2008 EDITION
Source material for Reference, Index, and The author
ANIL MITRA, COPYRIGHT © 2008
CONTENTS
Material from Journey in Being-New World-essence.html
Material from Journey in Being-New World-essence.html
The essay has no bibliography or system of references. However, the influence of others at high and detailed levels is freely acknowledged and has been pointed out at a number of places in the narrative even though, clearly, not every influence is mentioned
It would probably be impossible to mention every influence for the reading that has informed the narrative goes back many years to a time when there might have been a sense of adventure in ideas—the phrase is due to A. N. Whitehead—but no explicit conception of or plan for the ideas of the present work. It may also be noted that, in addition to the explicit influences, there is also what is absorbed in being part of one or more cultures, in being part of a language capable species… and in being part of creation
There is more than one purpose to provision of references. One is the scholarly purpose and at present this purpose is sacrificed in the interest of action. It is perhaps true that while scholarship is of value, too much emphasis on its instruments is an impediment to being and, perhaps, even to scholarship itself. A second purpose to acknowledgement is to give credit where it is due—to not claim for oneself what is the labor of another. It is hoped that the foregoing brief acknowledgment will suffice to serve notice that much credit for ideas of this narrative belongs elsewhere
Even in the deepest and most novel of the developments of the narrative, even in the picture of the ultimate, the signs of the other—individuals and being itself—may be seen
It may also be hoped that the ego shall be sufficiently transcended in the dual recognition of its own expressive power and of participation in a common endeavor
In the web version, the index of references to page numbers will be replaced by an index of terms and names
The critical appreciation of my ideas would be rewarding. However, it is not my first or driving ambition to be a thinker or, specifically, a philosopher. Though significant, ideas are not sufficient. I know this by looking at my life and thought
What I have sought is to be present to the universe—the world and its people, places, events and possibilities. I have sought adventure and two forms of adventure are adventures in ideas and in transformation
I have sought the career path, but as achievement and its direct and peripheral enjoyments—recreation—that life has been insufficient
Enjoyment of the moment is important. Thought, transformation, and writing would not be undertaken without enjoyment. Enjoyment is not peripheral to my endeavor—it indicates to me that I am engaged with a creative adventure. My thought is not intended to be serious for it serves a purpose—the adventure in understanding and transformation—that is its inspiration and guide
Discipline and dedication are important as well—I am not a stranger to sacrifice, even of enjoyment, when occasionally necessary to a greater end. There is a delicate balance between moments and ends
The enjoyment and appreciation is intense at times. The years of effort are a measure of a slow burn—simmering emotion—that is always there. These simple but wonderful rewards have sustained my endeavor
Even though it is an adventure, my relation to the journey has ambivalence. I wonder if, in my ambition—in my estimation of the possible, I deceive myself. When moments of joy seem to be more than enough and when I revel in perception of the universe and in good friendship over thought, I wonder at the effort
I wonder about the elaboration of ideas; even though its development was not so, I know that the essential core is simple. Perhaps I should live a life that emphasizes perception—looking at changing skies, being in the hills, feeling wind and rain, simple friendship…
Doubt reflects uncertainty and endeavor. It is good—perhaps necessary to a journey
I grew up in India. My present home is in Northern California. My daughter, Carissa, lives in Texas. My brother and sister-in-law, Robin and Susan, live in London
My mother was British, my father Indian. My mother taught enjoyment by example; my father instilled discipline by discipline. I think, though, that I am, significantly, the architect of my own enjoyment and discipline and their limits
I love people, ideas and nature. There is wonder in ideas as a key to the universe and wonder in experience as binding to the present. If an idea seems to be significant, I attempt to pursue it to its ultimate form—or until it is revealed to lack significance
I have hiked in New York, Texas, Mexico, New Mexico, Colorado, and California and traveled in India, Britain, the United States, Canada and Mexico. Years ago I hiked many times in Barranca del Cobre, Chihuahua, Mexico; the Barrancas and their magic and people remain inspiring
At high school and college, I participated in sports. I represented my university in athletics, i.e., track and field. Exercise feels healthy—most of all I enjoy running on Pacific beaches and amid dunes and grass. I co-started and ran all phases of a business preparing and serving Indian food. I have worked at a psychiatric hospital
I studied at the Indian Institute of Technology—Kharagpur and University of Delaware. I have a PhD and about ten further years of research in engineering and applied mathematics… my research has been published in respected technical journals
I taught at undergraduate and graduate levels and have given advanced seminars to university faculty and at conferences. I served on the faculty at Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Delaware, University of Texas—Austin, California State University—Humboldt