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Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

author, poet, teacher, and performer

  • Books
    • THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
    • The Safety of Edges
    • Give, Eat, and Live: Poems of Avvaiyar
    • Body and Earth
    • A Feast for the Tongue
    • Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo
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Tirukkural Verses, Interviews, and Reviews

From and about The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural.

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Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre

April 23, 2023

I was delighted to get to visit the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre and speak with students about the Kural during my recent stay in Singapore for the 2023 Tamil Language Festival.

Here are a few pictures! Click on the images to see them at full size.

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2023 Tamil Language Festival in Singapore

April 23, 2023

For people who know Tamil, here’s a 2-minute glimpse into my recent appearance in Singapore for the 2023 Tamil Language Festival.

Click on the image below or visit: https://seithi.mediacorp.sg/singapore/japanese-american-speaks-tamil-660941

More about the Kural
I’d like a copy of the Kural!

Taller Than a Mountain

April 10, 2023

I’m very excited to announce my upcoming online course on the Kural, Taller Than A Mountain.
It starts May 18, with a bonus class on May 4 for people who register early.

A 7-week online course on the Kural, ancient wisdom from Tamil Nadu, India: TALLER THAN A MOUNTAIN. Embody strength, integrity, and love in a turbulent world. With translator Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma and distinguished guest teachers

Among my guest teachers I’m honored to include Andrew Harvey, Bob Thurman, and Perumal Murugan.

The course is being offered at a price that you set yourself as a way to practice one of the Kural’s key teachings: honoring what fits each person, place, and situation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURSE

Who is it for?

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll answer this question from a few different angles.

One of the groups it’s most definitely for are people who want to enjoy and learn from the poetry of a great teacher such as Tiruvalluvar but who sometimes find poetry intimidating, complicated, or just plain confusing.

For instance, I was having coffee the other day with a friend, and he said to me:

“I’ve been reading the Kural, and enjoying it, too. But while there are some verses that make so much sense to me immediately, there are others that I’m not sure what to make of. I never felt comfortable with poetry in school, but I know it’s something that people sometimes find deeply meaningful. I’d love to be able to see that for myself.”

As I said to my friend, not only is the course for people who are uncertain about poetry, I myself was like that for a very long time.

That’s why I’m all the more excited to share some of things that have helped me personally to experience poetry with greater ease, understanding, and delight.

If this sounds at all intriguing, please do take a peek!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURSE

Kural 1330: The Kural on Love, Sulking, and Joy

December 27, 2022

The last kural of the Tirukkural, on turning back to love.

1330
Sulking in love is joy—and joining
Again—joy of joys

ஊடுதல் காமத்திற் கின்பம் அதற்கின்பம்
கூடி முயங்கப் பெறின்

From chapter 133, “Sulking and Bliss.”

Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston

More about the book
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Kural 874: The Kural on Friendship and Enmity

December 20, 2022

A verse on enemies, kindness, and friends.

874
Those whose kindness turns enmity to friendship—the world
Lives by their light

பகைநட்பாக் கொண்டொழுகும் பண்புடை யாளன்
தகைமைக்கண் தங்கிற் றுலகு

From chapter 88, “Knowing an Enemy.”

Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston

More about the book
I’d like a copy!

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