Chapter 26: On Religion ~ Gibran’s The Prophet with Journaling Prompts
And an old priest said, Speak to us
of Religion.
And he said:
Have I spoken this day of aught else?
Is not religion all deeds and all
reflection,
And that which is neither deed nor
reflection, but a wonder and a surprise
ever springing in the soul, even while
the hands hew the stone or tend the
loom?
Who can separate his faith from
his actions, or his belief from his
occupations?
Who can spread his hours before him,
saying, “This for God and this for
myself; This for my soul, and this other
for my body?”
All your hours are wings that beat
through space from self to self.
He who wears his morality but as his best
garment were better naked.
The wind and the sun will tear no holes
in his skin.
And he who defines his conduct by ethics
imprisons his song-bird in a cage.
The freest song comes not through bars
and wires.
And he to whom worshipping is a window,
to open but also to shut, has not yet
visited the house of his soul whose
windows are from dawn to dawn.
*****
Your daily life is your temple and your
religion.
Whenever you enter into it take with you
your all.
Take the plough and the forge and the
mallet and the lute,
The things you have fashioned in
necessity or for delight.
For in revery you cannot rise above your
achievements nor fall lower than your
failures.
And take with you all men:
For in adoration you cannot fly higher than
their hopes nor humble yourself lower
than their despair.
*****
And if you would know God be not
therefore a solver of riddles.
Rather look about you and you shall see
Him playing with your children.
And look into space; you shall see Him
walking in the cloud, outstretching His
arms in the lightning and descending in
rain.
You shall see Him smiling in flowers,
then rising and waving His hands in
trees.
***** *****
~ Chapter 26 “On Religion” from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Spirit Nourished Earth created the image in this post in collaboration with DALL·E 3
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Journaling Prompts for Self-Reflection
Living in Harmony
Kahlil Gibran suggests that religion is found in all our actions. In what ways do your daily actions reflect your more profound beliefs, and how can you align them more fully with your sense of purpose?
Sacred in the Ordinary
According to Gibran, your daily life is your temple. How can you cultivate a more profound sense of sacredness in your everyday activities, no matter how simple or mundane they seem?
The Freedom of Unbound Morality
Gibran speaks of the freedom that comes when rigid definitions do not constrain morality. What areas of your life do you feel called to break free from societal or self-imposed constraints to experience true freedom?
Finding the Divine in Nature
Gibran encourages us to see the divine in the world around us, from children to rain and flowers. How can you deepen your connection with nature and see it as a reflection of the divine presence in your life?
Continue the Conversation
Your reflections are valuable to this community. If you feel inspired, please share your thoughts or insights in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.
Chapter 27: On Death
