Some Fast Facts about Nepal:
- Himalayas of Nepal is known as the rooftop of the world. The world’s highest mountain (Mt. Everest) is located in Nepal.
- Over a 1000 mountain expeditions take place every year in Nepal, each expeditions carrying an average of 30 people, more than 80% of those expeditions are towards the Himalayas.
- National Motto: "The Motherland Is Worth More than the Kingdom of Heaven."
- Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with nearly half of its population living below the poverty line.
- Hinduism is recognized as Nepal’s official religion. Although people are free to follow any religion it is against the law to convert to others.
- Before 1960 no Christian could even live in Nepal. Now there is more freedom of religion, but it is still difficult and dangerous to tell other people about God.
Wow! There's so much to share with you about my 5 days in Nepal. I might have to make multiple entries over several days to cover it all. Pictures are always a good start:
These are all taken from my visit to a stupa.
These are all taken from my visit to a stupa.
Prayer wheel in motion.
A prayer wheel is a cylindrical 'wheel' (Tibetan: 'khor) on a spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather, or even coarse cotton. Traditionally, the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is written in Sanskrit externally on the wheel. Also sometimes depicted are Dakinis, Protectors and very often the 8 auspicious symbols Ashtamangala. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.
So many gods.
And then we ascended these stairs to another high place. Somewhere I have a picture with me in it that proves I walked all these steps!
Halfway! Almost finished!
At the top
More prayer wheels, but smaller. People will walk by these and spin them as they go by (more pictures of this later)
Check out dude sitting on the donation box
Overlooking where we just came from
Prayer Flags
Lung Ta (horizontal) prayer flags are of square or rectangular shape and are connected along their top edges to a long string or thread. They are commonly hung on a diagonal line from high to low between two objects (e.g., a rock and the top of a pole) in high places such as the tops of temples, monasteries, stupas or mountain passes.
Traditionally, prayer flags come in sets of five, one in each of five colors. The five colors represent the elements, and the Five Pure Lights and are arranged from left to right in a specific order. Different elements are associated with different colors for specific traditions, purposes and sadhana:
* Blue (symbolizing sky/space)
* White (symbolizing air/wind)
* Red (symbolizing fire)
* Green (symbolizing water)
* Yellow (symbolizing earth)
Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to 'gods,' a common misconception, rather the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space.
This was a bit confusing to me at first. We've got Buddha and Ganesh (Hindu god) together here. I later found out that half of this holy place is for Hindus, half for Buddhists.
Holy place/Lover's lane
That's all I have for now. Check this post later this week for more pics and story updates from Asia.
Halfway! Almost finished!
At the top
More prayer wheels, but smaller. People will walk by these and spin them as they go by (more pictures of this later)
Check out dude sitting on the donation box
Overlooking where we just came from
Prayer FlagsLung Ta (horizontal) prayer flags are of square or rectangular shape and are connected along their top edges to a long string or thread. They are commonly hung on a diagonal line from high to low between two objects (e.g., a rock and the top of a pole) in high places such as the tops of temples, monasteries, stupas or mountain passes.
Traditionally, prayer flags come in sets of five, one in each of five colors. The five colors represent the elements, and the Five Pure Lights and are arranged from left to right in a specific order. Different elements are associated with different colors for specific traditions, purposes and sadhana:
* Blue (symbolizing sky/space)
* White (symbolizing air/wind)
* Red (symbolizing fire)
* Green (symbolizing water)
* Yellow (symbolizing earth)
Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to 'gods,' a common misconception, rather the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space.
This was a bit confusing to me at first. We've got Buddha and Ganesh (Hindu god) together here. I later found out that half of this holy place is for Hindus, half for Buddhists.
Holy place/Lover's lane
That's all I have for now. Check this post later this week for more pics and story updates from Asia.
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