A Dozen Red Roses!
Today, in a sudden fit of love and appreciation, I bought a dozen roses and brought them home to my wife.
Usually, when I think of buying roses, I go through a predictable sequence of events. First, I surrender to a wonderful feeling of expansiveness that takes me over. Then I get curious and smell the flowers. Then I ask the shopkeeper how long she thinks the roses will last.
Then I ask the per stem price, do the math, and reach the pitifully male conclusion that $46.95 is way too much too spend on something that won't last out the week and is probably less expensive somewhere else and it's obviously indulgent of me to be buying so many roses when I've got two kids to put through college in a few years and besides, beauty is within.
All of this, of course, is my inner Woody Allen taking the low road in response to what is obviously a Johnny Depp moment.
So I dig deep and bring the roses home -- my entire living room taking shape around them.
I then become very aware that there are definitely not enough flowers in the room. In a curious way, the recent appearance of roses has made the rest of the room seem barren. Tabletops and shelves that only minutes ago were doing just fine, are now utterly flowerless.
So I do the only thing a man can do when faced with such a paradox -- I return to the flower shop.
But the shop is closed. Closed? Impossible! I need flowers!
So I get back in my car and speed my way to the other flower shop in town.
It, too, is closed -- or, should I say, closing. The owner is shutting the door and giving me the "too-bad-you-didn't-get-here a few-minutes-ago" look.
But I will not be denied. And he knows it.
"What do you want?" he asks.
"Cut flowers," I reply.
He signals me to enter and I buy way more flowers than makes sense. A ridiculous amount.
Let's put it this way: if I was in the federal witness protection program, my sudden flower buying behavior would have put my government handlers in a tizzy.
Fast forward ten minutes to my wife in our kitchen.
She is looking at me as if I am totally insane -- me, the guy who, only days ago was making an airtight case for a more modest household budget.
Here's my philosophy:
Flowers first. Logic second. If money is tight, buy more flowers. The more flowers you buy, the more money will appear. And if not in this lifetime, then the next (or maybe the one after that).
OK. There you go -- my not very financially sound, flower-centric view of the universe. You, my friend, are a witness. If I forget, please remind me.
Indeed, next time I see you (Woodstock? Asheville? Boston? Long Island? Miami?), you have my permission to ask me how the flower thing is going.
Remember, flowers first. (OK. Stop reading this blog. Go out and get some flowers, already).
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:50 PM | Comments (3)
August 29, 2009No Synonym for Thesaurus
Did you know there's no synonym in the thesaurus for "thesaurus"?
And while the eskimos may have 52 words for "snow," the rest of us are left howling in the wind when it comes time to expressing what we really mean by "love."
Still, it's fun to try.
And so, in that same existential spirit, here's what it feels like -- to me -- whenever I get to see Maharaji.
1. Landing on Free Parking in Monopoly
2. Being rebooted
3. Coming home
4. Going back to Square One, only to discover there is no square -- only wide-open space.
5. A spa for the soul
6. Finding buried treasure in my own backyard
7. Letting go of everything
8. The first day of Spring
9. Sunbathing on the roof at the top of the world
10. Unplugging from the madness
11. Following the yellow brick road
12. An early Thanksgiving
13. The cherry on top of the sundae I felt no guilt about eating
14. A cool breeze
15. The eye of the storm
16. Falling in love for the first time
17. Putting down my heavy load
18. Opening a present I didn't think I deserved
19. Pushing "pause" on the universal remote
20. Being at the most incredible party in the world
21. The space between in breath and out
22. Being kissed by the infinite
23. The music Mozart listened to when he was done composing
24. Effortlessly experiencing the virtues all religions espouse
25. The promised land
26. Consciousness revealed
27. A grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth
28. Happiness squared
29. The breath within the breath
30. The answer to every Zen koan ever asked
31. The blissful breaking of my pinata
32. A diamond cutter's stroke
33. Knocking on heaven's door, only to discover I am knocking from the inside
34. Experiencing that each step is also an arrival
35. Discovering a secret room in my home
36. Receiving a very large inheritance
37. The happy marriage of laughter and tears
38. George Carlin, Mel Brooks, Jonathan Winters, Groucho Marx, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, Steven Wright, Peter Sellers, Sid Caesar, Jerry Seinfeld, Henny Youngman, Bill Hicks, Chris Rock, and Santa Claus all laughing at a joke no one can remember.
39. Surfing Hawaiian waves of love
40. These two whirling dervishes walk into a bar
How about you?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:10 PM | Comments (4)
August 25, 2009A Message from Maharaji
"Imagine you have a little boat. And you want to tie it to something because you found a perfect harbor with a beautiful beach and nice clear water, and you want to spend some time there and have a picnic.
But the wind is blowing, and there are rocks, and you don't want to smash your boat on the rocks. You brought a rope with you, and you also brought a big block of Styrofoam that floats on the water. So you tie your boat to it, and you're happy, smiling. The boat is secured to the Styrofoam.
