A verse on what makes a home flourish.
From chapter 5, “The Home Life.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
author, poet, teacher, and performer
From and about The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural.
A verse on what makes a home flourish.
45
If a life at home has love and virtue—that
Is its root and flower
அன்பும் அறனும் உடைத்தாயின் இல்வாழ்க்கை
பண்பும் பயனும் அது
From chapter 5, “The Home Life.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
Suchitra Srinivas recently interviewed me for the South Asian Times on my new translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and love, THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural.
You can read the complete article here:
A verse that shows the great practicality of the poet Tiruvalluvar.
655
Do nothing to regret—but if you do
Do not regret it
எற்றென் றிரங்குவ செய்யற்க செய்வானேல்
மற்றன்ன செய்யாமை நன்று
From chapter 66, “Purity of Action.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
With senior dharma teacher Dr. Larry Ward I was delighted to explore openness to all people, Thich Nhat Hanh’s Miracle of Mindfulness, and poetry that takes us into our depths.
Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:
Photo Credit: Jovelle Tamayo
Dr. Larry Ward is a senior teacher in Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition. He brings twenty five years of international experience in organizational change and local community renewal to his work as director of the Lotus Institute and as an advisor to the Executive Mind Leadership Institute at the Drucker School of Management. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies with an emphasis on Buddhism and the neuroscience of meditation. Larry is a knowledgeable, charismatic and inspirational teacher, offering insights with personal stories and resounding clarity that express his dharma name, “True Great Sound.”
Learn more about Larry on the Lotus Institute website: https://www.thelotusinstitute.org/
Here are the verses we talked about, in both English and Tamil:
571
The astonishing beauty of eyes that are moved—because
It exists this world exists
கண்ணோட்டம் என்னும் கழிபெருங் காரிகை
உண்மையான் உண்டிவ் வுலகு
12
Making food fit for feeding and itself
Food that feeds—rain
துப்பார்க்குத் துப்பாய துப்பாக்கித் துப்பார்க்குத்
துப்பாய தூஉம் மழை
991
From openness to all people the practice
Of kindness comes easily
எண்பதத்தால் எய்தல் எளிதென்ப யார்மாட்டும்
பண்புடைமை என்னும் வழக்கு
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston
A verse on love, life, and new growth.
78
Like a withered tree in the desert sprouting leaves—living
With no love in one’s heart
அன்பகத் தில்லா உயிர்வாழ்க்கை வன்பாற்கண்
வற்றல் மரந்தளிர்த் தற்று
From chapter 8, “Having Love.”
Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston