Now That's Some Illuminating Inspiration!

Now That's Some Illuminating Inspiration!

~Interpreting the great Helen Keller's quote

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow."~Helen Keller.

Great humans are not only known by their actions but also their quotes, which remain alive much longer than them. Here's a gem from the great Helen Keller, which offers illuminating inspiration for anyone with zest for Life.

Knowing that she was visually and aurally challenged, this quote becomes even more significant, in terms of the positive outlook of Life, because it reflects her inner experience of light and shadow.

Sunshine is warm, bright and nourishing. All are positive aspects and necessary ingredients for life to flourish. Anyone who is focused on growth can appreciate the value of it.

Shadow is a mere reflection of the person looking at sunshine, that the person him/herself isn't bothered about much (how many times does one keep watching one's own shadow..? Never, probably..!)

When one looks at sunshine, one is looking ahead. Forward. To what's possible, now and in the future. With hope.

Watching the shadow is looking behind. To the past, that's done and dusted. Lingering on the glory days that are irrelevant. Just wishing for that time, with a sigh.

Now, close your eyes and imagine all the aforesaid things, playing like a movie, on the mind screen. That's how Helen Keller would've visualised it (remember she could neither see nor hear).

In a time when the physically challenged beings like her probably didn't have much hope to be significant. Yet, she went ahead and did spectacular things that guide her ilk even now. Decades after she was gone. Wow!

Learning directly from an illustrious life like Helen's - irrespective of any flaws she may've had as a human being - is obviously far more valuable than reading tomes from the so-called self-help experts, who keep churning out the same idea, in book after book.

Is there any reason for us to still complain about the injustice of Life or choose to “Be Joyful and Spread the Cheer” instead, like that awesome icon!

~Swamy | @PrakashSwamy

Note: This post was originally Swamy's response to a question in Quora.

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Avvai KuRaL 49 ~ Breathe from Living to Life!

Avvai KuRaL 49 ~ Breathe from Living to Life!

வாயு வழக்கம் அறிந்து செறிந்தடங்கில்

ஆயுட் பெருக்கம் உண்டாம்.

vAyu vazhakkam aRindhu seRindhadangil

Ayut perukkam undAm.

By knowing how to properly inhale, contain and release (exhale) breath and by practising it diligently, one’s lifetime can be extended.

When we hear that one’s lifetime or how long one lives is predetermined, it is neither blind belief nor ignorance. The number of breaths for each and every piece of creation has been determined equally, without any bias or inequality, by the creator. The length of one’s lifetime - including humans - depends on how a particular creature breathes.

Dogs live for about 12-14 years. Humans, who adore and keep dogs as pets (or pelt them with stones) can live for over a hundred years (the typical human lifespan at present is only about 60-70 years). It’s scientifically proven that certain types of tortoises (there’s one in Galapagos islands) live for hundreds of years. Few ocean based species and trees live for thousands of years. The difference between all these species is not in their appearance, food or habitation. But how they breathe - rapidly (dogs), fast - always in a hurry (humans), deliberately (tortoise) or in a very limited quantity (ocean creatures & trees) - determines the difference in their lifespan.

In the ancient culture of BhArat, the science of living had been researched in depth; methods to extend one's lifespan have been invented and formal techniques were devised (and offered to all by AchAryAs or expert teachers who themselves have practised these techniques for years). GnAnis (enlightened beings) have realised breath as PrANavAyu (life giving air / wind) and termed the technique to inhale (pUrakam), contain / hold (kumbhakam) and exhale (rEychakam) breath as PrANAyAmA (the scientific method of breathing). Those who practice PrANAyAmA techniques diligently (and follow healthy habits - of body & mind) can actually extend their life span.

It’s a fact that accomplished yOgis like Agasthya Muni and Pathanjali Maharishi, who knew the nuances of the PrANAyAmA science and its life connect, have actually lived for several hundreds of years. The difference between meditators who live a longer, healthier life by talking less and spending more time in silence, following their spiritual practices diligently and the emotionally charged ones who expend their energy by yakking all the time, and live suffering from high blood pressure and heart ailments, is how they handle the life force of prANA. In fact, without knowing anything about the refined techniques like PrANAyAmA that are inward focused to extend one’s life span, the various attempts like nips and tucks using plastic surgery and drugs that the celebrities rely on to keep the external physical form young is nothing short of hilarious.

