The Wise Man Does Nothing
"The foolish man
is always
doing,
yet much
remains
to be done.
The wise man
does nothing,
yet nothing
remains
undone."
- Lao Tzu
Photo
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:53 PM | Comments (0)
August 25, 201250 Reasons Why I Like Amaroo
On September 7th, I will travel 27 hours to Amaroo (Australia) to spend five days with Maharaji (aka Prem Rawat) and 3,500 other people) at an outdoor festival of love.
That's a long way -- and a pricey plane ticket -- not to mention a total of 9 days away from my wife and kids.
When I tell some of my friends, they look at me as if I've gone off the deep end. "Why?" they ask. "Haven't you seen him enough in the past 40 years? Don't you already know what he's going to say?"
Their questions all make sense. Logically speaking, that is. But my experience of seeing and listening to him, live -- especially in Amaroo for five days -- is not a logical thing. It's a love thing. And love is not always logical.
Can I experience this anywhere? Yes, I can. That's the whole point of what he teaches -- that each one of us can experience what we were born for anywhere. No, it doesn't take a trip to Australia to experience it.
But... somehow... some way -- at least for me -- spending five days, unplugged, in his company, helps me get way more deeply in touch with that feeling.
Anyway... as I gear up to make the trek to Amaroo, I've been thinking about the reasons WHY I'm going. Here are 50 of them...
WHY I AM TRAVELING 27 HOURS TO AMAROO
1. Because I want to.
2. Because I can.
3. Seeing Maharaji always refreshes, renews, and delights me.
4. The chance to immerse in the experience is a total treat. Usually, when I see Maharaji, it is only for 90-minutes at a public event. At Amaroo, it's at least twice a day and for five days in a row. Plus, the rest of the time, at the event, is an off-the-grid festival of love.
5. It's a ton of fun. Make that two tons.
6. The chance to see Maharaji, casually, riding around the grounds on his golf cart is a very cool thing.
7. Sometimes, a single word or phrase from Maharaji goes in so deep it becomes a kind of radioactive isotope of awareness -- teaching and nurturing me for years.
8. Joy. Big joy. Huge joy. Gigundo joy.
9. Amaroo is a very beautiful, welcoming place.
10. I like getting more in sync with Maharaji's emerging vision for bringing his message of peace to the world.
11. Waking up with the birds.
12. Seeing a kangaroo or two.
13. Fabulous unexpected connections with people I've never met before.
14. Practicing Knowledge in my tent and knowing that I will be seeing Maharaji at an event later that morning.
15. The food tent. Yes, the food tent -- a great place to schmooze with dear, old friends -- some of whom I haven't seen in many years.
16. Reconnecting with my muse. Tapping into the realm from where real poetry comes.
17. The journey there. Every step is an arrival.
18. Realizing, once again, that I have everything I need.
19. Feeling as if every cell in my body is having a party.
20. Getting in touch with the feeling that originally drew me to Maharaji in the first place -- all the way back to 1971.
21. Going to bed when the sun goes down. Waking up when the sun comes up.
22. Experiencing heaven on earth.
23. Seeing people from every walk of life from more than 30 countries all living in a beautiful bubble of grace.
24. Hot showers in the morning.
25. Many sweet opportunities to serve.
26. Deep, uncontrollable laughter.
27. Calling my wife and kids late at night from the pay phone (pay phone!) and feeling their gladness that I have a chance to be with my Master for five days in a row.
28. Ultimate simplicity.
29. Just walking around.
30. Getting totally soaked with feeling.
31. The Australian accent.
32. Being rebooted.
33. Daya's Fine Dining
34. Feeling like every day is the cherry on top of the Sundae on top of the world.
35. Realizing that if I was on my death bed and looking back at my life, the moments I'm having at Amaroo would be some of the most exquisite.
