Buddha was born in Nepal. So what?
Yes, Buddha was born in Lumbini, around 2600 years ago, which is now in Nepal.
The real question we should be asking each-other now in Nepal is:

Would Buddha want to be re-born in Nepal now?

1. Would he approve of our pin-drop silence against injustice and impunity in Nepal?
2. Would he salute the long lines of young men and women in a hurry to leave their motherland, that our elders turned into a place of dead-ends and despair?
3. Would he embrace his fellow Nepalis who try to divide themselves along our castes, religions and material wealth?
4. Would he keep smiling while some of his countrymen sell our own girls or kill our own kin in the name of change?
5. Would he help us when we prefer to sit silent like sheep while our rulers rape any dignity that is left in us?

So before we get over-sentimental about Buddha’s birthplace, why don’t we first take some time off to learn what he actually taught. Bring to heart, what he really fought for 2600 years ago? Believe in his middle way first?

I am going to cherish the day when we Nepalis can declare instead:

“Yes Buddha would love to reborn right here in Nepal”

Enough of us Nepalis talking about his birthplace without taking his teachings into heart. It is time for you and me, to stop being simply a talker or advisor, but to be a ‘doer’, one that will make Buddha proud that he wants to be reborn here again. Are you up for this challenge?

 As for me, I am on a quest to make Buddha proud that he was born in Nepal.
Join me.

Buddha was born in Nepal. So what?

Lets accept this fact for Nepal.

We are not failing. We have already failed. Deal with it.

How do we deal with it? And how do we move on?

Here are 3 important life-choices you will have to make to play a role in turning our country around:

Take the political path:  Want to serve your country fore-most? Take the lead and join politics. Politics is an ultimate sacrifice if you want the change you seek in Nepal now.  If your priority is saving your conscience, your family, your town and your country all in one, you will prepare yourself to lead us all out of this mess! No earlier experience required: you learn as you go. Simplify your life. Try to live a life of example. Beware, Politics is like fire. You can either make it a good servant or a bad master, all up to you. Note: Do not make politics a career. Make sure, you have an alternative livelihood which sustains your family.

Take the entrepreneurial path: Don’t shy away from your national duty to offer opportunities in Nepal. Do urge your kids to learn entrepreneurship right from mid-school. Teach them the value of prosperity, and how to create dignified opportunities by becoming an entrepreneur. Tell them how, providing opportunities for others is one of the best social service in a country like ours. Those of us, who are not entrepreneurial, please invest in those who are taking risks! You will never feel sorry.

Take the bureaucratic path: Join Nepal government and serve the people. If the bureaucrats in the government did their job, we wouldn’t need this many social organizations where many of us continue to make a career out of. Joining the bureaucracy is perhaps one of the best ways to do social service in Nepal now. And the surest way to see the change you seek in your environment.

All these paths need persistence, patience and humility. They bring the best in you and help thwart the worst in you to prevail. Continue to hone these qualities much, they will bring you that feeling of contentment one gets as s/he lives a life of purpose.

I hope you will make a clear choice to deal with our nation’s failure now… because if this country burns, we burn with it…

We are not failing. We have already failed. Deal with it.

आमाको मुख हेर्ने दिन आज, आफ्नो आमाको साथसाथै नेपाल आमाको पनि मुख १ चोटी हेर्न नभुल्नु होला है। आफ्नी आमालाई केहि दिनु हुन्छ नै अवश्य, नेपाल आमालाई नि केहि दिने प्रण गरौँ है यस पाली।

आफ्नो आमालाई त केहि दिनु हुन्छ नै अवश्य। नेपाल आमालाई पनि आज केहि दिने प्रण गरौँ न है।

के दिने भनेर सोध्नु होला?
आफ्नो आमालाई जे दिईन्छ त्यही दिनुहोस् । बर्षै भरि माया गरिन्छ भने त्यसैँ गरौँ । यदि आमालाई बर्षको एक दिन मात्र माया र स्याहार-शुसार गरिन्छ भने नेपाल आमालाई नि त्यसै गरौँ।

