Another world, unlike the strange
This is Asia, in its pristine, not yet spoiled by civilisation. People of Nepal – are people with extremely expressive faces. They do not have a drop of falsehood and artifice, games. They do what they feel. It's just people with other people, not dead, not exhausted, not feigned, and the clean, clear, alive. For me it was contact with the parallel world. They are natural, they are not poisoning the falsehood. Their faces are much more interesting than those lean, those far-fetched that we see in the West, where everyone puts on a mask being fed, a noble weariness and intelligence. It seems to me that the fruits of progress only distort the very essence of human nature.
Compare the modern man with a man of nature – would be like to taste and ground greenhouse cucumbers. As coffee – instant and natural: the farther from civilisation, the stronger the drink, fragrant and delicious. Sometimes they just blend in with trees, rocks, flowers. Sometimes they are even impossible to distinguish. At some point you feel that people here live in the same way as they were centuries ago. They worship fire, statues and temples, knock on the bells and wear national dress. The Middle Ages has nothing to do with theatrical scenery in Europe – this is their normal daily lives.
The smile on their faces appear on its own. They do not care how they look at the same time as you look at them and see. Their feelings are written on their faces. Smiles are everywhere. People are absolutely not interested in your attention, will grant you a smile. And the smile is just so, without any reason and the reasons to be smiling earnestly and sincerely, if not his lips, then certainly the eyes. My Nepalese friend once said: "People in the city are so concerned about their problems that they forget to smile …". This is considered a vice. Over time, become strange and unusual to see the gloomy and sad faces on the street.
Most of these people live far below the poverty line. It seemed that poverty would be to embitter them, make them aggressive towards richer people. But no. They are still happy. They feel happy because they have a different understanding of happiness. They strive for the best, but it can do what you do not know how millions of Westerners – to be happy right now, at this point to the fact that you have. They do not chase the distant goals, do not feel the constant shortage of something, "full of happiness."
They work like everyone else, even more. And love to work together and the team. They are very industrious: manage in harsh conditions to grow barley at an altitude of 3000 metres, and potatoes – 40000 metres. In the mountains there is no flat land, so all the gardens are made in the form of terraces. They are struggling with the pressures of the monarchy, and victorious. Each slightest victory enjoyed as children, because they have made a step forward. One Nepalese enthusiastically says: "Thirteen years have been the Maoist problem. Every day die on average ten people. After the demonstrators made concessions from the king to create a new parliament for ten days, no one died. " The situation in the country returned to normal in just two days before our arrival. Despite the fact that nothing had foreshadowed this happiness, at all times until the moment when I heard the good news, I never lost the sense of calm and confidence that everything will be fine. While travelling around the country could not believe that until quite recently, there is so momentous events were unfolding.
In recent history, a critical situation in Nepal continues with the 1990 (by and large, the critical situation in the country with the help of neighbours, has existed since the mid-XX century). It was then, with the adoption of a new constitution was approved political parties. Along with other political organizations, including the Communist Party of Nepal, which became the main ideology of the Marxist-Leninist (still an active part in political life), there emerged an alternative Communist Party, basing its political platform on the precepts of Mao Zedong. The party survived and launched a vigorous activity in a series of further political achievements in Nepal (according to some, not without the support of secret services in China and other socialist countries). In 1996, the Maoists in Nepal began an armed revolt, which continued with varying success until now. Imagine the political life of the last decade, Nepal is quite difficult. The most characteristic episode, showing the level of political passions, has an incredible shooting inside the royal family. In June, at all offended by Prince Dipendra, very pretty, "taking on his chest," perpetrate terrible gunfight at the palace, killing eight people, including the reigning king, and then put a bullet in the head. Subsequently, was proclaimed the new king of Nepal, who was the younger brother of the deceased monarch Gyanendra.
I remember one time in my life. The war in Nepal has not worn as an open and active nature, that is yet to begin the protest. I knew only that the Maoists hiding in the mountains, and periodically remind yourself of the city. I was covered by a passion to visit Nepal. On these details I had not even thought of. I was anxious to visit some national festival. One night I dreamed a dream. I look out the hotel window at night, and there is a parade of people, all in traditional costumes. I think that something is celebrated. But the faces of these people are not happy. And in their hands – flags, banners with the words that express a protest against something. It's more like a revolution … After two weeks on the streets of cities goes Nepalese people fighting to overthrow the king. A mass strike.
