January 21.

21. Do not speak ill of the dead. (The Seven Sages, including Solon, 600 B.C.)

   

To describe the measure of the greatness of those who have forsaken   the two-fold desire, is like counting the dead. (Thirukkurahl – 22).

துறந்தார் பெருமை துணைக்கூறின் வையத்து

இறந்தாரை எண்ணிக்கொண் டற்று. (குறள் - 22).

Thurandhaar perumai thuhnaikkoorin vaiyaththu

Yirandhaarai yehnnikkond(u) artru. (Thirukkurahl – 22).

If we understand that we should not talk ill of others in their absence, we can be aware of the effects of talk of the dead. When we have to talk only the good things around us, then how can we say anything bad about the dead? For the development of a society, everyone must have a good goal to achieve in life. At such times, we have to think of those who lived a great life before us, and follow their good habits. If we mention some bad things about the dead, even if there is anything, it will diminish the name and fame of them.

There is a saying: ‘if you find fault with everything, you will have none left’. In mythology, it is said that ‘the swan will drink only the milk and leave the water (from diluted milk)’. In the same manner, we have to look at only the good things in others, and leave the bad (of the dead). Of course, we have to be aware of those who keep on doing bad things, if they are not controlled.

Therefore, we must not talk ill of the dead.

January 22.

• Many evil men are rich, and good men poor, but we shall not exchange with them our excellence for riches. (Solon, 600 B.C.).

Wise men will not, for sake of profit, undertake works that will consume their principal. (Thirukkurahl – 463).

ஆக்கம் கருதி முதல்இழக்கும் செய்வினை

ஊக்கார் அறிவுடை யார். (குறள் - 463). 

Aakkam karudhi mudhal-yizhakkum seivinai

Ookkaar arivudai yaar. (Thirukkurahl – 463).

It is normally said that education and wealth will go parallel to one another, and rarely meet, like rail track. The presence of the two tracks at a specified separation makes a train run steadily. If they come closer and become one, it will be very difficult to move on that. Education makes many people great. However, earning beyond an extent is invariably difficult for the educated, if they follow good practice. Therefore, many great people of wisdom are not rich. Even if they are poor, the wise people will resist from changing their good character, for the sake of getting rich. Therefore, the name and fame of great and wise people remain for a long time. The fame of those people who earn money through good deeds, and live with good activities is still better.

We have to see how a person becomes famous. A person does not become famous, just because he is rich or educated. If rich people spend their wealth to the society, they become famous. There are schools, colleges, and universities which were started by many rich people, which have brought fame to them, even generations after their time. The educated people become famous by spreading their valuable knowledge to the society.

Hence, wealth is important. Fame is more important. It is always good to earn wealth by good deeds and use it to good cause and remain famous.

  

January 23.

• It takes a wise man to recognize a wise man. (Xenophanes, 500 B.C.).

Let a king ponder well its value, and secure the friendship of men of virtue and of mature knowledge. (Thirukkurahl – 441). 

அறன்அறிந்து மூத்த அறிவுடையார் கேண்மை

திறன்அறிந்து தேர்ந்து கொளல். (குறள் - 441).  

      Aran-arindhu mooththa arivudaiyaar kaehnmai

      Thiran-arindhu thaerndhu kohlal. (Thirukkurahl – 441).

A jeweler knows the value of a jewel. A teacher knows the student who is shaped. There is a saying: “a girl is like its mother; a cloth is like the thread.” An expert in a field only will know about that subject and a person’s knowledge in that field. Therefore, the greatness will be recognized by the great only. There should be more people who are wise and great in a nation, for a country to grow and for a better living of its people. 

We decorate our surroundings with electric lights. If the continuity breaks at some point, the lights don’t glow beyond that. The electricity does not pass through other paths, in general. But, if there is water, the current passes through that. It is dangerous to touch that water. We feel the shock depending upon the power of the electricity. The electricity knows its path; if it comes across something in which it can penetrate, it recognizes it and goes through that also, to some extent. The wise people proceed like that and progress, without any hindrance, by recognizing their route. To look at it in another way, the wise people’s knowledge will be receivable, by the persons even if they are slightly prone to that. If we are adamant to evade good things, we won’t be benefited by the wise, as the electricity does not pass through dead wood. 

Therefore, we have to follow good route in life to get the benefits of wise people. 

January 24.

• A youth, when at home, should be filial, and abroad, respectful to his elders. (Simonides, 500 B.C.).

(So to act) that it may be said, “by what great penance did his father obtain him!” is the benefit which a son should render to his father. (Thirukkurahl – 70). 

மகன்தந்தைக்கு ஆற்றும் உதவி இவன்தந்தை

என்நோற்றான் கொல்எனும் சொல். (குறள் - 70).    

Magan-thanthaikku aartrum vudhavi yivan-thandhai

Yennoartraan kol-yenum soll. (Thirukkurahl – 70).

A person’s life has several stages. Whatever a child does, should not be done at youth or adult age. Even though one changes from childhood to youth, and adult stages in life, the relationship of father and son does not change. The elders will see their sons and daughters as children only, at any stage of the latter. Even when going to work as adults, the children must behave as children in front of their parents. Whether a person works as a teacher, an officer, a leader, or even head of a state or country, he must consider himself as a son, and behave gently, with affection. He should not exercise his power at home. They should do their work properly and bring fame to the family.

Therefore, young people should consider themselves as children and behave well at home, whatever position they occupy in their work.  

January 25.

25. Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. (Simonides, 500 B.C.) 

Amidst all that we have seen (described) as real (excellence), there is nothing so good as truthfulness. (Thirukkurahl – 300).

யாமெய்யாக் கண்டவற்றுள் இல்லை எனைத்தொன்றும் 

வாய்மையின் நல்ல பிற. (குறள் - 300).

Yaam-meyyaak kandavartruhl yillai yenaiththondrum

Vaaimaiyin nalla pira. (Thirukkurahl – 300).

  

It is generally said that ‘a crooked mind will always be (vining) suffering’. Even though others may not be watching our actions all the time, we have to work according to our consciousness. For example, if a vendor mixes some water into the milk, it will be hurting him, even though it goes unnoticed. There will be some invisible change in his body, if he commits a mistake intentionally. The scientists have developed a technique (called lie-detector), to find out whether a person tells the truth or not. These wrong-doings will create tension and spoil their own health. Tension is the root-cause for many illnesses, as per scientists and doctors. Tension affects our peace of mind, and memory power, and causes headaches, high blood pressure, indigestion, heart problems, sleeplessness, and so on. 

Therefore, it is important that we do good and right things according to our consciousness, and refrain from doing wrong things, even if others do not watch us.