Compassion
Porulneengip Pochchaandhaar Enpar Arulneengi / Allavai Seydhozhuku Vaar
Classical English couplet — “Gain of true wealth oblivious they eschew,Who 'grace' forsake, and graceless actions do”
What it says in plain words
“People who leave kindness behind and keep harming others lose their way. They forget what matters in life and their duty to others.”
The classical Tamil reading
அருள் இல்லாதவராய் அறமல்லாதவைகளைச் செய்து நடப்பவர்களை, உறுதிப்பொருளாகிய அறத்திலிருந்து நீங்கித் தம் வாழ்க்கையின் குறிக்கோளை மறந்தவர் என்பார்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
அருளற்றவர்களாய்த் தீமைகளைச் செய்து வாழ்பவர்கள், பொருளற்றவர்களாகவும், கடமை மறந்தவர்களாகவும் ஆவர்
The ethical and philosophical heart
Kindness helps us remember our duty to other people. When we keep harming others, we forget what makes life meaningful. The couplet points to kindness as a guide for life. This matters in how we treat people at home and work.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You stop making jokes about a friend's painful mistake.
- Workplace
- You help a struggling coworker instead of making them feel useless.
- Family
- You listen to an older relative instead of treating their needs as a bother.
- Society
- Neighbors offer help to someone in trouble instead of mocking them.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Consider who might be hurt before choosing what to do.
- Integrity
- Keep treating people kindly, even when you could gain by hurting them.
- Communication
- Speak about mistakes without making someone feel worthless.
- Leadership
- Correct problems while remembering your duty to care for people.
- Governance
- Make public decisions with care for the people they affect.
For leaders and teams
Leading others means keeping kindness at the center of your actions. Do not let getting things done become an excuse for cruelty.
Something to sit with
“Where could more kindness help you remember what matters in your life today?”