P.S: The 112 methods offered by AdiyOgi ShivA to DEvi Shakthi for self-realization / enlightenment (VigyAn Bhairava TantrA) include prANA related techniques.

~Swamy | @PrakashSwamy 

AvvaikuRaL is Swamy's new nano blog series, interpreting the spiritual treatise by AvvaiyAr, in the magnificent KuRal poetry form (popularly known from ThirukkuRaL by ThiruvaLLuvar) .

ஒளவைக் குறள் 49 ~ வாழ்வளி வளிவழி

ஒளவைக் குறள் 49 ~ வாழ்வளி வளிவழி

வாயு வழக்கம் அறிந்து செறிந்தடங்கில்

ஆயுட் பெருக்கம் உண்டாம்.

சுவாசக் காற்றை எவ்வாறு உள்வாங்கி, அடக்கி, வெளிவிடுவது என்பதை முறையாக அறிந்து பயிற்சி செய்துவந்தால், ஆயுட்காலம் அதிகமாகும்.

ஒருவருடைய ஆயுட்காலம் ஏற்கனவே தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டது என்று கூறப்படுவது மூடநம்பிக்கையோ, அறியாமையோ அல்ல. படைத்தவன் எல்லா உயிர்களுக்கும், எந்த விதமான பாகுபாடுமின்றி, ஒரே அளவு சுவாசத்தை நிர்ணயித்துள்ளான். படைக்கப்பட்ட உயிர்கள் அனைத்தும் - மனிதர்கள் உட்பட - எவ்வளவு காலம் இயல்பாக வாழமுடியும் என்பது, அந்தத் தனிப்பட்ட உயிரானது சுவாசிக்கும் முறையைச் சார்ந்தது.

நாயானது, ஏறத்தாழ 12 முதல் 14 ஆண்டுகளே வாழும். அதைச் செல்லப்பிராணியாக வளர்க்கும் (அல்லது கல்லால் அடிக்கும்) மனிதன் 100 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேலும் வாழமுடியும் (தற்போது 60 முதல் 70 வரையே பெரும்பாலான மனிதர்கள் வாழ்கின்றனர்). சில வகையான ஆமைகள் பல நூற்றாண்டுகளாக வாழ்வது விஞ்ஞான முறைப்படி உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. சில கடல்வாழ் உயிரினங்கள் மற்றும் மரங்கள் ஆயிரக்கணக்கான ஆண்டுகள் வாழ்கின்றனர். இவை அனைத்திற்கும் உள்ள வேறுபாடு உருவிலோ, உணவிலோ, தங்குமிடத்திலோ இல்லை. அவை எவ்வாறு சுவாசிக்கின்றன - அதிவிரைவாக, அவசரமாக, நிதானமாக, மிகக்குறைந்த அளவில் - என்பதே அவற்றின் ஆயுட்காலத்தை நிர்ணயிக்கின்றது.

தொன்மையான பாரத கலாசாரத்தில், உயிர் விஞ்ஞானம் மிக ஆழமாக ஆராயப்பட்டு, ஒருவரது ஆயுட்காலத்தை நீட்டிப்பதற்கான வழிகள் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டு, முறையான பயிற்சிகள் உருவாக்கப்பட்டன. சுவாசத்தைப் பிராணவாயு என்று அறிந்துணர்ந்த ஞானிகள், அதனை முறையாக உள்வாங்கி (பூரகம்), தேக்கி (கும்பகம்), வெளிவிடுவதற்கான (ரேசகம்) வழிமுறையைப் பிராணாயாமம் என்று அழைத்தனர். தொடர்ந்து முறையாகச் செய்யும் பிராணாயாமப் பயிற்சிகள் மூலம், நல்லொழுக்கத்துடன் வாழும் யார் வேண்டுமானாலும் தனது ஆயுட்காலத்தை நீட்டிக்கமுடியும்.

