21. On Time, The Prophet By Khalil Gibran

"The timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness."
"And that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space."

“The Prophet,” a collection of twenty-six prose poems, delivered as sermons by a fictional wise man in a faraway time and place. First published in 1923, it is full of timeless wisdom. I've separated each poem in order to practice Deep Listening for the wisdom in each verse. I hope you enjoy each word.

Transcript

Greetings and many blessings.

May today find you happy and healthy and full of peace and thank you so much for taking the time to practice listening.

So as you find a comfortable seat and stack your spine,

Notice your head square directly over the shoulders and for a moment just listen.

Slowing down the heartbeat,

Slowing down the breath,

Letting go of any distractions.

Just choosing to be completely present and aware in this moment.

And an astronomer said,

Master what of time?

And he answered,

You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.

You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.

Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.

Yet the timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness and knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.

And that that which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.

Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless and yet who does not feel that very love though boundless encompassed within the center of his being and moving not from love thought to love thought nor from love deeds to another love deeds.

It is not time even as love is undivided and spaceless.

But if in your thoughts you must measure time into seasons let each season encircle all the other seasons and let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.

Set yourselves free from the past and grant yourselves freedom to move forward into the future.

We can't change our beginning.

We are exactly where we are supposed to be and with a pure intention we have the clearest vision of the way ahead.

It begins with the present with all my love and with all my gratitude.

May you truly be happy.

May you truly be healthy and may you feel at peace in this moment.

Namaste.