Books
The Vision of Kabir
The Vision of Kabir: Love poems of a 15thcentury weaver-sage
A much-celebrated book of English translations of 200 of Kabir’s sakhis, with an introduction about mysticism and bhakti yoga. The author presents poems and vision of Kabir all over the world.
“This very fine work is an invaluable gift to the world of wisdom and a grand tribute to one of the great saint-poets of the world who sang songs of divine love in the most sensuous words.”
– R. Dorin, The Hindustan Times
“By far the most sensitive and thoughtful work on the great saint-poet in English; all translations of mystical poetry in future should be judged by the enchantingly high quality that Kumar has achieved.”
– The Times of India
“Kumar’s translations are quite simply superb. Kumar has captured the subtle magnificence and grace that permeates Kabir’s poems.”
– The Resurgence
The Lotus in the Stone
The Lotus in the Stone: An Allegory for Explorations in Dreams & Consciousness
With 119 illustrations about dreams and spiritual seeking, this book weaves poetic metaphors, scientific theories and artistic images into an exquisite tapestry of human journey towards the Divine.
“A work of a brilliant mind, beautifully composed…. There is wisdom and beauty on its every page…. A most unusual and remarkable book.”
– The Observer
“Here is a book that weaves poetic metaphors, scientific theories and artistic images into an exquisite tapestry of existential seeking… Outstanding.”
– Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics
“The reflections and dreams translated into a prose that is at once elegant and absorbing… It is a fine instance of allegorization in our century.”
– Queen’s Quarterly
The Thousand-Petalled Lotus
The Thousand-petalled Lotus: Jain Temples of Rajasthan
With author’s photographs of the grand Jain temples at Dilwara and Ranakpur, this beautiful book is a work of art in itself.
This 321-page book, with 112 illustrations, presents a comprehensive iconography and architectural history of the Jain temples in Rajasthan. Sponsored by the Indira Gandhi National Centre of the Arts, in a Foreword, Dr Kapila Vatsayan comments on the richness of images and the exploration of mythic allusions by the author.
Matters of Life & Death
Matters of Life & Death: Reflections on Bioethics, Law and the Human Destiny
Exploring the philosophy and history of bioethics, this book weaves concerns about medical issues that are now engaging citizens all over the world, with the need for new public policies to address them.
“This elegant work on the philosophy and history of bioethics is written with great insight and understanding. Professor Kumar weaves concerns about medical issues that are now engaging citizens all over the world, with the need for new public policies and laws to address them….. As someone who has explored the Science-Religion dialogue for many years, through many poignant case histories, Kumar has made the dialogue more lively and more urgent.”
⎯ Melvin Gray M.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry. Midwestern University, Illinois.
“Every major religion has its ethical dimension. Biology is a major scientific discipline. Bioethics may be looked upon as an enlightened synthesis of science and religion. In this fascinating book, Professor Sehdev Kumar marshals his vast erudition to analyze insightfully the many dimensions of bioethics, with emphasis on its links to law and to the ultimate destiny of the human family. The reader will be much enriched by this book.
⎯ Varadaraja V. Raman; Emeritus Professor: Physics and Humanities. Rochester Institute of Technology, N.Y.
Author of Truth and Tension in Science and Religion
How’s & Why’s of An Unexpected Universe
This book presents wide-ranging meditations on the human presence in the universe, with perennial questions of ‘Why’ and ‘How’.
“Sehdev Kumar writes like a touch of silk, and with the wisdom of Solomon… These elegant and poetic reflections are original and eclectic. The more I read these reflections on life and culture, the more I feel illuminated by them.”
⎯ Melvin Gray, Professor Emiritus of Pyschiatry. Midwestern University, USA.
7,000 Million Degrees of Freedom
7,000 Million Degrees of Freedom – One Earth: Seven Billion Worlds
With over seven billion people in the world today, what idea of freedom, with all its rich fecundity, do we all carry in our heads? This book explores this question in myriad ways in human history and civilization.
“In the company of great thinkers, philosophers and poets of all ages, and honed by the testimony of all that is good and evil in mankind, Sehdev Kumar has presented be fore us a resounding YES to the centuries-old question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
⎯ Maximo Baron, Plenary Professor of Physics and Epistemology. Universidad de Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
“Freedom is at the heart of creation; these beautifully expressed thoughts on the meaning of freedom in our intricate and challenging world by an original and provocative thinker are a delight to read.”
– Dr. Khalid Sohail, Psychotherapist & Poet
Ocean in a Drop: Sakhis & Vision of Kabir
Sakhis and Vision of Kabir, Captured in this book.