Key Achievements of Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso since 2022

Since assuming power in September 2022, Ibrahim Traoré has implemented significant reforms in Burkina Faso, focusing on economic sovereignty, infrastructure development, cultural revival, and regional realignment.

Economic and Industrial Reforms:

• Established Burkina Faso's first gold refinery to add local value and reduce reliance on exporting unrefined gold.

• Nationalized key gold mines to increase state control over mineral resources.

• Launched the Postal Bank of Burkina Faso with a capital of 15 billion FCFA ($25 million) to promote financial inclusion and reduce dependency on foreign institutions.

• Set up tomato processing plants and a cotton processing facility to boost local agro-industrial capacity.

Agricultural Development:

• Distributed over 400 tractors, 239 tillers, 710 motor pumps, and 714 motorcycles to farmers to enhance productivity.

• Implemented the Agro-Pastoral Offensive to achieve 70% food self-sufficiency by 2027.

• Increased production of key crops: tomato output rose from 315,000 to 360,000 metric tonnes; millet from 907,000 to 1.1 million metric tonnes; and rice from 280,000 to 326,000 metric tonnes between 2022 and 2024.

Infrastructure and Public Services:

• Initiated construction of the new international airport, Ouagadougou-Donsin, with a projected capacity of one million passengers annually.

• Expanded Bobo-Dioulasso Airport and acquired an Embraer 170 aircraft to revive Air Burkina.

• Invested in road construction and upgrades, including the near-completed Northern Interchange in Ouagadougou.

Cultural and Educational Reforms:

• Replaced French with local languages in official government communication.

• Mandated use of traditional Faso Dan Fani textiles for school uniforms and judicial attire, replacing colonial-era wigs and robes.

Regional and International Relations:

• Formed the Alliance of Sahel States with Mali and Niger to strengthen regional cooperation and autonomy.

• Expelled French troops and ended Operation Sabre, signaling a shift from former colonial powers.

• Reopened the Russian embassy in Burkina Faso after 31 years.

Governance and Public Sector Reforms:

• Reduced salaries of ministers and parliamentarians by 30% while increasing civil servants' wages by 50%.

• Paid off local debts and rejected loans from the IMF and World Bank, emphasizing financial independence.

Ibrahim Traore's impressive AI generated speech

1. Opening and Identity Declaration

Honorable delegates, heads of state, leaders of nations, distinguished representatives of peoples great and small. I greet you not as a career diplomat, nor as a man bred for banquet halls and handshakes. I do not come to you speaking the rehearsed language of polished politics. I come to you as a soldier of my people, as a guardian of a wounded land, as a son of a continent that has carried the cross of the world yet has never worn its crown. My name is Captain Ibrahim Taore, president of Burkina Faso. And today I speak not only for the 22 million souls in my nation, but for a continent whose stories have been twisted, whose pain has been ignored, and whose dignity has been repeatedly auctioned off at the altar of foreign interests. Africa is not the bigger. Africa is not a battlefield. Africa is not your experiment, your puppet, your warehouse of raw materials. Africa is rising not to kneel, but to stand. And today I say before this great assembly of nations, Africa will not kneel.

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2. Hypocrisy of Global Aid and Exploitation

One on the false generosity of global politics. For decades you have sent us aid with one hand while extracting our lifeblood with the other. You build wells in our villages while your corporations drain our rivers. You donate vaccines yet patent the cures. You speak of climate action yet continue to fund the very forces that burn our forest and dry our lakes. What kind of generosity is this? The kind that feeds the mouth but silences the voice. the kind that keeps a man alive just enough to keep him dependent. We are not blind to this hypocrisy. Let me be clear. We are not ungrateful for sincere humanitarian assistance, but we reject a global order that disguises exploitation as partnership. We reject financial institutions that lend with one hand and steal sovereignty with the other. Africa no longer wants charity. We want justice. We want control over our own destinies.

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3. Colonialism and Its Modern Descendants

Two on the chains of colonialism and its modern descendants. Our wounds did not begin with us. They were inherited legacies of an empire building madness that saw us not as humans but cheap as cargo labour tools. My ancestors were not consulted when maps were drawn with rulers and compasses in Berlin. The borders of Burkina Faso, like those of many African nations, were not carved by our ancestors, but by men who had never stepped foot on our soil, who knew nothing of our languages, our tribes, or our spirits. Today, colonialism has a new face. It wears suits. It hosts forums. It signs contracts in Geneva and Paris and Washington. But it still takes without consent. It still dictates instead of dialogues. It still silences instead of listening. If you want to talk about peace, then let's begin by unlearning the arrogance that peace is something only you can teach us.

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4. Resource Exploitation and the Myth of Development

Three, on resource exploitation and the myth of development. They call us developing as if the theft of centuries did not set us back. as if the gold from our lands, the diamonds from our rivers, the oil beneath our feet did not build the very skyscrapers in d which this assembly sits. Let us speak plainly for kinao is rich. Africa is rich, rich in minerals and culture and wisdom and youth. But you have taught us to measure richness in GDP and export value. You call it development when a foreign company owns 90% of a gold mine on our land. You call it progress when your security forces guard cobalt mines but not our children's schools. That is not progress. That is piracy with legal documents. From now on, we will define development on our own terms. Development that puts children in classrooms, not minerals on cargo ships. Development that respects the land, the people, and the soul of a nation.

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5. Sovereignty and Interference

Four on sovereignty and interference. Why is it that when an African nation makes independent choices, we are called unstable? Why is it that when we seek military cooperation outside the colonial sphere, we are labeled a threat? Burkina Faso has chosen to walk a path of sovereignty that is not a threat to peace. It is a declaration of adulthood. We are no longer under your guardianship. We are no longer your junior partners in diplomacy. We are a free people. If a nation chooses partners that respect it rather than exploit it, that is not rebellion. That is wisdom. Let it be known no foreign power will dictate the alliances of Burkina Faso. We will build relations based on mutual respect, not historical guilt or present- day intimidation.

