Spiritual Drifts from The River of Karma

Global Warming : Few tips you probably didn't already know. Global Action Day

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:04:54 PDT

Global Warming is here people. And everyone is affected; no one is safe. But the good thing, this year, Blog Action Day has taken it upon themselves to organise a day to get all bloggers to simultaneously write about this topic and to bring awareness on the hot issue of Global Warming.

Today is that day, 15th October 2009. Today is Blog Action Day. And yours truly is doing hit bit.

There's still time if you want to do it. Just go to Blog Action Day 2009 website , sign up and write on Global Warming.

As for me, this is my contribution.

Few points about Global Warming you probably didn’t know

- Weather has gone up – True. This is self explanatory.

- Earth’s temperature has gone up 10 degrees – False. While different countries will see a change in their own local temperature E.g. Some 2, 3 even 5 degrees, the Earth has gone up……… 0.5 degrees.

- Human Race can die because Global Warming – True. While we may not die today, but if the weather goes up to 3 degrees/above, Human race will cease to exist.

- Ice caps are melting – True. And it’s going faster than you think.

- Petroleum is to be blamed for all of this – Yes and No. Petroleum is a natural substance. Left untouched, it bothers only itself. But it’s the process of digging for oil, refining it, using it in factories and cars, spilling into the ocean, ignited fires from it that’s causing the problem. Essentially, its the Human addiction to Petroleum that’s causing it.

- Changing lightbulbs is enough – No. If those light bulbs could illuminate the world into being more environmentally aware, then fine. Else don’t dream of it.

and finally…..

- The End results of Global Warming is…an Ice Age. – Yes
I will let you folks Google this one up.

GOD did not create Earth - News Item

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:53:53 PDT

Someone or someone's are going to throw a fit, probably get one too, (perhaps both) over this news item. No need to say whom since the article would already indicate it; but still, one wonders what could come of it.

"Fit bombs" away.

Professor Ellen van Wolde, a respected Old Testament scholar and author, claims the first sentence of Genesis "in the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth" is not a true translation of the Hebrew.

She claims she has carried out fresh textual analysis that suggests the writers of the great book never intended to suggest that God created the world -- and in fact the Earth was already there when he created humans and animals.

Full story here

Kanye West dissed MY BLOG

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:55:12 PDT

Oh well....just for fun.

Spiritually speaking, is it right as a spiritualist to want/to be wealthy?

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:45:34 PDT

Is it right as a spiritualist to want/to be wealthy?

If you’re a true blue spiritualist, then you would have though about this question. More than once. For long periods of time every time.

Perhaps go on to argue with yourself, give up and surrender to the fact that maybe the Universe will present the idea in time.

If you’re unsure, ask any of your spiritualist friends.

We spiritualists tend to have this problem.

We want to lead a more spiritual life. We want to do away with all burden that comes with a fast paced, stress induced, processed food, tv dictating society. We want the all natural life – fresh veggies, peace, a square mile of silence, contemplation.

And well lets face….no desires. It comes with the territory. Anywhere you go, there’s always someone who will spout about the “slow removal of all desires and wants” thru meditation, yoga, energy healing or what not.

We do, because it’s the life we choose.

So how not then, to have spiritualists fight themselves on whether its right to to want/to be rich? We need money to survive, but having a need is what we’re supposed to discard.

So where is the reconciliation here?

Chances are, there will be just as many responses to this as the many people who respond.

Lets face it. You need money. It just goes without saying. You need money. What more in our current economic climate. You can’t help yourself, or anyone, in any good way when you’re rolling on a red line account. What more, isn’t life meant to be abundant in the first place. Meaning therefore money as part of our life should also be in abundance.

If it is wrong, surely God/Universe wouldn’t have created the Law of Attraction to help us lead an abundant life in the first place.

Maybe it’s not the “need” per se. Maybe, and this is just an outlook , it is something else

Maybe it’s the “Obsession” of making money that’s not right.

Perhaps, just perhaps, this is what all the scriptures and teachings speak about. The obsession.

I say obsession simply because in the unhealthy want of something is where we just could get lost in the materialism. Or greed. Or paranoia. Or whatever word that aptly fits.

These are the moments when in the pursuit of what we want, we don’t care what happens to anyone, so long we get our due. Forget family, best friend since age 3, and the whole world. If they can’t help me get what we want; we don’t need them.

Afterall, is not the saying “Obsession can make people do crazy things”?

Maybe also it is because we lose much a rational mind, and rationale thinking, when we become obsessed with what ever it is we’re thinking. And that’s when we really begin to lose sight. Of anything.

Makes sense?

So to answer the question of this post, in my opinion that is, it is ok to be want/to be wealthy. Afterall, life was meant to be abundant. All areas of life that is.

And it will be hard Life to express itself through you if you’re not well financially. So perhaps, it’s ok want/be wealthy.

But to obsess about it - hmm, maybe not.

PS to all: In the next post on this topic, I will look into what is money from spiritual perspective.

