Not Envying
Vizhuppetrin Aqdhoppadhu Illaiyaar Maattum / Azhukkaatrin Anmai Perin
Classical English couplet — “If man can learn to envy none on earth,'Tis richest gift, -beyond compare its worth”
What it says in plain words
“Nothing you can gain is greater than being free from envy toward everyone. This means not resenting others for what they have.”
The classical Tamil reading
யாரிடத்திலும் பொறாமை இல்லாதிருக்கப் பெற்றால், ஒருவன் பெறத்தக்க மேம்பாடான பேறுகளில் அதற்கு ஒப்பானது வேறொன்றும் இல்லை.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
யாரிடமும் பொறாமை கொள்ளாத பண்பு ஒருவர்க்கு வாய்க்கப் பெறுமேயானால் அதற்கு மேலான பேறு அவருக்கு வேறு எதுவுமில்லை
The ethical and philosophical heart
Someone else may have more money, praise, or chances than you. Envy means feeling upset because they have these good things. This couplet calls freedom from envy toward everyone the greatest gain. It asks us to value this quality above other achievements.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You enjoy a friend's new car without feeling bitter about your own.
- Workplace
- You congratulate a coworker who gets the promotion you wanted.
- Family
- You celebrate your sister's success without wishing you had received her praise.
- Society
- You welcome improvements in another neighborhood, even while yours needs help.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Choose goals that matter to you, rather than trying to outdo someone else.
- Integrity
- Give others fair credit, even when you wish you had their success.
- Communication
- Speak warmly about someone's good news instead of finding faults.
- Leadership
- Support others when they succeed, even when they receive more praise than you.
- Governance
- Support useful public projects, even when another group gets the credit.
For leaders and teams
Practice welcoming success without envy when someone you guide does well. Their success is not a reason to feel less worthy.
Something to sit with
“Whose good fortune is hard for you to welcome, and what makes it difficult?”