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6. Terrorism and Manufactured Wars

Five, on terrorism and manufacture wars. You ask why there is violence in the Sahel. You ask why our youth take up arms. But you do not ask who benefits when our mines are guarded by private mercenaries while our villages are left vulnerable. You do not ask how weapons arrive in deserts that produce no steel. You do not ask why peacekeeping never seems to end the war. The truth is many of the so-called solutions to African security problems are merely business models. Endless conflict has become a market and African suffering has become a subscription-based service. Burkina Faso has decided to break that cycle. We will fight terror but not with dependency. We will secure our nation not with foreign dictates but with national dignity.

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7. Migration and Human Dignity

Six, on migration and human dignity. We do not want our youth drowning in the Mediterranean. We do not want our brightest minds fleeing to countries that once called us savages. We do not want remittances. We want reasons for our people to stay. Why do our youth flee? Not because we lack beauty, but because we are made to lack opportunity. Not because we hate our land, but because our land is treated as someone else's property. Migration is not a crisis. It is a symptom of wars we did not start. Of loans we did not need. Of a world order that tells our youth their only value lies outside their own homes. The solution is not border fences. The solution is justice.

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8. Africa's Place in the World

Seven on Africa's place in the world. Africa is not a mistake to be fixed. Africa is not a failed continent. Africa is the womb of the world, the cradle of civilization, the keeper of tomorrow's hope. We have been made invisible in global decisions that affect us deeply. At the UN Security Council, Africa with 54 sovereign nations has no permanent seat. What justice is this? You call it balance. We call a betrayal. You speak of democracy yet uphold a global structure where the powerful few veto the dreams of the many. We will no longer whisper in rooms where we deserve to speak with full voice.

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9. Faith and Spiritual Dignity

Eight on faith and spiritual dignity. We are a spiritual people. Before your cathedrals, our ancestors sang to the sky. Before your missionaries, we knew the language of the rivers and the laws of the sacred forest. Christianity came, Islam came, and we received them not as slaves but as seekers. But now we ask, will the church and the mosque stand with us truly with us when all people are displaced by greed masked as globalization? Will your pulpit echo our cries or only repeat the songs of the powerful? Faith too must be decolonized. It must walk with the poor, not the privileged.

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10. African Unity and Pan-Africanism

Nine on unity among African nations. This is not a speech from one country. This is the steering of a continent. You see Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso forming a new bond. You fear our unity. Why? because it threatens the myth that Africa can only rise under your supervision. We are uniting not to wage war, but to wage dignity, to pull our courage, to share strength, to protect each other when the world turns its back. Panaffricanism is not a dream. It is our lifeline. And we will build it stone by stone, heart by heart, with or without your approval.

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11. Message to the Youth of Africa

Ten, to the youth of Africa, to the young boy selling oranges by the roadside. To the girl who walks 10 kilometers to attend school. To the child whose only toy is a stone but who dreams of stars. You are the reason we fight. Do not believe the lie that your continent is cursed. You are the blessing. Do not envy foreign passports. Be proud of your name, your land, your roots. The world may not applaud you now, but the future will speak your name in honor.

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12. Final Words

Eleven, final words. We will not kneel. I do not come to declare war. I come to declare will. So we will not kneel to fear. We will not kneel to foreign banks. We will not kneel to outdated empires masquerading as friends. Africa is not asking for a seat at your table. We are building our own, a table where no child eats last. Where no nation is silenced because it lacks nuclear arms. Where justice is not filtered through the lens of race or history, but shared as breath is shared. This is our vision and this is our vow. Let the world hear it today and always. Africa will not kneel. Thank you.

Changed Color

- By KRS

 

No matter, whatever precarious news or rumors I have heard about the Bheri\Karnali zone, I was excited to visit my birthplace after nearly half a decade of estrangement. The time was after Magdi attack; I was amazed to see a different world when I crossed the Bheri River.

 

It was not as was before. There were ruins everywhere. I could see big hollows in middle of the roads. The local faces were all pale and anxious. I thought of informing my brother Krishna at Kathmandu about my safe arrival but there also I was amazed to see the telephone office in the ruin. The solar panels were crushed and the highest tower we used to see has fallen down and was cut into pieces irrecoverably. As I walked ahead, my legs hardly made me stand to see the dynamite-crushed police station. I could not ask what happened to the buildings - it was obvious from its aura. I was mute and grieved.

 

As I pushed myself ahead towards my village home, I could not see the panoramic view visible in the earlier days. I had a hope of meeting my sisters and brothers on the way, as I had to pass through the secondary school where they used to read. But this hope was also badly shattered. The school was no longer the school. It was changed. There were no students playing on the ground, as it was usual. Instead, the school was barred around with piercing wires. There were six or seven sentries around the boundary. And in the middle ground were the armies equipped with heavy arms. I was inquired and checked before they let me pass through.

 

 I was little bit excited as I entered into my village but was shocked to see the colour of my village changed. It had turned white. I could see most of the women in white robes and men in white inside-out-turned caps. But I could not dare to ask them about the colour as they cheered seeing me coming back to home. I smiled back and uttered few casual words but was mute and grieved. When I reach to my home, I found it was also changed. The walls were painted with misspelled archaic words I could hardly go through. My parents began to shed tears, I think in pleasure.

 

My plan was to rest for at least 15 days but I could not stay more than a week. There were no one of age more than 12 and less than 45. My friend Subash had gone to Quatar, Deepak Malaysia, Lalmani India. Only the grandparents were seen mumbling in the sheds, all complains. There were no louder noises. The village was utterly silent but that silent was so sinister. All of my friends had deserted the village. Basanta, Lalu, Khusiram, Lakhan and Karen were shot dead in an operation. They were told to be arrested and killed according to their old parents. They were insisting that they were all innocent. The last night of my departure when we were all taking supper, two youths came and take my father and me to their assembly some 30 kilometers away from the village. We had to go; it was compulsory. It was an arena of red and red color only, which has begotten the white. When they concluded the assembly, I was free to run back to Kathmandu with the unsolved mystery of red and white.

