The company you keep

If there is one thing that seems to have found acceptance across the world, it is the idea that you are known by the company you keep. Well, lions move with lions and cows move with cows is the sort of thing that is easy to understand. The wise prey does not cozy up to the predator. AND, of course, much as the predator may love its own captive herd of prey, it probably does not find enough foolish prey to hang around with; not to mention the fact that being taken for prey, because of the company it keeps, by other predators is not something conducive to peace of mind.

Comes to human beings, though, the 'company you keep' does not conveniently divide itself into this predator-prey matrix. Though, yes, to be sure it IS the fashion these days to designate the 'other' as predators and those who are 'gullible' enough to accept the other's views as prey. With you as the hard-working protector of whoever you designate as the innocent. But, in reality, humans are not so conveniently divided.

Thus, Tiru does not only mean this predator-prey division when he says

Sittrinam anjum perumai sirumaidhaan sutramai soozhndu vidum - Tirukkural

The great fear associating with the mean-minded; it is the base who surround themselves with such people - Loose Translation

Ah, you do not need to hark back to the Rajinikant dialogue - 'Pannidhaan koottam koottama varum; singam single-aaththan varum' (It is pigs that come in herds; the lion only comes alone). I mean, yeah, in a way Rajini is saying sort of the same thing. That the mean prefer coming in a crowd of their ilk (AND pigs as a metaphor to mean the 'mean' IS common in most parts of the world so do not blame me for typecasting pigs) whereas the lion dares come alone. The thing, though, is that Tiru is not necessarily praising the noble loneliness of the 'lion' but only saying that it prefers not to associate with 'pigs'.

You also note that the PREDATOR is being lauded in my example rather than the PREY. THAT should serve to let you know to wipe your mind clean of all predator-prey divides and approach the issue afresh.

When Tiru is talking of the great OR the mean, he is not talking of predators and prey. The great in his estimation are people who have noble goals and aspirations and who work towards that with dedication. Where did I get that idea about what Tiru meant? Well, you have been with me on this Tirukkural journey for so long and where did YOU get the idea that Tiru could ever mean jealousy, back-biting, laziness (Alas for me!) etc. as the qualities of the great? THOSE are the people - the jealous, the back-biters, the whingers and the parasites of society - whom he generally calls the 'mean' or the 'low'.

So, the great would find the mean as people who suck away all his positivity and enthusiasm and leave him without the motivation to pursue his goals. It would, further, keep away all those who could actually help him on his journey for, after all, a person is judged by the company she keeps. She would therefore avoid them like the plague. The mean, on the other hand, would love to be in that company because it would make them feel validated and...whole.

In other words, to even be judged great or potentially great, to have the enthusiasm to pursue your goals, to be able to approach those who may help you and to gain their assistance, you need to keep away from the 'mean'. Otherwise, sooner or later, you will end up joining their ranks and start bemoaning the fact that the world is being hijacked by the 'unworthy'.

WHICH has seldom been considered the hallmark of ANY sort of greatness! Not yet, anyway, thankfully.