Nepal is an
independent kingdom that lies 500 miles along the Himalayas.
It is surrounded by Tibet and India. Nepal is divided into
three sections: the northern snow mountains, the middle
hilly region, and the southern terai. Nepal has almost 20
million people and a variety of ethnic groups. Most people
speak Nepali and some speak English. Indo-Aryan immigrants
originally settled Nepal in the 7th century B.C. Many tribes
succeeded one another, until the Malla period, when three
kingdoms were created: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapar.
Recently a system of parliamentary democracy was
established.
Buddhism in Nepal
Buddhism in Nepal dates from the birth of Siddharta Gautama
himself. Legend has it that many bodhisattvas and previous
Buddhas also visited the land. Monuments to these Buddhas
can still be seen. Early Buddhist history is difficult to
document, but we know that Nepal became a great meeting
point for Indian and Tibetan Buddhist teachers. Nagarjuna,
the great Madhyamika master, and many other great
practitioners visited, lived, and taught in Nepal. Stone
inscriptions and colophons provide clear evidence that a
strong lineage of Mahasanghika Bhiksunis existed in the
seventh century. The country became a repository of Buddhist
Sanskrit literature and famous for its production of fine
Buddhist art.
Buddha Statue on Steps of Swayambunath Stupa,
Katmandu Valley.
Many famous temples have been erected throughout Nepal.
Although many ancient temples were destroyed by earthquakes
in 1355 and 1934, many important religious structures still
survive. The ancient stupas of Swayambhu and Bodhnath are
regarded as most sacred. Buddhism in Nepal includes
Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. The rulers of
Nepal have primarily been Hindu, but have supported the
development of Buddhism over the centuries. The Tibetan
Mahayana tradition is the most popular in northern Nepal,
with approximately 3000 monasteries. Newar Vajrayana
Buddhism is a widespread religious system in the Kathmandu
Valley with an elaborate tradition of ritual. Since the
early 40s some Nepalese have turned to Theravada practice
based on the Pali canon, stressing the rational aspects of
Buddhism over ritual. Most Theravada monasteries are located
in the Kathmandu Valley. There are approximately 100 monks
and 150 nuns, mostly belonging to the Newar community.
Newars with the Shakya surname trace their lineage to the
family of Shakyamuni Buddha.
The Great Stupa of Svayambhunath [opposite] stands on a
hill to the west of Kathmandu. Its name means "The self
created, Self-existent Buddha." The myth of its origin
is also the myth of the valley's origin. It tells the story
of the primordial Buddha's enlightenment and the spread of
Buddhism in Nepal.
This most sacred site has always been the most important
power place for local Buddhists and for pilgrims from all
over the world. It is considered to be the most powerful
shrine in the Himalayas.
Indian Buddhism began to penetrate the mountain passes into
Nepal in perhaps the 4th or 5th century AD, although its
influence has always been mainly confined to the Kathmandu
Valley and the western part of the country. With the
destruction of Buddhism in India in the 13th century, Tibet,
Nepal's powerful neighbour to the north, began to influence
the country's religious development. However, the Tantric
Buddhism that resulted became increasingly corrupt and fused
with Hinduism, the predominant religion, and the two became
and remain even today almost indistinguishable.
In the 1930s the first Nepalese ordained as Theravada monks
in India, but Nepal's Hindu ruler's refused to allow them to
return to the country and imprisoned those who did. With the
change of government in 1950 and the coming of religious
freedom, Theravada Buddhism has begun to steadily gain
support. Since 1959 Tibetan refugees have also established
themselves in the country and their presence has helped to
some extent to revive traditional Nepalese Buddhism.
Until recently, nuns in Nepal took ten precepts and did not
have access to full ordination. In 1988 a group of nuns went
to Los Angeles, California to receive full ordination as
bhikkhunis. In 1998 other Nepali nuns received bhikkhuni
ordination in China and Bodhgaya, India. In 1999 in Lumbini,
Bhikkhuni Dhammavati organised the first siksmana ordination
to be held in Nepal in 1000 years.
Buddhism
originated in India in the 6th century BC. It consists of
the teachings of the Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha. Of the main
branches of Buddhism, it is the Mahayana or "Greater
Vehicle" Buddhism which found its way to Japan.
Buddhism was imported to Japan via China and Korea in form
of a present from the friendly Korean kingdom of Kudara
(Paikche) in the 6th century. While Buddhism was welcomed by
the ruling nobles as Japan's new state religion, it did not
initially spread among the common people due to its complex
theories.
There were also a few initial conflicts with Shinto,
Japan's native religion, but the two religions were soon
able to co-exist harmonically and even complemented each
other.
During the Nara period, the great Buddhist monasteries in
the capital Nara, such as the Todaiji, gained strong
political influence and were one of the reasons for the
government to move the capital to Nagaoka in 784 and then to
Kyoto in 794. Nevertheless, the problem of politically
ambitious and militant monasteries remained a main issue for
the governments over many centuries of Japanese history.
Nara's Todaiji
During the early Heian period, two new Buddhist sects were
introduced from China: the Tendai sect in 805 by Saicho and
the Shingon sect in 806 by Kukai. More sects later branched
off the Tendai sect. Among these, the most important ones
are mentioned below:
In 1175, the Jodo sect (Pure Land sect) was founded by
Honen. It found followers among all different social classes
since its theories were simple and based on the principle
that everybody can achieve salvation by strongly believing
in the Buddha Amida. In 1224, the Jodo-Shinshu (True Pure
Land sect) was founded by Honen's successor Shinran. The
Jodo sects continue to have millions of followers today.
In 1191, the Zen sect was introduced from China. Its
complicated theories were popular particularly among the
members of the military class. According to Zen teachings,
one can achieve self enlightenment through meditation and
discipline. At present, Zen seems to enjoy a greater
popularity overseas than within Japan.
The Lotus Hokke or Nichiren sect, was founded by Nichiren
in 1253. The sect was exceptional due to its intolerant
stance towards other Buddhist sects. Nichiren Buddhism still
has many millions of followers today, and several "new
religions" are based on Nichiren's teachings.
Kamakura's Great Buddha
Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi fought the militant
Buddhist monasteries (especially the Jodo sects) thoroughly
in the end of the 16th century and practically extinguished
Buddhist activities on the political sector.
Buddhist institutions were once more attacked in the early
years of the Meiji period, when the new Meiji government
favored Shinto as the new state religion and tried to
separate and emancipate it from Buddhism.
Nowadays about 90 million people consider themselves
Buddhists in Japan. However, the religion does not directly
affect the everyday life of the average Japanese very
strongly. Funerals are usually carried out in a Buddhist
way, and many households keep a small house altar in order
to pay respect to their ancestors.