 

[Authored by KRS in 2003]

Othering the other in Nepal

 

Of the movements that could have significant influence on the development process of the nation, that of feminist movement is reckoned high. For this could bring more than 50 percent of citizens (women) into the mainstream. And in the context of Nepal, we think, the fundamental step we need to take is to stop "othering" the female sex - i. e. to replace our patriarchal "Other" with "other".

 

Looking at the behavioral pattern of people in our societies, representation of male and female in literature, in films, in culture and tradition and even in advertisements, we see females as "Other" in the conceptual sense of the term. (In such context, the term "Other" reflects a major concept, derived from Hegel and Sartre in the philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir, which she uses in "The Second Sex" to explain the oppression of women.) Quite precisely, women have been made and regarded as "the Other" in our socio-cultural structure. But more surprisingly, they are "Other" not only to men -- who should logically be the "Other" in regard to women -- but to women themselves, who have accepted their "objectification" and play the role of "Other" as defined by men. The crux, we think, lies here. It is not hundred percent correct to insist that male is the only responsible party for this gender disparity. The females themselves are also responsible for their "othering" with capital "O". Therefore, females are still being subordinated and made passive, limited to an identification with the woman being looked at. This could be, however, rare in European society because the feminist movement had culminated to its climax as early as in the 1920s. 

But in Nepal and most of the South Asian nations, no matter if males, the females themselves are still not able to come out from their process of "self-othering". The differences between the "Other" and the "other" are still not discernible to both sexes. So, to make the media, people and all the institutions gender sensitive, understanding the overlooked difference between the capital "O" and the small "o" in the word 'other' could make some difference. Because of the lack of such understanding and knowledge, there is still a "joint consensus" in posing women as the "absolute Other" without "reciprocity" denying against all experience that she is a subject, a fellow human being. Be it male or female both fall short to the "aaimai-ko-jaat-ta-ho" like conceptions which have an "essentializing effect" on the female side.

 

While some of the orientalists laud at the tradition of most of the non-western cultures on the ground that they have positioned women in the image of Goddess and respect them, this could not be wise of them. The effect is the same if feminine virtues are mystified and worshipped which is why de Beauvoir is so critical of "essentialism", and urges women to refuse "Otherness" and strive for full equality. So the lesson, we think, in either way, for either party, is to see the difference a latter could make and behave accordingly.

 

[written by KRS in 2002 while doing Master's of Arts in Kathmandu]

 

 

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH — Final wake up call to brave Nepalis

Suna Nepali saathi ho — aba aayo bhrashtachar ko hisaab sodhne din. 

For too long, we've been fed silence and fear. For too long, we've watched these leaders steal from us with a smile on their face and the constitution in their hand. But today, we say: Enough is enough. 

 Let me start with the Bhutanese Refugee Scam. Thousands of real Bhutanese refugees lived in camps for decades, waiting for justice. And what did our netas do? They created fake refugee documents, took money from desperate people, and tried to smuggle them abroad. Not one or two — hundreds. They sold suffering like it was a business. Leaders from all major parties were involved. They trafficked our own people in the name of politics. Families sold their land to buy these fake promises, while the real criminals still roam in SUVs, waving at the cameras like nothing happened. Then comes the 

Lalita Niwas land grab — the biggest land fraud in our history. Government land, public property, the heart of the capital — quietly stolen and registered under private names with forged documents. Signatures of former Prime Ministers are on those papers. And still, they walk free, while poor farmers get dragged into court for building a tin roof on unregistered land. They tell us rule of law exists — where? For whom? 

 And look at Giribandhu Tea Estate in Jhapa. Once a proud industry that fed thousands, that land was hijacked by political cronies. Fake owners appeared out of nowhere. Tea workers who gave their lives to that estate were thrown out like garbage. What used to be a workplace became a playground for land mafias with party backing. You think this is development? This is destruction in slow motion. This is not mismanagement. This is not carelessness. This is organized looting, protected by suits and salutes. 

This is a government of gangsters — who make speeches about patriotism while their kids live abroad, while their dollars are hidden offshore, while they turn our youth into labor exports. They go to Bangkok for checkups and London for shopping, while our people die in hospital queues. And when we protest, they beat us with batons. They call students traitors. They jail activists and bloggers. They shut down social media but never touch the smuggler. They hide behind nationalism but sell national resources. They preach ethics but are neck-deep in scams. They call themselves servants of the people, but in truth, they are masters of manipulation. 

 जुन देशमा अफ्ताब आलमजस्ता खुंखारहरू छुट्छन्, रवि, कुलमान, वालेनहरू गलहत्याइन्छन्, त्यो देशका जनता जीउँदै छन् भने, अब जाग्नै पर्छ। आदेश गलत नेताको होइन, आफ्नै अन्तरआत्माको मान्नुपर्छ। माइतीघर वा तीनकुने होइन, टाउकेहरूको घर घेर्नुपर्छ, अनि तिनलाई 'सरप्राइज' दिनुपर्छ, झोला फिर्ता दिएर। फेरि झोला माग्दै हिँड्ने होइन, आफैँ सार्वभौम बन्नुपर्छ! 

 Yes — we have to stop being beggars in our own nation. We need to stop returning with empty bags and start building a system where we don't need to ask anyone. Not leaders, not parties, not fake gods. We must become sovereign — not just in words, but in action, in soul, in courage. We are not poor because we lack resources. We are poor because we are ruled by corrupt cowards who have turned democracy into a dark market. 

