Wrong perception

This refers to Razen Manandhar’s news feature entitled "Capital’s mushrooming Gombas worry experts", dated May 12, 2001, TKP.

It is true that landscape in Kathmandu valley is, of late, dotted with Tibetan-style Gombas. But it is not only Tibetans that have Gompas as places of their worship. Tamangs, Sherpas and most of the ethnic communities living in northern region have Gombas at their villages. First it was Newars, and later on, when Bahuns and the Chhetris came, they built temples. Gradually, it became their cultural assets as well. But these days, we are witnessing the migration of the people from the northern region. It is part of their culture to have such Gombas and we cannot deny them from that. Also, if we look carefully at monasteries in Bouddha, in some (eg the big white monastery) almost 70 percent monks are Newars. Hundreds of Newars flock to worship at that monastery. The Bajracharyas, of course, don’t like this. In other monasteries too, most of the worshippers come from the northern region of Nepal. Besides being a religious place, the established monasteries also serve as a good learning centre which generates a lot of foreign currency. The monasteries, like that of big white monastery, conduct courses in Buddhist philosophy and practices. Every year, hundreds of tourists come to study. Other tourists come to see the monasteries and their architecture. Most of the funds for the construction of monasteries either comes from foreign donors or from the Lamas who go abroad and lecture. This is certainly a good investment for the country’s economy. Another fact mentioned in the article was the encroachment of public land by some monasteries. This fact needs to be verified before being presented. I certainly have not heard of any such cases, and it goes against the ideals of monastery.

We may not like it but we must acknowledge that monasteries are indigenous institutions and have played a part for the betterment of our economy. What we have to understand is that the Tibetan Lamas never want to impose their culture upon us. They only want us to learn the subtle nature of Buddhist philosophy and realize what it means to be happy and peaceful in life. This philosophy is also not of their making.

J Lama
Via internet