Is everything okay? No problems? Big problems! The boat is going to drift because the Styrofoam is going to drift. If you don't want the boat to drift, you must find something that doesn't drift. That's why people use an anchor. They throw the anchor into the water, set it, then pull on it to make sure it is caught on something that doesn't drift.
What is there in your life that does not drift?
Everything is going to change. You're not going to want it to, but it is going to change. Your face is going to change, your ideas are going to change, and the way you view things is going to change.
This is the nature of the world you live in. It is bound by time, and time changes everything. And you are looking not to drift.
So what is there that does not drift? To find that answer, you need to find your true self, because the true self does not drift.
Find the changeless and tie well this boat of life to the changeless. Then relax. Isn't that why you came into the harbor? Deep question. Isn't that why you're here with this incredible power to enjoy life in hand?
I don't want to change your religion or change your ways. I don't want to change your job. Do whatever you have to do, but know the difference between the permanent and the temporary.
There are all the things that are relative, and there is one thing that is not relative, that's absolute. And the absolute is within you. No variables.
You have life. That is absolute. One day you won't. But as long as you are alive, as long as breath comes into you, it is absolute. And as long as you are alive and can feel, as long as you have the capacity to be conscious, I say to you: be conscious of what is the real life.
Of all the things you could be conscious of, be aware of the existence that you have. Being aware of your existence brings joy, happiness, peace. Real peace."
Excerpted from "It's About You"
More
Related posting from this blog
Photo
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:57 AM | Comments (1)
August 21, 2009eBook Soon Coming!
I am happy to announce that a PDF version of The Heart of the Matter will soon be available for downloading.
Response to the blog has been very favorable since its launch 16 months ago and I want to give readers another way to access the material - especially since a lot of the content is now buried in the archives.
My other reason for producing an ebook is to make it easy for Heart of the Matter readers to print it out and/or forward it to friends.
If you have a blog or website and are willing to post a link to the ebook, let me know and I will keep you posted.
If you have any other ideas for getting the word out, lay them on me.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:34 AM | Comments (1)
August 20, 2009Two Ways to Live Your Life
"There are
only
two ways
to
live
your life.
One is
as though
nothing
is a
miracle.
The other
is
as though
everything
is
a miracle."
- Albert Einstein
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2009A CELLULAR FEELING: Someone to Call
Does this ever happen to you?
You have some extra time... in a cab...at the airport... or in between appointments. You pull out your cell phone, click on your contact list, and scroll.
You are looking for someone to call.
You know all the names on the list quite well. Some are your best friends. Some are your family. But you don't see the name of anyone you want to call at that particular moment.
You really want to call someone, but their name is not on the list.
You scroll up. You scroll down. You wonder who it is you really want to call.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:12 AM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2009VIDEO: Maharaji in Europe
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:01 AM | Comments (1)
August 12, 2009101 Things I've Learned So Far
1. Everything I need is within me.
2. There is only NOW. The past is over. The future is a dream.
3. Love is the only game in town.
4. It's easy to forget. But it's also easy to remember.
5. Eventually we all have to let go (so why not let go now?)
6. Everything changes.
7. I am not the doer.
8. It feels good to give away stuff I don't really need.
9. I am never more than a breath away from fulfillment.
10. It's a huge help to have a teacher -- especially one I love.
11. Everything happens for the best.
12. Life is a gift.
13. I can't clean a muddy pond by poking at it with a stick.
14. Every time I point a finger, three are pointing back at me.
15. First effort, then grace.
16. It's a blessing to serve.
17. I am not here to teach anybody anything. I am here to love -- and the love will do the teaching.
18. There will never be peace on Earth until the people on Earth are at peace.
19. Worry is optional.
20. When I stop projecting my stuff on the universe, I begin to enjoy the real movie of life.
21. Marriage is a yoga.
22. Life is not supposed to be a struggle.
23. It's always helpful to be in the presence of a living Master.
24. Doubt is a killer. Give up doubt.
25. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas. (Groucho Marx)
26. I am not taking anything with me that I don't already have.
27. It's impossible to understand the teachings of a Master with the mind. The mind can know about the truth, but it cannot experience the truth.
28. Life is not what you think.
29. Take more time to smell the roses (and plant some, too).
30. There is a feeling deep within my heart that is absolutely exquisite.
31. Wash your bowl.
32. There is a difference between desire and longing. Desire is wanting what I don't have. Longing is wanting what I do.
33. The world appears more beautiful the more beautiful I feel.
34. Time is an illusion.
35. Let go of letting go. Then let go of that, too.
36. There is nothing to be afraid of.
37. Drink more champagne.
38. Trust that which is trustworthy.
39. Stretch more.
40. Don't turn my point of view into a religion.
41. Be kinder.
42. Get enough rest.
43. Slow down. Less is more.
44. I am not a victim. No one has power over me.
45. I am responsible (and so are you).
46. Money is not the root of all evil. Ignorance of the truth is the root of all evil.
47. Most conversations are about the past, the future, or unfinished business.
48. Honor thy incarnation (Ram Dass)
49. When I'm not on the path, it's razor thin. When I'm on the path, it's a million miles wide.
50. One man's ceiling is another man's floor. (Paul Simon)
51. All Masters have said the same thing in different ways.
52. Everything I need is coming to me, and I already have everything I need.
53. Keep it simple.
54. We're all in this together.
55. When a pickpocket meets a saint, all he sees are pockets.
56. Ideas are sometimes more than ideas. They are inspirations from the beyond that need to be honored.
57. We all have a story to tell. Let's tell it already.
58. Learn from your mistakes.
59. Enjoy this "come as you are" party.
60. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to become fully awake.