They said we got federalism. What we got was feudalism 2.0 — new faces, same exploitation. They said we got Loktantra. What we got was loot-tantra. But let me make this clear — the people are not sleeping anymore. The lies don't work anymore. This generation doesn't forget. We are not asking for charity. We are demanding justice. We are not requesting change. We are claiming it. 

These leaders who looted, lied, and laughed at our pain — your time is up. Your legacy will be remembered not in history books, but in court documents and street slogans. 

You will be dragged into the daylight. You will face the people. Not in ten years, but now. This country does not belong to you. It never did. It belongs to the millions who work, struggle, suffer, and still dream. It belongs to the youth whose future you stole. It belongs to the people whose voice you tried to silence. 

 So hear this loud and clear: we are coming — not with weapons, but with truth. Not with fear, but with fire. And when people rise, no palace can protect you. Jai Nepal!

Who are Gems Coco, Natalie Yam, and Kemi Seba

Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of Burkina Faso, has publicly acknowledged several online figures—Gems Coco, Natalie Yam, and Kemi Seba—for their roles in challenging dominant narratives and exposing systemic issues. He highlighted their substantial followings and their commitment to truth-telling. 

🔍 Who Are These Individuals?

Gems Coco

There is limited publicly available information on "Gems Coco." It's possible that this name refers to an online persona or content creator who operates under a pseudonym. Without more context, it's challenging to provide a detailed profile.

Natalie Yam

Similarly, specific details about "Natalie Yam" are scarce in public records. The name may pertain to a digital content creator or activist known within certain online communities. Further information would be needed to accurately identify and describe her work.

Kemi Seba

Kemi Seba is a well-known Franco-Beninese activist and pan-Africanist. He is recognized for his outspoken criticism of neocolonialism and Western influence in Africa. Through his organization, Urgences Panafricanistes, and various media appearances, Seba advocates for African sovereignty and has a significant following across the continent.

Captain Traoré's mention of these individuals underscores his appreciation for voices that challenge prevailing systems and advocate for transparency and reform.

Truth: the internet world is under control of the Western mafia so these African heroes (threats for West) do not appear in the internet 

Watch full speech of Ibrahim Traore 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15iibEUDQf/?mibextid=UalRPS

After all, we are what we eat

By KR Sigdel

My 21 days experience says it only takes as many days to recharge and transform your body and mind

In the past few hundred years in the process of human evolution, our food habits and work culture have drastically changed. Our food came naturally – without processing, heating, or transforming the pure produce of nature. There used to be a lot of physical work near nature, along with equally challenging mental work. 

Today, most of our food items are either processed, or contaminated and therefore devoid of the original potions of mother nature. Our food system today is dominated by fad diets and quick fixes.

However, while returning to our original natural way of living is impractical today, there are ways to detox and revitalise our body and mind by fasting once in a while. I decided to experiment with the solutions provided by our ancient Vedic sciences. 

After having scanned related literature, I took up the fasting challenge for 21 days. It is believed that in 21 days you can overhaul our body. This experiment helped me realise the depth of knowledge hidden within ancient Vedic scriptures. I could not help writing this piece to share my personal experience that has radically changed my approach to health and well-being. Even if this article inspires one person, that would be a success. 

Scientific and spiritual dimensions

At the outset, it is crucial to dispel that 21 days on fruits and salads is a "challenge." Rather, it is a return to our natural state of flourishing, aligning with pure, nutrient-rich foods that our bodies were designed to relish and thrive on. Fruits and vegetables –  the core of this fast –  offer a bounty of essential nutrients without the excess calories and harmful additives found in processed foods. 

We are built in such a way that we can never overeat fruits, veggies, and natural food grains. For example, you have to eat at least 12 apples to gain as many calories as one fast-food meal (eg. McDonald's Big Mac meal has 1120 calories). But what matters is: that fruits and salads provide more nutrient-rich calories, compared to processed foods. This may be the reason why people tend to eat unusually large quantities if they are served the regular dal-bhat (processed rice), as compared to brown rice, dhido (millet), buckwheat, or chapati (full-grain bread). 

The 21-day diet 

There are thousands of very useful detox tips online, but it is only your mind and body that can best gauge what works for you. After over four years of testing my body with different diet plans, I gathered the strength to do the 21-day challenge, which turned out to be the most exciting. 

What is interesting is that the quantity, type, timing and frequency of eating natural organic fruits and salads during these days were guided by my body and mind as my fruits and salads had no extra dressings, heating or chilling. The quantity you need to eat may be different for different people. 

During the 21-day journey, I followed a simple yet highly nourishing routine to feed my body and mind: seasonal and organic fruits and salads, supplemented with a small number of sprouts and nuts in the morning for optimal nutrition. I took fruits for breakfast and salads for lunch and dinner and abstained from eating after sunset. I took a 30-minute direct sun every morning.

For the mind, I tried not to stress and think of any negative thoughts and practised morning yoga.

The first three days were a complete whirlpool, with my body experiencing what felt like monstrous storms, thunder and lightning. But then everything subsided in the next two days. What followed were days of complete calm, as my body and mind found harmony in the nourishing embrace of nature's bounty. The third week was an optimization.

The effects were nothing short of miraculous. With each passing day, I felt a surge of boundless energy, eliminating the everyday post-work exhaustion. I experienced a deep sense of satisfaction, knowing that I was nourishing my body with pure, organic fruits free from harmful chemicals and additives. I did before and after lab tests. Almost all my test reports were never so balanced. I was tempted to even declare: that I have found solutions to all problems. But that would be too naive a generalization about complex human health.

We are made of food we eat

In reflecting on this journey, I am struck by the profound idea in the adage: "We are what we eat." [the photo speaks: Keem munching chillies/chicken, and you will become one soon. We used to call urban kids, FMCG chicks.]. The most natural solution to many of our modern ailments seems to lie not in complex medications, but in the simple act of nourishing our bodies with the foods we are meant to consume. According to Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 18, sloke 52), fasting is the best way to heal and purify the human body and mind. 

