Lumbini Nepal was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. The word Lumbini is a Nepali word which means lovely. Indeed, Lumbini is one of the loveliest and most peaceful places on Earth. It is a place rich with culture and tradition.
Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal. It is known as the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha Gautama lived roughly between 623 and 543 BCE and he founded Buddhism as Gautama Buddha.
Wikipedia.com says that:
Buddhism is a nontheistic religion or philosophy (Sanskrit: dharma; Pali: dhamma), that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha ("the awakened one"). According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. He is recognized by Buddhists as an awakened or enlightened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end their suffering through the elimination of ignorance and craving. Buddhists believe that this is accomplished through direct understanding and the perception of dependent origination and the Four Noble Truths. The ultimate goal of Buddhism can either be Arhatship, Buddhahood or rainbow body depending on the branch of Buddhism.
This eternal flame symbolizing peace was lit by the chairman of the Lumbini Development Thrust, his Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Dir Bikram Shan of the occasion of the International Year of Peace on the 1st of November 1986.
Excitingly, the Nepalese People are also the most welcoming, warmest, and hospitable people in the world. I have made friends in Nepal and I am proud that I kept the friendship .
As always, I travel on purpose. I went to Nepal to attend the 7th Youth Peace Ambassador Program. Here's a short video of us made by Harry Norvar from Indonesia.
