Chasing the ephemeral

There are times when philosophers actually seem to live in a totally different universe from the one you inhabit. (I have said that before? Privilege of age to keep repeating oneself. After all, one needs some compensation for being called names like boomer and so on.) In fact, there are occasions when you feel that the time to follow philosophers once you reach their universe. Yet...they are also like an itch that you cannot scratch. They stick like a burr in your mind.

Take this thing from Tiru...

Nillaadha vatrai nilaiyina endrunarum pullari vaanmai kadai - Tirukkural

To take the ephemeral to be permanent is the basest of lives - Loose Translation

Now, what IS this transient thing that you should not take for permanence? THAT is open to interpretation. In Tiru's times, even life itself was considered a transient thing and, thus, all that you achieve in THIS world is ephemeral; the only permanent thing that you should aim for is Nirvana or the equivalent thereof. So, that could be what Tiru means in this Kural.

Those were the times when wealth was not given the exalted position that it now has attained. So, it could well be that Tiru means that the acquisition of wealth is ephemeral and not to be compared to other goals in life. Remember, though, that Tiru IS the chap who devoted hundreds of kurals to the ways and means to acquire and distribute wealth. So, it is not like he looks down upon wealth per se. IF this is what he means, about wealth being transient, it is probably a more nuanced view. To treat the acquisition of wealth as the goal of life is to chase the ephemeral; wealth can come and wealth can dissipate as readily. (In his times, export meant depending on sailing ships which could be lost at sea and ruin the merchant. No marine insurance, see!) The worthy man concentrates on what he DOES and treats wealth as a byproduct; OR concentrates on wealth as a MEANS to achieve his real goals.

But, then, Tiru did not live in modern times, so his world-view is dated and, possibly, useless. I mean, how can he even know the transcendent importance of 'Likes' and 'Shares' and having your posts go viral on Insta or X? He would treat this whole thing as chasing the transient and mistaking it for the permanent.

I mean, come on, what's good for the president of the USA is good for all of us, no? Who cares what some sort of super-boomer uncle said in his ancient times?