Thanks to all who helped...

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:30:30 PDT

In the last 4 weeks or so, for anyone who noticed that my I didn’t update after Michael Jacksons death, I’ve received emails and words of encouragement on my email riverofkarma@gmail.com from many people the world over.

This post is essentially to say a big “Thank You” to all.

Just receiving your emails alone was so comforting. I’m going to keep what you said private between us. It really helped. I know I’m doing much better since then.

His death just came as too much of a surprise, and when you a fan from young, you never really stop being a fan. You just reduce your outward appearance, but never disappear.

Again, all the same, thank you all so much.

It’s going to take time this thing, but you’ve all helped me get closer.

PS to all: MJ will be missed

It's been 2 weeks now....

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:57:36 PDT

The last 2 weeks has been a trying one. It’s perhaps the hardest its been in a long time and perhaps also to the level I have wished would come.

It’s now 2 weeks since the man the world, quite literally the world, knows as Michael Jackson passed on. At present the cause is attributed to cardiac arrest, confirmation pending.

The larger than life King of Pop whose own work conveyed more kindness, compassion and love than was afforded to him by the media, public and at sometimes, the world at large.

I get upset when I think about this fact. Caring people with only the intention to give is a dying breed in this world and the one big one we had, we condemned to no end. No, don’t kind yourself, stick and stones maybe break the bones, but words…..they hurt the most.

It’s now 2 weeks since he left us. We now literally live in a world without Michael Jackson. The one person I know off who’s songs is so full of love, they are accepted in every country without any problem.

How many artists in the world can say they’ve done that?

It’s now 2 weeks since he left us.

The man I’ve nearly worshipped since the age of 3. Who’s inspired me not by music or dance, but by his ideals. His principal. His love for a want of a brotherhood of man united despite the differences.

This simple dream; it was us who put every stumbling block and heart wrenching word in his path to realizing it. We gave him pain and torment for a dream we didn’t fully understand, but blamed him for it nonetheless.

And yet it was the lives of people we don’t think about that he still went out to help.

It’s now 2 weeks since he left us.

For me, the words “left” and “us” still hasn’t made contact. But I’m trying.

Michael Jackson, 1958 - 2009. RIP

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:38:19 PDT

You filled my childhood with joyful memories. You uplifted me when I was down. You entertained me when you danced and sung. You made me realise the importance our love and action towards everyone and everything. I loved you not just for your music, but your ideals. And I still do. Will continue to.

More than all that, you made a difference.

Michael Joseph Jackson, 1958 - 2009. RIP

May God bless you wherever you are and you finally find the peace you deserve.

You will be missed.

Long Live the King

And we're back..... to where we started from!

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:21:02 PDT

HTML - I'm going to leave it to the pro's next time.

Immediately after my previous post, I initiated the blog theme transfer. That being Friday night. It worked pretty well at first. Only into the weekend, coding compatibilities began to crop up. One by one. Major piss off after major piss off. Which is why perhaps if any of you surfed the past weekend, you would have noticed this blog switching themes back and forth.

So in the end, I decided to stick it back to the one you're seeing right now. Why? Because of coding problems.

Which is the reason I initiated the damn theme transfer in the first place. Sheesh.

Alright folks, everything's back to the way it is until I can get some HTML dude to come figure this stuff.

Like I said, I'm going to leave to the pro's next time.

PS to all : HTML looks weird

Moving back to the previous theme....

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:57:39 PDT

…………because, although I really love this current one that I have, the coding has been a highly incompatible and very clunky.

And very susceptible to errors as well. It has made maintenance for someone non HTML inclined like me a total nightmare.

So please bear with some possible down time as I make the move back to the previous. For now.

Until they who coded it can make it more blogspot friendly at least.

Cheers.

2012 - 20 questions answered by NASA Astrobiologist why its NOT HAPPENING

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:25:25 PDT

I’ve said this before.

If there’s one thing that the Spiritual Industry is notoriously famous for, it is Fads.

Fads, Fads, Fads and Fads.

I suppose this is the setback one would face when spirituality, which was about self realization, became an Industry. Meaning it went from being more about the spiritual to now more about the Business. Rest assured, I will blog about my observations on the Industry as such sometime.

But for now, we’re stuck with fads. Few years ago when The Secret was released, along with it came a whole slew of Courses, Seminars, Webinars, CD’s, DVD’s on how anyone (meaning YOU) can use/tap/work the Law of Attraction for your glorious benefit.

Those fads have since disappeared into the oblivion it came from. The aftermath – Many people made money, many more people lost money.

Today, we have another one. A BIG one. One that has grown as steady as Obama’s Presidential plan.

The 2012 Armageddon Saga.

I’ve blogged about this previously, why I think it’s a lot of Bull. Like I said in that post, if everyone is so sure something is going to happen, why can’t they get it right on what is going to happen?

But that’s not stopping people from coming up with, well, - Courses, Seminars, Webinars, CD’s, DVD’s on how anyone (meaning YOU) can prepare to survive an impending Doom no one is sure about.

