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The Vision: Reflections on the Way of the Soul
In search of the "truth", Gibran could find no single religious tradition which completely revealed its intention. Thus he wove together insights from Eastern Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, American Transcendentalism, and the folklore of his native Lebanon to create his own universal "Anthem of Humanity"--which is this superb selection.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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266 people want to read
About the author
Kahlil Gibran
1,329 books15.1k followersKahlil Gibran (Arabic:
جبران خليل جبران
) was a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 22, 2009
Worth the read for "My Soul Gave Me Good Counsel" alone, but the rest of it is amazing too.
July 1, 2016
Gibran is a universal writer. A great mystic and a brilliant humanitarian. Known for his profundity and lucidity of his thought and expression. And those traits can clearly been seen in this small book.
The Anthem Of Humanity.
The Voice of The Poet.
Beauty.
Have Mercy, My Soul.
The Visit Of Wisdom.
Song of the Flower.
Vision.
My Soul Gave me good counsel.
Perfection.
The Beauty of Death.
The Letters of Fire.
The Realm Of Happiness.
Above are just the few scribes written by this great poet that define why he is the third most translated poet in the world. I think western people should thank him a great deal for bringing so much spirituality to a rather materialistic society that they live in.
The Anthem Of Humanity.
The Voice of The Poet.
Beauty.
Have Mercy, My Soul.
The Visit Of Wisdom.
Song of the Flower.
Vision.
My Soul Gave me good counsel.
Perfection.
The Beauty of Death.
The Letters of Fire.
The Realm Of Happiness.
Above are just the few scribes written by this great poet that define why he is the third most translated poet in the world. I think western people should thank him a great deal for bringing so much spirituality to a rather materialistic society that they live in.
January 12, 2013
The Visions takes you into visions and reflections on humanity, beauty, soul, and much more...
Quotes:
"Knowledge cultivates your seeds and does not sow in you seeds."
"Beauty captivates us, but the greatest beauty sets us free even from its own essence."
"Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be."
April 3, 2008
Another spiritual masterpiece from Kahlil Gibran. Much like the prophet but more intensely personal to the reader and not one to be read like a story book. There are messages and truisms in here for everyone. In design, very much like Maktub by Paulo Cuelho but deeper - way deeper
September 1, 2016
A heavy read for those who only read novels,
But if you want something new and filled with wisdom you should definitely read this book
I loved the chapter ( the poet of Baalbek )..
But if you want something new and filled with wisdom you should definitely read this book
I loved the chapter ( the poet of Baalbek )..
September 8, 2021
"The Vision" (1994) is a collection of Gibran's spiritual writings published well after his death. It has its moments but it's uneven and a big step down from "The Prophet" (1923).
Quotes:
On brotherhood and nationalism, from "The Voice of the Poet":
"Human beings separate into factions and tribes and adhere to countries and regions whereas I see my essence as foreign to any one land and alien to any single people. The entire earth is my homeland and the human family is my clan."
...
"I crave my homeland for its beauty and love its inhabitants for their poverty. Yet when my people set out to defend what they call nationalism and march upon the homeland of my neighbors - plundering their wealth, killing their men, making orphans of their children, and widows of their women, spilling the blood of their sons on the earth, and feeding the flesh of their youth to beasts of prey - then I hate my country and its inhabitants."
On wisdom, from "The Visit of Wisdom":
"She said, 'You desire, O mortal, to view this world through the eyes of a god, and wish to comprehend the mysteries of the world to come by means of your human intellect; and this is the utmost folly. Go out into the open country, and you will find the bee hovering over flowers and the eagle picking apart its prey. Enter the house of your neighbor, and you will see a child bedazzled by the fire's rays, while the mother busies herself with housework. Imitate the bee and do not spend the days of spring gazing upon the deeds of the eagle. Be as the child and delight in the flame's brightness, and pay no heed to your mother and her affairs."
On wisdom, from "Flower Song":
"I drink the wine of dew, listen to the songs of thrushes, and dance to the applause of hte grasses. I ever look upward, that I might see the light rather than my own fantasies, and this is a wisdom that humans have not yet learned."
Quotes:
On brotherhood and nationalism, from "The Voice of the Poet":
"Human beings separate into factions and tribes and adhere to countries and regions whereas I see my essence as foreign to any one land and alien to any single people. The entire earth is my homeland and the human family is my clan."
