How I Became A Madman

Huck_Finn · #1 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2008, 03:02 AM

How I Became a Madman - Kahlil Gibran

You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen -- the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives, -- I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, "Thieves, thieves, the curséd thieves."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/arts-and-society/22375-how-i-became-a-madman.html
Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me.
And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house- top cried, "He is a madman." I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, "Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks."
Thus I became a madman.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22375
And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness; the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.
But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief.

pk70 · #2 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2008, 22:21 PM

( quote amarsangera)You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen -- the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives, -- I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, "Thieves, thieves, the curséd thieves."
Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me.
And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house- top cried, "He is a madman." I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, "Blessed Up to here, story or discourse goes fine, very metaphoric, masks represent hypocrisy deeply rooted into Maya, losing them is coming out of their chains and becoming very free. “Madman” shouters are ignorant. Lovely
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22375
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22375

Randip Singh · #3 (**permalink**) 25-Jul-2008, 00:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amarsanghera

How I Became a Madman - Kahlil Gibran

You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen -- the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives, -- I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, "Thieves, thieves, the curséd thieves."
Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me.
And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house- top cried, "He is a madman." I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, "Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks."
Thus I became a madman.
And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness; the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.
But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief.

Great post, straight from the Sufi's.

For a Sikh the metaphor's in this instance, being Mask's equivalent to Kaam, Krodh, Moh, Lobh and Haankar.

The Thieves being,

etc which help steal off the masks and cast them away.

Person with Masks removed = Gurmukh.

Brilliant.

Canuck Singh · #4 (**permalink**) 25-Jul-2008, 02:42 AM

Hmm.. poetry interesting, I don't know what to interpret of it.

Huck_Finn · #5 (**permalink**) 25-Jul-2008, 20:58 PM

thanks randip ji, pk70 ji

canuck

this is from Khalil Gibran...i would not say it is relevant to this forum

but as Randip pointed out.... the message is universal..

it syncs so much with my understanding of Faith, belief and Religion..

religion followers call me madman

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22375

pk70 ji

the last line holds the key