Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

author, poet, teacher, and performer

Speaking

In the face of division and ecological disintegration, I’ve devoted my life to the highest possibilities of words and their power to:

  • Join our hearts across time and place, beyond culture and ideology.
  • Keep our spirits alive even in the face of great hardship.
  • Express our inborn eloquence in harmony with the natural world.

I relish each opportunity to offer my experience, not only as a writer, but also as a speaker, singer, musician, and magician, in service of true intercultural dialogue, ecological sanity, and compassionate imagination in everything we do.

Whether before thousands at international conferences and festivals, before hundreds in theaters, auditoriums, and schools, before teams of professionals and colleagues in their companies, or with intimate groups in libraries, community centers, and homes, my commitment remains the same: to help everyone feel more connected to each other and to their own sources of insight and inspiration.

Sample Presentations

  • Facing Turmoil With Integrity: What Gandhi and MLK Learned from an Ancient Masterpiece
  • Sulking and Bliss: The Ways Quarrels, Tiffs, and Misunderstandings can Lead to Renewal in Relationships
  • Riches of the Ear: How Listening to a Poem Connects Us to Our Heart’s Wisdom When We Feel Stuck
  • An Apprenticeship to Aliveness: How Poets Reawaken Us to Wonder and Meaning in Times of Chaos

A few glimpses from around the world. Click here for other sample videos.

Thomas was outstanding when he performed in Singapore. The dramatisation of his stories on stage was an instant hit. He is genuine and authentic, and able to captivate both the young and senior members of the audience. He serves as a living example of someone who is able to learn another language with love, perseverance and dedication.

Manogaran Suppiah
Chairman, Tamil Language Council, Singapore (2019 – 2024)

Sample Workshops

  • Natural Eloquence: Tapping into Your Innate Ability to Speak and to Write with Grace, Clarity, and Power
  • Coming Alive In Another Language: Three Surprising Methods for Learning A New Language Easily
  • The Art of Listening: Four Ways to Carry Meaning Across Different Languages, Cultures, and Worlds

Thomas inspired me and made me realize how powerful the words of poetry can be. When he recited “Tonight I can write the Saddest Lines,” my heart slowed. This poem is so beautiful and moving and with his help I was able to understand the meaning behind it.

University of Washington Student

Organizers often pair my primary talk or presentation with an interactive Q&A, breakout session, workshop, meet and greet, or book signing, all of which help enrich the experience greatly and make the most of our time together. If you’re interested in exploring something like this, let’s discuss!

For community organizations in Washington State, the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau will cover my speaker’s fee and transportation to present “Facing Turmoil With Integrity.” Apply through their website.

Bio

Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma

Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma has devoted his life to the highest possibilities of words and their power to join our hearts across time and place. He speaks and performs widely, mentors writers and creatives one-on-one, and connects with people around the world who are passionate about living with integrity and gusto through his twice-monthly newsletter.

Thomas’s books include “The Safety of Edges” (poems), “Give, Eat, and Live: Poems of Avvaiyar” (translated from the Tamil) and “Body and Earth” (with the artist C.F. John). His translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on ethics, power, and love, “The Kural: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural,” was awarded the Ancient Tamil Literature Promotion Award by the government of Tamil Nadu, India.

He has spoken and performed at literary festivals such as the Singapore Writers Festival, Chennai International Book Fair, and Tamil Literary Garden Toronto; schools such as Colby College, the Krishnamurthy Foundation in India, and Universidad de la Tierra in Mexico; conferences and congresses such as the 11th World Tamil Research Congress in Malaysia, 5th International Thirukkural Conference in Chicago, and American Literary Translators Association Annual Conference; and community organizations such as Mukai Farm & Garden and the Museum at Campbell River in Canada. Click here for a complete list of recent appearances.

When he’s not working, he enjoys walking, resting, and exploring the wisdom of dreams.

The Poet's Magic Logo, a book with pages flying out of it, becoming birds.

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