There is a reason why philosophers are discarded in favor of meme-creators. More so in these days, really. I mean, it is a digital age and we prefer to have a 'Push this button, this happens' sort of solution. And philosophers...well, philosophers are the original wafflers who will tell you to acquire a bunch of character attributes without even indicating where on Amazon or Flipkart you can readily purchase them...on a sale, if possible. I mean, where is the 'Say please and thank you and people will like you' sort of easy instruction manual in any philosophy? (In religion? Please...do you want to get me lynched?)
So, yea, our man Tiru has this to say:
Therulaadhaan meipporul kandatraal thaerin arulaadhaan seyyum aram - Tirukkural
The virtues of a man lacking compassion is akin to the comprehension of a man lacking discernment - Loose Translation
You know, it is a tough job today to really say anything the way these ancient philosophers said it. They just scattered their adjectives and nouns with gay abandon - 'Fool', 'brainless people' etc. - and you have to think whether you need to say 'intellectually challenged' or some such AND also worry about being accused of privilege.
So, Tiru says that a man without discernment reading a book would make a mess of understanding the true sense of it; in like manner, a man doing charity, but lacking true compassion, will still remain lacking in virtue.
So, yeah, you can get away legally by DOING things in the name of Corporate Social Responsibility. But when it comes to personal virtue, you need to first feel the compassion for those whom you seek to help. Else, it is merely another thing you are crossing off on your to-do list but has no more meaning than that.
See, what I mean? 'Give charity, go to Heaven' is not the way it works according to Tiru. Ah, no, you need to go and change your character as well.
Alas, when will I find a philosopher who will teach me to just push a series of buttons and become a saint?
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