Russell Simmons. Hip-hop founder of Def Jam, Baby Phat. Labeled one of USA’s 25 most influential. Homes in NYC, LA, Hamptons. Females of assorted shapes and colors. Rich rich rich. Come March he’s written “Success Through Stillness.”
He needs the income from selling a book like Miley Cyrus needs to creep out of her shell.
“It’s about meditation. Every morning 6 a.m., I meditate 20 minutes with my kids, then we run to school. This expansion for their brains promotes non-violence. I travel around — Chicago, all over — and talk to schools and teach meditation.
“I do it twice, day and night. First you sit. Do a mantra. Repeat. It learns patience. Teach a kid to sit. Transcend the noise. Let noise settle. Noise makes for unhappiness. Calm the chatter in the brain. Happiness comes through stillness. Noise separates. Stillness is what’s in front of you.
“Twenty years ago I went to a monk who taught me yoga. I’ve sent my teacher to Oprah, Russell Brand, Ellen DeGeneres. To talk show people, people with big mouths. Howard Stern meditates. I’ve taken this teacher to veterans and inmates.
“Your mind goes anywhere it wants. It bounces around in a cage like a monkey. It has nowhere to go so it settles.
“Listen, I was a bad boy. I was in a gang. I did drugs like Jay Z. When I began meditation I got sober. This is now my third self-help book and I give my money to charity.”
To get my own stillness, I finally hung up on Russell.
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Aussie Rebel dishes on acting
Six months ago, who knew from Australia’s funny hefty Rebel Wilson. Now that she stars on “Super Fun Night,” I know. She said then:
“To learn acting, Nicole Kidman gave me a scholarship. Not much money. But I came here, saw Broadway, got a West 46th apartment, personal trainer, and physicals. I want to be super healthy and p - - - perfect. Also a stylist because I don’t know fashion.
“I work hard. I’m totally single. I like eating ice cream. I could eat my weight in macaroons. I acted in Sydney and wanted to be an actress. People thought I’d be good in America and sent me on auditions.”
Then, she shoved off our narrow banquette with: “I have to eat something, I’m wasting away.”
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Mellow Madge
Madonna’s said yoga helps her “be humble and patient,” and studying Sanskrit is part of her “spiritual research.”
Spying this person, theatrical weekly “O&M” writer Scoop Verbena says he yelled: “Madonna, New York misses you” to which, humbly and patiently, she replied, “I live here, you ass.”
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Goings on
Nov. 11’s Thurgood Marshall College Fund in DC, canceled last year by Sandy, is their 25th Gala. Bill Cosby hosts, Jennifer Holliday sings, and special guest New York’s first Indian Miss, Miss America Nina Davuluri . . . “Hunger Games” Jessica Parker Kennedy not into hunger games. She and six friends ate like mad at downtown’s Olio e Piú . . . Christine Baranski back from London filming “Into The Woods” . . . Diana Rigg: “I’d love to be a Bond baddie. I’d play a bad, bad woman easily. Baddies are the best parts.” . . . Georgina Bloomberg, a soon-to-be unemployed person’s daughter, hosting Dec. 7’s Tinsel & Tails fund-raiser for needy dogs, cats, animals, mayors.
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Antique dealer Vito Giallo’s wealthy East Side customer wore trademark pearl necklace, spiked heels, perfect makeup, hair coif’d. Her one daughter was distraught over mama’s will. Everything, millions in negotiable bonds, antiques, apartment’s entire contents, extensive art collection, fabulous jewels and millions — all, every cent — went to the Truman Library.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.