आफ्नी आमा र नेपाल आमा के छ र भिन्नता? दुवैले तपाँईलाई उत्तिकै माया गरि रहेका छन् । जति तपाँईले उभद्रो गरे पनि सहेकै सह्यै छन्, माया गर्न छाड्िदनन् क्यारे। जति छोडेर गए पनि कुरेकै छन्। जति बर्ष पछि फर्के पनि हर्षको आशुले अँगालेकै छन् क्यारे । धैर्यको बाँध कहिले टुटेका छैनन्। सदैव हामीले राम्रो गर्नेछन् भन्ने आशका साथ बसेका छन्।

यहि भावनाको फाईदा उठाएर हामी केहिले बाटो बिराएका छौँ- अन्धकारको खाडल बेस्मारी खनिरहेको छौँ। आफ्नै मातृभूमिलाई अत्याचार माथि अत्याचार, बेईज्जत माथी बेईज्जत गर्न कस्सिएका छौँ । बाँकि टुलुटुलु देख्या नदेख्यै गरि बसि रहेका छौँ आफ्नो पर्खाल भित्र। स्थति जति नाजुक हुँदैछ त्यति नै पर्खाल अग्लो बनाँउदै छौँ। तर राम्रो कुरा पनि भई रहेको छौँ।  हामी धेरै राम्रा नेपालीहरु चै अामालाई लागेको रोगलाई निमोठ्न लागि परेका छौँ । एक्ला एक्लै कराई रहेका छौँ । कोहि हामी चुप्प लागेर समाजलाई बचाईरहेका छौँ । तर एउटा कुरो बुझ्नु अत्यन्त जरुरी छ है । अत्यन्त जरुरी ….

बिडम्बनाको कुरा अहिले नेपालमा “दुष्टताको हाँगो भाच्न हजारौँ लागी पर्या छन् तर जरो उखेल्ने मात्र एक -दुई“।

त्यहि भएर यहि आमाको मुख हेर्ने दिन, हाँगो भाच्न लागि राख्नु भएको साथीहरु, अब बाटो मोडौँ र ‘जरो उखेल्ने‘ बाटोमा आउनुहोस् ।
म पनि धेरै बर्ष हाँगो भाच्दै व्यस्थ थिए तर अब आफै जरै उखेल्न लागि परेको छु (यहाँ) :)
आउनुहोस् सँगै उखेलौँ !

मेरो शुभकामना छ तपाँईलाई र स्वागत गर्दछु यस जरो उखेल्ने बाटोमा !

नेपाल आमाको पनि मुख हेर्ने हो कि आज?

I have a dream…

that one day my children, their children and their children shall all embrace this nation as their god-given home, and not some rented shack that they choose to leave when the cracks start appearing…

I have a dream…

that one day, my little boys and girls shall be judged by the glow in their eyes, and not by the accent in their voices… by the ‘aura of their accomplishments’, and not by the history of their fore-fathers…

I have a dream…

that one day, every grandmother, daughter and grand-daughter shall all live within a breath from each other’s embrace, where they weave together monuments of love to leave behind, much like those courtyard temples, the ‘chautaaris’ or the ‘mithila’ paintings…

I have a dream…

that once-more “guests will be gods”, rivers are holy enough to dip, village is a refuge from the cities… where smiles are for real…

I have a dream …

that one day, the leaders of our nation shall be judged not by their herd of followers, but by the gems of leaders they produce…

I have this dream…

that one day again, we Nepalis will also be known for being fearless citizens, not just fearless mercenaries…

I have such a dream…

that my little girl and your little boy shall build together a righteous leadership that plants the tree of prosperity in each of our homes…

And I have a very selfish dream :) …

that one day, I shall walk down lush-terraced coffee gardens in my village, to find friends from all over the world drop by for a cup of the finest organic coffee available… with fresh buffalo cheese spread on a perfect slice of  whole wheat bread made right then and there…

I have a dream…

So, my dear friend, what is your dream ?

- inspired by Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream”

I have a dream…

A letter to the 1st world:

The seeds of terror in #Boston are sown in injustices on a 3rd world mess like Nepal or Chechnya or Syria… If we want to stop it, we have start taking autocracies head-on now. If our 1st world friends want to end terror on their streets, get your governments to stop smiling at 3rd world autocracies.

If the 1st world nations are serious about terror not spreading to their cities, you should start taking the sides of young men and women fighting their rulers on the streets of Kathmandu, Aleppo or Kandahar to fight for their dignity against their own rulers.

I ask, what are the governments in these countries but a syndicate of thugs? In Nepal we now have a syndicate of autocracy. Yet I see our 1st world friends recognizing and working with them while you choose to remain silent about gross injustices done to its citizens in the hopes of avoiding violence. War (violence) is an inevitable outcome of un-attended injustices. I still see you perhaps honestly but ineffectively striking at the branches of evil, rather than the roots.

Every day our young bow down to extremist ideals because they feel betrayed by the rulers of Nepal who soak them dry, continuously poke at their dignity while leaving them with no light at the end of the tunnel. On the other hand I see the brightest youths instead lured into brightly lit seminar halls where ’talk’ is practiced instead of ‘action’, where ‘rewards’ are another trip abroad, rather than another ‘impacts’ on the country-side.

Be warned! If the silent youths are left to fend for themselves against our rulers, they will see this world together with your world, as their enemy, not their friend. Cynicism and bitterness once arises, is hard to cure. And they will do anything to weaken their enemies. “If I can’t have it, they can’t have it” attitude creeps in.

Know that along with our political rulers, you will be also be held accountable for your non-action. Remember this: for youths who have lost their dignity, violence is always a ‘just’ option. By helping the status-quo, you have sown the seeds of terror by alienating this young population from yourself.

You have a stark choice today, ” What am I going to water today ? a budding plant or an old tree that is already dead inside?”

———-

If you have decided to water the budding plant, here are some ideas I believe in:

 We have to find and nurture those youths who are trying to bring others on to the middle path to unite this fragmented nation. They will be responsible for bring extremists from both sides towards them. Empower them in this task. Work long term with them (but rate their progress frequently).

Please repeat this in your head. In 3rd world countries, ‘Entrepreneurship is really the most effective social service’. Help our youths become entrepreneurial. Bring in your entrepreneurs to mentor our budding young entrepreneurs instead. Lets concentrate on generating prosperity now.

Identify and recognize progressive forces and movements that are pragmatists in nature, who solve problems without ideological bias, and who evolve over time, rather than those who get stuck in their box of ideologies.

Support those who take up ‘Issue-based-politics’, where they run for political office to rectify issues. Show hope to youths here that politicians can exist without making politics a career like how many in the 1st world countries have done successfully…

Do you have any ideas on how to bridge the gap ? Share it with us!

The seeds of terror in Boston are sown in the streets of Kathmandu…

When we are inside Nepal for a long time, some times we may not see the solutions as clearly as we could, from outside.

Last month, I was on a personal pilgrimage to neighboring India in Varanasi (Kashi) and BodhGaya. While traveling, I pondered upon the situation of Nepal from India. Here are some of the thoughts I wrote up there:

1) Indians are busy with their lives, like the rest of the world. All they seem to want is to become prosperous. While many Nepalis are obsessed with Indian interference, we have to realize this simple fact that everyone loves prosperity. Moral of the story for us is : lets concentrate on becoming prosperous (along with our neighbors).

2) One man Siddhartha Gautam Buddha, nearly 2600 years ago taught such lessons that people are still following today. When are we here in Nepal learn that we too could be someone as provoking as him? When are we willing to stop following like sheep and start to lead on our own paths?

3) Buddha taught the middle way. We Nepalis seem to be pulled by right-wing and Left-wing extremists  Time to bring Nepalis back to the middle way, the ‘bibeksheel’ way where dignity, tolerance, truth, integrity, non-violence rules and where pragmatism over-rules ideologies.

5) Our addiction to ‘material wealth’ is clouding our life. I see this much in India and here in Nepal. What matters is to be happy inside. Why are we not in a competition to bring  a ‘smile’ in people’s lives ? Look at a child, you almost need nothing but another smile or love, to brin a smile into her. Lets refocus on Gross National Happiness instead of material progress alone. Lets rate our success in happiness and prosperity than GDP/material wealth index.

6) Ethical entrepreneurship around “Religion” holds much promise. Religion is webbed into the fabric of Nepali lives. how can we build religion and spirituality into becoming a moral force in Nepal while simultaneously building prosperity? The answer may lie in a delicate balance between making Nepal a Hindu/ Buddhist center of spiritual and religious activities and reaping the benefits of it through “ethical entrepreneurship”.

Some ideas on Nepal looking from outside.

यो धेरै साथीहरुले मिलेर बनाएको सृजना हो। सबैलाई धन्यवाद पहिलो ३६ घण्टा मै १०,००० जनाले हेरिदिनुभएकोमा !

नेपाल हाम्रो घर हो, डेरा होईन
कुनै घरमा डेरा गरेर बस्नु र त्यसैको मालिक हुनुमा नितांत फरक छ।
यदि त्यो घरको भित्ताहरु चर्कियो भने डेरा वाला लाई वास्ता हुँदैन, उ त सजिलै अर्को घरमा सर्न सक्छ।
तर घर मालिकलाई थाहा छ कि आफ्‌नो घरको हेरचाह आफै गर्नुपर्छ, अरु कोहि आउनेवाला छैन ।
त्यसैले उ आफैले त्यस घरको भित्ता टाल्दछ।

४ मध्य ३ नेपालीहरु तपाईँ-हामी जस्तै युवा हौँ।
समस्या यत्ति हो कि हामीले चाहिँ देशलाई डेरा ठानेका छौँ।
हामीले अघिल्लो पुस्तालाई यो देश बरबाद गर्न दिएका छौँ । उनीहरुको झगडामा हामीलाई कठपुतली बनाउन दिएका छौँ।
“तिमीहरुले यो देश कहाँ हाँक्न सक्छौ?”
उनीहरुका यस्ता बकुम्फुसे गफ वारम्बार पत्याएर आफैलाई उल्लु बनाउन दिएका छौँ।
उनीहरुलाई यो देश लुट्न दिएका छौँ।

अहिले हामी कोहो रक्सीको चुस्कीमा लुकेका छौँ त कोहो आफ्‍नो धर्म वा समाजको बन्धनमा।
कोहि हामी ईन्टरनेटमा सिमित छौँ त चिया गफमै।
यो सोच्दैछौँ कि कुनै दिन यो नेपाल भास्सिएर बिलाँउछ अनि बल्ल नया नेपालमा हामी जान पाँउनेछौँ।

आफु घर भित्र लुक्छौँ र अरु नै कोहि हाम्रो लागि सडकमा जाअोस् भन्ने चाहन्छौँ।
अहिले हामी मतदाता कार्ड होईन, ग्रिन कार्ड खोज्छौँ। हामी आवेशमा छौँ , तर केहि गर्न भने डराँउछौँ।

यो देश बचाउने ठेक्का अर्को बुद्ध वा पशुपतिनाथको होईन । न त कुनै दाताकै।
सरकार र अहिलेका राजनितिक शक्तिहरुले त प्रस्ट देखाईसकेका छन् , कि यो काम उनीहरुको पनि होईन।
जिम्मेवारी भनेको आफैले निर्वाह गर्ने हो। नेपाली भनेर होइन बनेर देखाउने हो।

अब बिकल्प कुर्दै बस्ने होइन अाफै हुने हो।
किनकि यो देश ढले, हामी पनि यसैसाथ ढल्छौँ ।

अहिले नगरे कहिले ? हामीले नगरे कसले?

——

यो भिडियोको लागि हामीले यो भिडियोबाट प्रेरणा लिएका छौँ जो प्रति हामी कृतग्य छौँ ।
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCpfXb…

Music credit: Peas In A Pod

नेपाल हाम्रो घर हो, डेरा होईन

We Nepalis hate our existing political parties/forces. Politics (with its current politicians) has failed miserably. But Hating them is not going to be enough. If you stop at hating, it only hurts you and you alone. If hating is all we can do, then we do deserve the situation we have now.

And all the while, we keep waiting for another Mandela or Gandhi or Buddha to come and save us all. There is nothing wrong in hoping for salvation. But ‘wishing’ and ‘acting upon’ are two distinct choices you have now. If you want to get out of this quagmire, help build an alternative to these existing political forces/parties.

For a minute, think back to your high school days. How many of your fellow class-mates from high school are in politics now? If the answer is none or close to zero, then maybe its time for you to join politics or support a promising political force passionately.

It is time to get out of our comfort zone. Hating is never going to be enough! Time to nurture every ray of hope your see around to rectify this. Somebody in Japan once said, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time is now !”

 ” So how about building or joining a tribe of political activists committed to one good political action in Nepal, today? “

I am walking ‘my’ talk. Here is one movement/force I am helping build.

Hating is not enough. Build an alternate.

Plan A: Mind your business and stay silent.

By doing so, Nepal bandhs will keep happening. Load-shedding will only increase. Foods will keep getting expensive. Youths will keep leaving the country. Your daily news will be full of political, economic, social failures.
Existing political forces will win every upcoming elections. They will keep up their stranglehold on power and slowly bring the country into ruins. You will try to run away from the country or stay here and accept slavery to survive or for your family’s sake.

Plan B: If you can’t find an alternative, Become an alternative.

Plan B involves building or supporting alternatives. How about joining or building positive political forces of our generation that will dare to uproot these existing incompetent political forces who are holding us back. or become an entrepreneur or public servant?

I am one part of Plan B.  I am helping build a political force “BibekSheel Nepali” with many other Nepalis of our generation. I am investing my everything into this cause.  Join us in making a peaceful, prosperous Nepal.

So, my friend, it is time for you to choose in Nepal. Is it going to be Plan A or Plan B ? 

or do you have a plan C you want to share with us?

Plan A or Plan B

हिँजो आज को ठुलो ? भ्रष्टाचार बिरुद्ध आमरण अनसनमा बस्दै गरेकी छिन् नेपाली शारदा भुषाल झा । उहाँलाई भेट्न रत्नपार्क – शान्ति बाटिका जाँ़ आजै कुनै पनि बेला। आज दिन ८।
सुन्नुहोस् भ्रष्टाचार बिरुद्धको यो कविता उहाँकै शब्दमा

हिँजो आज को ठुलो?
ईमान्दार भन्दा बेईमान ठुलो
जनता भन्दा नेता ठुलो
सत्ता भन्दा भत्ता ठुलो
शासन भन्दा भाषण ठुलो
बिकास भन्दा नारा ठुलो
हिँजो आज को ठुलो?

राहत भन्दा आश्वाशन ठुलो
रासन भन्दा कमिशन ठुलो
भुस भन्दा घुस ठुलो
घाँटी भन्दा गाँस ठुलो
मेला भन्दा माढ ठुलो
माढ भन्दा जाँड ठुलो
हिँजो आज को ठुलो?

साधु भन्दा चोर ठुलो
व्यापार भन्दा भाउ ठुलो
काम भन्दा तर्क ठुलो
कमाई भन्दा खर्च ठुलो
लठ्ठी भन्दा भट्टी ठुलो
खाँचो भन्दा खाँचो ठुलो
हिँजो आज को ठुलो?

गुरु भन्दा चेला ठुलो
माउ भन्दा चल्ला ठुलो
पढ्नु भन्दा चोर्नु ठुलो
जोर्नु भन्दा फोर्नु ठुलो
निर्माण भन्दा नाज ठुलो
शान्ति भन्दा अल्लाह (धर्म) ठुलो
हिँजो आज को ठुलो?

धर्म भन्दा पाप ठुलो
खान लगाउनको चाप ठुलो
स्वर्ग भन्दा नर्ग ठुलो
जिउनजन भन्दा पैसा ठुलो
स्वदेश भन्दा विदेश ठुलो
रक्षक भन्दा भक्षक ठुलो
पुँजी भन्दा लुगा ठुलो
मान्छे भन्दा जुँगा ठुलो
मालिक भन्दा नोकर ठुलो
बिचार भन्दा बिकास ठुलो
हिँजो आज को ठुलो?

स्वतन्त्रता भन्दा लापता ठुलो
जिँउदो भन्दा बेपत्ता ठुलो
देश भन्दा संघियता ठुलो
राष्ट्रियता भन्दा जातियता ठुलो
पद भन्दा पावर ठुलो
्उद्दार भन्दा वलत्कार ठुलो
हिँजो आज को ठुलो?

भण्डाफोर भन्दा चमत्कार ठुलो
सदाचार भन्दा भ्रष्टाचार ठुलो
सुचना भन्दा आलोचना ठुलो
पारदर्शिता भन्दा गोपनियता ठुलो
बुद्दिमानलाई तास ठुलो
नेपाली जनतालाई आश ठुलो
हिँजो आज को ठुलो?
हिजो आज भ्रष्टाचारीकै कब्जा ठुलो

—-
उहाँको बारेमा यहाँ सुन्नुहोस्

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nepali/programmes/2011/10/111012_localcorrupt.shtml

हिँजो आज को ठुलो ?