On Monday evening I was saddened to learn that one of my most important teachers, mentors, and friends, Wendell Berry, died at home with his family at the age of […]
Every Act of Business Can Be An Act of Love
The other day someone paid me a very high compliment by saying that every aspect of my website seemed to them to have been put together with integrity. That’s certainly […]
Reading Out Loud as a Way of Walking
Later this month, I’m hosting an event with my friend Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian on the science of breath and its connection to the wisdom of the Tirukkural. If you or […]
Perceiving the World Through Another Language
Learning another language can turn your perceptions upside down. When I first began learning Tamil, for instance, I found that being “cool” toward another person can actually mean being “warm.” […]
Gaining Greater Comfort In Another Language
A few months ago, someone reached out to me from Malaysia asking if I might teach her spoken Tamil. At first I was deeply hesitant. There are many wonderful teachers […]
A Potent Question
Whenever I offer a talk, I cherish the opportunity for interaction and conversation. Usually this means some kind of Q&A with the audience as a whole, the more boisterous and […]
Poets As Friends
I was recently delighted to speak at the graduation ceremony of the Metroplex Tamil Academy in Dallas, Texas. A record 72 eighth graders were recognized for their achievement! Such community […]
Pushing Our Own Edges
Something that doesn’t get as much attention as it should is that learning another language can end up pushing us to the very edge of what we know and who […]