Hello everyone!

Some more very exciting things have happened in my life latley.  I can hardly contain myself.  I am truely blessed.  I have been investigating and working on a new self help podcast titled "Balancing Act".  It speaks of my own personal practice and philosophy "Karma-Zen" and generaly how one can become a little more balanced in this troubling and stressful world we live in.  A way to find "happiness" and inner calmness, at least what has worked for me.

Some musician friends heard me talk about the Podcast and how I was looking and immediately contacted me and offered both permission to use there current works as well as make offers to create works specificly for me.  No Charge Zen.. they all said, we like what your doing and we like helping.  Bless them.

As I have mentioned here before, I am a video Blogger ( vlogger) at YouTube.com   Recently I have been noticed more and gained literaly hundreds of viewers.  I have always tried to use my vlog to tell people about my philosophy and practice as well as show them I am just another person like they are, who has decided to make a difference in the world.  My hopes of corse are that they will think.. if he can do this.. So can I.    In order to provide more inspiration to my viewers, I contacted the producers and publishers of ONE the Movie and requested permission to put the trailer for the movie on my vlog.   Imagine my excitement when I recieved a call from them.  I sent them my vlog URL so they could have a look.  "Karen"  sent me an reply e-mail saying she would forward the info to the director as soon as he returned.  He is on vacation at the momment.   I admit a little disappointment that i can't do it faster.  But in the mean time I will simply keep directing people to the ONE the Movie website where they can see it.

I have also been contacted due mostly to my audience by a few people who would like to contract me to work with them on their own websites.  I am not at liberty to tell you much else as of yet, but I can tell you that this is a break I have waited for.  A chance to do more of what I enjoy, make a difference in peoples lives and the world around me.  Getting paid for it is of corse the Icing on the cake!

I have uploaded the 2nd installment of my Balancing Act Podcast, using the donated music and am much more pleased with the way it turned out.  Thanks to all those who were helpful in me achieving this goal of mine.

Until Next time.. may your world be filled with joy... and Be Well!  ~ Zen Archer

Hello Zaadz Friends & Fans,

This week has been an exciting one for me.  Like a dandelion bursting open with fresh new seeds, my world and word seem to have taken on a life of their own.  Everything is coming at me so fast, I have to remind myself of the Balance my Karma-Zen is about and take each moment deliberately.

1st off, if you don't know by now.. I am a Vlogger.  that's short hand for "Video weB Logger".  I do this on a website called YouTube.  For those who would like to have a peek, you can find my videos at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ZenArcher

I have been practicing my Karma-Zen ( a practice/belief mindset of my own ) all my life.  In recent years I have come to appreciate it more completely and finally given it a name, Karma-Zen.  The Name (identifier) was an attempt to find a short hand way of explaining to others what I believe in.  Most people have a notion what both Karma & Zen mean.  It's just easier in casual conversation when someone asks.. what is this practice you are telling us about called?  ( what't its identifier )

I have always shared what I believe is the key to happiness in MY life with others.  But usually only with close friends and associates.  I never force anyone to listen, but state what I feel and explain when asked more. However, recently, I have had an opportunity I have never before had to share... Through YouTube.  A number of my friends and family have commented that I have become "quite the preacher".  Although is isn't the word I would have used and I certainly never felt that way, I realized I was indeed "ministering" to those who were interested and would listen.

I believe there are no accidents, there is a Devinne order to everything that happens to us, if we perceive it as positive or negative, it is, as it should be at any given moment.  On 3 different occasions information was given to me about a site that ordained ministers.  I didn't think about it much and passed over it.  Then one night, quite unexpectedly I found myself at the front page of the site.  I asked myself, WHY are you here?  An inner voice asked back, Do you believe in what you say?  Are you committed to it?  YES was the only reply there was.  Because I do and I am.  The Inner voice said, then make a public, real, honest commitment.  So I have.  That's what it means to me.  I think of it as my baptism, if you will.  As well as my pledge to help others find their own path to inner peace and happiness. So, I am now a Minister of Karma-Zen, though my United Karma-Zen Ministries.  This means only that I have made a Public Commitment and have documentation of that commitment.

I believe this was Exactly why I was there.  Almost before I hit enter on the questionier I  received a notice on my youtube account that I had two new friends.  These new friends told me of a place where people who thought as I did, believed in love, harmony, peace, spiritualism, and believed we could change the world to be a better place gathered.  A Place Called *Zaadz.  These new friends, actualy signed up at YouTube to give me this message!  Thanks to Kari & BPC and the power that brought us together.
 
Now let me share with you somethings you are aware of, and some you may not be aware of..

One of my favorite places to experience what people believe, know, and live by is provided by NPR News.  It's called, oddly enough, "This I believe".  Here is there own description of it...

"This I Believe is based on a 1950s radio program of the same name, hosted by acclaimed journalist Edward R. Murrow. In creating This I Believe, Murrow said the program sought "to point to the common meeting grounds of beliefs, which is the essence of brotherhood and the floor of our civilization."

I encourage all of you, who haven't heard of this site yet, to visit it at:
 
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138&ft=1&f=4538138

Another thing that inspired me early in my teen years was a book.  Johnathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.  I have it on CD Audio and a paper copy and still go back to it from time to time for enjoyment. Also on my Favorite book list is "Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig.  This I was happy to find is available, in full text at Virtual School.  If you haven't read it, or would like to look it over again, You can find it here...

The Complete text of the Book...
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
http://www.virtualschool.edu/mon/Quality/PirsigZen/index.html

These are not texts on Spirituality, but rather inspiring texts.
Stories with a message! (Don't ya love it?)

Another of my Favorite Sites for inspiration & investigation is Wikipedia.org
Three of my most returned to pages there are..

Wikipedia on Meditation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation

Wikipedia on Zen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen

Wikipedia on Buddhism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

I am looking forward to seeing the new movie that came out at the beginning of this month..
The Peaceful Warrior.  Thanks to *Zaadz Podcast for reminding me of it.

You can find out more.. and discuss the book and movie at their site. http://peacefulwarrior.com/
I also understand there is a POD here on *Zaadz dedicated to it.

Lastly, on this exhaustive list is a movie available for hosting called "ONE" by Circle of Bliss Productions, Inc.  This is a partial description from their website of the movie..

One - The Movie

In an increasingly divided world... the power of Oneness is longing to emerge; and it is an energy that the novice film-makers knew would transcend any limitations of those who took-up the cause.

Incredibly, over the next 2 years they were able to gain access to and interview many of leading figures on the world stage of spiritual thought. Renowned authors, religious leaders, celebrities, scholars, and icons opened their doors to the Circle of Bliss team; lending their voices and sharing their wisdom in the cause of ONE.

You can find out more as well as contact them through the movie website:

http://www.onethemovie.org/film.html

As you can see things are coming at me fast.  In addition, I have returned to writing my own book "Imaginary Truths & Real Lies" which is a collection of inspirational stories I have collected through out my life & examination of it.  I continue to Video Log and work on my own video Series "Ask Zen Archer" on youtube.  I am investigating creation of a podcast as well as publishing some Audio Streams I had put aside.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way to where I now am, including me.  Let me remind you, in words that are not my own.. "For Everything there is a purpose" & "There are No Ordinary moments"

Until Next time.. I bid you.. Be Well!   ~ Zen Archer