My unforgettable experience in Nepal

As a backpacker, I went to Nepal in last February, a country adjacent to Tibet, and spent twenty days there. The scenery in Nepal is incredible and the gorgeous culture tradition fascinated me a lot. Among those I adore, the experience I visiting monasteries and temples is proved to be unforgettable to me.

As is known to all, Nepal is a holy country, where Buddhism’s values and goals permeate almost everything in Nepal. Exploring the monasteries and the temples of Nepal and mixing with its people, yet knowing nothing of Buddhism is like visiting the Vatican and knowing nothing of Roman Catholicism. Actually, Buddhism is perhaps the most tolerant of the world’s religions. Wherever it has gone it has adapted to local conditions, like a dividing cell, creating countless new school of thought. Some folk religion of Nepal is combined with the local spirits, such as nyen, which reside in rocks and trees; iu or nags, snaked-bodied spirits which live at the bottom of lakes, rivers and wells; sadok, lords of the earth, which are connected with agriculture; tsen, air spirits which shoot arrows of illness and death of human; and dud, demons linked to the Buddhist demon Mara.

One of the friends I met in the pub in Nepal is called Prakash Gurung. ‘Gurung’ is his surname, which is actually a rich family in that local area, while ‘Prakash’ stands for the sun. Prakash told me a lot about Nepal, including the spirits I mentioned above. He also told me dos and donts when visiting the holy temples. Most monasteries and temples extend a warm welcome to foreigners and in remote areas will often offer a place to stay for night, while the customers have to maintain this good faith by observing some courtesies. Thanks to Prakash telling me a lot, or I would have broken variety of local customs. Even now, I still remember some of them:

First you have to know is that, when visiting the temple, travelers should always circumambulate Buddhist monasteries and other religious objects clockwise, thus keeping shrines and stupas to their right. At the first time I circumambulating the temple, I couldn’t keep myself do that all the time and often broke the rule, which really bothered me a lot. Then, you can not take photos during a prayer meeting. At other times always ask permission to take photos, especially when using a flash. The large monasteries always charge photos fees, which you have to make sure first. Actually, I saw some foreign guests who did not obey the rules purposely, which really led to confrontation between the local and the coming people. Also, it is rude to wear shorts or short skirts in a monastery. Additionally, travelers should take your hat off when going into a chapel.

Following those holy rules, I visited variety of temples and monasteries in Nepal. The tradition Buddhist culture and the region really influenced me a lot, which educates people to be calm and peaceful in soul. Back to Beijing, I can still remember those words in Buddhist’s book I read in Nepal and recall those interesting story Prakash told me there.