Chapter 20: On Talking ~ Gibran’s The Prophet with Journaling Prompts
And then a scholar said, Speak of Talking.
And he answered, saying:
You talk when you cease to be at peace
with your thoughts;
And when you can no longer dwell in the
solitude of your heart you live in your
lips, and sound is a diversion and a
pastime.
And in much of your talking, thinking is
half murdered.
For thought is a bird of space, that in
a cage of words may indeed unfold its
wings but cannot fly.
There are those among you who seek the
talkative through fear of being alone.
The silence of aloneness reveals to
their eyes their naked selves and they
would escape.
And there are those who talk, and
without knowledge or forethought reveal
a truth which they themselves do not
understand.
And there are those who have the truth
within them, but they tell it not in
words.
In the bosom of such as these the spirit
dwells in rhythmic silence.
*****
When you meet your friend on the
roadside or in the market place, let the
spirit in you move your lips and direct
your tongue.
Let the voice within your voice speak to
the ear of his ear;
For his soul will keep the truth of
your heart as the taste of the wine is
remembered
When the colour is forgotten and the
vessel is no more.
***** *****
\
~ Chapter 20 “On Talking” from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Spirit Nourished Earth created the image in this post in collaboration with DALL·E 3
Journaling Prompts for Self-Reflection
True Communication
Gibran suggests that true communication arises from the spirit within. How can you cultivate a deeper connection to your inner voice, allowing it to guide your conversations with others?
The Fear of Aloneness
Gibran reflects on the fear of being alone, which leads some to seek the talkative. How do you experience solitude, and what do you learn about yourself in the stillness of your own company?
The Limits of Words
Gibran compares thought to a bird that cannot fly within the confines of words. How do you experience the limitations of language when trying to express deep or complex thoughts?
Unspoken Truth
According to Gibran, some carry the truth within them but do not speak it in words. How do you communicate truth beyond language, through actions, presence, or silence?
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