As I delved into the existing literature on the scientific and spiritual dimensions of fasting, I found a remarkable convergence between ancient Vedic teachings and modern research findings. While West literature offers a myriad of approaches to fasting, from intermittent fasting to Peterson's meat-only diets and the Gee Bryant Code, the wisdom of the Vedas provides a timeless blueprint for optimal health and vitality.

While the West provides a range of non-deterministic and technically safe-looking conclusions through health science, which is completely ignorant of the spiritual dimension, the ancient Vedic scriptures seem to provide, with confidence, an impeccable solution that combines physics (food and body) with metaphysics (thought and mind). For the Vedic school of thought, the mind and body are integral, one cannot be detoxed if the other is feeding on toxins. This model requires our own mind to walk in harmony with our body.

Risk and caution

Of course, taking up this challenge has risks, and one has to approach it with caution. Consulting with a qualified dietician or doctor is important, as is having a strong faith in the power of the time-tested method, which is articulated in the oriental Vedic scriptures. Contrary to the belief that fruits and salads alone do not offer sufficient calories and nutrients, my personal experience suggests otherwise. Moreover, notable individuals like Patric Baboumian, one of the strongest men in the world, adhere to a vegetarian diet. And if it is for just 21 days, I believe, it is not a big deal.

The practice of fasting on fruits and vegetables is not merely a personal 21-day journey of self-discovery but an effective way to control your five senses and improve your willpower and resistance against bodily temptations, as advised by Bhagavad Gita, The Science of Fasting 2010 and several saints and scientists.

Fasting can be different but in general, as American scientist and author, Benjamin Franklin, said, "The best of all medicines is rest and fasting."  What should logically follow the 21 days is a personal transformation – and a strong conviction in the power of plant-based diets and in combining body and mind for a greater and more meaningful cause.

[Originally published in Onlinekhabar.com, Nepal ]

Original link: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/fruit-plant-based-food-experience.html 

Tantric and Shamanic Way of Life: A Holistic Approach to Spirituality

By - George Kunnath*

 

"You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience."                                                  - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

 

Introduction

Knowing oneself and finding stillness within are two themes that emerge in every religion and spiritual practices across the globe. Know thyself in Greece, Tatvam Asi and Aham Brahmasmi in Hinduism, Inclusivity and unity of consciousness in Tantra, the Way in Tao, Kingdom God within you in Christianity, knowing oneself is knowing divine in Sufism are all pointing to inner journey and stillness.

However, most organized religions and spiritual traditions have created doctrines, dogmas, rigid structures and rituals and institutionalised punitive sanctions attributed to God. There is very little scope left for deep inner quest and true liberation as the leaders of these religions who are drunk on power do not wish to see truly liberated and enlightened people.

What is spirituality for me?

Spirituality is about me, my inner journey and some greater force beyond me.  In the beginning I am all centred around myself and I revolve around myself. I want to be loved, accepted and appreciated. I want to be important.

Initially, I was unaware of the disconnect within me though the feeling of disconnect automated my life. Despite recognising the disconnect within, I avoided looking deep within to find the source of the disconnect. I went around looking for connections outside in making friends, social activities, sexual relations, making money, seeking achievements, acquiring possessions – material and non-material (knowledge and skills).

A crisis of some sort happened and I was shaken and even shattered. I picked up the shattered pieces and looked at them and realized that the brokenness was inside me. The crisis that happened was a mirror reflection of my inner state of being.

 I began a new search for causes and solutions for the disconnect. I looked for answers in books and learned concepts and thrived on them. I sought out therapists and spiritual masters for finding solution. In the beginning, I asked the therapist and spiritual master to provide me answers to my life's questions. Sooner or later, I realized that nobody can give me answers for my life. I needed   to find the answers within me. I am the only one who can find the purpose of my life. I also realized that all the concepts and knowledge I gathered over a life-time have got to go, everything needs to die and drop the stories from past life before I can find the door to the innermost. It was hard to give up all that I had held so dearly. I resisted, hesitated and at last gave in. I surrendered to the Great Force.  I came closer to the entrance to the innermost. I was tested again and again for my readiness to enter the sanctum within. At last, I found the door to the innermost. I entered it and realized how simple everything is. Initially there was an illusion that I have arrived but soon I realized that there is no final point of arrival. Living from the innermost is an ongoing process, ever evolving from moment to moment.

Along the path of the inner journey, I was asked to renounce all that was dear and important to me. I asked why, but no answers came. Then I asked the question differently: "What stops me from giving up those things – both material and non-material? Then answers came flowing. I had to examine my need for security, power, self-esteem, relationships and let them all go. It was like death. That was only the beginning for deeper quest. I had to confront many deep feelings – being abandoned, not loved, homelessness and deep loneliness. Once confronted, these feelings and deeper layers of trauma within me opened up for healing. I had experienced an existential crisis at birth – a struggle between life and death. However, I had fought this trauma all my life until a few years ago when I came face to face with a wounded half dead baby. I recognized this baby as me and embraced it wholly. It was the beginning of the end of war with myself. It was a major battle among the many. Then peace began to grow within me. I became connected with a deep painful memory which I had avoided all my life. This recognition and embracing of the wounded baby with all the pain and trauma enabled my wholeness.

There were other battles I needed to deal with. The fear of being abandoned, the fear of my own power, fear of uncertainty and taboos around sexuality. One by one I made peace with them all.  Then came an invitation to the innermost. As I followed the invitation to the innermost, I realized the secret of life, the Great Emptiness, a magnificent state of being. I lacked nothing anymore. I received the greatest gift of my life. I am no more the same dismembered, disconnected self of the past. I am whole.

I experience a deep sense of detachment, equanimity, peace and freedom. I have dropped the past baggage and I am at peace with the uncertainty of the future. I live now. I stand alone with my full power without the need for anyone's permission or approval. I am ready to show my deep vulnerability. My heart is filled with love, gratitude and compassion. At last, I have come home within myself.

