Amidst the ongoing political and cultural turmoil we see in the United States and around the world, I often return to the opening verse of the Kural’s chapter on kindness. […]
Dr. Larry Ward and the Rain of Compassion
I was saddened to learn that Dr. Larry Ward, a dharma teacher in the tradition of the Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, recently passed away. He and I got […]
A Musical Kural . . .
I’m delighted to announce that Volume I of Amirthavarshini and Lydian Nadhaswaram‘s extraordinary project of setting all 1330 verses of the Kural to music has just been released. Here is […]
Thirukkural 1330 with Lydian Nadhaswaram and Amirthavarshini
One of the qualities of the Kural that I am always keen to point out is how playful and musical its language truly is. Indeed, that’s why I sang a […]
The Kural and Martin Luther King
Last month I had the honor of speaking alongside Dr. Aaron Bryant, museum curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, at the Anna Centenary Library […]
A Joyful Book
Following the 2025 Chennai International Book Fair, The Times of India, which I was surprised to learn is the largest-selling English language newspaper in the world, invited me in for […]
2025 Ancient Tamil Literature Promotion Award
I was deeply honored and humbled to receive the 2025 Ancient Tamil Literature Promotion Award from the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. M. K. Stalin at the Chennai […]
Valluvan Tamil Academy, Virginia
It was a wonderful pleasure to speak and perform at the Valluvan Tamil Academy Annual Day celebration in Virginia in June. Here are a few pictures from the trip, including […]