Dr. Ashok Malhotra

Oneonta, New York

(b) April 1,1940, India, (p) Vidya Malhotra and Nihal Malhotra; (m) Widower, (ch) Raj Malhotra, Ravi Malhotra; (ed) BA, University of Rajasthan, India, 1961, Ph.D, University of Hawaii, U.S.A. 1969, (occ) Full Professor of Philosophy; (memb) Association for Asian Studies, Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, Society of Comparative study of Civilizations, Jean-Paul Sarte Society, American Philosophical Association, International Phenomenological Society, (hon) Gold medal for obtaining the highest grade point average in M.A. Philosophy, SUNY Chancellor's Award for excellence in teaching, Certificate of Recognition for bringing Cultural Interchange between East and West, University of Hawaii, (oth. writ.) Two poems on "What is Love" and What is Death" appeared in "Dance on the Horizon" and "After the Storm", Sartre's Existentialism ( Book 1978), Pathways to Philosophy (book 1995), Transcreation of the Bhagavad Gita, More than 30 other Publication; (per) The goal of my life is to give compassion and understanding to people in my daily encounters. I want to make a positive difference in the life of people of all ages. When I leave this world, I want to leave it better than when I arrived here; (a) Oneonta, NY

WHAT IS LOVE?

FOR THE HEART: IT MAY BE "A TWINGE OF A TWANG"
"A CLING OR A CLANG"
A STAB OR A THROB"
FOR THE SELF: IT MAY BE "A PSYCHOLOGICAL MOOD
OR A SPIRITUAL FOOD"
"A SUDDEN FEVER THAT TAKES OVER
OR AN SOS SIGNAL THAT THE EGO MIGHT DISAPPEAR"
FOR THE EXISTENCE: IT MAY BE " A WOUND IN BEING'S HEART
FROM WHICH YOU NEVER RECOVER
OR THE NATURE'S MYSTERIOUS WAY
FOR TWO BEINGS TO BEGIN TO DISCOVER"
FOR THE LOVERS: IT MAY BE
"WHERE THE MYSTERY OF THEIR BEING IS HIDDEN
OR THE SAVORING OF AN ECSTATIC EXPERIENCE
WHICH IS NO MORE FORBIDDEN"
FOR THE LIFE: IT MAY BE
"A UNISON OF TWO SOULS WHO WILL BE EQUAL PARTNERS
IN LIFE'S SORROWS, JOYS AND FIGHTS
OR A REMINDER NOT TO GET ATTACHED TO ANYTHING MATERIAL
WHILE TAKING IN EVERYONE OF WORLD'S DELIGHTS"

WHAT IS LIFE?

A GIFT DIVINE SENT
OR A COSMIC ACCIDENT

THE VERNAL SPRING OF THE VITAL FORCE'S HISTORY
OR THE DEAD END OF A DARK MYSTERY

A CLEARING IN THE FOREST
OR THE SPIRIT'S ATTEMPT AT OBJECTIFYING ITSELF IN EARNEST

AN UNCONSCIOUS HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE BIG BANG
OR THE MENTAL RAVINGS OF A COSMIC MAD MAN

THE UNIVERSE COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF ITSELF
OR THE EXPERIENCE OF ITS OWN NOTHINGNESS IN A NUTSHELL

THE COSMOS OFFERING ITS MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY
OR REVEALING ITS UTTER IMPERFECTION THROUGH THIS UNIQUE ODDITY

A COSMIC EVOLUTIONARY BEND
OR WHERE ALL MEANINGS BEGIN AND END

THE SOURCE OF ALL STORIES AND HISTORIES
OR BY ESCAPING ALL DEFINITIONS REMAINING EVER A MYSTERY

HAVING BIRTH AND DEATH AS ITS TERMINAL POINTS
OR BEING THE BRIDGE AND GLUE OF THEIR JOINTS

A CONTINUOUS FLOW INCAPABLE OF BEING CAPTURED OR DEFINED
OR A PERFECTION IN MOTION THAT CAN'T BE REFINED

WHAT IS DEATH?

AN ABSOLUTE TERMINATION
OR LIFE REACHING ITS CULMINATION

THE END OF ALL AWARENESS
OR THE OPENING OF A NEW VISTA AWAITED IN EAGERNESS

LOVE'S IRRECONCILABLE OPPOSITE AND SET POLES' APART
OR THE OTHER ESSENTIAL WHEEL OF LIFE'S CART

AN EVENT GREATLY FEARED AND IGNORED
OR THE FULFILLMENT OF LIFE AND BE ADORED

THE SHOCKING EXPERIENCE OF ONE'S FINITUDE
OR THE SAVORING OF AN ECSTATIC MOMENT OF INFINITUDE

THE ABSOLUTE FINALITY WITHOUT AN ESCAPE
OR THE FINAL MOMENT WHERE LIFE'S CHALLENGE IS MET FACE TO FACE

All poems Copyright © 1997 Dr. Ashok Malhotra. All rights reserved.