Of Reason and Knowledge

[Guest guest]

I was going through the treasured writings of Kahlil Gibran when I

stumbled into this beautiful piece, and I like to share it with

everyone. Hope you like it just as much as I do.

 

" When Reason speaks to you, hearken to what she says, and you shall

be saved. Make good use of her utterances, and you shall be as one

armed. For the Lord has given you no better guide than Reason, no

stronger arm than Reason. When Reason speaks to your inmost self, you

are proof against Desire. For Reason is a prudent minister, a loyal

guide, and a wise counselor. Reason is light in darkness, as anger is

darkness amidst light. Be wise - let reason, not Impulse, be your

guide.

 

Yet be mindful that even if Reason be at your side, she is helpless

without the aid of Knowledge. Without her blood-sister, Knowledge,

reason is like houseless poverty ; and Knowledge without reason is

like a house unguarded. And even Love, Justice, and Goodness avail

little if reason be not there too.

 

The learned man who has not judgment is like an unarmed soldier

proceeding into battle. His wrath will poison the pure spring of the

life of his community and he will be like the grain of aloes in a

pitcher of pure water.

 

Reason and learning are like body and soul. Without the body, the soul

is nothing but empty wind. Without the soul, the body is but a

senseless frame.

 

Reason without learning is like the untilled soil, or like the human

body that lacks nourishment.

 

Reason is not like the goods sold in the market places - the more

plentiful they are, the less they are worth. Reason's worth waxes with

her abundance. But were she sold in the market, it is only the wise

man who would understand her true value.

 

The fool sees naught but folly; and the madman only madness. Yesterday

I asked a foolish man to count the fools among us. He laughed and said

,"This is too hard a thing to do, and it will take too long. Were it

not better to count only the wise?"

 

Know your own true worth, and you shall not perish. Reason is your

light and your beacon of Truth. Reason is the source of Life. God has

given you Knowledge, so that by its light you may not only worship

him, but also see yourself in your weakness and strength.

 

If you do not destroy the mote in your own eye, surely you will not

see it in your neighbours'.

 

Each day look into your conscience and amend our faults; if you fail

in this duty you will be untrue to the Knowledge and reason that are

within you.

 

Keep a watchful eye over yourself as if you were your won enemy; for

you cannot learn to govern yourself, unless you first learn to govern

your own passion and obey the dictated of your conscience.

 

I once heard a man say, "Every evil has its remedy, except folly. To

reprimand an obstinate fool or to preach to a dolt is like writing

upon the water. Christ healed the blind, the halt, the palsied, and

the leprous. But the fool, He could not cure. Study a question from

all sides, and you will be sure to discover where error has crept in.

When the portal of your house is wide, see to it that the

postern-gate be not too narrow. He who tries to seize an opportunity

after it has passed him by is like one who sees it approach but will

not go to meet it.

 

God does not work evil He gives us reason and Learning so that we may

ever be on our guard against the pitfalls of Error and destruction.

 

Blessed are they on whom God has conferred the gift of Reason

 

 

 

OM ParaShaktiye Namaha