It’s so pervasive this fad, even NASA’s Astrobiologists had to say something about it. In this 20 question interview, we FINALLY get some information that dispels some of the myths this 2012 fad has grown. For instance

11. When most of the planets align in 2012 and planet Earth is in the center of the Milky Way, what will the effects of this be on planet Earth? Could it cause a pole shift, and if so what could we expect?

There is no planet alignment in 2012 or any other time in the next several decades. As to the Earth being in the center of the Milky Way, I don’t know what this phrase means. If you are referring to the Milky Way Galaxy, we are rather far toward the edge of this spiral galaxy, some 30,000 light years from the center. We circle the galactic center in a period of 225-250 million years, always keeping approximately the same distance. Concerning a pole shift, I also don’t know what this means. If it means some sudden change in the position of the pole (that is, the rotation axis of the Earth), then that is impossible, as noted in the answer to Question 10. What many websites do discuss is the alignment of the Earth and Sun with the center of the Milky Way in the constellation of Sagittarius. This happens every December, with no bad consequences, and there is no reason to expect 2012 to be different from any other year.

For the full interview and other myth busting information like the Planet Nibiru, click here

PS to all: Changes ???

Amazon.com Widgets

SEO - Paying Post as a start

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:31:42 PDT

This is perhaps for many people out there who haven’t started blogging or who already have but are looking for ways to expand on their capability. Search Engine Optimisation, or as it is commonly known as SEO, is now becoming a must know for blog owners. What SEO does for you is it allows you to place strategically position your blog and or website on the internet so people looking for the particular brand of information you blog about will find you easily. The game is all about how you optimize the search engine for your blog, hence SEO.

There are many ways to do this. They range from participating in blog meme’s, meta tagging, keyword research all the way to big leagues like link building.

One way you might want to look at getting your blog out there is perhaps through blog advertising. What this means is that you use your blog as medium for these ads, and in return get paid to write these ads. It’s a win both ways. A good understanding would be here at payingposts website
. Their explanation is simple; you’d be guilty just not read it

There’s also the chance if you want to leverage on others experience, then you should visit website Web Articles. It is an online programming website for beginners with many useful and good tutorials
. These enable you to learn as well understand the web better.

SEO is quick becoming the online necessary. The simple reason being if you don’t advertise your blog, then only you know its there. No one else does. Look it up for your blog.

Happy 2nd Birthday bloggie.

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:53:53 PDT

I just realised that, again, I missed the birthday of this blog. It's 2nd April.

This time, I'm putting out a post. For all my readers - This blog is in part what it is because of your support. Your feedback, and even just reading, is inspiration for me to want to blog more. You don't know how grateful I am for that.

To my bloggie - Sorry for the late wishes. Happy Birthday.

RoK

PS to all - Posting resumes soon.

Apparently, now Aum isn't Hindu. What's next?

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:44:57 PDT

It has come to my attention, quite recently in fact, that apparently now Aum is not part of any religion.

And who is saying this – Yoga Instructors.

You would know them – Most of them are the now famous well being purveyors who supposedly got in the system for the spiritual side, but since seeing the moolah, has sold out the religion that provided them with it. Ah, what money can’t buy!

Can the Hindu religion get ransacked anymore than it is right now, I wonder?

Perhaps yes because at the rate these pirates are going, they’re one step short of actually claiming that the Hindu scriptures aren’t religious, the Hindu way isn’t religious and to clinch it, the Hindu way isn’t Hindu at all. Meaning therefore the philosophies are up for grabs to line their pockets full for the mullahs.

Like I asked, can the Hindu religion get ransacked anymore?

This sudden realization came during one of my yoga classes when a non-Hindu instructor (not that it matters her religion really) openly stated that Aum is the peaceful vibration of the Universe and is not religion?

IS NOT RELIGION?

Who the heck is she kidding?

Yeah, Aum is peaceful vibration of the Universe – As defined in Hindu scriptures. How that does not entail part of religion eludes me.

Keeping in mind, Hinduism is the religion to first introduce Aum. Again, her point goes out the door.

For some reason, its always Hinduism who’s getting ransacked, not any other religions. Stupid cop-outs are used like “Its Vedic” or “Indian texts” or “Brahmanical system” or worse, “Eastern philosophy”. Anything will suffice as long as it doesn’t show any relationship to the religion!

Do you think these clowns would dare say the Hadith is not Islamic, but is Arabic? Or the Genesis is not Biblic but Abrahamanic? Yeah, I’d reckon they get a face full of it.

More than this, my instructor is only a reflection of a bigger problem – Hindu’s are letting this happen.

People won’t take something they’re not allowed to take. Who’s giving the greenlight here? Well no points for guessing right, it’s too obvious.

Anyone who knows me knows how I always say that “Hindu’s need to start getting up and defending their religion!” Being tolerant is one thing, but this “Aum not religion” bit is a far reaching crime of distortion that requires anything but tolerance.

