Research article written by London Swaminathan

 

Date: 20 May 2017

 

Time uploaded in London: 15-50

 

Post No. 3925

 

Pictures are taken from various sources such as Face book, google and Wikipedia; thanks.

 

contact: swami_48@yahoo.com

 

 

DESIRE

Thiruvalluvar said,

If desire, the greatest of afflictions, would become extinct there would be perpetual happiness even in this world (Kural 369)

There are ten couplets on desire– 361 to 370 in the chapter 37 — in Thirukkural written by Thiruvallavar

 

And Buddha said,

Since a shower of golden coins cloud not satisfy craving desires and the end of all pleasure is pain, how could a wise man find satisfaction even in the pleasures of gods? When desires go, joy comes; the follower of Buddha finds this truth (Dhammapada 186, 187)

 

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HATRED

Valluvar said,

What is called hatred is a disease that spreads the bitterness of discord among all beings (Kural 851)

Nip in the bud the feeling of hostility and you prosper well. For one is fast ruined by fomenting hatred (Kural 859)

Out of hatred arise evils; out of love comes the glory that is called discreteness (860)

There are ten couplets on hatred – 851 to 860in the chapter 86 — in Tirukkural

And Buddha said,

If a man speaks or acts with an impure mind, suffering follows him as the wheel of the cart follows the beast that draws the cart (Dhamma 1)

He insulted me, he hurt me, he defeated me, he robbed me- Those who think such thoughts will not be free from hate (Dhammapada-2)

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CONSCIENCE & KARMA

Valluvar said,

Just as one’s shadow follows one wherever one goes, destruction follows the path of evil doer (Kural 208)

 

And Buddha said,

 

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow; our life is the creation of our mind.

If a man speaks or acts with pure mind, joy follows him as his own shadow (Dhamma-2)

 

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NO TIT FOR TAT

Valluvar said,

 

The best way to punish those who harm you is to make them feel abashed by doing them good and thinking no more of it (Kural 314)

Tamil poet Bharati also echoed this advice

And Buddha said,

For  hate is not conquered by hate; hate is conquered by love. This is a law eternal (Dhamma. 5)

 

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WEALTH

Valluvar said,

What is achieved by a man that has wealth is like witnessing a fight between elephants having climbed to the top of a hill (Kural 758)

And Buddha said,

The Wiseman who by watchfulness conquers thoughtlessness is as one who free from sorrows ascends the palace of wisdom and there, from its high terrace, sees those in sorrow below; even as a wise strong man  on the holy mountain might behold the many unwise far down below on the plain (Dhamma.28)

 

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SAINT and INDRA

Valluvar said,

Indra the King of Devas himself , will bear testimony to the will power of those who curbed

the desires of the five senses (Kural 25).

And Buddha said,

It was by watchfulness that Indra became the chief of the Gods and thus the gods praise the watchful, and thoughtlessness is ever despised (Dhamma 30)

 

Also in Atharva Veda 11-5-19

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SLANDER

Valluvar said,

If a man can look upon others faults as his own what evil can befall him? (Kural 190)

Valluvar said the same in his couplets-250, 318, 436 as well.

And Buddha said,

Think not the faults of others, of what they have done or not done. Think rather of your own sins, of the things you have done or not done (Dhamma.50)

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ELOQUENCE

Valluvar said,

Those who are unable to elucidate their learning are like a cluster of blossoms without fragrance (650).

Also in Rig Veda 10-71-5

And Buddha said,

Just as flower which seems beautiful and has colour but no perfume, so are the fruitless words of  the man who speaks them  but does them not (Dhamma.50)

 

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PATIENCE

Valluvar said,

 

Those who perform penance by fasting are certainly great but even they are not equal to those that forebear the harsh words spoken by others (Kural 160)

And Buddha said,

Watch for anger of words; let your words be self-controlled. Hurt not with words, but use your words well (Dhamma.232)

There are men steady and wise whose body, words and mind are self-controlled. They are the men of supreme self-control (Dhamma 234)

 

–SUBHAM–