Ecological Meditations

A Collection of Poems

by Dr. Karan R. Aggarwala


Formats

Softcover
£15.95
Softcover
£15.95

Book Details

Language : English
Publication Date : 23/12/2010

Format : Softcover
Dimensions : 6x9
Page Count : 187
ISBN : 9781456836481

About the Book

“Ecological Meditations— A Collection of Poems” is a unique book of poetry that reveals layer upon layer of insight into the human condition. Each poem is focused upon the heart of a particular thought, emotion, experience, or subject of study. The poems unfold sometimes logically, and sometimes with an element of surprise or wonder, transporting the reader into a realm that can be touched by a consciousness of all the sense faculties. The poems address universal principles and are close to Nature— both human and ecological. The insights revealed are based upon deep reflection and meditation upon the primary thought or feeling behind the poem. Ecological meditations is about an extended ecology— one that begins with the individual gaining a consciousness of self in relation to nature, moving forth into relationships both intimate and casual, extending further into personal growth that understands and equally questions received societal wisdom. Religion is addressed with regard to spiritual development and due respect is paid to luminaries from the Hindu and Christian faiths, although concepts such as "ethical conduct," typical of various cultural traditions are also evident. In reading the poems, at times one gets the feeling that beyond religion there exists a universal ethic of “respect for life” that is informed by good science, love, and the desire to be joyful and positive in all manner of being. The audience of this book can be the teenager who is looking to find meaning, or even the career person who is fully engaged, and surprisingly, also the elderly person whose nest is now empty. The lover and the seeker, both will find something of lasting value within these pages. Ecological Meditations is a book of poems with appeal for almost everyone who has the inclination for self reflection."


About the Author

My professional interests are ocular diagnostics and visual neurosciences for which I am qualified and experienced. My first poem was composed on a train journey from New York Penn Station to Chicago by Amtrak; and is NOT documented.

Three poems that most influenced my psychic developmental process in pre-teenage years are: The Beggar Maid, The Road Less Traveled, and Ozymandias. Three popular books that most influenced me prior to age fifteen are: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and Atlas Shrugged. Three painters that cast an early impression on me are: Michelangelo, Dali, and Vermeer. Three musicians that I most admired as a teenager are: Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Paul McCartney. Three favored pastimes of childhood were: feeding sparrows on the roof, cycling on suburban backstreets, and star constellation gazing at Orion and the Big Dipper.

A note of gratitude is needed here. My father was born into an educated family of modest means, with Grandpa training in Europe and qualifying as member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Any and all persons that knew my father at any stage of his life are acknowledged here.

Financing for my early developmental years came to father from companies such as Westinghouse Electric and Friedrich Air Conditioning, for which I have a natural gratitude. A Midwestern ethic coming from Grandpa’s collaborating with Dr. Grossman, filtering down to Dad is partly my own. Access to the World Book Encyclopedia and the National Geographic Magazine and the Time Life Scientific volumes and the Funk and Wagnall Dictionary were instrumental. Finally, access to the volumes of Will and Ariel Durant, would prove necessary for history of civilization.

Any and all persons that knew my mother and that knew stepmother are given my vote of thanks. Any persons connected by blood relation are precious to me.

The traditional profession practiced by the name Aggarwal would perhaps be considered bartering of food grains, oilseeds, spices, and textile manufacturing. Colonel Grandpa added the letter A at the end for better publishing visibility somewhere between completion of training in Europe {1924} and date of inclusion into the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons {on file}.

Karan’s parents lived in Columbus Ohio and San Antonio Texas and father almost always drove station wagons. Karan’s earliest memories of childhood are looking through the rear window of a Ford Motorcar Falcon model of the early 1970’s. Karan is an only child of his mother born in Texas, now residing In Virginia. Father had a previous wife born in India. Father ancestry has historic roots of Azerbaijan going back to a kingdom that ended around 750 BC.

Karan’s school education took place on both sides of the Atlantic waters. Although never attending Ivy League colleges, Dr Aggarwala was always directly involved with such high level research, teaching and scholarship: proof of such worthiness being employment offered by the US FDA, and qualifying for the National Research Service Award.