பிராணாயாம விஞ்ஞானத்தின் ஆழ்ந்த உயிர்சார்ந்த உண்மையை அறிந்த அகஸ்தியர், பதஞ்சலி போன்றோர் பல நூற்றாண்டுகளாக வாழ்ந்ததாகக் கூறப்படுவது மிகையற்ற உண்மை என்பதை நாம் அறியமுடிகின்றது. அளவாகப்பேசி, அமைதியாக தியானத்தில் ஈடுபடுவோர் ஆரோக்கியமாய் நீண்டகாலம் வாழ்வதற்கும், அதிகமாய்ப் பேசி உணர்ச்சிவசப்படுவோர், உயர் ரத்த அழுத்தம் மற்றும் இருதயக் கோளாறுகளால் அவதிப்படுவதற்கும், பிராணவாயு எனப்படும் மூச்சுக்காற்றைக் கையாளும் விதமே காரணம். பிராணாயாமம் போன்ற நுணுக்கமான உள்நோக்கிய வாழ்நாள் நீட்டிக்கும் வழிமுறைகளை அறியாமல், வெளி உருவத்தை அறுவைசிகிச்சை மற்றும் மருந்துகள் மூலம் செப்பனிட்டு இளமையாக நீண்டகாலம் இருக்கக் கடுமையாக முயலும் தற்காலப் பிரபலங்களின் முயற்சிகளே நகைப்பிற்குரியவை.

பி.கு: ஆதியோகியாகிய சிவபெருமான் சக்திதேவிக்கு அளித்த 112 ஞானோதயம் அடையும் வழிமுறைகளில் (விஞ்ஞான பைரவ தந்திரம்), பிராணவாயு சார்ந்த வழிமுறைகளும் அடங்கும்.

~ஸ்வாமி | @PrakashSwamy

ஸ்வாமியின் ஒளவைக்குறள் குறுவலைப்பதிவுத்தொடர், குறள் செய்யுள் வடிவத்தில் அமைந்திருக்கும் ஒளவையாரின் அற்புத ஆன்மீகப் பெட்டகத்தின் விளக்க உரை. 

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ Verse 259 ~ Flies are Us!

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ Verse 259 ~ Flies are Us

பொழிந்தினிது நாறினும் பூமிசைதல் செல்லாது 
இழிந்தவை காமுறும் ஈப்போல் - இழிந்தவை 
தாம்கலந்த நெஞ்சினார்க்கு என்னாகும் தக்கார்வாய்த் 
தேன்கலந்த தேற்றச்சொல் தேர்வு.

Pozhinhdhinidhu nhARinum poomisaidhal sellAdhu
Izhindhavai kAmuRum eeppOl - izhindhavai
ThAmkalanhdha nhenjinARkku yennAgum thakkArvAith
ThEnkalanhdha thEtRachchol thErvu.

Though the flower holds delicious honey and spreads its fragrance all around, a fly will leave it and eagerly go to where the filth is. Similarly, for those with a tainted or corrupt mind, even the choicest counsel, filled with wonderful insights that provide clarity in life, offered by the wise ones or realised Masters, is of no use.

For a fly that’s stuck with filth - in thought and action - the value of a beautiful, fragrant flower with honey is of no interest or use. Even if someone explains in detail about the flower’s value, the fly won’t change its preference (for the filth). But for the bees, which fly around busily, looking for honey, no one needs to explain the value of the flowers.

People who are totally stuck in materialistic survival are like that fly. The spiritual insights and methods for attaining liberation offered by Realised Masters / Gurus won’t change them in any way. Because, in their mind, things like wealth, success, status, fame of the material life are the most valuable.

Seekers who are traversing the spiritual path are like the bees. They are seeking ways and means to realise the Truth, i.e. attain self-realisation or enlightenment, so it’s not necessary to explain to them the value or importance of a Guru.

Note: That's why, even though Mrs Swamy keeps worrying about those who are not even interested in tasting the nectar of spirituality, Swamy never speaks about spirituality to anyone, on his own.

~Swamy
@PrakashSwamy

நாலடியார் 400 ~ பாடல் 259 ~ ஈக்களும் மாக்களும்!

நாலடியார் 400 ~ பாடல் 259

ஈக்களும் மாக்களும்

பொழிந்தினிது நாறினும் பூமிசைதல் செல்லாது
இழிந்தவை காமுறும் ஈப்போல் - இழிந்தவை
தாம்கலந்த நெஞ்சினார்க்கு என்னாகும் தக்கார்வாய்த்
தேன்கலந்த தேற்றச்சொல் தேர்வு.

