Peaceful Co-existence
PRIME MINISTER Girija Prasad Koirala, while inaugurating the annual general
meet of the Dharmodaya Sabha the other day, observed that that all spheres of our national
life should not only be inspired but also directed by the everlasting teachings of Lord
Buddha who is the source of inspiration and a guide for the peaceful co-existence of human
society. The very fact that Lord Buddha’s teachings like peace, love, harmony,
brotherhood and peaceful co-existence are as relevant today as they were when he
propounded them over 2,500 years ago eloquently proves that they verily contain nuggets of
truth. It is a truism that only truth has the ability to withstand not only the inexorable
march of Time but also the vicissitudes of change. Lord Buddha proclaimed his messages of,
among others, love, harmony and peaceful co-existence over 25 centuries. Considering the
fact that his preachings still have the dynamism to elicit reverence and faith from
millions of believers and non-believers alike even in this new millennium is a telling
pointer that they still do have solutions to the vexing problems spawned by rapid
technological advancement in all walks of human endeavour and life. Amongst the problems,
one is verity the unbridled materialistic pursuit by the people—which, in turn, is
causing widespread dissatisfaction—and sometimes even strife induced by
intolerance—among the people of the world.
Nepal, in this regard, is indeed fortunate in that it has yet to witness the
kind of dissatisfaction and strife seen in other societies. One ready reason for this
could be that its people, made up of various races communities adhering to their own
socio-cultural and religious practices, have, over these centuries, internalised Lord
Buddha’s teachings of peace, harmony and peaceful co-existence. Had it not been so,
Nepal too would have been wrecked by ethnic and religious disturbances that are tearing
apart some countries and societies. Yet, of late, the country and the countrymen are
having to see a phenomenon that is completely against the very societal norms and
practices that they hold very dear unfolding before their very eyes. That too,
characterised by widespread mayhem and violence. All this, and more, is being perpetrated
by the so-called Maoists who, just because they hold opinions that the vast majority of
the people have wholeheartedly rejected, have taken recourse to arms and coercion to
unilaterally enforce their thoroughly undemocratic and uncivilized dictates. In a peaceful
and democratic country like Nepal, such violence acts are not only anachronistic but also
completely against the very Nepali character, psyche and belief: that is, live and let
others live.
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