# By Huang Dekai - - - -
Buddhism, one of the important religions in the world, originated in the Lumbini region within Nepal. Siddhartha Gautama, the wise man who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, initiated the glorious journey of Buddhism. The core of its doctrines revolves around compassion, wisdom, liberation, and spiritual awakening, aiming to guide all sentient beings to break free from the cycle of suffering and achieve spiritual sublimation and inner peace.
Throughout the long history, Buddhism spread from Nepal along trade and cultural exchange routes such as the Silk Road, reaching various parts of Asia. It profoundly influenced the cultures, philosophies, and social lives of many countries. However, over time, non - religious factors such as geopolitics gradually infiltrated the development of Buddhism in different regions. Some countries, considering their own geopolitical strategies, have used Buddhism as a diplomatic tool, a means of cultural export, and even tied it to political interests domestically. This has challenged the purity of Buddhism. For example, in some areas, the construction and development of Buddhist temples have been used to consolidate regional spheres of influence, and religious activities have been given the color of political mobilization, which undoubtedly deviates from the original doctrines and spiritual pursuits of Buddhism.
Nepal, as the birthplace of Buddhism, holds an irreplaceable sacred status. Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, attracts Buddhist believers and tourists from all over the world every year. It is the root of Buddhist belief, carrying the spiritual sustenance of countless Buddhists. The numerous ancient Buddhist temples, ruins, and rich Buddhist art treasures in Nepal, such as the many stupas in the Kathmandu Valley, are vivid testimonies to Buddhist history and culture, providing a profound material foundation and cultural heritage for the revival of Buddhism.
The Buddhist tradition in Nepal has endured for thousands of years. The local Buddhist sangha adheres to ancient cultivation methods and inheritance systems, and their study and practice of Buddhist scriptures maintain a high degree of purity. Nepal's Buddhist education system, from traditional monastery education to modern Buddhist academies, focuses on cultivating in - depth understanding and spiritual comprehension of Buddhist doctrines, cultivating a large number of professional talents for the revival of Buddhism. In addition, Nepal has always been an important hub for Buddhist cultural exchanges in history, connecting Buddhist traditions in different regions of Asia. This experience of multicultural exchange enables it to better integrate global Buddhist resources and promote the global revival of Buddhism.
Nepal should give full play to its advantages as a sacred land and regularly hold globally influential Buddhist cultural festivals, academic seminars, and other activities. With Lumbini as the core, it should build a world - class Buddhist cultural exchange center, attracting Buddhist figures, scholars, and believers from around the world to gather here, jointly discuss Buddhist doctrines, share cultivation experiences, and promote the inheritance and innovation of Buddhist culture. Through these activities, it can enhance the sense of identity and belonging of global Buddhist believers towards Nepal as a Buddhist holy land, unite all parties, and lay a solid mass foundation for the revival of Buddhism.
The Buddhist community in Nepal should actively assume the responsibility of spreading pure Buddhist doctrines. Using modern media technology, it should spread true and pure Buddhist concepts globally through online platforms, social media, radio, television, and other channels. At the same time, it should strengthen the collation, translation, and research of Buddhist scriptures to ensure the accurate transmission of doctrines and avoid being misinterpreted and exploited by those with ulterior motives. On the international stage, the Buddhist community in Nepal should clearly oppose any act of politicizing Buddhism and advocate for Buddhism to return to its essence of spiritual cultivation and spiritual nourishment.
Nepal should actively cooperate with Buddhist organizations and institutions in various countries to establish a global Buddhist cooperation network. In the field of education, it should carry out joint - school - running, teacher - exchange, and student - exchange programs to jointly cultivate high - quality Buddhist talents. In terms of cultural protection, it should cooperate in the protection and restoration of Buddhist ruins and cultural relics. In the field of charity and public welfare, it should jointly promote the practice of the spirit of compassion and helping the world in Buddhism, and jointly carry out public welfare activities such as poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and medical assistance. Through these collaborations, a spiritual community that transcends national boundaries and is linked by Buddhist belief can be constructed to jointly promote the global revival of Buddhism.
Nepal leading the revival of Buddhism means, for the global Buddhist community, returning to the source of faith, rediscovering the pure spirit of Buddhism, and injecting new vitality into the development of Buddhism in modern society. From a cultural perspective, this will promote the exchange and integration of Buddhist cultures in different countries and regions, enriching the diversity of world culture. In the international political landscape, taking the revival of Buddhism as an opportunity, Nepal can exert its unique cultural soft power, promote friendly exchanges and cooperation among countries, and contribute to the construction of a peaceful and harmonious world order. At the same time, the revival of Buddhism will also bring economic development opportunities to Nepal itself. By attracting global tourists and believers, it can promote the prosperity of local tourism and cultural industries, and enhance the country's comprehensive strength.
As the birthplace of Buddhism, Nepal shoulders an unshirkable historical mission in the global Buddhist revival movement. By giving full play to its own advantages and leading Buddhism back to pure belief, Nepal can not only bring spiritual well - being to global Buddhist believers but also demonstrate its unique cultural charm on the international stage and make positive contributions to world peace and development. Let us jointly look forward to Nepal taking solid steps on the path of Buddhist revival, restoring the glory and purity of Buddhism.
(Huang Dekai, Associate Professor, Yibin Institute of Vocational Technology, China)