I left that class now having a better idea of the mindset I’m up against. The good thing about knowledge is, lies falter at the sight of it.

Until then……

HINDUS – GROW A BACKBONE. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OUR RELIGION, GROW A DAMN BACKBONE.

Solution - What have religions missed out about it?

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:30:49 PDT

If we can really understand the problem, the answer will come out of it, because the answer is not separate from the problem.

- Jiddu Krishnamurti

In the Oxford dictionary (2000), the word solution is defined as the “means of solving a problem or dealing with different situation”. By itself in the English language, the word solution is categorized as a Noun.

In the study of Mathematics, solution also considered the same; the answer to a problem.

While Maths and English may differ in the actual usage of “what” and “where” a solution is, the interpretation of the word remains nearly identical – The immediate, short term, and long term end to a problem. Meaning to say in different sense, the complete neutralization of a state that shows something is missing.

It’s inherent in a way. For every problem, there exists a neutralizing answer. In simpler word, for every problem there is an answer. Some days I look at, it seems almost a must – For every problem there will be a solution.

Of course, we face problems everywhere – From the choice of food we choose to consume for lunch, to color of shoes to match a specified outfit, a need of society to which businesses cater for, even dealings with family relatives right up to the need for software updates. No one in anyway would be exempt. A very usual situation is that romantic girlfriend/boyfriend phase. They’re usually loaded with problem landmines waiting to go off.

Perhaps, in a very uniquely positioned point of view, if you were look at it from an angle, it almost says the “problem” is only half of a whole; the “Answer” being the other half. Both combined to form……something. Say a lesson perhaps? Maybe.

Afterall, we do learn when we find the answer don’t we? On top of that, we also become a better person for it. I’m digressing; that’s not the point of this post.

Now, say for a minute one was to throw a monkey wrench into this scenario. I’m being figurative here when I ask this question - what if the “solution” that was supposed to get rid of the problem didn’t exactly do it? What if, say after X amount time of implementing the solution, the problem reappears? Would that by technical definition still fall under “Solution”?

I think I can hear many of my readers going “Not really!” Well, in a way of language, I agree with you. The reason here is, if the problem rears its head again, then it wasn’t solved.

Which means what was applied to it wasn’t a solution so much as it was just another way of looking the problem. A different perspective; different view on looking at the scenario.

Therefore then, we haven’t in actual terms, “solved” anything. And it is this very fact that gets me.

Every time a system or a Religion, any religion, comes about claiming and promising to be solution to all of people’s woes and misdeeds, then go on to conveniently blame the same people for being bad at implementing it when the problem re-appears, only in some ways just show that they misconstrued the concept of solving a problem.

Theft, murder, rape, gays, lesbians, what ever it is that supposedly to be an ailment to mankind. If a problem is solved, then its gone. Its’ done, its over, it neutralized, its finished, its ended, bye bye, hasta la vista, bon voyage. But if it hasn’t disappeared, then one cannot make the claim to be the answer to anything.

Why? Because if nothing has changed, then nothing was solved.

If it’s a solution, once you apply it – in this case the religion – to the context, it should eventually disappear. Be it people you know or don’t; it just shouldn’t exist. But that’s not happening. The promised utopia on Earth has not come to pass.

More interestingly, we find people from within a system or religion going out to perform the very same evils that very system or religion has promised to eradicate. Now what?

To add, we find believers are more incline to believe the problem is “out there” with other people, and go so far as to condemn them to an eternity of punishment in a fiery hell or with threats to ones life to forcefully follow that particular system. Which of the two is the worst of the lot? I don’t know.

We have missed the point I think.

I’m going to end this post this way. Why? Simply because there is no real answer or solution I can give to this. Neither am I claiming this post will provide one. But perhaps if we all took a great big look, someone might come up with one. Maybe. Then for sure, we wouldn’t have this problem anymore.

PS to E-Sanctuary peeps: Nice to see you too!

Layout Changes

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:15:07 PST

Many would have already noticed the layout changes here at Drifts. I got to say, I'm glad I finally took this blog theme. Been eyeing it for close to a year now; I just didn't want to do it because I'd have to lose my widgets.

Which I did...by myself because I forgot to back it up. Let that be a lesson to all.

So while I restore some stuff, this blog is about 80% done. It's about ok.

Got to say; the blog looks more like how I envisioned it now.

Cheers,
River of Karma

PS to Sara : Have you gotten the mic yet? Hurry up woman. And tell K-ly to get hers too.

NEWS - Brain Differences Found Between Believers In God And Non-believers

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:54:47 PST

This is very interesting. The article (and title) was taken from sciencedaily, a science based website I visit from time to time. I honestly don't know what to make of this article - More ammo in the side of Religionist in their war against Atheism perhaps?

I've highlighted two lines I think are interesting. Link to full story is at the bottom.

Believing in God can help block anxiety and minimize stress, according to new University of Toronto research that shows distinct brain differences between believers and non-believers.

