Monday Musings Season 2 - Episode 128

MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 – EPISODE 128

25th October 2021

The meaning of ‘Love’ is ‘affection without any expectation’ and not having any expectation includes not expecting reciprocation of love as well. Thus, the phrase ‘Love failure’, purported to be the cause for the misery and downfall of many youngsters, is an oxymoron as true love never expects reciprocation.

?#KhalilGibran‘OnLove’

Khalil Gibran is a Lebanese-American philosophical essayist, novelist, poet, and artist. Gibran’s literary and artistic works are highly romantic?in outlook. His writings in Arabic and English, deal with such themes as love, death, nature, and a longing for the homeland. His works are full of lyrical outpourings and are expressive of Gibran’s deeply religious and mystic nature.

Kahlil Gibran’s?‘On Love’?is a very popular prose-poem and has been translated into over 100 languages, so far. Khalil Gibran’s poems are very powerful and expressive.

‘On Love’ is compiled as a sermon on spiritual love by blessed prophet and the central character of his best-loved work “The Prophet”, who had been waiting for twelve years in the city of Orphalese for his ship to return. He stayed in that city for a long time and created a spiritual relationship not only with the place but also with the people. That’s why when he was about to leave the city people leaving their daily works came to meet him for the last time.

Al Mustafa proceeded to the great square along with them. There appeared a seeress named Almitra who requested him to share his lifelong learning on different things. This poem records what Al Mustafa shared with them about ‘spiritual love’. Giving below relevant extracts from the poem ‘On Love’ by Khalil Gibran.

?Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love

……

?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, for 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.????????????-??On Love by Khalil Gibran

Interpretation - All mention of Love ?in this poem refers to ‘spiritual love’, however you can find most of the references applying to all forms of Love. A person cannot get anything from Love except what is already there. It does not demand anything as well. The only thing this love can take from a soul is love. Love possesses nothing which explains that if a soul is loving another one from a spiritual?perspective?there is no demand from both the sides. It cannot possess anything. Neither it can be possessed. If a person thinks so, it is nothing but foolishness. This love represents God. Possessing God is next to impossible task

This love does not make a person haughty. Rather it nurtures humbleness in the heart. Therefore one possessed with divine love would rather think he is in God’s heart. So, being humble is the essence of Love. One cannot direct the course of Love, Love will direct a person if he exhibits ‘true love’.

According to Khalil Gibran, love has no other desire. The only motive of love is to fulfil itself. When his time comes, there will be gratitude in his heart. Just before the final moment, he will pray to the beloved residing in his heart and sing a hymn in praise of God, the almighty.

Life without Love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit

Kahlil Gibran

#ArchitectOfRamSetu

Do you know who was the architect of the bridge to Lanka built by the monkeys? It was not an ordinary monkey. It was Nala, son of Vishwakarma. Do you know the story of how and why Nala was selected for that important assignment? It is an interesting story.?I shall explain in the next episode.

?Lovingly Yours

Jaganathan

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Prepared and posted by Jaganathan T (www.authorjaganathan.com) every Monday exclusive for LinkedIn readers. Follow [email protected] to read every Monday. Author's book GRANDMA IN THE BOARDROOM is now available in all online stores and also in www.authorjaganathan.com for purchase.