Dear Friend,
We close out our third season of The Contemplative Reading Project, and this year’s spring reads, with a book I’ve had on my “to be read” pile for so many years:The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. I’ve selected the 2015 Vintage Books Edition, with the author’s original illustrations.
Publisher’s description: The Prophet is a collection of twenty-eight poetic essays that contain powerful words of wisdom on topics including love, marriage, children, friendship, joy and sorrow, death, religion, and beauty. Philosophical, spiritual, and above all inspirational, each chapter reveals deep insights into the impulses of the human heart and mind. With millions of copies of The Prophet sold in more than forty languages since it was first published in 1923, perhaps no other twentieth-century writer has touched so remarkably varied and widespread a readership as Kahlil Gibran.
What is a poetic essay? I’m not exactly sure, but I look forward to considering that question! I’ve also heard this book described as everything from poetry to religious texts, from essays to philosophy. Is it all of this, or something else?
About the author: Kahlil Gibran moved to the United States in 1895 and was exposed to Boston’s artistic community. Initially showing promise as an artist, he also began writing newspaper columns and books in Arabic, drawing attention for his prose poems. After moving to New York City, Gibran began writing books in English, including his most famous work, The Prophet (1923). The popularity of The Prophet endured well after the author’s death in 1931, making him the third-best-selling poet of all time. (Biography.com)
Why Contemplative Reading?
Contemplative reading asks us not just what we’re learning about the book in our hands (or ears), but what we’re learning about ourselves through the experience of reading it. The aim is to create deeper awareness of ourselves and understanding of others. It is often described as “holistic,” but also as “heart-knowing.”
Heart-knowing. Doesn’t that sound nice?
The Plan
This book is organized into twenty-eight short chapters, so I will divide my reading and responses evenly into four sessions of seven chapters per week. Specifically, my posting schedule will look like this:
- June 8: Response to pages 3-31
- June 15: Response to pages 32-52
- June 22: Response to pages 53-67
- June 29: Response to pages 68-101
As always, I don’t plan on doing any other research, since this is not a study but a contemplation. Personally, I further plan to read one chapter a day and treat it as a meditation for that day. I may not be able to write about all seven every week, so I’ll focus on what stands out to/sticks with me most.
Reading & Responding
Each set of reading will guide my responses here on the blog and on social media. I might sometimes share the most provocative line or passage, and what it makes me think about. Other times, I might ask questions about the reading, things I’m wondering about or confused about. And still further, I might compare what I’m reading to what it reminds me of from other readings or experiences. I don’t want to give too much guidance about how to read, except to say, read attentively, read slowly, and listen to yourself. What thoughts and feelings arise as you’re reading? Write them down and give yourself some moments to reflect on why you’re thinking what you’re thinking, or why you’re feeling what you’re feeling.
I will also be interacting on social media and may share micro-thoughts and favorite quotes or reactions on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Facebook. I encourage you to join these conversations or leave your thoughts in the blog comments. On social media, please use #theCRPblog.
Meditation
“Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky, / We fell them down and turn them into paper, / That we may record our emptiness.” -Kahlil Gibran
With love,
~Adam
Contemplative Reading Project 
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