughing humanity whose tounge is tied and whose eyes are empty of visible tears. ..."
Rating: 5
Summary: Poetic beauty for spiritual insight
Comment: I have probably not read any author with more of a gift for beautiful words than Kahlil Gibran. Just reading the English translation for this collection of his love-related Arabic works makes my bones ache with the amazing insights he portrays through moving language. This book is a very well assembled collection, with a decent introduction about Gibran's life (knowing the author, after all, is essential to understanding their work.)
With a nice harmonized blend of short stories and poetry, The Beloved is an important addition to both beginners' and the experienced's understanding of a very unique philosopher. It also includes some of Gibran's mystic artwork, for which he was almost as well known as for his writing. The translators/editors did an excellent job in portraying Gibran's style and gorgeous words as closely as possible to the original Arabic. No one has had the poetic rhythm Gibran did; hopefully appreciation for his extraodinary gift for language will grow. (PS, if you haven't read Gibran's The Prophet, do.)
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Title: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran ISBN: 0394404289 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 12 September, 1923 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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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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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: Love Letters by Kahlil Gibran, Suheil Bushrui, Salma Haffar Al-Kuzbari, Mayy Ziyadah, Salma Al-Haffar Kuzbari, Salma Haffar Al-Kuzbari ISBN: 1851681825 Publisher: Oneworld Publications Ltd Pub. Date: 01 July, 1999 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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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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