...
"I crave my homeland for its beauty and love its inhabitants for their poverty. Yet when my people set out to defend what they call nationalism and march upon the homeland of my neighbors - plundering their wealth, killing their men, making orphans of their children, and widows of their women, spilling the blood of their sons on the earth, and feeding the flesh of their youth to beasts of prey - then I hate my country and its inhabitants."
On wisdom, from "The Visit of Wisdom":
"She said, 'You desire, O mortal, to view this world through the eyes of a god, and wish to comprehend the mysteries of the world to come by means of your human intellect; and this is the utmost folly. Go out into the open country, and you will find the bee hovering over flowers and the eagle picking apart its prey. Enter the house of your neighbor, and you will see a child bedazzled by the fire's rays, while the mother busies herself with housework. Imitate the bee and do not spend the days of spring gazing upon the deeds of the eagle. Be as the child and delight in the flame's brightness, and pay no heed to your mother and her affairs."
On wisdom, from "Flower Song":
"I drink the wine of dew, listen to the songs of thrushes, and dance to the applause of hte grasses. I ever look upward, that I might see the light rather than my own fantasies, and this is a wisdom that humans have not yet learned."
December 15, 2023
This was my first Gibran read, so I did go in a little bit blind, besides already being familiar with his backstory as an artist. It’s truly been years since I sat down and read a more philosophically-riddled train of thought and I must say I am deeply touched by a lot of his ideas regarding life, death, and love. He portrays all aspects of the world around us in a more sensitive light, perhaps even a tad idealistic. It would be incredible if human beings really focused on the present, appreciating everything they had, instead of being in a constant state of yearning for a future they cannot guarantee; and it would also be lovely if love was a purely selfless sentiment, and not a feeling based on exchange of tangible objects.
Oh to be a romantic in a realistic world… I wish it had potential to change.
Oh to be a romantic in a realistic world… I wish it had potential to change.
May 9, 2019
I tried reading this a long time ago and sadly viewed it with the impatience of youth. Reading it now when it’s travelled around the world with me I am glad I have grown up enough to appreciate the richness of the work.
August 5, 2021
A book that cannot be read once. A book that needs to be reread again and again. The beauty of the language. The honesty of the feeling. The yearning that is laid bare. Gibran asks us the questions that he answers, for himself, for us. But we too must find the answers, inspired by his questions.
July 1, 2023
It is one of his early works and at first I was disappointed and I had a hard time picking it up to read it. Nonetheless it did pick up in quality and inspiration on the second part of the collection. Then I hard a hard time letting go of it.
September 5, 2023
inspirational
Bits of wisdom written in words that need to be reread. Very deep and elusive requiring to be walked away from and then gone back to and pursued the meaning again and again till you see the simplicity of it
Bits of wisdom written in words that need to be reread. Very deep and elusive requiring to be walked away from and then gone back to and pursued the meaning again and again till you see the simplicity of it
March 30, 2018
It's not the book but the translation. I hope someday I will read this book in the original language.
September 8, 2019
Peaceful and pure Bliss
October 13, 2019
I'm very fascinating about Khalil Gibran when my professor in world literature introduced to us.
His inspirational and mesmerizing essays take us to more self-worthiness and acknowlegement.
His inspirational and mesmerizing essays take us to more self-worthiness and acknowlegement.
October 22, 2013
The Vision: Reflections on the Way of the Soul by Kahlil Gibran, translated by R. I. Cole, is another excellent book for artists, wanderers, and wonderers of all kinds. Gibran was a Lebanese-American artist and writer from the early 1900s whose keen intelligence, contemplative spirit, and compassionate voice shine through his body of work. Sitting down with this small collection of prose poems is like sitting down with a friend and a storyteller who masterfully weaves together raw human emotion, mythic symbolism, and age-old wisdom to create an expansive vision of the shared soul of humankind. With words tempered by the suffering he experienced in his own life, Gibran addresses the shared suffering we all experience in our relationship with nature, one another, and within our own hearts. Because he eschews any singular philosophy and highlights sensible wisdom from a variety of traditions, his style is as accessible as it is thought-provoking. If you're in the market for some good food for thought, this book is delectable.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews