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Theravada Buddhism in Nepal
By Kondanya, Sangharam. (Executive member of All Nepal Bhikshu Association)
Keertipur Vihara
Nepalese Nunns are Going for Alms and Giving Goods.
The Dharmakeerti Nunnery, Nepal, KTM
Ven. Ashwaghosh
Very Young Teen Aged Nuns
Ven. Jnana Persika Chir: Ven. Kumar Kashyapa Mahathera
Buddhism is one of the most important and non-aggressive religions in the world today. The Buddhist says that the desires in human kind are the root cause of all the sufferings of human beings. Lord Buddha propounded it; the prince of Peace was in reality a born prince and was bred as a prince.
He knew with his first hand experience that the sufferings and pains are parts of the life of all human beings. He renounced all his princely comforts in his search for ways how human beings could rid themselves from the birth and rebirth with sufferings accompanying them. Through self-exploration based on meditation, Gautam Buddha became enlightened one and propounded the Eight-fold Noble Path for salvation of the humankind from the recycle of birth, death and rebirth in an interminable way. The ways he propounded are called the Middle Path or The Four Noble Truths.
Though Lord Buddha had found the true path before 6th century BC the teachings of Buddha are as valid today as they were then. It is known throughout the world that the Buddha, the prince of peace, was born in Nepal. But the irony is that for seven decades no follower of the Buddha was seen in Nepal, that is, no Nepalese was known to have become a Buddhist monk.
There are two main schools of Buddhism: the southern or Theravada school and the other one called northern or Mahayana school. The ultimate objective of both the schools of Buddhism are to secure true peace, happiness, social welfare and harmony in human society all the world over.
According to the recorded history of Nepal, after the social reforms carried but by King Jayasthiti Malla, Buddhism was on decline. Venerable Mahaprajna, a Hindu by birth, then became the first person to be ordained as the Buddhist monk in 1924. A famous Tibetan Lama ordained him. Ven. Tsering Norbu in Kathmandu.
During the Prime Ministership of late Chandra Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana, the law of Nepal strictly banned conversion or prosetylization. Ven. Mahaprajna was expelled from the country along with other four Buddhist Lama - monk. The Ven. mahaprajna in exile became Theravadian monk in 1928 at Kushinara with the most Ven. U. Chandra Mani Mahathera (Burmese). Late Ven. Bhikshu Mahaprajna Thera, the first Nepalese Theravadian Buddhist monk of modern Nepal.
This in course of time gave rise to the Theravadian Buddhist monk and nun. The first Theravadian Buddhist monk appeared in the street of Kathmandu in 1930, he was Ven. Bhikshu Prajnananda. Late Venerables Prajnananda, Shakyananda, Dhammaloka, Amritananda and Venerables Anuruddha, Subodhananda, Buddhaghosh became monk too. Like wise Ratnapali, Dharmapali and Sanghapali appeared as first Buddhist Nuns.
In 1943, Ven. Dhammalok established Anandakuti Vihara, which is located at the western side of Swayambhu Hill near KTM. This is the first Theravadian Buddhist monastery in Modern Nepal. For the historical Anandakuti Vihara, the most Ven. Narada Mahathera brought sacred relics of Lord Buddha along with a sapling of the Sri Mahabodhi Tree from Anuradhapur, Sri Lank. Those sacred relics had been stolen few years back and replaced another sacred relics from Sri Lanka.
In 1994, the then Prime Minister Juddha Shamsher J.B. Rana summoned eight monks living then in KTM were Ven. Bhikshus Prajnananda, Dhammaloka, Subodhananda, Prajnarashmi and Ven. Samaneras Prajnarasa, Ratnajyoti, Aggadhamma, Kumar (Chirman of All Nepal Bhikkshu Association in present time) and ordered them not to preach the Dhamma. The monks refused to yield to the order. The Prime Minister strictly ordered them to leave the country within three days. In those days Ven. Amritananda was at Saranath in India. All monks from Nepal arrived at Saranath and they formed the first Buddhist Society of Nepal called “Dharmodaya Sabha” under the chairmanship of the most Ven. U. Chandra Muni Mahathera. This society still exists and it is the biggest National Buddhist Society of international level. It had completed the 4th and 15th World Fellowship of Buddhist (WFB) conference held in KTM and it was finished five times National Buddhist Congress in various parts of Nepal.
Ven. Dr. Amritananda was the towering personality of Theravada Buddhism in Nepal. He was prominent Buddhist scholar and had written many volumes on Buddhism. He is well known International Buddhist monk of Nepal. He was well-known Hero and also a leading figure in Buddhist society. During his time, in April 1946, visited Nepal a good will mission from Sri Lanka. (Ven. Narada Mahathera was the head) The mission was allowed to visit places of Buddhist pilgrimage but did not have the permit to preach the Dhamma and not to interact with other Buddhists. With the help of Ven. Amritananda, Srilankan delegation met the Prime Minister Padma Shamsher J.B. Rana and the Premier gave permission to Ven. Dhammalok and gradually other monks also were able to return from exile.
Then after the ALL NEPAL BHIKKHU ASSOCIATION (Akhil Nepal Bikshu Mahasangh) was founded by Ven. Dr. Amritananda, at Anandakuti Vihara in 1951. In present time ANBA office is in Vishwa Shanti Vihara at New Baneshwar - Min Bhavan, Kathmandu.
There at present 18 Theravadian Viharas in KTM Valley and 55 from outside the valley. There are only four “Seemas” (getting higher ordination or monkshood according to Buddhist rules and regulation is called - seema) such in Anandkuti Vihara - Swayambhu, Sumangala Vihara - Lalitpur, International Buddhist Meditation Centre Shankhamul and Nagar Mandapa Srikeerti Vihara Keertipur.
Nepal has about 140 Theravadian monks, the eldest of them being the most Ven. Aniruddha Mahathera 83, and of 60 Vassavasa. Next to him in order of seniority are Venerables Subodhananda, Buddhaghosh, Chunda, Ashwaghosh, Kumar Kashyapa and so on. There are 120 nuns, the eldest of them being the Nun Sushila, she herself is chairperson and Nun Dhammavati is Vice-Chairperson of Nun Association, Nepal. There are about 50 monks and nuns are studying in countries such Srilanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Taiwan (ROC). United Kingdom and U.S.A. Most of them are in Sri Lanka. Mostly senior scholar’s monks completed their study from Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Thai Land, Taiwan (ROC) UK and Most of them are in Sri Lanka. Most senior Scholars complete their study from Sri Lanke and Myamar. Venerable Aswaghosh, Jnanapurnika, Sudarshan and Nun Dhammavati are the leading figures of Theravada Buddhism in Nepal now. Ven. Ashwaghosh is an influential speaker and writer. He was a parliament member of Upper House of Nepal and Vice-Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust. He started Sangharam Bhikshu Training center at Chhetrapati - Dhalko, in KTM. It is the first monk training school. Ven. Jnanapurnika is influential speaker, translator, writer, and meditation master too. The newly constructed Vishwa Shanti Vihara is an impressive and modern monastery built by Malaysian and Singaporian devotees and in cooperation with some Nepalese. It is run under Ven. Jnapurnika. Redcently, he established Vishwa Shanti Bauddha Shikshalaya (school) where teenaged Samaneras (small monk or novice) 15 and including two nuns have been studying specially about Buddhism. They are also students of government school.
Ven. Prof. Bhikshu Sudarshan is a well red and orator. He is literate, historian and archeologist. He is a teacher of the Tribhuvan University. He is rated highly among the monks in Nepal. He has well kept temple called Nagara Mandapa Sri Keerti Vihara. This impressive Thai style temple is built with donations given by mostly Thai Buddhist peoples and Nepalese too. Nun Dhammavati is the most popular nun in Nepal. She stays at Dharmakeerti nunnery in KTM. She has more than 28 nuns in her monastery. She’s completed building “Gautami Nunnery” in Lumbini, which was recently inaugurated. Like wise Ven. Sumanagala established Buddhist Home for the aged in Banepa and Ven. Maitri is running free clinic for the rural poor under his president ship of International Buddhist Society in Lumbini.
Since last three decades, Nepal Bauddha Pariyatti Shiksha (Buddhist Sunday school) has been running under All Nepal Bhikkhu Association. At present time, Pariyatti Shiksha’s Central Office is at Manimandapa Vihar, in Patan. Various branches are in various parts of Nepal. Two Buddhist monthly magazines (half-early and annual also) are also being published by the monks. The titled of one of the magazine is ‘DHARMAKEERTI’, the editor in chief is Ven. Ashwaghosh and another magazine named “ANANDABHOOMI’ the chief editor is Ven. Kumar Kashyapa. The monks engage in publication of Books, booklet and the like which through light on defend aspects of Buddism.
During the whole month of Bhadra (Aug-Sept) holy Buddhist hymns are chanted and prayers are held for peace and harmony in the morning and evening in Viharas (monastery) Buddha’s teachings are expounded. Every monks and nuns pay homage to the Buddha by chanting and praying every morning and evening. Meditation, lecture and special program are held in every Uposatha Day (like as fullmoon day, half moon day etc.) and gather lay people. Monks and Nuns are invited usually by inordined Buddhist by birth and non-Buddhist too. The holy hymns are chanted and prayers are held for peace and prosperity in the family of such people who though not ordained have deep faith in Buddhism.
The Buddha’s Birth Anniversary that occurs in the month of Veshakh (May) every year on the full-moon night is celebrated by all people and communities with the same enthusiasm as the Buddhists in Nepal. Slaughter of animal for eating their meat is banned legally on that day. The celebrations last for a week in different parts of country. A Buddhist procession is taken out with people participating in the procession from all walks of life on the eve of the fullmoon night of the month of Ashadh (July-Aug)
Talk programs highlighting the life and works of the Buddha are broadcast from NTV and Radio every week by monks. Cleaning programs are held in all the monasteries such as on the occasion of the Buddha anniversary and other special day.
The well-known Theravadian Monasteries in Kathmandu Valley are:
1. Anandakuti Vihara
Swayambhu-Kathmandu. Hello - 271420
2. Viswashanti Vihara
Min Bhavan- Kathmandu. Hello - 482948
3. Dharmakeerti Vihara (Nunary)
Sreegha, Naghal-Kathmandu. Hello - 220466
4. Nagar Mandap Srikeerti Vihara
Keertipur. Hello - 310836
5. Shakyashingh Vihara
Patan. Hello - 524760
6. Sangharam Bhikhu Training Centre
Chhetrapati-Dhalko - Kathmandu
Hello - 255960
7. Sumangal Vihara
Patan. Hello 531715
8. Bauddha Samaskrit Vihara
Bhaktapur. Hello - 610842
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