Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

author, poet, teacher, and performer

Food and Freedom: A Kural Conversation with Ellen Kittredge

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

Ellen Kittredge is a Nutritional Counselor, Minister of Walking Prayer, and practitioner of earth-based healing modalities. While her primary focus is supporting her clients with maintaining optimal health through sound nutritional guidance, she has also has trained in a variety of other healing techniques, including extensive study over the last 10 years in earth-based healing practices with Nature Priests/Mystics in the High Andes of Peru.

Learn more about Ellen on her website:
https://ellenkittredge.com/

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

Kural 382 from THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural

A verse on the four qualities that make a true leader.

382
Generosity fearlessness knowledge energy—the nature of a king
Is these four in fullness

அஞ்சாமை ஈகை அறிவூக்கம் இந்நான்கும்
எஞ்சாமை வேந்தர்க் கியல்பு

From chapter 39, “The Splendor of Kings.”

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

Smile at Adversity: A Kural Conversation with Fiona Moore

Looking within, paradox, and the transformative power of friendliness.

With the wonderful Fiona Moore I was delighted to explore kurals 621 and 622 from chapter 63 of THE KURAL, “Not Being Defeated by Adversity.”

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

  • Fiona explores the gift of really staying with a single verse or two: 6:02
  • Paradox and the path of healing and awakening: 10:07
  • The radical possibility of treating adversity as a friend: 14:53
  • A question from Fiona for Thomas on how it was to take on this project: 32:38

Fiona Moore

Fiona Moore is a coach, mentor, and consultant with an extraordinary capacity to help people uncover the truth of who they really are beyond their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and fears.

“Simply by being the Love you are,” she writes, “you transform your world, and the whole world, for good.”

https://fionamoore.com/

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

621
Smile at adversity—nothing
Triumphs more fully

இடுக்கண் வருங்கால் நகுக அதனை
அடுத்தூர்வ தஃதொப்ப தில்

622
When the wise look within—the flood
Of adversity vanishes

வெள்ளத் தனைய இடும்பை அறிவுடையான்
உள்ளத்தின் உள்ளக் கெடும்

From chapter 63, “Not Being Defeated by Adversity.”

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

Kural 391 from THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural

A verse on the connection between learning and life.

391
Faultlessly study what is to be studied—then fit
All that you’ve studied

கற்க கசடறக் கற்பவை கற்றபின்
நிற்க அதற்குத் தக

From chapter 40, “Learning.”

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

Kural 412 from THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural

A verse on giving nourishment to the ear.

412
When the ear lacks food feed a little
To the belly

செவிக்குண வில்லாத போழ்து சிறிது
வயிற்றுக்கும் ஈயப் படும்

From chapter 42, “Listening.”

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

“Give, Eat, and Live” from Avvaiyar’s Nalvazhi | ஆண்டாண்டு தோறும் அழுது புரண்டாலும்

A poem about death—and life—from the 12th century Tamil woman, poet, and saint Avvaiyar.

Even if you wallow, weeping year after year,
Will those who have died come back?
                                                               You of this earth
Weep not. That too is our way. Till going, give
—what is it to us?—give, eat, and live.

Nalvazhi 10, “Andandu thorum purandalum.”

Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
GIVE, EAT, AND LIFE: POEMS OF AVVAIYAR
Red Hen Press, Los Angeles

Kural 81 from THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural

A verse about what it means to have a home.

81
The life of cherishing and being at home—for cherishing guests
With generosity

இருந்தோம்பி இல்வாழ்வ தெல்லாம் விருந்தோம்பி
வேளாண்மை செய்தற் பொருட்டு

From chapter 9, “Hospitality.”

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

NOT BEING DEFEATED BY ADVERSITY | Three Lessons in Aliveness and Resilience | Free Webinar  LEARN MORE
close
open