Many foreigners come to Nepal for a spiritual search. It is perhaps unclear why, perhaps not. Foreigners are mystified by Eastern religions, especially Buddhism... and the birthplace of the Buddha happens to be in Lumbini, Nepal.
Nepalese are generally smiley and kind, as I have mentioned many times. But are they really spiritual? It really depends on who you're talking with. Perhaps among some of the older generation, religion and spirituality is very important (like to the old Mr Gurung), but for many of the younger ones, it's well, just something they do.
Anthropologist M who is publishing a paper about spirituality in Nepal said two things:
1) Many younger generation Hindus are not all that into religion. They participate in pujas (ceremonies) and follow traditional customs, because that's what their family does. It is a great dishonor to not participate in ceremonies like that. In fact, Nepalis who convert to Christianities do not wear thikas, and that is seen as a great disgrace to the family. Years ago, many Nepali Christians were killed for that very reason.
Some of the older generation will know all the stories and teachings of Hinduism, but many will not. When I got my first thika, it had a mixture of red and yellow, instead of just red. I asked why the thika I received was red, but nobody could answer why. Not even the Brahmin priest.
Perhaps Hinduism is more of a way of life than a religion.
2) Many (approximately half) of Christians in Nepal converted because they believe that it will heal them of their illness, or when their illness was cured as a result of the conversion. In fact, medical care seeking behaviors seem to follow this in chronological order: Western doctor, local doctor (non med school trained), church pastor.
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One of the most fascinating sights in Kathmandu is the presence of temples literally every corner. No wonder some people say that there are no specific tourist sights in Kathmandu, but rather the experience of just being there makes it so interesting.
"People are so religious here," I have heard that many times, from both locals and foreigners from various religions (or none).
Spiritual or not. Religious or not. It's relative. Is someone who practises many rituals but not understand the meaning behind it spiritual and religious? Or is someone who understands his/her beliefs but do not practise many rituals?
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On the way to Janakpur, we stopped by Sindhuli, where the Buddha boy Dharma Sangha currently lives and meditates. Sadly we did not get to see DS, as he was busy preparing for a talk the next day. We did, however, managed to talk to one of his devout followers, an American called Michael.
Michael first came to Nepal about a year ago with his then fiancee. He met DS and was so intrigued with his teachings...so much that he was fascinated and decided to stay.
"I should have been married by now," he said. "When I came I had no idea I would have stayed... but I did." Life circumstances. That's just so strange. He talked to DS several times, and every time he has just been fascinated.
"Right now Dharma Sangha is teaching Buddhism. He said he was not the Buddha some time ago, but now he says 'I am all gurus in one', hinting that he might also be a reincarnation of the Buddha. The reason he teaches Buddhism is because he was born in a Tamang family who was Tibetan Buddhist... but DS wants to travel around the world, once he obtains his passport*. Once he travels to the West, he would preach other religions, like Christianity. He is not limited by one religion. He is all religions in one."
I find that concept very interesting. I can already forsee him having some pretty devout followers. Now who cares if it's true or if he's a cult. I am just going to watch, with a critical and interested eye, how this young man (only slightly older than me) can reconcile all religions in one. Something people have probably tried to do for decades, if not centuries.
We shall see.
*DS' parents were giving him a hard time. They refused to give him his birth certificate unless he hands over some money to them. Many foreigners have came to follow DS since 6 years ago, and the villages he has been to saw many donations by his followers. Many villagers, including DS' family, insist that some of the donation money should be for them so they can lead better lives, but DS insist that the money is for the advance of religion.
Dear author, it is all beautiful when written, much worse when experienced. I had been tied by DS and his followers in the jungle 3 months in 2012, and later also a Nepali woman had this fate. The had been torturing us with unimaginabl atrocities, including repeated sexual abuse in my case. before that they had already attacked my once and tied my hands so strongly that blood stopped t circulate and they became swollen... All this enemity was based on total lies, spread by the sangha and their guru, claiming that I was a spy (really, everyone believed this), a witch (doing magci to destroy DS) and masani... In fact my only fault was that I came to serve him as any other devotee, and voluntered for free in translating his prayers. Besides I silently meditated day by day in the riverbed, far from him. I never disturbed him, i had great love and respect to him. Concerning his "gredy" family wanting money this is also a lie. Th etruth is that he coudl not get a nagarik ID card, because the Ratanpur VDC had been bribed by his sangha to issue a FALSE ID card (I can send you the scanned copy, it is in the media), and so his mother told that if he already allowed this forgery, why does he need another ID card? Just before this incident he had lured his brothers and sisters to his dark jungle site and let them be tied and beaten and kept captive similarly as me, just only one night... Of course this behavior was not making his mother happy (father died in 2011), and she was broken and siappointed. They do not want money from him. They just did not want to defile the good name of their family by their son to surround himself with criminals and sexual deviants. That was the simple reason they did not want to support his foregry of ID card. All story can be found in Nepali media.
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