30.1 Truth

 30.1 Truth 

Question:

What is truth? 

Answer:

Speech that is in accordance with fact but not causing any harm

whatsoever to anyone is truth.                                                                (kural – 291) 

வாய்மை எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்

தீமை இலாத சொலல்.                                                                                    (குறள் – 291)

 

Explanation:

Truth is difficult to define. Philosophers have struggled to come up with a clear definition of truth that covers its many aspects. Among the many definitions and theories regarding truth, the one given in Merriam Webster's dictionary is simple and straightforward. Merriam Webster's dictionary defines truth as the property of being in accord with fact or reality. In other words, a statement is said to be true if it is in accordance with fact or reality. 

             Valluvar has a slightly different definition of truth. He states that truth is speech that is free from all evil. Valluvar's definition of truth seems to imply that truth is different than mere fact. According to him, truth is not merely a factual statement. It is more than that. As Dr. T. P. Menakshisundaran, a renowned Tamil scholar, points out, "Truth is not terminal exactitude. But it is the manifestation of the inner arul (compassion) in speech." It is the intent behind what is said that makes it a truth.

30.2 Almost Truth

 30.2 Almost Truth 

Question:

Can a lie be ever considered truth? 

Answer:

Even a false statement is almost like truth if it can produce a

benefit without the slightest blemish.                                                    (Couplet - 292) 

பொய்மையும் வாய்மை யிடத்த புரைதீர்ந்த

நன்மை பயக்கும் எனின்.                                                                                  (குறள் – 292)

 

Explanation:

Valluvar states that even a false statement may be considered truth if it produces unmitigated good. How can that be? Consider the situation where a little girl wearing a new dress asks her father, "Dad, don't I look beautiful in this dress?". Even if the father does not think that the dress makes her look beautiful, his response would be, "Yes. Honey, you really look beautiful in this dress." The father's statement is not consistent with the fact. But there is no harm done by the father's statement that the girl looked pretty in that dress. In this case, the father's intent is absolutely good. He wants to make his daughter happy. Although the father's statement is technically a falsehood, it is almost like truth.

 

Valluvar is consistent in his statements. He is really pragmatic in his approach to defining truth. To him, a statement is true if there is no intention to harm anyone. Statements that do not harm anyone and produce pure good can be considered almost like the truth. According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, a lie is a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive someone. So, when someone is lying, intentional deception is involved. In the example cited above, the father has no intention to deceive or hurt his daughter. Therefore, his statement is not a lie. That is why Valluvar says it is almost like truth.

 

30.3 Benefits of Truthfulness

 30.3 Benefits of Truthfulness 

Question:

What are the Benefits of Truthfulness? 

Answer:

External purity is made possible by using water. Truthfulness

purifies the mind.                                                                                        (kural - 298)

If one speaks the truth and nothing but the truth, he need not

seek other virtues.                                                                                      (kural – 297)

External lamps do not light the path of the noblemen. Only

truthfulness illuminates their path.                                                         (kural - 299)

 

பொய்யாமை பொய்யாமை ஆற்றின் அறம்பிற

செய்யாமை செய்யாமை நன்று.                                (குறள் – 297) 

புறள்தூய்மை நீரான் அமையும் அகந்தூய்மை

வாய்மையால் காணப் படும்.                                   (குறள் – 298) 

எல்லா விளக்கும் விளக்கல்ல சான்றோர்க்குப்

பொய்யா விளக்கே விளக்கு.                                   (குறள் – 299) 

Explanation:

Valluvar makes an interesting observation. He says that water helps to clean our bodies. In the same manner, truthfulness helps to clean our minds. When someone follows truthfulness meticulously, then he must be true to himself. That means, if he were to be confronted for his actions, he must confess what he did and meet the consequences for his actions. Eventually, truthfulness will deter him from straying away from the path of virtue. Thus, constant and continuous practice of truthfulness acts as a detergent for the mind and purifies the mind. According to Valluvar, "Virtue is nothing but cultivating a mind without blemishes; everything else is an empty show (Couplet- 34)." If truthfulness would cleanse the mind of all blemishes, there can be no other virtue better than that. Therefore, one who practices truthfulness need not follow other virtues. Over time, truthfulness will automatically lead him to all other virtues. This is precisely why the noblemen of perfection consider truthfulness as the only guiding light for them to follow. In fact, Valluvar says that truthfulness is a prerequisite quality for a nobleman of perfection. 

29.1 Avoiding Stealing

29.1 Avoiding Stealing 

Question:

Should the very thought of stealing be avoided?

Answer:

He who wants to avoid contempt of others should guard against the

very thought of stealing.                                                                            (Couplet – 281) 

The very thought of stealing others' property by fraudulent means

is a sin as it must be avoided.                                                                   (Couplet – 282) 

எள்ளாமை வேண்டுவான் என்பான் எனைத்தொன்றும்

கள்ளாமை காக்கதன் நெஞ்சு.                                                                          (குறள் – 281) 

உள்ளத்தால் உள்ளலும் தீதே பிறன்பொருளைக்

கள்ளத்தால் கள்வேம் எனல்.                                                                               (குறள் – 282) 

Explanation:

Thought precedes the action. If a person entertains the idea of stealing, it will lead to the act of stealing itself. Therefore, Valluvar condemns the very thought of stealing others' property by fraudulent means as a sin. When people come to know that someone is scheming to steal, he will be the object of contempt by others. So, if one wants to avoid others' contempt, he should not even think of stealing from others. Therefore, the very thought of stealing must be avoided.

