Not Coveting
Arulveqki Aatrinkan Nindraan Porulveqkip / Pollaadha Soozhak Ketum
Classical English couplet — “Though, grace desiring, he in virtue's way stand strong,He's lost who wealth desires, and ponders deeds of wrong”
What it says in plain words
“Even someone who tries to live kindly can go wrong. Wanting others’ belongings and planning harmful ways to take them leads to ruin.”
The classical Tamil reading
அருளை விரும்பி அறநெறியில் நின்றவன், பிறனுடைய பொருளை விரும்பிப் பொல்லாத குற்றங்களை எண்ணினால் கெடுவான்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
அருளை விரும்பி அதனை அடைவதற்கான வழியில் செல்பவன் தவறிப்போய்ப் பிறர் பொருளை விரும்பிப் பொல்லாத செயலில் ஈடுபட்டால் கெட்டொழிய நேரிடும்
The ethical and philosophical heart
Wanting to be kind does not protect us from greed. We may still be tempted to take what belongs to others. Kindness must guide our choices, especially when money is involved. Planning to cheat someone works against the good life we seek.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You want a friend's bicycle, but refuse to trick them into giving it away.
- Workplace
- You refuse to make a false claim for a coworker's share of a bonus.
- Family
- You divide shared family money fairly instead of secretly taking more.
- Society
- You refuse to help someone cheat a neighbor out of their land.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Stop when a plan involves taking what belongs to someone else.
- Integrity
- Keep your actions kind, even when cheating could bring you money.
- Communication
- Speak honestly rather than using lies to get someone else's belongings.
- Leadership
- Help your team succeed without cheating others out of their fair share.
- Governance
- Protect public money instead of finding ways to take it for yourself.
For leaders and teams
Good intentions are not enough; keep greed out of your choices. Never help your group gain money by cheating someone else.
Something to sit with
“Where might wanting what someone else has pull you away from kindness today?”