1. WHAT IS TAMIL HUMANISM
Tamil Humanism is a presentation of moral, values and ethics. It is a Value System.
Tamil literature offers ethics, philosophy, religion, mythology, rituals, superstitions, esoteric and mysticism. Tamil Humanism teaches only the Ethical Dimension. It excludes philosophy, religion, mythology, rituals, superstitions, esoteric and mysticism.
Tamil Humanism is only good for ethical fitness and mental wellness similarly as exercise is good for your physical fitness and the body’s health.
The ethical dimension of Tamil literature is the value system called Tamil Humanism. This value system is universal to all of humanity.
Tamil Humanism is the collective consciousness of ethics, morality and value systems of the Tamil people of the 1st century BC. ‘Samanam’ is a pre-Vedic religion and a pre-Hindu religion that prevailed.
Tamil Humanism is a set of values and virtues that emanate from the physiological needs of a human being. These values emanate from the inherent qualities of a human being. Tamil Humanism is an ancient philosophy and Value System. It is a rationalist system of thought attaching importance to human matters. It is a way of life for all people. Tamil Humanism is the pursuit of humanist values in order to achieve happiness in this world. In summary, Tamil Humanism gives you a meaningful life, so that you can be happy in your family, at your work, in your community and in this world.
2. UNIQUENESS OF TAMIL HUMANISM
Tamil Humanism is unique from other forms of humanism, in that its humanist principles are recorded in the Tamil language in a book called ‘Thirukkural’ or ‘Tamil Marai’.
The Thirukkural promotes Tamil Humanism and its author, Thiruvalluvar is a Humanist.
The Thirukkural is a book of guidance for humanity. The Thirukkural affirms humanist principles which are the core of the individual, family, community, society and the state.
Tamil Humanism is the culture of the Eight Divine Virtues of the Thirukkural. The Eight Divine Virtues is the culture of love, peace, truth, right conduct, non-violence, human values, human rights and nature rights. Tamil Humanism is the Tamil Culture.
Human Values is a characteristic of human beings. Human Rights are characteristic of society and Nature’s Rights is characteristic of society’s relationship with nature.
Humanism focuses on human beings, human relationships and the physical real world. Thiruvalluvar taught a rational system of thought giving importance to human rather than supernatural beliefs. Rituals and superstitious concepts and matters are rejected.
The Principles of the Thirukkural guides the individual, it guides the community and it guides the nation. If the individual fails to follow the Virtues they will be dysfunctional. If the community fails to follow the Virtues it also becomes dysfunctional. Dysfunctional communities will produce more dysfunctional individuals and much suffering exists because of the disobedience of not following Virtues. Humanist Culture is the primary element in the evolution of society.
3. UNIVERSALITY OF TAMIL HUMANISM
Tamil Humanism promotes the highest level of human identity and belongingness.
Tamil Humanists say: ‘We are human, we practice the human culture, we aspire for virtue and human values, and we strive for a society that embodies human rights and nature rights. Our race is Human, our belief is Humanism.’
This form of internationalism is the philosophy of Tamil Humanism. The human culture based on humanist values and human rights give us our human identity and our sense of belongingness to the human family.
Every human being irrespective of race, colour, gender or nationality is welcome to accept Tamil Humanism as their path. Therefore Tamil Humanism is a universal philosophy and culture. It takes the best of all that humanity has to offer. Each individual in each generation will have to claim these virtues in their lives by their own effort. By practicing the Tamil humanist culture it becomes a living culture. By teaching it to the next generation it stays a living culture. Each generation need to read, understand and learn this philosophy to have a meaningful and happy life.
4. FOUNDER OF TAMIL HUMANISM
In the year 31 BC, on 15 January Thiruvalluvar was born. Thiruvalluvar is the author of the Thirukkural. His principles are the foundation of Tamil Humanism.
5. THIRUKKURAL VERSES
The Thirukkural verses promotes the Eight Core Values which the philosophy of Tamil Humanism embodies. The Eight Core Values is the culture of love, peace, truth, right conduct, non-violence, human values, human rights and nature rights. This ethical way of life is the Tamil Humanist culture.
The Thirukkural articulates Tamil Humanist culture in the following verse:
9.
Unless you obey the Eight Core Values, you will lose self-control and your life will be useless.
5.1. LOVE
The culture of Love is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates Love in the following verse:
983.
The foundation of virtue consists of love, peace, truth, right conduct and non-violence.
5.2. PEACE
The culture of Peace is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates Peace in the following verse:
75.Peace is a state of mind from which love flows into a family giving rise to the supreme joy of a home.
5.3. TRUTH
The culture of Truth is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates Truth in the following verse:
355.
The path to knowledge lies in seeking out the truth of all things.
5.3.1. SCIENCE
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of Science in the following verses:
392.
Writing, mathematics, art and science are what enable us to make sense of the world.
396.
Profound learning yields ever-increasing knowledge.
5.3.2. RATIONALISM
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of Rationalism in the following verses:
717.