36. Love, love, love.
37. Getting a fresh perspective on what life is all about.
38. Listening to Maharaji speak beneath the beautiful Australian sky.
39. Extraordinary amounts of gratitude.
40. Getting down to basics.
41. The best vacation I've ever had in my life
42. Getting out of my head and into my heart.
43. Everywhere I am is the right place.
44. Learning something every day.
45. Seeing how peace on earth is not only possible, but happening.
46. Did I mention love?
47. I get to look in a beautiful mirror and see myself clearly.
48. Not having to DO anything to feel totally whole and complete.
49. Feeling. Deep, deep feeling.
50. Maharaji's words of wisdom.
If you have learned the techniques of Knowledge, as taught by Maharaji, and want to go to Amaroo, here's your next step.
www.amaroo.org
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:30 AM | Comments (9)
August 24, 2012The Upturn Is Upon Us!
OK. It's official. The Golden Age is upon us, as of the viewing of this video. Don't believe all the naysaying garbage of the media. Of course, there is always stuff to complain about, always things to improve etc., but there is also happiness, joy, and dancing. It all depends on what you're focusing on.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:26 PM | Comments (0)
August 21, 2012In Praise of Monhegan Island
There are places on Earth that remind me of what the cosmically-inclined among us refer to as the astral plane, the realm where some people go after their time here is up to contemplate the life they lived.
In this place of gladness, when people pass each other on the unpaved path to whatever is next, they smile. Few words are exchanged, and when they are, they are already understood before anyone speaks.
There is instant recognition here, an equipoise, a pause, a sharing of presence beneath the blue sky.
Having finished what they came here to do, space opens up... and time... and hearts. Each person becomes harbor for the other, a field to go dancing in.
This realm, this unexpected manger between worlds, is an island of joy. There is no rushing here, no sudden moves, no unnecessary thoughts.
Here, each step is an arrival. Here, one breath is taken at a time. Here, you never want to leave.
You can find places like this on the Earth, cool ocean breezes, sea birds gliding, spruce trees, pines, a woman, in her garden, laughing, filling a basket with summer's first yield.
More about the island
Even more
Photos: Evelyne Pouget
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:56 AM | Comments (1)
August 20, 2012It's Really Very Simple
More where this came from
Words of Peace Global
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:01 AM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2012A Word to the Wise
More goodies
Words of Peace Global
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:24 PM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2012The One Voice for Laos Documentary
Here is a remarkable 8-minute video produced by Garland Berenzy (16!), documenting the One Voice for Laos project -- an inspired humanitarian effort spearheaded by Hudson Valley teens, committed adults, and my amazing wife, Evelyne Pouget, to support 600 orphans in Luang Prabang, Laos. If you want to donate to the orphanage, send a check to the Windhorse Foundation (P.O. Box 26582, San Francisco, CA 94126) and write "Deak Kum Pa Orphanage" in the memo line.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:13 PM | Comments (3)
August 15, 2012Close to Saugerties on August 23rd?
If you
live within
walking distance,
driving distance,
or hang glider distance
to Saugerties, NY
(10 miles
from Woodstock),
please join me
and some
other locals
for a brief
introduction
to the
life-affirming,
heart opening,
inspiring,
message
of Prem Rawat.
Admission is free.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
The Beautiful Paradox
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:29 PM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2012Take What You Need
I don't know
about you.
But
I'd
rather
see
this sign
on a
telephone
poll
than
all
the
ones
about
babysitters,
snow shovellers,
and
house movers.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:44 PM | Comments (1)
August 12, 2012The Secret Revealed
Looking
for
the
promised
land?
It
is
right
beneath
your
feet.
The
path?
The
distance
from
head
to
heart.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:02 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2012The Beautiful Sadness of Longing
A big thank you to Fernando Garcia for using one of my poems, and Stuart Hoffman's music, along with a variety of beautiful images, to create a moving slide show about a topic not often talked about.
The poem
Words of Peace Global
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:53 AM | Comments (3)
August 06, 2012We Are All Dancing!
Thanks to my sister, Phyllis Rosen, for this link.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:41 AM | Comments (3)
Why Can't There Be Peace?Inspiring song by Tom Pacheco. Performed by the Onteora High School Choir. PS: There CAN be peace -- and it starts inside of each of us.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2012No Mud, No Lotus
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:59 PM | Comments (2)