We met with two street boys of about thirteen. They just came up and in good English to ferret out the basic data of our passports. Their erudition was amazing. Education in these areas – something scarce. And they are easily explained on the geographical position of Ukraine, the situation during the elections and our president. And then asked them to buy milk. We suggested that they bought it themselves at our expense, but they cried, "No! No money! If you give us some money, then they will take the big guy. " It was very nice it is to buy them milk. In the evening we met again. We wanted to ride on the motorcycle rickshaw, and they just pushed one such instance. It did not work, and finally he fell off the door. They have joined us are not our way. Talked about everything: about us, about them, about bats, about the trade …
In villages, people are more emotional. There, they did not "forget to smile." We were lucky enough to visit two villages. Before long, we first went up the walk. As always, at the very top stood a Hindu temple. I began to wonder why all the churches people are trying to build a mountain at the top? Perhaps because it symbolizes the peak of spirituality, which is heavy lifting, but pleasant. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the temple should be closer to God. Maybe God elect this place as his residence on Earth, giving people a sign of its presence. My friend told me that people choose to place the construction of the temple, found this place a stone, like a deity. And no matter what difficulties they will deliver the construction at this site.
Already at home in one of the books about the wisdom of the East, I read: "As in other religions, for the construction of Hindu temples have always chosen the special places marked by grace. It was believed that the samples of temples, cities, altars and other structures were created back in mythical times, and people then have to play them so as to match the Earth's celestial counterpart, and because since ancient times believed that churches follow the ideal prototype – the mythical image of the world's mountains, which thought of as real. Gore also embodies the essential image of the centre of the world, its middle, that is the best, benevolent space, and hence the time. That – that sacred place where the meeting of Heaven and Earth. From the mythological image of the mountains and stretch the threads in the sacred architecture: Hindu temples are often found on a mountain or a repeat of its shape.
Children in this village surrounded us immediately, as soon as find out about our parish. We brought them a gift, toys and candy. First there was a tiddly little girl, then ran all who were there this time. One little girl, holding hands on a slightly smaller sister, now and then gave her slap and forced to repeat: 'Namaste!'. In another village, we have helped local residents move canted sheaves of wheat. In those places to see the strange white man in general, but expect him to help … The locals were very friendly with us. When they came to their dwelling with a thatched roof, the owners immediately rendered a bench height of several centimetres.
Nepalis are very fond of children, a variety of children: well-groomed, well dressed and beggars asking for alms. But it is impossible to see here, it is customary for us to picture: a crying baby and a mother yelling at him. As in any poor country, the local families have many children. Circumstances such as a small salary or apartment, do not become an obstacle for the birth of another child. Many of them have to work: to help parents or even to earn their bread. Most are destined to remain illiterate. Even according to official statistics, read and write in Nepal do not know how 70% of its citizens. But luck, as you know, can not be measured as a percentage. How happy and how miserable, how many mediocrities and geniuses running barefoot through the streets of Nepal's towns and villages – this statistic is silent.
Stratagem of religions
The question "Do you believe in God?" For the Nepalese has the same meaning as for us the question "Do you believe in the H2O?» What you can not live life without water, life is impossible without God. According to statistics, the country's roughly 85% Hindu, 9% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, less than one percent of Christians. It is also practiced by the ancient rites of animism, shamanism and sorcery. In reality, these boundaries are very blurred. However, if you ask the Nepalese – Hindu or Buddhist, he, he replied: "Yes." You may think that he did not understand the question, but he told the truth. The two religions coexist peacefully. Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas stand nearby, Buddhists celebrate Hindu festivals and vice versa. And with the Hindu, and Buddhist point of view, the soul after death migrates into another body. Therefore, when life is important to preserve the purity of karma – if you can find good birth.
Nepal – the world's only Hindu kingdom, and at the same time, the birthplace of the founder of Buddhism – Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later received the name of Buddha, that is awakened, enlightened. In the middle of I millennium BC in Nepal from the east came Kirata tribes that practiced Buddhism, and as much as eight hundred years, Buddhism became the dominant religion here. His influence waned when nearly 300 of the first AD in the Kathmandu valley from India invaded nation Nevar. Hinduism – the religion of the newcomers – has since become the official religion of Nepal. Changing one another dominant religion was peaceful and painless, many shrines of Nepal is equally revered as the Hindu and Buddhists. This is explained by the fact that Hinduism has never been a complete theological system, it easily absorbs other faiths, recognizing the new incarnations of the deity of their ancient Gods.
Buddhism is such a huge part of the spirituality of Nepal, it seems quite Buddhist country. Buddhist stupas – those parts of the world, which they say heaven on earth. They attract like magnets. Your soul is dissolved in the general aura of spirituality. You feel like everything breathes force. Time stood still here, and you find yourself where you want. Everything is subject to your wishes. What do you want?
By Bloggersnepal
P.S. Some phrases were edited.
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