How does spirituality manifest in everyday life?

When lived with awareness, every moment of my life is a spiritual experience.  I look at nature and wonder at the splendour.  I experience a sense of togetherness, a oneness without the feeling of any separation with everything in the universe. I feel one with everything. I look at my thoughts, my feelings, my words and my actions and I ask myself, what kind of vibrations am I generating and what kind of energy am I emitting?

In everyday life I experience spirituality through my awakened senses. My eyes become a conduit to the experience, through the innumerable sights that appear before them – the colours, shapes, sizes, landscapes, oceans and waterbodies, mountains, plains, the skies and the galaxies. My ears and my body respond to innumerable sounds and melodies providing me a spiritual experience. My nostrils have a distinct ability to get me immersed into exotic fragrances and obnoxious odours which give a transformational quality. These transformations are continually facilitating a spiritual experience. My taste buds along with the olfactory senses distinguish and appreciate food and drink in such a way that I am transported into other worldly realms. My skin senses the surroundings and gives me a sensual experience.

Beyond the realms of the obvious senses, I experience a deep energetic connect with everything. In the vast expanse of this energetic plane is the realm of the spirit I float, swim and fly without the intervention of my external senses. I experience absolute stillness in this state of being without the senses and without the mind. This state is called the Great Void, Emptiness or Shunya. It is where eyes, ears, nose, skin and tongue have no place in the perceptual process. The mind too is absolutely still.

 When I have learned and mastered the art of being still at every moment, I am ready for a spiritual experience in every activity, every event, every entity at each and every moment. Spirituality is about meeting myself deep within, in the innermost, in the Great Void and finding my life purpose and meaning.

Shamanic approach is connecting with every entity in the universe, and tantric way of life emphasises inclusivity and unity of consciousness. Both Shamanic and Tantric way of life have a lot in common. Respecting every entity in the universe and feeling compassion for beings – human and non-human are embedded values in tantra and shamanism. It is when I am connected with everything within and outside, I treat everyone and everything with respect and recognise the sacredness in everything. Only an approach including everything and excluding end the war within and without. All wars are inner wars projected and found outside. Lasting peace can never be achieved unless each of us end our wars within. Love and compassion arises in the heart when all wars end and peace emerges. Competition gives way to collaboration and communities of loving and caring people emerges.

Living from the innermost is a constant communion within and without with no separation of any kind. In this state of being I have experienced a boundless expanse of pure energy. The entire cosmos is limitless vibrational energy. Being in this state of being calls for an unconditional surrender.

Surrendering is letting go of my ego

Not holding on to anything

Being in the now

With all ideas and concepts

Dissolved into nothingness

No thoughts, no feelings

No past, no future

Only thing is now, the present

Everything being transient

From moment to moment

Life goes on infinitely

Surrendering before another

Without any fear of being consumed

Feeling no need to control or controlled

Being in the now the way I am

No labels, no status or position

Such a moment of surrender

Brings infinite joy and peace

For I have nothing to prove

Neither am I seeking love nor giving love

But just being in love in the moment

There are no expectations

There is no agenda

It is all about being in the present

Being with the other in total attention

It is not surrender to the other

It is surrender with the other

Being one with the other

Burning and melting together

And merging with the whole

In this moment of oneness

There is no separation of any kind

No male or female

No superior or inferior

Polarities dissolving

Everything is one and whole

Such moment of oneness

Abides deep in my heart

In one great cosmic heart

My spirituality is beyond religions, isms, concepts, theories, doctrines and dogmas. My relationship with the Ultimate truth I have found within me and I experience this truth all around me.

"Be Still and Know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

 

*George Kunnath facilitates inner exploration retreats for seekers to heal themselves, to discover their true essence and purpose and going towards finding the ultimate truth.  He is in the process of building an alternative community with like-minded people based on mutual respect, love, compassion and selfless caring for one another and the cosmos.

How deep can we go: Heat from Crust to Core

The Earth's interior is a dramatic journey of rising temperatures, stretching from the cool crust to a scorching core. Understanding these layers helps explain the forces shaping our planet.

The Crust
The Earth's crust is relatively cool. Surface temperatures range from -90°C in Antarctica to +70°C in deserts. Below ground, the temperature rises by about 25–30°C per kilometer.

For context, the deepest humans have ever dug is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, reaching 12.3 kilometers down — barely scratching the surface, since Earth's radius is about 6,371 kilometers. They could not go beyond that depth as the heat reached unbearable, upto 180 degree celsius.  Deepest ocean bottom, Mariana Trench, is just 10km deep. 

The Mantle
Beneath the crust lies the mantle, reaching down to about 2,900 kilometers. Temperatures here start around 500°C to 900°C in the upper mantle and rise to about 4,000°C near the base.
To compare, the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, is only about 11 kilometers deep — again, tiny compared to the mantle's vast depth.

The Outer Core
Below the mantle is the molten outer core, a sea of liquid iron and nickel. Temperatures here range from 4,000°C to 6,000°C. The movement of this metal ocean generates Earth's magnetic field.

The Inner Core
At the very center lies the solid inner core, despite temperatures estimated between 5,000°C and 6,500°C — similar to the surface of the Sun. Immense pressure, over 3 million times atmospheric pressure, keeps it solid.

Just a food for thought

If you dig a 10 km hole into the Earth's crust, the temperature would typically reach around 250°C to 300°C — depending on local geothermal gradient (about 25–30°C increase per kilometer).

In contrast, at the bottom of the Challenger Deep (also about 10–11 km deep underwater), the temperature stays near 1–4°C because ocean water is cold, and water efficiently transfers and maintains low temperatures, unlike solid rock.

