[Odd post] On moths and synchronicity

I am presently a bit swamped by intellectual endeavors so the frequency (and quality) of my blog posts are suffering.

Today I would like to share an anecdote, that I find fascinating (I don't need much apparently) and completely mysterious.

For the last 7 days, when I come home at night, I find one small moth on the backside of my front door. After a few minutes the moth flies right at me and lands either on me or, if I am working on my computer, on my computer screen. Strange, right?

Now what if I told you that it is not the same moth every time? More than that it has been a different moth every time! As the moth flies to me or on me I have been catching the moth/s with a small glass and a cardboard CD case. Glass covers moth and then cardboard case goes between me and my friendly, neighborhood moth. Said moth, is then accompanied to a window. Window is opened, moth is released, window is closed. Windows stay closed. Another day, another moth. Catch, release, repeat.

No other moths are in the apartment and I can't figure out where they are coming from...

Makes me think of a Sherlock Holmes mystery and, more relevant to this blog, to Jung's story of synchronicity and his patient's dream scarab.

Otherwise, I am still reading Chopra's Path to Love. Some very interesting insights, simple but effective, so to speak. One particular question he attempts to answer is how to preserve the devotion, faithfulness and love of a relationship, without giving in to neediness and attachment. He explains, quite well, that what is NOT needed is detachment, which he assimilates to 'not caring'. What he recommends is a 'state' (not the best word, but it is the one he used...) of nonattachment


A good summary of the idea in Chopra's words: "Attachment is a form of dependency based on ego; love is nonattachment based on spirit."

Earlier he explains the difference as follows:

Love allows your beloved the freedom to be unlike you. Attachment asks for conformity to your needs and desires.

Love imposes no demands. Attachment expresses an overwhelming demand - "Make me feel whole."

Love expands beyond the limits of two people. Attachment tries to exclude everything but two people.

So on that final note, I wish you much love without attachment, and if I resolve the "Mystery of the Recurring Moth" I will let you know...

Now reading Deepak Chopra The Path to Love

This book was given to me as a present. The best part was that it was a book that was already read by the person who gave it to me and included the notes. Always fun to share someone else's insights and thoughts and a generous present - sharing the book and the insights!

As for the book, I must admit that I always liked Deepak Chopra (he is a likeable guy) but was never too impressed. I always thought of him as a purveyor of spirituality for the masses and held my prejudice of shallowness against him. Then I read an interview of him in What is Enlightenment magazine (now called Enlighten Next). I realized that this was his chosen mission and I realized that he was pretty darn good at it. That allowed me to approach this book with more of an open mind.
The book starts well, especially since any author who quotes Nisargadatta Maharaj is an author worth reading, and Deepak quotes him early on:

"Life is love and love is life. What keeps the body together but love? What is desire but love of the self?... And what is knowledge but love of truth?
The means and form may be wrong, but the motive behind is always love--love of the me and mine. The me and the mine may be small, or may explode and embrace the Universe, but love remains."

This is a pretty incredible insight! We are all egotistical, i.e. protective of the "me and mine". HOWEVER, for the more spiritually evolved this "me and mine" encompasses more than the narrowest sense (e.g. materialistic collectibles) and can evolve to include family, friends, colleagues, the other and, ultimately, even the entire Universe.

Not easy to do, but a nifty trick if you can pull it off...

If you haven't read Nisargadatta's I Am That, it is highly recommended and I will undoubtedly comment on different passages of that book which is a treasure trove of spiritual nuggets and insights. Put it on your reading list and then on your bedside table. And then read it (osmosis can only take you so far : ))