Control of the Senses - from Tirukkural

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

Like a tortoise withdrawing five limbs into its shell, those who Restrain the five senses in one life, will find safe shelter for seven.

 

-Tirukkural 13: 126

[tsaneladi 0]

I can add nothing to this.

[krsna 3]

 

 

1.1.3. The Greatness of Ascetics

 

21.

The settled rule of every code requires, as highest good,

Their greatness who, renouncing all, true to their rule have stood.

The end and aim of all treatise is to extol beyond all other excellence, the greatness of those who, while abiding in the rule of conduct peculiar to their state, have abandoned all desire.

 

22

As counting those that from the earth have passed away,

'Tis vain attempt the might of holy men to say.

To describe the measure of the greatness of those who have forsaken the two-fold desires, is like counting the dead.

 

23.

Their greatness earth transcends, who, way of both worlds weighed,

In this world take their stand, in virtue's robe arrayed.

The greatness of those who have discovered the properties of both states of being, and renounced the world, shines forth on earth (beyond all others).

 

24.

He, who with firmness, curb the five restrains,

Is seed for soil of yonder happy plains.

He who guides his five senses by the hook of wisdom will be a seed in the world of heaven.

 

25.

Their might who have destroyed 'the five', shall soothly tell

Indra, the lord of those in heaven's wide realms that dwell.

Indra, the king of the inhabitants of the spacious heaven, is himself, a sufficient proof of the strength of him who has subdued his five senses.

 

26.

Things hard in the doing will great men do;

Things hard in the doing the mean eschew.

The great will do those things which is difficult to be done; but the mean cannot do them.

 

27.

Taste, light, touch, sound, and smell: who knows the way

Of all the five,- the world submissive owns his sway.

The world is within the knowledge of him who knows the properties of taste, sight, touch, hearing and smell.

 

28.

The might of men whose word is never vain,

The 'secret word' shall to the earth proclaim.

The hidden words of the men whose words are full of effect, will shew their greatness to the world.

 

29.

The wrath 'tis hard e'en for an instant to endure,

Of those who virtue's hill have scaled, and stand secure.

The anger of those who have ascended the mountain of goodness, though it continue but for a moment, cannot be resisted.

 

30.

Towards all that breathe, with seemly graciousness adorned they live;

And thus to virtue's sons the name of 'Anthanar' men give.

The virtuous are truly called Anthanar; because in their conduct towards all creatures they are clothed in kindness.

[krsna 3]

 

www.tamilnet.com

 

MARYLAND, USA, July 7, 2005: A three-day international conference on Tirukural, a 2000-year-old literary and ethical treatise in Tamil starts on July 8 at Smith Auditorium, Howard Community College, Columbia Maryland in USA. Professor George Hart, who holds the position of The Tamil Chair at the University of California Berkeley, will be one of the keynote speakers, organizers said. The State of Maryland has issued a proclamation declaring 8-10 July as a "Tirukural Conference Week." The Maryland conference is being sponsored by expatriate Tamil organizations in the U.S. and the proceedings will be in English and in Tamil, organizers said. Several Tamil scholars from South India are expected to address the conference. The objectives of the conference are, "to understand how Tirukural can be a guide to humanity, to create and promote awareness of Tirukural in USA among Americans and the youth of Indian origin and to compare Thiruvalluvar with other philosophe rs of the world," the conference leaflet said. The prefix Tiru, means 'sacred' and the word 'Kural' means a 'pithy couplet.' The 1330 couplets of Tirukural are divided into 133 chapters of 10 couplets each and grouped into three sections, Ahathuppal or Justice, which contains lessons on dharma and morals, Porutpal or material aspects, which contains teachings on man's duties and guidance to the right way to lead one's material life, and Inbathuppal or section on love, which teaches about love.

 

[krsna 3]

 

Tirukural 61: Of all blessings we know of none greater than the begetting of children endowed with intelligence.

 

 

Tirukural 63: It is said that children are a man's real

wealth, and that this wealth is determined by his deeds.

 

 

Tirukural 66: "Sweet are the sounds of the flute and the lute," say those who have not heard the prattle of their own children.

 

 

Tirukural 70: The son's duty to his father is to make the world ask, "by what great austerities did he merit such a son?"