Feature	10 km into Earth's Crust	10 km Deep in Ocean (Challenger Deep)
Medium	Solid rock	Water
Temperature	~250°C to 300°C	~1°C to 4°C
Pressure	~300 times atmospheric pressure	~1,100 times atmospheric pressure
Environment	Extremely hot, dry or molten in places	Extremely cold, dark, high salinity
Human Access	Impossible without extreme cooling and engineering	Only possible with deep-sea submersibles

उरकपुरको उन्मत्त राजा र असफल सन्तुलन

एक पटकको कुरा हो—पूर्वी मधेशको एक सुन्दर, समृद्ध राज्य थियो, नाम थियो जयपुर। त्यहाँका राजा थिए गागुराम। उनी असाध्यै बलिया थिए, बुद्धिमान पनि थिए, र सहरका पर्खालहरू सुनझैं चम्किरहेका थिए। तर, गागुरामको एउटा समस्या थियो—उनी आफूलाई सबैभन्दा माथि सम्झन्थे। "शहर मेरो हो, जनता मेरो, जे गर्छु, म गर्छु!" भन्ने उनको आदत बनिसकेको थियो।

जनताले डराएर मात्र बाँच्न थाले। कसैले केही कुरा गर्न पनि डराउँथ्यो। गागुराम सहर घुम्थे, आफ्नो चाहनाअनुसार जो सुकैलाई नियन्त्रणमा लिन्थे। कुनै नवविवाहिता मन परे भने—राजा भइसकेपछि उनलाई कसले रोकिन्थ्यो र! "यो मलाई चाहियो," भन्दै लिएर जान्थे। जनता चुप, डरले निस्सासिएका।

अन्ततः, जनताले आकाशतिर हेरेर देवता हडबाबालाई गुहार गरे। "हाम्रो राजा त पागल भयो! हामीलाई बचाऊ!" हडबाबा देवता थिए—शान्तिप्रेमी, बुद्धिमान। उनले मनमा सोचे, "यो गागुरामलाई नियन्त्रणमा राख्ने उपाय के होला?" अनि उनले देवी मानकीलाई भने—"गागुराम जस्तै बलियो, तर भित्रदेखि न्यायप्रेमी मान्छे बनाऊ। ऊ गागुराम भन्दा बलियाे होस्, र उसका कमजोरी सन्तुलनमा ल्याओस्।"

त्यसपछि जन्मिए मनिराम। वनमा हुर्किएका, जनावरसँग रमाउने, अनौठो तर सज्जन। उनी राजा होइनन्, तर वीर थिए—असली वीर। जब उनले गागुरामले अर्काको दुलहीलाई जबर्जस्ती गर्न लागेका खबर सुने, उनी ढोका अगाडि गए। "यहाँबाट फर्क! अत्याचार अब सहिंदैन," भन्दै उभिए।

गागुराम रिसाए। "म राजा हुँ! मलाई को रोक्छ?" अनि भयो ठुलाे लडाई — धडाम धुम! जनताले सास थामे, ढुंगाहरू थर्किए, गगन गुञ्जायमान भयो। तर लड्दै गर्दा उनीहरूले एकअर्काको बल र भित्रको सच्चाई चिने। दुवै थाके, अनि एकअर्कालाई अँगालो हालेर भने—"हामी दुश्मन होइनौं, साथी हौं! हामी मीलेर राज गराै"

फेरी सन्तुलन हराउँदै गयो। जनताको आवाज फेरि दबिन थाल्यो। मनिरामले रोक्न खोजेनन, उनि मिलेका थिए गागुराम संग।

अन्त्यमा जयपुरमा न्याय हरायो, शक्तिको अति दुरुपयाेग भयो। अनि जनताले फेरि आकाशतिर हेरे, र सोच्न थाले—"अब अर्को मनिराम कहिले जन्मिन्छ?" 

(By Kamal, it's a Nepali rendering of the ancient story presented by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson in the book "The Narrow Corridor", a Novel prize winning book. StorySeriesForKids by EducateOurKids2024)

रवाण्डाको चमत्कारी पुनरुत्थान बाट नेपाल ले सिक्नैपर्ने १० प्रोत्साहनहरू

म यो लेख नेपाली नेताहरूलाई रवाण्डाबाट सिक्न सकिने महत्वपूर्ण पाठहरू उजागर गर्न लेख्दैछु। रवाण्डा अफ्रिकाको सबैभन्दा तीव्र गतिमा बढिरहेको अर्थतन्त्रहरूमध्ये एक हो, जसले उल्लेखनीय आर्थिक वृद्धिदर हासिल गरेको छ। विनाशकारी युद्ध र द्वन्द्वको इतिहास हुँदाहुँदै पनि, रवाण्डाले प्रभावकारी नीति र सबल शासनका माध्यमबाट आफूलाई परिवर्तन गर्न सकेको छ। नेपाल अझ राम्रो स्थितिमा छ, र यदि नेपाली नेताहरूसँग सिक्ने चाहना छ भने, देशलाई द्रुत आर्थिक उन्नतिमा लैजान अझ ठूलो सम्भावना रहेको छ। ३५ वर्षअघि देखिएको रवाण्डा आजको रवाण्डा होइन; उसले आफ्नो भविष्य नयाँ तरिकाले परिभाषित गरिसकेको छ। तल उल्लेखित दस महत्वपूर्ण प्रोत्साहनहरू मेरा दृष्टिमा रवाण्डाको कायापलटका मुख्य कारक हुन्, जसबाट नेपालले पाठ सिक्नुपर्छ।

रवाण्डामा लगानीकर्ताको विश्वास बढाउने शीर्ष १० प्रोत्साहनहरू:

1. कर्पोरेट आयकर छुट – प्राथमिक क्षेत्रहरू (ऊर्जा, उत्पादन, पर्यटन, सूचना प्रविधि, स्वास्थ्य आदि) मा ठूलो लगानीकर्ताहरूलाई ७ वर्षसम्मको कर छुट।