தன்னுள் இனிய சுவையுடைய தேனைக்கொண்டு, நறுமணத்துடன் மலர் இருந்தாலும், ஈயானது அதைவிடுத்து, மலம் போன்ற இழிவான பொருட்களையே விரும்பிச் செல்லும். அதுபோல இழிவான மனமுடையவர்களுக்கு, அறிவில் சிறந்த அல்லது ஞானோதயம் அடைந்த பெரியோர்கள் கூறும் இனிமையான, வாழ்வில் தெளிவை ஏற்படுத்தக்கூடிய, தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட நல்ல கருத்துகளால் எந்தப் பயனும் இல்லை.

எப்போதும் மலத்தையே விரும்பி, அதைத் தேடிச் சென்று உழலும் ஈக்கு, அழகான, நறுமணம் மிக்க, தேனை உடைய மலரின் அருமை தெரியாது. அதன் அருமை பற்றி எவ்வளவுதான் எடுத்துரைத்தாலும் அது தனது இழிவான விருப்பத்தை மாற்றிக் கொள்ளாது. ஆனால், ஆர்வத்துடன் தேனைத் தேடிச் சுறுசுறுப்பாக அலையும் தேனீக்கு மலரின் அருமை பற்றி யாரும் எடுத்துரைக்கத் தேவையில்லை.

பொருள் சார்ந்த வாழ்வின் மீது மிகுந்த பற்றுடன் இருக்கும் மனிதர்கள் அந்த ஈயைப் போன்றவர்களே. ஞானோதயம் அடைந்த குருமார்கள் கூறும் ஆன்மீகக் கருத்துகளோ, மெய்ஞானம் அடைவதற்கான வழிமுறைகளோ அவர்களிடம் எந்த மாற்றத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்தப்போவதில்லை. 

ஆன்மீக வழியில், உண்மையை உணரும் தேடலுடன் செல்லும் சாதகர்களுக்கு, ஒரு குருவின் வழிகாட்டுதலின் அருமை பற்றி யாரும் எடுத்துரைக்கத் தேவையில்லை.

குறிப்பு: இதன்காரணமாகவே, ஆன்மீகம் பற்றிய ஆர்வமே இல்லாதவர்களின் நிலை பற்றித் திருமதி ஸ்வாமி அடிக்கடி வருத்தப்பட்டாலும்கூட, ஸ்வாமி வலியச்சென்று யாரிடமும் ஆன்மீகம் பற்றிப் பேசுவதில்லை.

~ஸ்வாமி
@PrakashSwamy

NhAladiyAr 400 ~ 135 - What to Learn!

NhAladiyAr ~ 400 verses.. 4 stanzas each..

Thirukkural (1330 verses.. 2 stanzas each) is so well-known that it overshadowed pretty much all the other tomes of equal value. One such, belonging to the same category of ancient Tamil literature of PadhineN KEezhkkaNakku (anthology or logical group of 18 books) group of tomes (பதினெண் கீழ்க்கணக்கு நூல்கள்) is NhAladiyAr (நாலடியார்).

A collection of 400 verses (by various anonymous Poets - considered to be Jain saints), of just 4 stanzas each, it's known for its enchanting use of similes to convey a pertinent point. The 400 verses are grouped under 3 headings (similar to Thirukkural) & 40 subheadings, comprising of 10 verses each.

Long term Swamy readers may recall the “2000 Years Old Tweets” or #2KYOT in digital-natives-lingo Nano blog series in https://swamyverse.blogspot.com, which is on pause for the time being.
Who knows, it may suddenly spring back to life, when some madman like a 3-term CM, who did absolutely nothing to solve a chronic pain that his state still suffers from, during his (& his son's) term, goats about a farcical win in the parliamentary by-election, in which 93% voters Did Not vote & he still got elected with a mere 3% of total votes, and will shamelessly enjoy the free perks of being a member of the Parliament (ah.. the bitter sweetness of the world's largest democracy)!

On the occasion of yet another nondescript day tomorrow (don't even think about it…), Swamy is launching the random Nano blog series that's aimed at bringing such classical treasures to the notice of the intensely competitive insanely fast world that we inhabit today, offering (hopefully.. sincerely) a semblance of sanity, with the ancient lights that can still shine their wisdom light, to shoo away the ignorance darkness that surrounds us like an AR (or is it still VR!) goggle (or ‘IT’, if you're a - strictly Hollywood only - movie fan like Swamy)!

