Draw a Breath, Not a Line
Throughout history, inner-directed people on the so-called "spiritual path", have had a tendency to perceive the world as "maya" -- the fancy sanskrit name for "illusion."
I used to feel this way a lot.
Back in the early days of my adolescent quest for meaning, I had a curious habit of drawing lines in the sand. On one side of the line was the "inner life" -- the place where God lived (or if not lived, at least vacationed). On the other side of the line was "the world." You know -- the laughable detritus of life on planet Earth: relationships, shopping malls, money, politics, ego, organized religion, high school geometry, taxes, Frosted Flakes, and anything I didn't understand, agree with, or like.
Somehow, it made me feel good to draw these lines -- not unlike the way Democrat and Republican spin doctors strut their stuff on CNN after each political debate.
Well... I would like to take this late night blogospheric moment to humbly apologize to all of those whose lives I somehow judged by my habitual line-drawing behavior.
I see things differently now -- kind of like that old Zen story...
Two young monks, one fine day, found themselves existentially arguing over whether it was the wind or the flag that was moving. Unable to agree, they sought the counsel of their teacher.
"Master, oh Master" they asked, "is it the wind or the flag that is moving?"
"Neither," the Master replied. "It's your mind that is moving."
And so, dear friend, if you find yourself judging anyone these days, including yourself, chill. It's a total waste of time -- especially when you could be enjoying the very thing you were born for.
Draw a breath, not a line.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:22 AM | Comments (2)
January 28, 2009VIDEO: Alive (and very, very well)
Thanks to Lucka Koscak, on Facebook, for forwarding this link.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2009Raising the Bar for Teamwork
If you are committed to accomplishing extraordinary results, chances are good that you will need to collaborate with others.
Your ideas and dedication, no matter how wonderful they might be, will never be enough by themselves. It takes a village.
Most people's experience of being on a team is less than ideal, filled with frustration, power struggles, and the belief that it's just not worth the effort.
OK. Those days are over. No matter how disappointing your experience of teamwork may have been in the past, it's never too late to turn things around. And it all begins with AWARENESS -- tuning into what's actually going on with your team.
Intrigued? If so, click here and take Heart of the Matter's online TEAM REALITY CHECK poll. In two weeks, I'll post the results here -- a way to spark new possibilities about what you and the rest of us can do differently to radically increase the effectiveness of our teams.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:39 PM | Comments (6)
January 23, 2009VIDEO: Family of Love
Sweet video/slide show featuring photos from Amaroo and the singing of Alan Thomas.
Thanks to Hakan Lars Holmkvist for creating the video and Sonja Clegg for forwarding it, via Facebook. (PS: I am now on Facebook).
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2009VIDEO: Quest for Joy
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2009NEW WEBSITE: Man of Peace
If you are looking for a lucid, well-written, visually compelling, online bio of Maharaji, click here.
A team of people from Canada, Japan, and Australia have recently produced the first ever biographical website on Maharaji's work in the world, spanning the last half-century.
The site includes lots of cool photos, testimonials, videos, links to introductory websites, FAQs, press releases, web media, excerpts of Maharaji's talks, and some interesting essays by people enjoying his gift of Knowledge.
If you know anyone wanting to know more about the roots of Maharaji's work in the world, Man of Peace would be a good site to recommend.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 15, 2009VIDEO: Real Italian Food
Maharaji in Corleone and Palermo: July, 2008
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:36 PM | Comments (2)
January 12, 2009VIDEO: Get to Know the Peace That Is In the Heart
A rockin' music video (3:39)
Thanks to Matt Miller for forwarding the link
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:24 PM | Comments (3)
This Thirst
There is an aching deep within my heart that cannot be explained. It wakes me in the middle of the night and write these lines -- a kind of fishing in a great sea I cannot find by day.
This escapade is not the search for something new. It is not the need to find. More it is the being moved, my being pulled by an unseen moon, how small birds, when days get cold, make their way across dark skies to the place where they were born -- how a feather falls to earth and a child, finding it, looks up, why dogs pace back and forth before a door as their master turns for home.
Ah, this restlessness, this thirst, this ache, this silent undertow inside that takes me back to the hidden spring where lions come to drink -- and snakes -- why birds sing when they are all alone, and the long ride home on an empty train often feels like an arrival.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:50 PM | Comments (1)
January 10, 2009VIDEO: What Is Maharaji's Role?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:38 PM | Comments (2)
January 08, 2009MOVIE TRAILER: Slumdog Millionaire
Ta da! A first for The Heart of the Matter -- a movie review! (What's next? Recipes?) Slumdog Millionaire is a fabulous movie. Inspiring. Moving. Funny. Deep. Poignant. And original. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll eat popcorn. Love saves the day!
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:43 PM | Comments (4)
January 05, 2009Two By Rumi
"To the eye is sometimes given a glimpse of vast beauties, a taste of perfection, but only enough to leave the heart impossibly lonely."
"Dragons flying into starlight. This is how true human beings cut the rope and come to me."
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:31 PM | Comments (1)
January 02, 2009Bob Dylan On Life, Truth & Being Real
The history of planet Earth is the history of truth telling -- or at least the attempt to do so. Since the very first cave painting, people have been trying to communicate essence, meaning, and the timeless.
The messengers have been many: Masters, saints, philosophers, poets, artists, children, and songwriters just to name a few. Here's a sampling of what Bob Dylan has added to the conversation:
"If you try to be anyone but yourself, you will fail. If you are not true to your own heart, you will fail."
"I was born knowing the Truth. Everybody is. Trouble is, they get it knocked out of them before they can walk."
"Who cares about tomorrow and yesterday? People don't live there. They live now."
"After you go for a certain number of years, you realize, hey, life is kind of short...and you might as well say the way you feel."
"We all want to stop time."
"The highest form of song is prayer."
"I never wanted to be a prophet or savior. Elvis maybe."
(On the start of his career...) "I stood on the highway during a blizzard snowstorm, believing in the mercy of the world and headed east. Didn't have nothing but my guitar and suitcase."
How about YOU? What do YOU have to say?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:27 PM | Comments (4)