2. विशेष कर्पोरेट कर दर (०-१५%) – क्षेत्रीय मुख्यालय, ठूलो निर्यातकर्ता, र प्राथमिक क्षेत्रका लगानीकर्ताहरूका लागि कम कर दर।

3. भन्सार र कर छुट – योग्य लगानीकर्ताहरूका लागि कच्चा माल, मेसिनरी, र पूँजीगत सामानहरू आयात गर्दा भन्सार कर छुट।

4. तीव्र गतिमा मूल्यह्रास (५०%) – लगानीकर्ताहरूले निश्चित सम्पत्तिहरूमा पहिलो वर्षमै ५०% मूल्यह्रास दाबी गर्न सक्छन्।

5. लगानी भत्ता (४०-५०%) – उत्पादनमा प्रयोग हुने पूँजीगत सामानहरूमा कर कटौतीको सुविधा।

6. १५ दिनभित्र भ्याट (VAT) फिर्ता – लगानीकर्ताहरूले छिटो भ्याट फिर्ता पाउने, जसले नगद प्रवाह सुधार गर्छ।

7. विशेष आर्थिक क्षेत्र (SEZs) – कर छुट, पूर्वाधार सहयोग, र व्यवसाय सञ्चालनका लागि सहज सुविधा।

8. रोजगार-आधारित कर कटौती (२-७%) – कति जनालाई रोजगारी दिइएको छ भन्ने आधारमा कम्पनीहरूले कर्पोरेट कर कटौती पाउँछन्।

9. एकद्वार लगानी सुविधा – रवाण्डा विकास बोर्ड (RDB) ले द्रुत व्यवसाय दर्ता, अनुमति, र अन्य आवश्यक सेवाहरू उपलब्ध गराउँछ।

10. नाफा र लाभांश रेमिट्यान्सको स्वतन्त्रता – विदेशी लगानीकर्ताहरूका लागि नाफा विदेश लैजान कुनै रोकावट छैन, जसले वित्तीय लचिलोपन सुनिश्चित गर्छ।

रवाण्डाको प्रवर्द्धन नीतिहरूबारे थप जान्न, यहाँ हेरर्नुहोस्: https://www.rra.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/RRA_investment_incentives.pdf 

(कमल)  

Nepal gold and jewelry industries demand simplification of directives

February 8, 2025, Kathmandu

A delegation led by Kisan Sunar, President of the Federation of Nepal Gold, Silver, Gems, and Jewelry Associations, has submitted recommendations to Ram Prasad Acharya, Director General of the Inland Revenue Department, requesting the simplification of certain provisions in the directive titled "Directives for Institutions Engaged in the Trade of Precious Metals or Goods."

The federation emphasized that the directive should only be implemented after completing all informational and physical preparations necessary for its execution.

When the directive was first issued in 2077 B.S. (2020 A.D.), businesses were required to submit reports only for wholesale transactions. However, a recent amendment has extended this requirement to retail businesses as well. The federation has urged that additional time be granted for proper preparation and groundwork before enforcing the new provision.

The federation also stressed that certain regulatory responsibilities, which should be handled by regulatory bodies, have been unfairly shifted to business owners. It insisted that such responsibilities should remain with the regulatory authorities.

Additionally, the federation has made the following demands:

1. Increase the reporting threshold from NPR 1 million to at least NPR 5 million for transactions requiring mandatory reporting.
2. Abolish the luxury tax, as repeated purchase, return, and exchange of the same item could place an unnecessary financial burden on consumers.

The delegation included the federation's federal executive committee members, namely:

• Sudhir Agrawal, Second Vice President
• Prem Bahadur Bishwakarma, Third Vice President
• Nir Bahadur Bishwakarma, General Secretary
• Prithvi Bishwakarma, Secretary
• Along with other business representatives.

The most repeated ChatGPT words and phrases

As an AI language model, ChatGPT tends to use certain words and phrases frequently to maintain clarity, politeness, and structure in its responses. Some of the most repeated words or phrases include:

• Navigating...
• Transformative... [very laughable sometimes :-), everything is ultra ] 
• Unwavering
• Not only, but also
• Journey of …
• Exemplifies
• Moreover,
• Additionally,
• A testament to
• Delve
• Intricate, tapestry
• In the heart of,
• Sprawling,
• Landscape
• Embarking on
• Pivotal
• It is important to note…
• In conclusion

 

Will keep updating this list. Stay tuned.

Till then, here are basic tips and ways to avoid being a slave to ChatGPT or completely copying the ChatGPT generated text and being caught.

The most important solution is to personalize and edit the content. Start by adding your unique voice, modifying sentence structures, and adapting the tone to match your usual writing style. Rephrasing and restructuring paragraphs can make the text feel more natural. Instead of relying on AI-generated wording, introduce your own expressions and mannerisms to make the content distinctly yours.

Fact-checking and verifying information is crucial, as AI-generated content can sometimes include outdated or incorrect details. Always cross-check references, statistics, and facts with credible sources before submitting your work. This ensures accuracy and makes your writing more reliable. If you are writing academically or professionally, cite real-world sources rather than AI-suggested ones to add authenticity.

Avoid overly polished or generic writing, as AI-generated text often sounds too neutral or formal. Introduce imperfections, varied sentence lengths, and natural transitions to make it feel more human. Using contractions, idioms, and specific jargon relevant to your field can also help disguise AI involvement. Pay attention to flow and coherence, making sure your writing reflects a natural thought process.

Lastly, running your text through AI detection tools can help identify patterns that might reveal AI usage. Tools like GPTZero, Turnitin AI Detection, or Originality.ai can flag content that appears machine-generated. To counter this, replace common AI phrases like "In conclusion" or "It is important to note" with more natural transitions. Incorporating personal insights, unique perspectives, and real-life examples will further enhance the authenticity of your writing.