Kahlil Gibran was a poet, a writer, a philosopher and a virtual artist,  a Lebanese who immigrated to the United States with his mother and siblings. (He is still a celebrated literary hero in Lebanon.) He had a studio in New York, where influential and respected artists visited and appreciated his works. One was Juliet Thompson, a well-known portrait painter who was commissioned to paint the portrait of President Woodrow Wilson. She was a close friend of his. Juliet was a Virginian by birth whose father, Ambrose White Thompson was a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln. She was related to Edward Fritzgerald who translated the Rubaiyat of Hafiz, the most popular of the Persian poets. Juliet possessed a special charm that brought many visitors of different races, creed and color to her apartment which was just immediately in front of Gibran's studio in New York.Gibran was privileged to read Baha'u'llah's Arabic Writings from books Juliet lent him. Baha'u'llah's message of unity and the essential truths common to all religions 'struck an answering chord with Gibran's belief'. He declared that Baha'u'llah's Writings were the most "stupendous literature that was ever written"."Time passed, I told him the Master was coming. He asked me if I would request the Master to sit for him". ("Juliet Remembers Kahlil Gibran as Told to Marzieh Gail.") By 'Master', Juliet meant 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Bahá'u'lláh, who was on a speaking tour and to visit the Bahá'í community of the United States. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was a renowned person, a revered spiritual figure and an advocate for unity and world peace. Juliet was a follower of Bahá'u'lláh and a Bahá'í.In the early spring of 1912, Juliet introduced Kahlil Gibran to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Gibran was 29 years of age and 'Abdu'l-Bahá was 68 years old. On their first meeting Gibran said to Juliet "He is a very great man. There are worlds in his soul"."He simply adored the Master. He was with him wherever he could be. He would come over here (48th West 10th) to see the Master. In Boston, he was often with the Master", Juliet recorded.Gibran attended 'Abdu'l-Bahá's speaking engagements and even served as his interpreter. 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke in synagogues, churches, institutions, universities and met with prominent figures such as Andrew Carnegie, Alexander Graham Bell and many others. He answered questions on spiritual verities and solutions to social, economic, political, financial problems presented to him. He spoke of new social laws necessary for our time, on the abandonment of all sorts of prejudices, and the hazards of racial discrimination that was thickly practiced especially during that time.Gibran anxiously waited  for the time 'Abdu'l-Bahá would sit for him. His desire was granted on April 19, in his studio on the 10th Street of Lower Manhattan, New York, (USA) at seven in the morning.Gibran had previously drawn the portraits of the sculptor Rodin, the poet WB Yeats, psychiatrist CG Jung and the composer Debussy.Gibran mentioned to Juliet that his meetings with 'Abdu'l-Bahá had profoundly influenced his work and left an indelible impression. He wrote, he had "seen the Unseen and been filled." (Gibran, Man and Poet by Suheil Bushrui and Joe Jenkins, p.126.) Gibran experienced what he called, "something cyclonic...something moving as a the mighty elements move"; of "models to be studied, poems to be written, thoughts to be imprisoned, dreams to be gazed."After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Gibran talked on religion with Bahá'ís. "He often speaks directly of the impact that his encounters with 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Bahá'í teachings had in his life and works"- (Thompson). At a viewing of a movie of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, he rose to talk and proclaimed the exalted station of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and left the event weeping.Later, he wrote The Counsels which became The Prophet and mentioned to his friends that he "periodically worked on the book since 1912. He composed part of the first draft of The Prophet in the large estate of the writer Marie Tudor Garland, in 1919 in Massachussets. There he wandered in Garland's wooded property by the edge of the sea, meditating in what he called "One large thought" that became his most famous work - The Prophet.Gibran's "The Prophet' begins with Almustafa about to leave his place of exile and take a voyage by ship as what 'Abdu'l-Bahá has exactly done. Almustafa was called by villagers 'The Master' even so as he observed Bahá'í's addressed 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Master"."In fact, a substantial and convincing body of evidence suggests that  'The Prophet' and his subsequent 'Jesus, the Son of Man', Kahlil Gibran modelled his main characters on 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Exemplar of the Bahá'í Faith'.  (David Langness / May 30, 2014, Part 3in series Who Inspired Gibran's The Prophet).

Gibran filled 'The Prophet'  with timeless wisdom and insights of the Bahá'í teachings that will always charm and fascinate our hearts.

 

- Tidy Thinks 

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References/Sources: 

1. The Baha'i Influence on Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet. David Langness / May 30, 2014, Part 3 in series, 'Who Inspired Gibran's The Prophet'?

2. Thompson's Recollection of Kahlil Gibran (Historical Document)

3. Juliet Remembers Gibran, as Told to Marzieh Gail, World Order 12-4 (1978)

4. Wikipedia: On several topics on Thompson and Gibran