Compared to non-believers, the religious participants showed significantly less activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a portion of the brain that helps modify behavior by signaling when attention and control are needed, usually as a result of some anxiety-producing event like making a mistake. The stronger their religious zeal and the more they believed in God, the less their ACC fired in response to their own errors, and the fewer errors they made.

Link to full post - Click Here

Pranic Diaries / Dis-ease Part 2 - Emotions as source of physical problems

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:50:58 PDT

(This post is also a follow up to the first post on dis-ease and energy)

Just the other day, I found myself in a unique position.

A close family friend had asked for a healing on a long standing shoulder problem. I was more than happy to oblige, what more as this would be my first shoulder healing and I could use the experience.

As he explained the fall he once had, I began to get an idea how I was to approach this healing because it involved the joint, muscle and nerve that required work. An initial scan of the aura indicated the specific area was in fact, troubled.

“It is going to take awhile for this” I thought, and indeed, it did.

After doing the session with the relevant cleansing and healing procedures, I re-scanned his aura and found it down to the healthy size. Concluding that I had done my job, I proceeded to ask him how he was feeling.

His response “Nope, no difference. It’s still hurting!”

I was shocked. The aura shows one reading, the patient tells another. Now either the patient is lying or there’s something that wasn’t addressed in the healing. An auric re-scan showed health level. Even whipping out my special RoK pendulum made of tissue and thread showed the chakra was rotating in the right direction (I make no bones that I can at times be El Cheapo). So what was the problem here?

Then it hit me – Emotions. I re-scanned the aura again, this time specifically the emotional aura, and there it was, the diseased energy that was plaguing the patient. It was strong, it was for certain high and it was definitely the reason for the pain in his shoulder.

I’m starting to see a lot of this now. People who come for healing on a physical ailment only to find the cause isn’t so much in the physical, but is rooted in the emotional aura. This is a telling statement for spiritualists who can understand it.

The emotional aura, in a nutshell is akin to the *normal* aura of a person. (I use normal descriptively) However, instead of showing the persons energy level, emotional aura is a reflection of a subject’s emotional energy/emotional state. It’s about the same level as the normal aura at its healthiest.

As a rule, Pranic Healers use the normal aura as a baseline comparison when it comes to Emotional Aura. Usually, it’s the same level as the normal aura indicating all is fine.

However the good, problems in the emotions can be a stealthy little critter. Just like in this case where a scan on the normal aura indicated the green light, the problem was lying hidden in the emotions going by undetected. Had it not been for the patient not informing of any change, I wouldn’t have thought to look there.

What I questioned was – Why was it causing the shoulder pain? Just as I asked, the answer hit – Emotion(s) are energy.

After the ton of realization brick had fallen, I began to get a birds eye view of what all this is actually about.

As it stands, emotions, I think, is a form of energy in us. Many call it Energy in Motion as it suits them best. But what I now see is something very very different.

Emotion Energy has properties.

In short, it carries its own energy signature, has a strong or weak frequency, starts off without a charge but overtime develops into either a positive or negative state. If that charge isn’t in congruent with our body aura, then eventually the body attracts events that will befall it or manifests the energy as a physical problem.

Neck problems and knee problems are now prime indicators for me to check on the emotions. In nearly all cases, it has been the jackpot. Knee problems is the work of inflexibility - usually because of some event that took place in ones life the person hasn’t move forward (bending to move forward). Neck problems is also the handywork of inflexibility – the unwillingness to see both sides of an issue.

Another example I’ve been testing is headaches – An issue in presently in your life your fighting or don’t want to accept.

For as wild as this may sound, its not news for anyone in the spiritual industry. True blue spiritualist will oftentimes be heard saying how all things is energy and emotions are just part of that equation.

This has lead to the rise of what is called psychosomatic. The art of physical ailment diagnosis using emotions as the counterpoint instead of MRI’s and X-Rays.

A very good example of psychosomatic is in the book Your can Heal Your Life by Louis Hay. This best seller spiritual book lists out a truckload of problems and their emotional root. The diagnosis above is from this book. It has been *the book* most true spiritualist will already have in their possession. Possibly under lock and key.

As for the family friend, after the re-scan, I swept his negative emotional energy away and healed that place. Because of the strong charge of the emotion, it came back after a day. But the great news was, when it did come back, it was weaker than before that even he noticed. Which means, the healing work. (Yes, it was a self plug)

At least, he’s feeling better and happier for it.

PS to Kelly : Please tell Sara girl she's growing up way too fast.

Value in Content - Brief Guide

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:30:56 PST

It's the perennial questions isn't it? The elusive one that many writers of any medium want to grasp and understand.

So long as you place words in strings of sentences on anything to convey a message, the whole concept of "Value in content" is the Holiest of Grail. Get it, and you’re sure to get anyone's attention.

What more if you have a blog? The same rules still apply – You’re a writer. You write. It’s an electronic medium. People read.

