Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

author, poet, teacher, and performer

Kural 45: The Tirukkural on Home, Love, and Virtue

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

A Heart That Smiles: A Kural Conversation with Gustavo Esteva

Friendship, Politics, and the Inspiration of Poetry

With my friend Gustavo Esteva I explore the nature of real friendship, its relationship to politics in a time of upheaval, and the necessity of poetry as reflected in chapter 79, “Friendship,” of THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural.

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

  • “Friendship is not a face smiling” and the inner smile of real friendship, even in the face of anger or depression: 4:36
  • Friendship as beyond expectations: 14:19
  • The place of friendship in the life of Ivan Illich and in politics: 18:17
  • A question from Gustavo about the meanings of verse 782, “Friendship with wise souls—a moon waxing—fellowship / With fools—a moon waning”: 37:00
  • The great need for the inspiration of poetry in the great desperation of present circumstances: 44:18
  • Where Gustavo’s many writings are being collected and organized to be shared with anyone who wish to read them: 51:00

Gustavo Esteva

Photo Credit: redefineschool.com

Gustavo Esteva can be described as a “deprofessionalized intellectual,” a nomadic storyteller, and the founder of the Universidad de la Tierra (University of the Soil) in the city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. He is also a columnist for La Jornada and The Guardian. Esteva has been actively engaged in initiatives for reclaiming the commons with indigenous peoples, peasants, and those marginalized in urban life.

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

786
Friendship is not a face smiling—friendship
Is a heart that smiles

முகநக நட்பது நட்பன்று நெஞ்சத்
தகநக நட்பது நட்பு

789
What is the throne of friendship—unwavering
Support in all ways

நட்பிற்கு வீற்றிருக்கை யாதெனின் கொட்பின்றி
ஒல்லும்வாய் ஊன்றும் நிலை

872
Friendship with wise souls—a moon waxing—fellowship
With fools—a moon waning

நிறைநீர நீரவர் கேண்மை பிறைமதிப்
பின்னீர பேதையார் நட்பு

From chapter 79, “Friendship.”

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

Kural 655: The Tirukkural on Having No Regrets

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

The Rain of Compassion: A Kural Conversation with Dr. Larry Ward

On poetry that reaches us wherever we may be

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:

  • On being held by unseen arms and training our eyes to look on people with openness: 3:27
  • Poetry that opens a door to the mystic dimension: 8:49
  • Rain, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Miracle of Mindfulness: 12:13
  • Each verse as an entry point into our depths: 16:28
  • The poetry dialogue that Larry is putting together and how poetry is emptiness, in the sense that it is nonlocal and able to reach us wherever we may be: 20:12

Dr. Larry Ward (credit: Jovelle Tamayo)

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

Kural 78: The Tirukkural on Living with Love

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

THE KURAL at InkAloud

On December 11, 2021, THE KURAL was featured in the Bushwick Bookclub Seattle‘s inaugural InkAloud event at Town Hall Seattle. Three marvelous musical groups created original compositions inspired by the translation.

Here is a direct link to my introduction to this portion of the evening:

The first group was Latha Sambamurti and students from The Temple of Music, performing original compositions by Lalitha Mohan & Violin Maestro Ganesh Rajagopalan. You can watch their delightful and inspiring performances here:

The second musician was Eric Lane Barnes, who composed three interlocking songs based on three verses from THE KURAL.

Here he teaches them to the live audience:

The third group was Nottingham/Wicks, a jazz duo who shared their own beautiful take on the spirit of THE KURAL:

My deep gratitude and appreciation to everyone involved!

Kural 540: The Tirukkural on Mind and Mindfulness

A verse on mindfulness, intention, and ease.

540
One easily enacts one’s thoughts
If one keeps thinking

உள்ளிய தெய்தல் எளிதுமன் மற்றுந்தான்
உள்ளிய துள்ளப் பெறின்

From chapter 54, “Absence of Mind.”

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