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நாலடியார் 135 (பொருட்பால் ~ கல்வி)

NAladiyAr verse 135 (Material Life ~ Education)

கல்வி கரையில கற்பவர் நாள்சில
மெல்ல நினைக்கின் பிணிபல - தெள்ளிதின்
ஆராய்ந்து அமைவுடைய கற்பவே நீரொழியப்
பாலுண் குருகின் தெரிந்து.

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The number of things to be known / learned is innumerable. But the lifetime (to learn them all) is limited / short.

If one ponders / contemplates quietly, even in the limited lifetime, there are many illnesses / diseases that one could be afflicted with (which reduces the available lifetime further).

So, just as a swan would isolate & consume only the milk from a mixture of milk & water, the smart / wise learners (seekers) will choose & learn only those tomes (scriptures) that will aid their quest for a better / more purposeful Life (attain self-realisation / liberation / mukthi).

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கற்கக்கூடிய (அ) அறியக்கூடிய விஷயங்கள் கணக்கற்றவை. ஆனால், கற்பவருடைய வாழ்நாள் குறைவானது (அத்தனையும் கற்கப் போதுமானது அல்ல).

சற்றே நிதானமாகச் சிந்தித்தால், அந்தக் குறுகிய வாழும் காலத்தில்கூட, பலவிதமான பிணிகள் (நோய்கள்) வரக்கூடும் (அதனால் வாழ்நாள் இன்னமும் குறுகக்கூடும்).

ஆகையால், இருக்கக்கூடிய எல்லா நூல்களையும் கற்க முயற்சி செய்யாமல், இந்த (குறுகிய) வாழ்நாளுக்குள் தாம் மேன்மையடைய (பெருவீடு பெற / ஞானோதயம் அடைய) எத்தகைய நூல்கள் பயன்படும் என்று தெளிவாக ஆராய்ந்து, நீரிலிருந்து பாலைமட்டும் பிரித்து அருந்தும் அன்னப்பறவை போல, அத்தகைய நூல்களை மட்டுமே அறிவுடையவர்கள் கற்பார்கள்.

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Hmmm... It's hard for a book lover (Swamy inclusive) to digest the Truth of verse 135 that's as transparent as glacial meltwater (howzatt for a simile, eh). But since it's undisputed Truth, which remains relevant after millennia, at least Think about it, the next time you pay for a bunch of books, irrespective of whether it's at a beloved (but now defunct) bookstore like Landmark or the ubiquitous Amazon!

~Swamy
@PrakashSwamy

2KYOT C55 - Good Governance - K549

The recent spate of incidents highlighting intolerance of one segment of people towards another, both citizens of the same nation, is a challenge many countries struggle to tackle. Racial hatred and protests continue in the US, long after Lincoln abolished slavery, despite having proudly elected someone from the once-enslaved community as President of the country, not once but twice. Religious hatred and violence prevails in many countries, resulting in preventable loss of human lives and stalling constructive progress necessary to uplift quality of Life.

With the elite intelligentsia returning their government given awards, protesting lack of decisive action from the government/s, media too has raised its already high-decibel pitch a few octaves higher. Here's a tip to the beleaguered government from Thiruvalluvar on its responsibility to act decisively.

549 குடிபுறங் காத்தோம்பிக் குற்றம் கடிதல்

வடுவன்று வேந்தன் தொழில்.

Protecting citizens from violence and punishing perpetrators of violence, without bothering about criticism, is the ruler's responsibility.

President Mukherjee's call against intolerance, Prime Minister Modi's endorsement of & emphasis to follow the same and Maharashtra CM Fadnavis' decisive action to provide protection for the book launch of former foreign minster of a not-so friendly neighbour nation are all steps in the right direction. All governments - including the central - should be as decisive in ensuring safety for freedom of expression and preventing any attempt by anyone to suppress it. 

@PrakashSwamy

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Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

2KYOT C24 Fame K231

"In the future everybody will be famous for fifteen minutes!" Andy Warhol is said to have famously told in 1979. His was a time when you've to be talented to perform something noteworthy & lucky enough to be noticed by someone worthy, who would promote you to an audience, so you could become rich & famous and the promoter could become richer (s/he won't promote just you, naturally). 

