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Issue #2785 - Editor: Jerry Katz -
Read my book, One: Essential Writings on Nonduality http://nonduality.com/one.htm
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HOW TO ATTAIN
ENLIGHTENMENT ON THE MAJOR DEEGAN EXPRESSWAY
A Commuter's Guide
Stewart Bitkoff, Ed.D.
http://www.thedeeganproject.com/
Stewart Bitkoff has
signed a formal contract with Llewellyn Publishing for his book
How to Attain
Enlightenment on the Major Deegan Expressway!
Published under the name,
A Commuter's Guide to Enlightenment, you will be
able to purchase the
revamped version of this incredible book at your favorite book
stores such as Barnes & Noble and
Borders starting in early 2008!
To be one of the first to
receive a copy, email Melody Bitkoff at mbitkoff@yahoo.com.
Until then, please
check-out Dr. Bitkoff's blog co-authored with his daughter Melody
at
www.spiritualsuperhighway.typepad.com.
HOW TO ATTAIN
ENLIGHTENMENT ON THE MAJOR DEEGAN EXPRESSWAY
A Commuter's Guide
Stewart Bitkoff, Ed.D.
This short book is given
to you as a tool to make your daily commute to
work and road through life a little easier
INTRODUCTION
Millions commute to work
every day. Some drive cars, some use
bicycles. Some travel five minutes, others two hours. Some love
their ride,
others hate and endure it.
One day I found myself
using a meditative technique to free my
mind from the drudgery of driving to work. It just sort of
happened and
came about naturally. This has helped me survive and transcend my
daily
journey on a monster of a highway ? the Major Deegan Expressway.
Before beginning, a few words about this manuscript and the Sufi
view of discontinuous learning.
--This ride occurs over a
period of months; and there is no clear story
line or sequence of events. The ride starts, things happen ?
which may or
may not be related. Then, it ends.
This is similar to the
way we think and some events in our lives.
Daily, we go about our business. The events may not be joined in
any
obvious way. Then, the day ends, and we wonder at the meaning of
it all.
Yet, from a distance the events are connected. They are part of
our
life and mind.
--Themes are presented,
dropped, and picked up or restated later.
Some learning happens this way. We need things repeated over and
over, or
presented in different ways to get the point.
Sometimes we may not
understand an event until months or years
have passed.
--Lastly, this is about a
car ride to work, but the subject matter can
apply to almost any activity.
This ride is about
learning from the most mundane of things. The
Sufis maintain enlightenment can be attained in ordinary life,
doing almost
anything. What is required is a different way of looking at
events . . .
Well, buckle your seatbelt, and let's begin.
Last year while on vacation in
"You know for someone who has spent most of his life in
you're not as neurotic as some of the other easterners we meet.
They're
always in a rush and rude."
My friend continued,
"A few weeks back, when I was visiting
York City
almost lost my mind. It was 90 degrees; the traffic was
backed-up. I had to open
my windows and turn off the air conditioner. All around me were
large
trucks and buses. Exhaust was coming into my window and I
couldn't wait
for the quiet of
in that environment?"
I replied, "Over the
last few years I had gone crazy at least a half
dozen times . . ."
* * *
When I returned to
described to work.
As I looked about and saw
dirt, exhaust, and endless rows of
vehicles, I realized something; over the years, I had learned to
see beyond
the Major Deegan Expressway. While part of me was busy driving
the
highway, another part was doing something else.
Sure, I got pissed-off
when the traffic was backed-up at the approach
to the
Somehow I learned to still this part of me, for the most part,
and listen to that
quiet, inner, voice which sang of another realm, and put things
in
perspective.
* * *
My morning drive, while a
long one of about 45 miles, is filled with
variety. It starts at
There are forested hills, miles of protected reservoirs, and
construction
crews widening the highways. This goes on for miles at a time.
As you get closer to
get on the Major Deegan Expressway in the northern
have traveled on four different highways; a distance of about 30
miles.
The Deegan borders the western portion of the
winds south, feeds into the George Washington and Triboro
bridges. When
there is no traffic, I can make the trip in about 50-60 minutes.
Usually, this
is not the situation. Also, the later I start out, the more
traffic I encounter.
Often, it seems, I am in an endless parking lot waiting to inch
forward.
Yet, for millions this is nothing new or special. People do it
every
day, year after year. The task, as in life, is to make something
out of the
activity.
In other cars, as you
look about, you see people laughing to a radio
show, or talking with a passenger. Some are bored, others are
smoking
cigarettes . . . Each in their own way, trying to make the
situation work.
The mystic claims, the pattern of repetitiousness exists so we
can
break free of it. It exists to provide structure and, thereby,
may be
transcended.
* * *
Sometimes, trees grow in
concrete. Wherever a little soil gathers, as
God wills, a seed will sprout.
When you look at the
dividers between north and south, you see this
miracle, all about.
* * *
Occasionally, as you
drive beneath highway overpasses, you see
pigeons nesting. Somehow, they have made their home in the center
of
stone, steel, and exhaust fumes.
The need to survive is
strong . . . One creature's purgatory is
another's home.
* * *
In many ways, I am the
thoughts I think. While driving down the
highway, my interpretations of what I see are based upon my
previous
experiences.
Today, it was raining and
depending if I liked or disliked rain, I was
affected in a particular way. Rain can be cleansing or a problem
for driving.
It can help to cause an accident or help flowers grow . . . Rain
is any
number of things and my response is usually based upon my
pre-conceived
ideas.
* * *
In order to get to work
on time, I need to be up by 5:45 a.m. and
driving on the road by 6:30 a.m. Otherwise, the traffic is too
heavy and I
arrive sometime after 8:00 a.m. This results in my rushing before
the 8:30
a.m. meeting or walking in late.
In order to get to work,
many things have to be in place. I have to
get gas for the car, make lunch, and set out my clothes the night
before. This
requires a discipline of sorts and has gotten easier over the
years. Now, it is
second nature.
Similarly, for the
spiritual traveler's success, many things must be in
place. There must be a correct interaction between student,
teacher, and the
Path. Also, the student must exert the right amount of discipline
and do
things in correct order.
. . . In many ways,
getting to work on time and spiritual studies are
similar.
* * *
Who was Major Deegan? Why
was a highway named after him?
Surprisingly, this information was not very difficult to obtain.
After
an hour on the phone and speaking with representatives of four
City and
State agencies, I got some answers. People returned my calls, and
one kind
lady read to me entries from her data file.
Skimpy, though the
information is, it was obtained at little or no
cost.
Major Deegan was a New
York City Housing Commissioner who
died in the early 1930's. Approximately five years after his
death, the
highway was named after him.
I'm waiting for another
call to find out the highway's length and how
many cars use it per year. I have been promised an answer.
Sometimes, the answers to our questions come easily. At other
times, they are not forthcoming or are exacted at a tremendous
cost.
* * *
At night, while driving
home, I am reminded of my place in the
chain of humanity. Ahead of me, I see the tail lights of 20 cars;
behind me,
in the rear view mirror the lights of 12 more.
