Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

author, poet, teacher, and performer

Kural 401: Tiruvalluvar on Knowledge and Leadership

A verse on what we need to address the wise.

401
Addressing the wise without knowing books—like playing
At chess with no board

அரங்கின்றி வட்டாடி யற்றே நிரம்பிய
நூலின்றிக் கோட்டி கொளல்

From chapter 41, “Lack of Learning.”

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

Kural 490: Tiruvalluvar on Patience

A verse on waiting for the right moment, along with a verse from Avvaiyar.

490
Wait like the crane that waits—and strike like the crane
When right

கொக்கொக்க கூம்பும் பருவத்து மற்றதன்
குத்தொக்க சீர்த்த இடத்து

From chapter 49, “Knowing Time.”

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

Kural 787: Tiruvalluvar on Friendship

A verse on how friends stay with you through hard times, along with a verse from Avvaiyar.

787
Friendship averts trouble shows the way and when
Trouble comes stays

அழிவி னவைநீக்கி ஆறுய்த் தழிவின்கண்
அல்லல் உழப்பதாம் நட்பு

From chapter 79, “Friendship.”

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

Kural 653: Tiruvalluvar on Integrity, Greatness, and Light

A verse on becoming all of who we truly are.

653
Steer clear of all deeds that dim light—you
Who would keep becoming

ஒஓதல் வேண்டும் ஒளிமாழ்கும் செய்வினை
ஆஅதும் என்னு மவர்

From chapter 66, “Purity of Action.”

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

Kural 435: Tiruvalluvar on Leadership and Foresight

A verse on leaders and acting in advance: “Prevention is better than cure.”

435
The life of a king who won’t guard beforehand
Falls like a haystack before fire

வருமுன்னர்க் காவாதான் வாழ்க்கை எரிமுன்னர்
வைத்தூறு போலக் கெடும்

From chapter 44, “Elimination of Faults.”

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

In The Ashes With You: A Kural Conversation with Gareth Higgins

The Wealth and Wonder of Relatedness

With Gareth Higgins, storyteller and author of How Not to Be Afraid, I was delighted to speak about compassion, community, guilt, and the ripple effects of kindness as reflected in THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural.

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

  • How cherishing strangers connects with abundance. 5:32
  • The difference between difficulty and ruin. 13:55
  • “I will sit in the ashes with you.” 15:39
  • The shadow of guilt at never doing enough. 19:52
  • Timidity and sovereignty. 27:18
  • The ripple effects of kindness. 34:48
  • What it is to introduce a work of this kind to new people. 40:12

Gareth Higgins

Gareth Higgins was born in Belfast in 1975, grew up during the northern Ireland Troubles, and now lives in the US. He writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives and world, peace and making justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction in northern Ireland and helping address the legacy of conflict, received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Queen’s University Belfast, and helped teach the world’s first graduate course in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped found the Wild Goose, New Story and Movies & Meaning festivals. Gareth leads retreats in North America and Ireland; and he founded The Porch Magazine.

Brian McLaren says Gareth’s new book How Not to Be Afraid is “a beautiful book,” Kathleen Norris says it’s “a necessary book,” and Micky ScottBey Jones says it’s “a much-needed resource for skill-building through our fear and trauma, so that we might create the belonging and communities we desire.”

http://www.garethhiggins.net/

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

83
The life that cherishes strangers each day
Never falls upon ruin

வருவிருந்து வைகலும் ஓம்புவான் வாழ்க்கை
பருவந்து பாழ்படுதல் இன்று

82
With a guest at the door it is not worth eating
Even the nectar of the gods

இருந்தோம்பி இல்வாழ்வ தெல்லாம் விருந்தோம்பி
வேளாண்மை செய்தற் பொருட்டு

87
We cannot foretell the good of offering—it rests
On the nature of each guest

இனைத்துணைத் தென்பதொன் றில்லை விருந்தின்
துணைத்துணை வேள்விப் பயன்

From chapter 9, “Hospitality.”

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

Kural 400: Tiruvalluvar on Learning and True Wealth

A verse on the connection between learning and life.

400
Learning is sacred unperishing prosperity—all
Other wealth is not wealth

கேடில் விழுச்செல்வம் கல்வி யொருவற்கு
மாடல்ல மற்றை யவை

From chapter 40, “Learning.”

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

Kural 34: Tiruvalluvar on Purity of Heart and Right Action

A verse on where right action comes from, with a connection to the Beatitudes.

34
Right action is purity of heart-and-mind—all else
Nothing but noise

மனத்துக்கண் மாசிலன் ஆதல் அனைத்தறன்
ஆகுல நீர பிற

From chapter 4, “The Imperative of Right Action.”

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

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