But ask anyone, and no one really can tell you what it is. Everyone has an idea "of it", but no one can quite come to stand on it. And so we find ourselves in the same circle we started with; only no answer.

I know, I've been there.

So this topic has been a lot of hard work thinking, OBSERVING, putting pieces together in and out. I think I may have finally figured it out and as it turns out, its actually quite simple.

Value in Content
Now for the most part, we know that "Value in content" stand to mean that the content of what is written has some value in it. Good, because this post as such isn’t to define what the words mean in English.

So the question is not what is Value in content, but how does one – Writer or Blogger - approach it so their writing always has "Value" in it? So that my readers always feel they're benefiting from it?

In other words, how do I create value in what I write for my readers?

The Answer to this my fellow writer friends, I have found at last, can be summarized in just one line:

"Tell me something I don't know!"

Stop. Go back and re-read that line.

It's going to take a bit before it sinks in, but believe me when it hits, its going to open you up to a whole new paradigm.

How it works
Quite simple.
Since this is a brief guide, I'll keep it just that, brief.

Tell me something I don't know -> Teaches me something new -> Value there because now I've gained from it.

It sounds so unbelievably simply; I sometimes wonder why it was apparent in the first place.

And this concept applies to anything you can talk about from mineral water right up to Quark Particles of Quantum Physiques.

Why?

Because it is “Concept oriented” and not necessarily “Subject Dependant”, you can talk on any subject anytime and still come off a genius. All you have to do is to just tell me something I don't know.

The Caveat here being of course that you, as the Writer, must know what you’re talking about. You can’t blab about something you don’t know because while that’s lying, more importantly, the readers will see right through it and just never come back.

The readers will know value when they see it. That’s what they’re looking for.

(For my Malaysian readers) This is why we're so dependant on sites like Raja Petra's Malaysia Today. He knows the rumblings of the country’s political underbelly that we don't and he tells it to us. Hence the value.

(For my International readers) This is also the reason why SEO sites, How to make Money Blogs and even for that matter, Gossip Blogs are so popular.

Rules Exception
Now, there is a slight exception to this concept I've come to notice. If you're paying attention to what was said above, you'll get the impression that one can only write/blog of new perspectives and not stuff like "What I had for breakfast this morning!".

It iss your blog and if you want to list your breakfast palate, go ahead. Just don't expect me to read it.

But what if you want to write on a hot topic, say Britneys latest adventure that's already been covered by every other writer/blogger out there while…….having some value in it?

Simple. The difference is – "Tell it to me in a way I didn't think of!"

Meaning, cover the same topic from an entirely different angle. Make the reader go "You know what, I didn't think of it that way! Good point!"

This is why newpaper Columns are interesting. They, the writer, give an interpretation of a point differently painted with facts, figures and life long experience.

The whole Point
This is going to sound unique. I'm didn't rush this straight to post; I've gone on test drives on other blogs and the pattern(s) are all similar. (Which in a way counts for why I haven't updated for while)
The whole point is, as it appears, Is to teach people. Writing on any medium be it paper, books or internet is supposed to convey knowledge and wisdom. Which is exactly what we aim to do everytime we write. We teach.

By blogging about something people don't know, you as the writer is essentially playing the role of teacher. You're educating people on a topic they didn't know about. And that's key because 1) To teach, you first have to learn it and 2) If everybody thinks this way, then every blog on the internet can become a tool for learning. For Education and for Wisdom.

Which is also what this article is doing – Teaching you. And now that you know, you go on teach other people while you write about what you like.
I don’t know if you get it, but it just seems like in order to get value in content, you must want to be willing to give knowledge away. To all and sundry. It’s a little funny I know.

Figuring out the Reader
This is the part now many might be wondering.
The challenge here is, how do you know what the readers want to read about? Well, all honesty here, until I can figure it out, its another Grail search quest.
All I can say is this – Stay true to what you write and let that find the readers. My blog is about spirituality so therefore, I’m catering to all who are spiritual. I know it’s futile to reach everyone. So I’m being good at what I do instead.

You might ask – Why does Raja Petra get so many readers? Well, its because we’re all interested in finding out about our Country! So we read. For those who don’t care about politics at all, they probably won’t read it. They don’t care.

You’re better focusing on a certain topic than wiping yourself dry to thinly trying to figure out how to please everyone.

My Last request..
…..is that you choose to use this knowledge to help your fellow man.

Don't lie, cheat, steal or plagiarise in anyway. Help yourself by helping others learn and better themselves. Consider it Good Karma points if you want.

For all else, certainly there's value in that.

PS to Deb and Patricia : Thanks for the shoutout

Return to essence

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:43:04 PST

There’s something to be said about running a blog- It requires dedication. Dedication of time, effort and especially, consistency. It’s by no means a simplification of the feat to maintain a blog. It just is what it is; running a blog aint easy.

What more; a spiritual blog.

Granted I’m not exactly the poster child for dedication in all the 3 abovementioned sectors, but in due course of the previous one year, I’ve learnt one criteria most crucial to spiritual blogging.

