These words by Gibran–“bond of love” seem to refer to what decades later became the dreaded pop psychology phrase “co-dependence” which we are warned is easy to create.
“Love one another,
but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” ― Khalil Gibran, The Prophet
As a 17 year old when first reading THE PROPHET I found this phrase exotic, inspiring and puzzling. Now, I find the sea reference about love in this quotation exotic yet comforting and relatable. Certainly with many friends I have experienced this “moving sea between the shores of our souls” as we come and go through each other’s lives over many years. There must be 40 or more friendships that I’ve enjoyed when we come together after one or ten or more years apart and we instantly connect as if it were just yesterday that we were together. How grateful I am for those deep experiences. These are soul friendship experiences and not yada yada chit chat friendships.
And there have been great lessons for me when I witnessed and understood that my Dear Wise Daughter loved (almost) everyone she met as much as she loved me. She has been teacher of love. I’m still learning to love everyone as quickly, purely and fully as she does and as The Dalai Lama does with no bonds.