Friday, August 29, 2014

Water was supplied to the town of Manthali from this well dug...





Water was supplied to the town of Manthali from this well dug near the Tama Koshi river. Also it can be seen that new roadways are being made on the other side of the river that leads to different villages. Along with the roadways, electrical lines are also being installed.

Whilst most national cellular phone coverages are available in those remote locations across the river, the places are void of other basic requirements such as health services and education.

Thus, pointing towards the possibilities of development using the mobile technology.




fromhttp://arjanblogs.tumblr.com/post/96079486840

Friday, April 20, 2012

10 days without talking – Part I


the budhhaAll our lives since we were born we keep on relying on our senses to analyze and interact with the outer world. The six senses skin, eye-sight, smell, taste, sound and intellect. If these things determine reality then reality is nothing but a combination of electric signals sent up to our brains through the nerves. If thats not reality then what is reality? What is the true meaning of existence? What is the cause of suffering and what is the cure? Does god exist? What is the truth? What is the purpose of life? What is its meaning? I ventured to find out..

Nearly twenty five hundred years ago a prince named Siddhartha Gautam, from Kapilbastu now in the Teari region of Nepal, realized that everyone had the same misery. Also with his keen observation of nature.. he also figured out that there are no consequences without actions. Hence, one day he left all his belongings, family and the castle itself and went forth to look for the ultimate truth.. the solution to the common miseries of mankind. For years he wandered, trying different kinds of techniques of meditation and meeting with different spiritual teachers seeking the answers to his questions. But none could satisfy him fully, none could give his a complete solution, an answer that seemed fit for all the mankind. Each method of liberation was tied to this religion or the other.. each path was filled with assurance of liberation and complete happiness but each associated with different backgrounds and hence unappealing to people of other backgrounds. What Siddhartha was really looking for was a complete solution to the miseries that was applicable for all the people. Luckily he came across an ancient technique of meditation called “Vipassana” Vipassana means to see things in a special way. Special in a sense that to see things as they are and not as we would want them to be.

The whole universe is made up of tiny sub-atomic particles, these sub-atomic particles are created and destroyed with such rapidity that it creates an illusion of solidity. The universal truth is that everything changes sooner or later. This fundamental truth of the universe need not be seeked in libraries or laboratories the answer lies within the framework of our own body.

I was fortunate to come across this technique. Satya Narayan Goenkar, an Indian born in Burma “the land of dhamma” came across this technique while trying to free himself from morphine addiction which was the consequence of his migraine (a severe type of recurring head ache). After he got benefited from this technique this man who was born in a rich business family wanted to let others too know about this technique and hence started distributing “dhamma” for the benefit of others as everyone has problems and everyone would like to have a solution to it.

Damma is a path. A road that leads to full liberation, enlightenment. It is the only way to salvation and the only way real happiness can be achieved. It is the only when a person is free from all miseries that he can be said as truly happy. The path to liberation has eight main folds and it isn't a rite or ritual.. what it is, is the art of living.
  1. the wheel of Dhamma
    Speak no lies
  2. Do not kill
  3. Avoid use of drugs, alcohol
  4. Avoid sexual misconduct
  5. Do not steal
  6. Sheel
  7. Samadhi
  8. Panna

following the footsteps of buddha
that's what I remember.. but I had to see wikipedia and here's what showed up..
  1. Right View
  2. Right Intention
  3. Right Speech
  4. Right Action
  5. Right Livelihood
  6. Right effort
  7. Right mindfulness
  8. Right concentration
more on this on the next post.. :)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Why you should visit Nepal ?

A must go place for all nature lovers



The visit Nepal logo of '98
Nepal, a country that lies in the laps of Himalayas and the beautiful teari with its rivers. With the highest peak Mt. Everest and the bravest people “the Gurkhas”. With centuries of history and stories being told Nepal stands a proud and amongst the few sovereign nations in the world.
The beauty of the arrangement of the nature in  Nepal are a description beyond words. Anyone would be out of breath to describe the beauty of Nepal and its high potential it has for nature lovers. I can’t promise you hot tubs, expensive dinner on the moonlight but nature, adventure, fun?? I can GURANTEE that!
Ever wished to clearly see,. touch and feel the Himalayas, feel the majestic feeling that you get after you conquer one of them?? say… the Mt. Everest?? Ever wished to go rafting or paragliding over a giant lake or jump from the highest natural gorge of a shallow river that has a height of 160 feet?? well all those wishes are possibilities here at Nepal.
The Nepalese people are good with guests just as the old saying goes “athithi devo vhawa” or “guests are gods”. The Gurkhas have are famous in the world not only for their bravery but also for their hospitality, elegance and loyalty.
The weather around this part of the globe is sustainable and people will be able to survive with one jacket but on increasing altitude, the temperature gradually decreases, so the visitor should keep that in mind.
One thing anyone who is briefing about Nepal to anybody else should not forget to mention about is the festive that this country has. The people are a merry-making folk like those  little ‘hobbits’ in J.R.R. Tolkien’s’ books. Although I do have to admit about the political instability of this nation in the recent years one can not deny how the people have kept their traditions alive by celebrating their festivals and merrymaking that goes on almost through-out the year even in these hard times.
Nepal lies between India and China hence the people here are of diverse ethnicity different people living together despite their differences they share a stronger reason of being together, one thing in common that over rules everything else… being a Nepali!! After all Nepal is the country where Gautam Buddha “the light of Asia” was born!!
As a conclusion I would just like to say that it sure is a trip worth trying afterall it is not everyday that you get to see the world's tallest peak!