Unlike other forms of blogging, in spiritual blogging, you can’t talk about something unless you’ve gone through it.

That is a uniqueness about spirituality. It’s completely experiential.

And by manner of association, so is the act of spiritual blogging.

Why? I suppose because it’s only when it happens, when we’re faced in situations that test our principles, emotions, experience – our very being – that is where that *click* happens and there you have it, an experience.

Interestingly enough, I’ve also noticed, people change after this. Their perspectives or view of life opens up just a few more degrees affording them a different bird’s eye.

It’s experiential, this facet of our lives we choose to manifest as spirituality.

The bliss of meditation, the unity of being…..in total silence, the flexibility of yoga, the spontaneous healing of energy modalities. You just can’t diss them, or speak about them, until you’ve gone through them. The last one I’m getting to know more and more; Pranic Healing affords me direct experience of healing.

More than just that, its part of the reason why I’ve been away so long I think – To study. I suppose. I can’t think of no other. My spiritual path maybe?

Nevertheless, I do sincerely miss the luxury of blogging and now intent to resume more than just 8 posts in a year.

I assure you that my embarrassment on my post count last year that is a big one.

I hope it works out better this year. I’m going to try at least.

PS to all: Thank you for sticking by me.

Hello All..

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:55:07 PST

Hello all,
Is this blog collecting dust because I've been to busy trying to get a life? *ducks objects thrown*

Heheh....naahh...

See you guys in the New Year.

Cheers.

Deepavali Valthakal - Happy Deepavali to all

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:09:22 PDT

I would like to wish to all my brothers, sisters and friends, both Hindu and non alike, a very Happy and blessed Deepavali.

May you be blessed with the Grace of wisdom and peace from God this Festival of Lights.

Deepavali Valthakal.

2012 - Are we deluding ourselves?

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:24:04 PDT

About 3 years ago, I chanced upon a growing interest in the year “2012”. Back then, it was rather small and confined, but for some reason seem to elicit many a number of responses from spiritualist on the internet.

The idea was, should I say is, founded on the premise that the ancient Mayan civilization calendar which is thousands of years old and is supposed to be one of the most accurate in our present day world is coming to an end. A no brainer as that’s part of the function of calendars.

Only this calendar came with a caveat – When the calendar ends, so will our world.

Now, this was 3 years ago in 2005. Today in 2008, I have watched this movement steadily and exponentially gain strength. As you read this, its no longer confined to spiritual spheres; I’m seeing it being written in non-spiritual blogs.

It’s caught on like some new fancy fangled religion spreading from some hole, and now, there are people actually worried about the end of the world. I kid you not. Google 2012 and just watch “Doomsday”, “Mayan”, “End of world” drop that it has birthed, believe this, Books, Seminars, Talks and heck, even websites on how “To Survive 2012”.

Normally, I wouldn’t bother a secondd of my life with this. But with the momentum this is gaining, I now wonder seriously, are we deluding ourselves?

I have reservations about all this if for anything, it just sounds like another marketing hullabaloo. Oh yes, there are spiritual fads (to any non-spiritual reader) and in these days, there’s a ready stream of neophytes who will believe it.

This could just be another one of them. Here’s my contentions:

1) Interpretations:
This thousand year old (century maybe) is being interpreted 21st century style. This alone is a big chunk of my disagreement. We’re looking at what the Mayans did in say 51 bc and judging from our POV of today.

How are we so sure the mayans didn’t consider each calendar as a world with certain characteristics, and when this calendar comes to an end, so will this world? And a new one world will start the next day?

Thing is, there are no ancient Mayans to ask; so we’re banging it as we go.

2) What’s going to happen
No one can give a definitive answer. Or even for that matter, a same one. One says the Earth will end. Another, natural disaster. Yet another says its not physical but Universal energies will change still another, Energetic changes where those not of higher consciousness will be left behind.

Not withstanding another……See where this is going?

3) Another Y2K.
Remember the Y2K? Remember how doomsayers were going around spouting how computer time misalignment was going to plunge the world into chaos? To cause banking systems to lose our money? To return us to the stone age? To stock up on food n ration?

Remember how we fell for it?

Nothing happened and when Monday morning came, we all went about our business like….well…any other day.

With the amount of Lectures, Seminars, Books, Talks, yada yada that’s coming out about the 2012 end of world, it just has all the markings of another overblown inconsequential issue. If there is one in the first place.

Now I’m not telling you not to believe it; that’s your prerogative. But if you look at closely, something smells.

For anyone who is interested in Reading material – Click here.

PS to Everyone: I would love comments on this subjects.

US Army looking to Alternative Therapies to treat PTSD in Soldiers

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:38:48 PDT

Thank God. I really think Alternative Therapies will do them some good from the atrocity they've had to go through.

