Tirukkural Verses, Interviews, and Reviews

From and about The Kural: Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural.

Openness to All People: A Kural Conversation with Debra Graugnard

November 24, 2021

Kindness, Spirit, and True Nourishment

With master healer and spiritual teacher Debra Mastura Graugnard I was delighted to explore kurals 991, 992, and 1000 from chapter 100 of THE KURAL, “Having Kindness.”

Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:

Openness to all people and the root meanings of kindness in both Tamil and English: 6:27
Protection, the breath of spirit, and how kindness meets kindness: 12:36
What does “birth in good family” really mean? 24:16
True riches and true nourishment: 34:16
A question from Debra: How has translating this book changed your life? 42:54

As the founder of Joyfully Living Wellness, Debra Graugnard has made it her lifelong mission to help others free themselves from self-defeating beliefs and behaviors.

Purpose-driven and extensively trained in spiritual and energetic healing, natural and holistic self-care, Debra gently and compassionately guides her clients, primarily women, on a journey to profoundly and intimately know themselves – body, mind, heart, and spirit.

“To truly heal, you must align your habits, beliefs and emotional patterns with your inner knowing, your divine spirit and your connection with All That Is.” – Debra Graugnard

Here are the verses we talked about, in both English and Tamil:

991
From openness to all people the practice
Of kindness comes easily

எண்பதத்தால் எய்தல் எளிதென்ப யார்மாட்டும்
பண்புடைமை என்னும் வழக்கு

992
Love in one’s heart and birth in good family together
Are the way of kindness

அன்புடைமை ஆன்ற குடிப்பிறத்த லிவ்விரண்டும்
பண்புடைமை என்னும் வழக்கு

1000

Riches attained by those without kindness—like milk
Soured by its jug

பண்பிலான் பெற்ற பெருஞ்செல்வம் நன்பால்
கலந்தீமை யால்திரிந் தற்று

From chapter 100, “Having Kindness.”

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

Kural 1005: Tiruvalluvar on Money

November 23, 2021

A verse on the two uses of wealth.

From chapter 101, “Fruitless Wealth.”

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

Kural 83: Tiruvalluvar on Hospitality and Safety

November 16, 2021

A verse on strangers and the paradoxical gift of openness.

From chapter 9, “Hospitality.”

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

Thiruvalluvar’s KURAL in Raag Delhi

November 14, 2021

Raag Delhi, an online magazine on politics, culture, and society, recently shared five chapters from my new translation of THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural: “Ministers,” “Farming,” “Forbearance,” “Giving,” and “Unworthy Conduct.”

Thiruvalluvar's KURAL: Some Excerpts from a New Translation by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

You can read the excerpts on their website:

https://www.raagdelhi.com/some-excerpts-from-thiruvalluvar-translation-by-thomas-pruiksma/

Food and Freedom: A Kural Conversation with Ellen Kittredge

November 12, 2021

Digestion, moderation, and eating as spiritual practice.

With my longtime friend Ellen Kittredge I was delighted to explore the insight that food is medicine and that moderation can lead to greater fulfillment and joy.

Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:

The possibility of relating to food and to eating as spiritual practices: 7:22
Mindful eating and the parasympathetic nervous system: 14:32
Finding a balance point in life, transforming addictive tendencies, and discovering equanimity: 24:08
A question from Ellen: Where does liberation from the cycle of birth and death fit into the concerns of THE KURAL? 33:23

Here are the verses we talked about, in both English and Tamil:

945
If one eats with measure what does not disagree
Nothing threatens one’s life

மாறுபா டில்லாத உண்டி மறுத்துண்ணின்
ஊறுபா டில்லை உயிர்க்கு

946
Those who eat knowing moderation know joy—as those
Who devour know disease

இழிவறிந் துண்பான்கண் இன்பம்போல் நிற்கும்
கழிபேர் இரையான்கண் நோய்

947
Those who devour beyond their fire’s limit
Know disease beyond limit

தீயள வன்றித் தெரியான் பெரிதுண்ணின்
நோயள வின்றிப் படும்

From chapter 95, “Medicine.”

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