Rationalist study is valued by intelligent people.
929.
Alcoholics lose their reason and drown in their affliction.
5.3.3. HUMANISM
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of Humanism in the following verse:
31.
Virtue leads to humanism and prosperity, the ultimate good.
5.3.4. ATHEISM
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of Atheism in the following verses:
249.
A confused mind twists the truth and wisdom is worthless without compassion.
291.
Truth consists in speaking accurately and factually without malice.
299.
For the wise atheists, the truth is arrived at through direct observation just as many people can see the bright light of the sun and proclaim it as such.
300.
Truth is the highest power.
287.
Superstition is another type of fraud and just as destructive hence atheists reject it.
5.4. RIGHT CONDUCT
The culture of Right Conduct is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates Right Conduct in the following verse:
32.
Your joy and prosperity increase through right conduct and decrease through lack of virtue.
33.
Do good wherever you find the opportunity.
5.5. NON-VIOLENCE
The culture of Non-violence is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates Non-violence in the following verse:
317.
Embrace non-violence at all times, even in your mind.
5.6. HUMAN VALUES CULTURE
The culture of Human Values is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates Human Values in the following verse:
953.
People who practice human values have true character, a friendly smile, generosity, courtesy and are well spoken.
5.7. HUMAN RIGHTS CULTURE
The culture of Human Rights is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of Human Rights in the following verses:
543.
Saints and their scriptures as well as a leader who governs are informed by the same principles of Human Rights.
544.
The leader who governs by Human Rights can rely on the people’s devotion.
546.
Leadership based on Human Rights is stronger than the rule of the sword.
554.
Leaders who abuse Human Rights will lose active citizen participation and wealth.
556.
The State that loses the principle of Human Rights falls into darkness.
The Thirukkural articulates the principle of Democracy in the following verse:
541.
Govern democratically on the basis of facts, consultation and justice.
The Thirukkural articulates the principle of Justice in the following verse:
542.
The people’s happiness is determined by the quality of their leadership and justice.
5.7.1. STATE GOVERNANCE
5.7.1.1. THE LEADERS
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of Leadership in the following verses:
382.
Leaders are defined by courage, generosity, knowledge and zeal in application.
383.
A leader must be alert, open to learning new things, and brave.
5.7.1.2. THE EXECUTIVE
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Executive in the following verses:
632.
An executive looks after the subordinates by being knowledgeable, unswerving and bold.
631.A good executive will act innovatively, in the right way and at the right time.
5.7.1.3. THE JUDICIARY
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Judiciary in the following verses:
550.
Criminals are like weeds in a field of crops – they must be removed by the judiciary.
561.
Justice punishes people on the basis of the facts to deter future crimes.
5.7.1.4. THE LEGISLATURE
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Legislature in the following verse:
547.
Legislature passes laws to protect society. Justice protects individual dignity.
5.7.1.5. THE IDEAL STATE
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of an ideal state in the following verses:
Diligent work and mature wisdom combined will lift up the nation to the ideal state.
1026.
Giving back to the nation is a praiseworthy duty.
5.7.2. SOCIOLOGY: THE SIX FUNCTIONS
The Thirukkural articulates principles of Sociology in the following verse:
560.
The six functions of society are ruined if leaders do not protect it.
The Six Functions are aspects of sociology.
The Six Functions is family, community, civil society, activism, public service and economy
5.7.2.1. FAMILY
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Family in the following verse:
212.
Wealth derived from work should be used to benefit your family.
5.7.2.2. COMMUNITY
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Community in the following verse:
524.
A happy community is a guarantee of financial success.
5.7.2.3. CIVIL SOCIETY
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Civil Society in the following verses:
1023.
In civil society, when people unite in service of the nation, triumph is assured.
1021.Diligent work is supremely virtuous.
5.7.2.4. ACTIVISM
The Thirukkural articulates principles of Activism in the following verse:
1051.
Demand from those who failed in their obligation to maintain equitable distribution of resources to supply them.
1058.Without committed activism, society would be robotic in an indifferent apathetic world.
5.7.2.5. PUBLIC SERVICE
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Public Service in the following verses:
769.
Weakness, aversion and poverty undermine the public service.
766.
The four merits of public service are training, faith, honour and valour.
5.7.2.6. ECONOMY
The Thirukkural articulates principles of the Economy in the following verses:
731.
If citizens are virtuous, the economy will thrive.
738.
A healthy country is fertile, joyful, wealthy and secure.
5.8. NATURE RIGHTS CULTURE
The culture of Nature Rights is an aspect of the Eight Core Values.
The Thirukkural articulates the principles of Nature Rights in the following verse:
545.
The land governed by a leader who implements Nature Rights will prosper.
557.
Leadership that does not consider the wellbeing of all beings is barren.
559.
Living under a tyrant is like living in a country ruined by drought.
The Thirukkural articulates the importance of rain, water and nature in relationship to humankind in the following verse:
20.
Water is life. Water comes from rain and without rain we cannot perform our duties.