Warhol was right in predicting that as a future event, as there wasn't much of media, other than print & radio, to propagate someone's fame, at that time. Even if someone's talented, s/he needs the media for fanning that 15 minutes of fame. So gaining fame at Warhol's time took time. But things were about to change dramatically soon.

CNN started 24x7 news transmission in 1980. Larry King's interviews went live in 1985. www wasn't born until 1991. Big G (ahem, not that long bearded fella in flowing white robes believed to be up in the air, but Google) started its endless searches in 1998. Facebook made everyone like anyone in 2004. Any human being with a camera that can capture motion picture could beam himself or her cat & dog to the world thanks to YouTube from 2005. The little blue bird that can digest only 140 characters per bite, err tweet, started flapping its wings in 2006. Photographs changed forever from rectangle to square, thanks to Instagram, in 2010. And so on and on and on...

The explosion of social media & on demand availability of bandwidth gave an opportunity for every Tom, Sheikh & Harini to go for their 15 seconds of fame (inflation adjusted ;), right from their couch or car or anywhere. And having read or heard about a million self-help books from thousands of motivational authors, the minions of this tiny planet took Warhol's words to the heart and decided to become famous, come what may. Wouldn't it be really interesting to know what Valluvar said about Fame 2000 years ago!

231 ஈதல் இசைபட வாழ்தல் அதுவல்லது 
ஊதியம் இல்லை உயிர்க்கு.

There isn't any better purpose in Life than offering something (to others) and cherishing the accolade (or fame) that follows.

Hmmm, is it any wonder that fame is still hard to find for many, despite the myriad ways available now for anyone keen? Before you crave for that 15 seconds (or minutes) of fame and despair when it eludes, as ever, take a moment to think what have you got to offer that your fellow humans may find valuable! 

@PrakashSwamy

Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!
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Be Joyful & Spread the Cheer :)

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2KYOT C12 Objectivity K119

Talvar has stirred the collective imagination of a nation about the subjectivity of law enforcement agencies and everyone who is someone - including those who haven't even seen the movie yet - is expressing their shock & dismay at how the system simply failed to offer justice to the parents - both educated professionals belonging to the higher strata of society - who stand accused of killing their child. Of course, it's the same bunch of gossip gluttons that has indulged in devouring the media's nine course spicy subjective meal on another filicide, served 24x7, only a few weeks ago.

To understand the irony of our contradictory existence, we need to look at what Valluvar told about objectivity over 2 millennia ago.

119 சொற்கோட்டம் இல்லது செப்பம் ஒருதலையா 
உட்கோட்டம் இன்மை பெறின்.

When your mind isn't subjective, your words (& deeds) too won't be (subjective).

Unlike the industrial age supervisors & knowledge era managers who suddenly wake up from their subjective waking slumber and instinctively switch the objectivity light on, to play the practiced role of dispeller of darkness during the evil annual rituals called appraisal & promotion, when nice things like hope & motivation (of their minion subordinates) usually run away scared, the rest of humanity apparently learned to live comfortably in the subjective darkness, forever.

Pretty much every member of this hilarious species that appears to be devolving now, after evolving over millions of years from apes (who thankfully stopped evolving & continue to live happily with one less sense), shamelessly remain staunchly subjective in pretty much every single action concerning their own success, growth, wealth & popularity, but wax eloquent about the need to remain objective, in whatever one says or does, without batting an eyelid. Thanks to #Thiruvalluvar, we know why!

@PrakashSwamy

Note: This post (Kural #119, Chapter 12) is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

Be Joyful & Spread the Cheer :)

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2KYOT C41 Lack of Knowledge K407

2000 Years Old Tweets - Chapter 41, Kural 407 - Lack of Knowledge

Popularity always wins when it comes to publicity. In the digital space, i.e., the age we live in now where every Tom, Sheikh & Hari sprinkles jargons like digital, digitization, digitalization in daily conversations, those with millions of followers are popular. Some of these celebrities even have their own apps! What (IF!) they know doesn't matter, but what they do does, which is mostly posting a quadrillion photos on Instagram or Twitter or FB or what not - of whatever they do, including those that any human with common sense knows should be private. And their followers will gleefully savour all those photos (they probably check their idol's photos even before brushing their teeth) & dutifully like & share each of them, to propogate the most important thing necessary for human salvation - nothing!

