Customer Reviews:
 For a Sequel It Suffices November 3, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Return of the Prophet by Hajjar Gibran is an ambitious endeavor to write a sequel to the classic by Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet. There is a certain amount of hubris implied in writing a sequel to another author's works but the fact that Hajjar is somehow related to Kahlil, although the lineage is never clearly defined, is supposed to add a veneer of acceptability to a clearly daunting task.
As I read this book, I wondered if Hajjar aspired to create a text as eloquent and impacting as Kahlil's. He manages to embrace the voice and tone of the previous publication very well and his story is more contemporary in some ways. However, I recall reading The Prophet and needing to set aside the book to meditate on the passage I had just read.
I never once set Hajjar's book down for that reason. Rather, I would finish a chapter and consider whether I wanted to read another chapter or perhaps do something else. I neither felt compelled to continue reading nor stop reading. In that respect, I suppose the book does not live up to its promise.
The truth is, I did not approach this book with an assumption it would live up to Kahlil's seminal story. Rather, I came to it with the same lowered expectations I would to any other sequel. With that in mind, I enjoyed the book. It did not exceed my expectations nor did it disappoint completely. There are enough writings by Kahlil Gibran to make a sequel to his lovely The Prophet superfluous. Anyone aching to read more of the brilliant teachings of Gibran would probably do better to stay with Kahlil. But, if Kahlil's writings have been exhausted and there is still a need for more, then Hajjar's book is here to fill, if not fulfill, that need.
 Quick read with useful messages October 31, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The book is only 102 pages, so it makes for a fairly quick read. I would look at it as a useful reminder of the ideals set forth in the book, namely looking within for peace and strength, trusting in the connection to your source, remaining enchanted with the world that surrounds you, detachment from material things, etc. All of these points have been touched on countless times before and this book represents the path of one man's life and his discovery of these ways of thinking and living.
It is set up somewhat like the Bhagavad Gita, whereas we find the author in personal dialogue with the Higher Being. The author sets the scene by describing a stage of his life and then he is met by the Higher Being, who then dispels phony beliefs and lays out a clearer path to truth and understanding. Issues/ideas touched on (briefly) are: Belief, Truth, Desire, Grace, Sexuality, Change, Abundance, Betrayal, Forgiveness, Courage, Bliss, Love, Awakening and Remembering. This should give you a pretty good idea of what you are in for, as each chapter is relatively short and to the point.
I found the book to be a good read, but I may have felt differently had it been any longer. I believe that the short form of the book is perfectly suited to the matter being explored in THE WAY the author chose to explore it.
openness of his psychospiritual journey is excellent October 30, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I remember reading "The Prophet" in high school and having metaphysical discussions. That was a wonderful period of life. I had been pulled into reading The Prophet, using it's guidance and wisdom in facing some of life's challenges. Many years later, in the tradition of Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet", one of Gibran's descendants, Hajjar Gibran, has now authored, "The Return of the Prophet". First off, this is NOT "The Prophet". It is written by a Lebanese gentleman, 100 years later, a descendant. It is sooooo easy to relate to this man, Hajjar. I can relate to the tragedy of death, attachment, change, escape, hope, courage ... He writes in a less mystical, ultimate TRUTH manner than did Kahlil. The teachings of the Prophet in this text were beautifully written. After a dozen years of subsequent training, I seem to see some of the unconscious elements that tie much together. Where Kahlil's writing was much more aloof and mystical, Hajjar's writing was much more down to earth, with occasional lapses into the ethereal, and, in my opinion, it made this book much more easy to relate to and to benefit from. I don't think that it has the substance quality of Kahlil's writings, not yet at least, but, was excellent stimulus for my thinking and practice. I'd give this book an A-. For the percent of the population drawn to popular metaphysical literature, it'll be an A+. Highly detailed and grounded people are less likely to benefit from this writing until their circumstances force them to be able to relate to elements of this excellent text. I hope that this is helpful to you. If you would like further conversation on this book, please feel free to contact me.
 "Forever grateful to the generous spirit that blesses me..." October 29, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
The title of this review is one of the many, many quotes in this book that I will pull out to keep me warm when it feels cold out to me.
I didn't know what to expect when I got this book. I had not read "the prophet" and did not have a preconceived idea. Within a couple of pages I was profoundly touched and completely hooked.
Hajjar Gibran has invited the reader on a journey from the soul splitting wound over the death of his brother to a homecoming and awakening of his Spirit's heart. I left the final page with a reluctance and also with a sense of having been nourished.
It threads very real human experience and foibles into a steady walk toward realization and understanding. If you are someone that seeks quotes of strength and honor, this book is good for that. Each page weaves words in a beautiful way. If you are someone who seeks themes of redemption, do not miss out on this book. It is exquisite!
 Beautiful but ultimately empty story October 28, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
While there was a lot of beautiful poetry in this work, I found little substance. Yes, I understand about metaphor and trying to pair this with the work done by his ancestor, and lord knows I'm familiar with spiritual, new age, contemporary lingo. I used to own and edit and write for a new age spiritual newspaper. What I find in this work is what I found in many of the things I used to edit and review - a lot of words, a lot of promises, but very little depth or real life applicability, and things being explained on an essentialist, and somewhat kindergarten level. The "prophet" that he seeks guidance from has a lot of pretty, and seemingly profound, things to say, but when you get beyond the heartfelt response, there aren't very many real answers presented, nor useful guidance.
The case in point for me is the constant admonition by people like the author that, it's all here for all of us now, we just have to remove the veil (or whatever metaphor is implied) and embrace what is already there. But, what if the veil is society, culture, our current way of being in the world, and the thought and psychological structure we have all been raised and conditioned within? Yes, it is true that in our natural state as humans things like money and "work" and material things don't really mean that much, but we are not in that natural state, and unless we leave everything to go in live off the lands in the woods, we have to live with that veil. On the other hand, I would also add that the creation of a parable or any story of giving meaning as defined in human terms, is simply replacing one veil for another.
Like many people in this genre, what comes forth as a solution is a version of "living in the world but not of it," where we all can have our cake and eat it to. Life isn't a parable or a metaphor or a story, it is what we are, heart and soul and blood and guts and to make the pain and suffering of children and adults from the result of a divorce and other selfish behavior part of the "parable" and put in poetic terms is not only insulting to all those affected by the dysfunction, but insulting to the reader as well. Yes, we would all love to put our trials and tribulations into these terms, and it might even make us feel better about them, but thinking (and the resulting actions) have done nothing to change the world in any meaningful way, or ease the suffering of those not fortunate enough to have the time on their hands to rewrite their own histories.
If you want to live in a fantasy world and imagine that this whole trip of life is some kind of parable, metaphor, stop on the karma train, or lesson in "earth school," then this book is exactly what you are looking for. Gibran joins the litany of authors on the new age speaking and organization building circuit who claims to have the answers to the meaning of life, and yet fails to deliver in any real way.
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