Gibran‘s message had a humanitarian appeal, prescribing at base the need for personal transformation, essentially spiritual in nature, though also practical and implementable. Gibran demonstrates at all times negotiation, consultation, and dialogue, which are the very foundations of conflict resolution in today‘s world and must be conducted at every level. Although some have dismissed his impact—and with it the spiritual and cultural dimension of peace building—Gibran has, in fact, been nothing less than a catalyst for change in human consciousness and a bridge between cultures and religions.
My work on Gibran started 45 years ago, and my good fortune was to find a spiritual brother, Joe Jenkins, without whom most probably this biography would have never seen the light. We came together as one mind and one soul to pay tribute to a unique human being whose vision was unity in all its aspects. It was a unity in diversity.
What qualities of the writings of Gibran have most appeal for you personally? Gibran‘s writing is imbued with that romantic yearning that every great poet has had in his heart, to be a messenger of the creative power of love and unity, and to inspire man‘s imagination to create the noble and the sublime. This quality has always been very appealing to me.
Has the work of Gibran changed the way you view life and the world?
Why did you undertake the project of writing the Gibran biography? Did you feel there were inadequacies in previous accounts of his life?
My reading of literature has done that, and Gibran had a large share in shaping my view of life and the world. There was no biography that represented the two worlds to which Gibran belonged, the English speaking and the Arabic speaking. I have great When did you begin work on your biography of Kahlil Gibran? respect for all those who have written biographies of Gibran, but the biography that Joe Jenkins and myself have contributed presents Kahlil Gibran as