Kahlil Gibran or Gibrān Khalīl Gibrān bin Mikhā'īl bin Sa'ad who was born in the Christian Maronite town of Bsharri, Lebanon was also a Lebanese American artist, poet, writer, philosopher and theologian. He was also the third best selling poet after William Shakespeare and Laozi. His grandfather from his mother side was a Maronite Catholic priest and Khalil Gibran did not receive any formal schooling during his youth. Priests however taught him about the Bible and the Arabic and Syriac language. While admiring Kahlil Gibran like many other people the world over, I couldn't help admiring the priests too. It makes me wonder if Buddhist monks do teach layman as well, not just in spiritual matters but in other aspects that matters in a person's daily life. And I wonder too about the priests who taught the great poet: Do they like Buddhist monks, meditate and chant? Do they seek personal salvation?
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