61. Eat more sushi.
62. I can only take one breath at a time.
63. Life is a dance.
64. I am both the center of the universe and an extremely small particle of dust.
65. Drink more water.
66. The people I don't like often teach me more than my friends.
67. I am a nobleman. My father is the King.
68. Life is not so much about the what, but the how.
69. Be careful not to get addicted to my own story.
70. When you meet the Buddha on the road, ask him if he wants a foot massage.
71. Celebrate more.
72. Learn how to say no without being negative.
73. Each step is also an arrival.
74. There's nothing wrong with inconsistency. Yes there is.
75. Peace is possible on planet Earth.
76. Not everything that counts can be counted; and not everything that can be counted, counts. (Einstein)
77. Read all contracts carefully before signing them.
78. The mind is a chicken with its head cut off.
79. Breathe deep.
80. Ask for help.
81. Life is an open book. Write it.
82. Stop trying so hard.
83. Write a letter, by hand, once in a while.
84. It's not about what others think of me. It's what I think of myself. (PS: Who's doing the thinking?)
85. Confusion is just a word for an order that is not yet understood. (Henry Miller)
86. Be the same in a room full of people as I am when alone.
87. 60 is the new 59.
88. Every moment of life has the potential to be the best one yet.
89. Stop complaining.
90. Whatever I do, give it my best.
91. Listen more deeply.
92. Treasure my friends.
93. Be happy for others' successes.
94. Gratitude is the most authentic prayer.
95. God cannot be googled.
96. Practice Knowledge.
97. Pause.
98. I have no problems. The only problem I have is thinking I have problems.
99. Every cloud has a silver lining. Every silver lining has a golden lining.
100. Be a field big enough for others to dance in.
101. If I die today, I'll die a happy man.
How about YOU? What have YOU learned so far?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:14 AM | Comments (13)
VIDEO: Puppet-Ji On Non-AttachmentAll spiritual traditions talk about the importance of non-attachment -- a state of being in which actions are performed unconditionally, with no egoistic desire for results. Many holy books wax poetic about this, but none deliver the message with quite the lucidity and grace as the world-renowned Master of non-attachment himself, Puppet-Ji.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:12 AM | Comments (1)
August 10, 2009VIDEO: What Makes Me Happy?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:55 AM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2009Facebook's Most Popular Blog on Love!
This just in!
The Heart of the Matter is now Facebook's most popular blog on LOVE. Really. Like #1. Numero Uno.
And so, in honor of this very cool distinction, here are some sweet reminders...
"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - Aristotle
"I become a waterwheel, turning and tasting you, as long as water moves." - Rumi
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love." - Mother Teresa
"You should love one another and behave lovingly because when love comes, everything comes. You should speak to one another with love and humility. Love is the essence." - Prem Rawat (aka Maharaji)
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:59 AM | Comments (0)
August 08, 2009I Am Yours
Beautiful song... beautiful voice... beautiful life.
Lyrics and vocals: Julie Howe
Artwork: Robert Howe
Link love: Martha Lotfe
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:03 AM | Comments (0)
August 05, 2009Mother Teresa Speaks
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; BE KIND ANYWAY.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends, and some true enemies; BE SUCCESSFUL ANYWAY.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you; BE HONEST AND SINCERE ANYWAY.
What you spend years creating, others may tear down overnight; CREATE ANYWAY.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten tomorrow; DO IT ANYWAY.
In the final analysis, it's between you and God; IT WAS NEVER ABOUT YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:27 AM | Comments (2)
If You Have to Pray...
Graphic: YPI.net
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:10 AM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2009The Gospel of Everyday Life!
Sometimes the only thing left to do is sing. (These guys -- Joe and Eddie -- were my very first clue that there was an extraordinary animating force behind this thing called "life.") Turn up the volume! Make a joyful noise! Take it to the streets!
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:17 AM | Comments (1)
Only YouWho are love songs REALLY written to?
Thanks to Diego de Alzaga for the link.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:54 AM | Comments (0)
August 02, 2009VIDEO: Maharaji at the Asheville Picnic
Some people (especially those who have never met Maharaji) think he only speaks at big venues, entering stage left and exiting like some kind of Wizard of Oz. Not true. Maharaji goes wherever the love is, wherever people -- thirsty for truth and ready to receive him -- come together -- even if it's in a tent...
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:46 PM | Comments (2)