The military is scrambling for new ways to treat the brain injuries and post-traumatic stress of troops returning home from war. And every kind of therapy -- no matter how far outside the accepted medical form -- is being considered. The Army just unveiled a $4 million program to investigate everything from "spiritual ministry, transcendental meditation, [and] yoga" to "bioenergies such as Qi gong, Reiki, [and] distant healing" to mend the psyches of wounded troops.

Read the rest here

Pranic Diaries - When change happens.....

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:41:19 PDT

Oh boy, this column is longgg overdue for an update. And with good reason too.

Let me explain from the beginning. When I first started this column, I was on track to being a Pranic Healer under a different school (which I shall not name to show respect). Back then, it was a 9 month program which promised some stuff at the end.

At the 8 and a ½ mark point, I realised I was no where different than when I had started. When I spoke to them, they instead suggested I take another somewhat corresponding course in order to finish this course.

What ensued were my attempts to get a refund. My Master was disappointed but understanding. The others who heard about, well, judged from what they heard.

And so I left that school and gave all hope of doing Pranic Healing or any other form of Energy Healing modality.

God however, had other plans. The path He beat for me was one directly towards…. GMCKS Pranic Healing. All this was happening despite my initial reluctance and even at some point, sense of defensiveness that I might be walking into yet another mistake.

But He knew, and provided me all the answers. It was me against Providence; the latter had won. Yep folks, today after going through the school, I am now First Level Pranic Healer.

I tell you, the way these things work out is mind boggling. Almost as if I was required to throw my line into the seas of oblivion; to then have the fish come.

I don’t want to list out what I can do now, that’s bragging. But I will talk about them in this column and how it helps you down the line.

Somehow, I foresee the Pranic Diaries is going to move in another direction. I’m not sure what that means but its ok. It will work out in the end.

PS to All: The picture above is Grandmaster Choa Kok Sui, who is responsible for the teachings.

Dis-ease - When the traffic just isn't flowin..

riverofkarma@gmail.com — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:13:48 PDT

It’s a problem in todays world, this thing we call disease. So widespread it is becoming that it has now graduated into a form of 6 degrees of separation. Look at the people you know, chances are one of them will be suffering from something or rather. If not, someone they know.

Yes folks, life expectancy today have gone up from that of thirty years ago, yet quality of life in those years is anything but quality. Not to be outdone, there seems to be more diseases making either a comeback or an introduction.

Who says time heals all wounds?

I’m not looking to condemn modern medicine. Simply put; that’s not what this post is about. Modern medicine is just that, modern. It’s a modality that looks the physical body in as the cause of the problem. As all things modern go; it just doesn’t fit into spirituality. Again, that’s just medicine.

However, in the world of Spirituality, the outlook is different. The body is not the root of disease; far from it, it’s the last place of manifestation. That is what this post is about.

To start, let’s look at the word disease. For many spiritualist, you’ll oft times hear it as “dis-ease”. Essentially, the dis of ease (more proper is un-ease) or the event of not being in a state of ease. One might recall this as a mention from Bob Proctor in the Secret.

What this speaks to is simple: the physical body is actually a form of divine energy. At its healthiest, energy (chi or prana ) circulation around and in the body is perfect and uninterrupted. However, in the likely event of an obstruction in one of the pathways, meridians or nadi’s, this causes a traffic jam of energy.

Now at first, it’s no biggie. I mean, what’s a small bump in the road huh. But as this point of “traffic” becomes stronger, it transforms into diseased energy which is not congruent to the body’s energy. Mind you, while all this is happening, you may not even know you have a health problem coming because even at some point, the energy is still able to flow through.

Over time, months maybe even years, as the build up collects enough strength, that route on the highway eventually turns into a dead end “no go zone” meaning when no vehicles (energy) can ply that route, it manifests in the body as….. pain.

Meaning quite unfortunately, the problem has arrived.

What do we do then – We see a doctor to help solve the problem using conventional medicine. Then we wonder

I reckon at this juncture, the blitz of information I just showered on you maybe hard to swallow especially if you’re new to all this. (Long time spiritualists are more likely to agree with me) That the body has energy around it and obstructions in the flow will manifest in the physical as pain/problem/disease.

But this is why Energy Healing works – Because it looks at the problem from the point energy itself. That is why you will hear/see/find patients suffering from a problem, e.g. Chronic Neck Pain, suddenly claim relieve even complete cure after just a few sessions on Energy Healing.

Where there is an imbalance in the body, energy modalities like Reiki or Pranic Healing is able to unblock, heal and clear it off. When that happens, the block causing the problem dissipates (eventually disappears) and there have you not, a healing so profound it might bring the father of medicine to tears.

I would like to state just in case anyone is thinking what I think you’re thinking, I’m not dissin modern medicine. Far from it, all form of medicine has a place and function in this society of ours. Its only when we place too much emphasis on one form of medicine over the alternatives that we don’t see the root cause of things.

I’m happy to note, more people are now changing to the alternative.

*Next time – I explore causes of the energy traffic jams, and speak on emotions as Psychosomatic.

PS to everyone: Gosh it feels good to post again.