28.1 Improper Conduct

 28.1 Improper Conduct

Question:

What is the difference between a genuine ascetic and a fake one? 

Answer:

The saintly appearance of a man without inner strength is

like a grazing cow under the cover of a tiger's skin.                                                   (Couplet – 273) 

One who indulges in vice under cover of a saint's trappings

is like bird-hunter hiding behind a bush.                                                                  (Couplet – 274)

Many people clean their bodies with water but

hide their evil thoughts in their minds.                                                                (Couplet – 278)

 

வலியில் நிலைமையான் வல்லுருவம் பெற்றம்

புலியின்தோல் போர்த்துமேய்ந் தற்று.                                                                      (குறள் – 273) 

தவமறைந்து அல்லவை செய்தல் புதல்மறைந்து

வேட்டுவன் புள்சிமிழ்த் தற்று.                                                                                     (குறள் – 274) 

மனத்தது மாசாக மாண்டார் நீராடி

மறைந்தொழுகு மாந்தர் பலர்.                                                                                 (குறள் – 278)

 

Explanation:

These days we hear about several fake ascetics and saints who pretend to be virtuous and cheat their followers and others. Recently, a well-known man who everyone thought to possess several noble qualities and was a faithful follower of God was arrested for sexual misconduct with girls in a school run by his establishment. Another fake ascetic and self-styled Godman charged with sexual abuse, assault, rape, and other crimes has purchased an island and sought United Nations Organization's recognition for his island as a sovereign nation. 

From the Thirukkural couplets cited above, it appears that such fake ascetics were there even during Valluvar's days. That is why Valluvar compares the one who pretends like an ascetic to a grazing cow in tiger's skin. Since a tiger never eats grass, it is easy to detect the pretender. Also, Valluvar compares the imposter to bird-hunter hiding behind the bush and trying to kill a bird. Furthermore, he says that the imposter cleans his body with water while his mind is full of evil thoughts.

The difference between a real ascetic and a fake one is that the real ascetic will not engage in unlawful and unrighteous activities like the imposters.

27.1 Penance

 27.1 Penance 

Question:

What is penance? 

Answer:

Penance is enduring sufferings and not causing sufferings to others. (Couplet – 261) 

உற்றநோய் நோன்றல் உயிர்க்குஉறுகண் செய்யாமை

அற்றே தவத்திற்கு உரு.                                                                                        (குறள் – 261) 

Explanation:

According to Valluvar, penance involves enduring all sufferings and not causing sufferings to others. Generally, the term 'penance' is associated with the ascetics who strive for advancement in their spiritual pursuit. Valluvar's description of penance can also be interpreted as the dedicated pursuit of any desired goal despite all obstacles and hindrances and avoiding harm to others. 

In the chapter on Penance (Chapter 27), Valluvar mentions that the ascetics who perform penance may achieve whatever their heart's desire (Couplet 265), and they may even escape death (Couplet 269). These are exaggerated claims, and there is no evidence that any ascetic has ever achieved everything he desired or escaped death. The exaggerated claims associated with penance may be considered Valluvar's way of encouraging the ascetics to pursue their penance with sincerity, unlike some modern-day fake ascetics engaged in criminal activities. 

26.1 Avoiding Meat Eating

 26.1 Avoiding Meat Eating

Question:

Should meat-eating be avoided? 

Answer:

How can it be called compassion if one fattens himself with the flesh of another creature?                                                                                                    (Couplet - 251)

If everyone refrains from buying meat for eating, then there will be no one willing animals for selling their meat.                                                                 (Couplet - 256)

If one realizes that meat is only the ulcer of an animal, one will refrain from eating it.

                                                                                                (Couplet – 257)

It is better to refrain from killing and eating the meat than pouring ghee in thousand offerings.                                                                                                  (Couplet – 259)

 

தன்னூன் பெருக்கற்குத் தான்பிறிது ஊனுண்பான்

எங்ஙனம் ஆளும் அருள்?                                                  (குறள் – 251) 

தினற்பொருட்டால் கொள்ளாது உலகெனின் யாரும்

விலைப்பொருட்டால் ஊன்தருவார் இல்.                        (குறள் – 256) 

உண்ணாமை வேண்டும் புலாஅல் பிறிதுஒன்றன்

புண்ணது உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்.                                     (குறள் – 257) 

அவிசொரிந்து ஆயிரம் வேட்டலின் ஒன்றன்

உயிர்செகுத்து உண்ணாமை நன்று.                             (குறள் – 259) 

Explanation:

Meat is nothing but the flesh of an animal that has been killed for the purpose of eating. Killing any living being is not an act of compassion. Therefore, anyone interested in following a virtuous life should avoid eating meat. Some people, including some Buddhists, argue that if one buys meat from a butcher or a supermarket and eats it, one is not really killing, and therefore there is nothing wrong in eating meat. Valluvar counters this argument by saying that if no one buys meat, no one will be selling meat. One way or the other, the people who eat meat are responsible for killing animals. Therefore, meat-eating should be avoided.

 Except for Jainism, all other major religions do not condemn eating meat. Hinduism may claim that it is against killing any living being. But except for a small percentage of Hindus, most others are non-vegetarians. During the days of Valluvar and even before that, animal sacrifices during religious functions were not unusual, and the meat of the sacrificed animals was eaten by those who participated in those functions. Valluvar condemns the practice of animal sacrifices during religious ceremonies by saying that it is better not to kill a living being than to conduct a thousand sacrificial killings.