Not to say that celebrities don't know anything, but there are other really smart humans out there, who know a lot better about a lot of things important for a better human Life. Like why should we progressively reduce consumption of fossil fuels, so that we don't obliterate the only inhabitable planet on which we live today - Earth! Or learn Science to understand the marvel of creation that evolved over many billion years, instead of believing a few thousand years old book that says someone created it at the snap of a finger!

407 நுண்மாண் நுழைபுலம் இல்லான் எழில்நலம் 

மண்மாண் புனைபாவை அற்று.

Those that lack (genuine) knowledge may be attractive, but that's no different from the beauty of a clay doll.

Hmmm... Thiruvalluvar must know, because celebrity worship isn't a 20th century phenomenon & must've existed from time immemorial. It's ok if you're following (hopefully not 'only') clay doll celebrities because in a free society you're free to follow whoever you want. But, there are a couple of things you can do, so you're not trolled as a clay doll worshipper, err. follower.

a) Follow people whose knowledge on subjects that are important for the progress of human species is acknowledged - not just academically but even on popular media - such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, etc (yep they're all scientists & Swamy is fascinated by the scientific Truth they unravel about Life). You can also follow the intelligent liberals such as Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert, who dare to rip apart the facade of the ruling class morons, on a daily basis, and tickle our funny bone while doing so, which is doubly beneficial as it helps both the heart & brain! Of course, you're absolutely empowered to follow Swamy as well - on any social media you prefer (he doesn't do Instagram though).

b) Stop sharing nonsense - like utterly pointless photos of celebrities you follow - that doesn't enable the progress of our species in any way. Unfollowing them would be even better, because then you'll have more time to learn really useful things about Life!

@PrakashSwamy

Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

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Be Joyful & Spread the Cheer :)

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2KYOT C73 Communicating without fear K723

Two things are prevalent in the evolution of humans from time immemorial - war and being tongue tied.

At a macro level, we still see many nations - powerful or not - pumping so much money into building or buying weapons and going to war - within their own country or elsewhere. Wars just don't cease, despite the heightened awareness of atrocieties associated with them due to the omnipresence of information in digital space, including but not limited to causing the death of scores of our own - supposedly evolved species.

At a micro level, many human beings, who voraciously consume all such information - including war - thru a variety of media, are left tongue tied, when it comes to speaking and expressing themselves, in front of a group of their own species. Many wonderful ideas, invigorating thoughts, opposite points-of-view remain locked inside the head of people who are scared to death (pun intended) to communicate them to others. That's one of the prime reasons for many netizens sticking to just liking & forwarding posts than commenting or publishing their own.

723 பகையகத்துச் சாவார் எளியர் அரியர்

அவையகத்து அஞ்சா தவர்.

Many die in the war. Few dare to speak confidently in a group (or in public).

2000 years ago, Valluvar beautifully beaded the two seemingly disconnected things - apparent fearless death of people in war & obvious fear of people about public speaking - together.

Which one is easier? Isn't addressing a group of fellow humans or expressing yourself in public far easier than fighting a bloody war!

@PrakashSwamy

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Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

2KYOT C80 Analysing Friendship K791

Almost every day, we get 'friend' requests. In a world progressively deprived of human kinship, many are glad to accept a new friend (virtual, unless already known), without hesitation. Few do the rudimentary (but obviously necessary) background check such as who, who are his/her friends (friends of friend), what kinds of posts s/he has posted, where is the person from, is there any connect at all with that person, et al. The checks could be misleading, if the profile is fake. Very few have the confidence & conviction to not accept all friend requests.

It's amazing Valluvar has written about this 21st century scenario, over 2000 years ago, in his own succinct couplet way.

791 நாடாது நட்டலின் கேடில்லை நட்டபின்
வீடில்லை நட்பாள் பவர்க்கு.

It's hard to let go of friendship. So, it's not smart to accept someone readily as a friend, without sufficient (background) check!

So, the next time you gleefully accept a friend request, think about what Valluvar said, in his 2KYOT, i.e. 2K years old Tweets!

Note: This post is part of Swamy's blog series on the epic book of Tamil poetry Thirukkural, thought to be written over 2000 years ago by the poet ThiruValluvar, in an enchanting Tweet long couplet format, which is amazingly relevant even in the digital space of today!

@PrakashSwamy