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www.ask-buddha.net P a g e | 1
SPIRITUAL AND ADVENTURE
TREK 12TH TO 25TH OCTOBER 2016
NEPAL JOURNEY INFORMATION
PACK
www.ask-buddha.net P a g e | 2
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW ADVENTURE
Ask-Buddha.net is extremely pleased to announce a new series of sacred
journeys to lands with authentic Buddhist traditions!
The first of which is a truly unique and exclusive
expedition which takes us to Nepal and the ancient city
of Kathmandu where we will be fully engaged for 14
days studying Buddhism from an authentic Buddhist
lineage, experiencing Buddhist monastic ceremonies
(pujas), sacred Thangka art, and undertake a
breathtaking Trek in the Kathmandu Valley area.
This brand new project blends authentic and peaceful
retreat with adventure trekking, and a sacred pilgrimage
and would be suited to anybody looking to be immersed
in Buddhism in the land of the Buddha’s birth and with
a long Buddhist heritage dating back millennia.
This journey would also interest
anyone who wishes to 'get out into the
wild,' to find deeply rewarding
adventures abroad with volunteering
opportunities *.
This project offers a perfect
opportunity to practice the two
primary tenets of Buddhism:
compassion and wisdom.
* The main programme has elements of volunteering but if you have more free time and wish to participate in longer volunteering activities
post completion of the main journey then this can also be organised to suit. See Appendix I for further details.
“First one must change. I first watch myself, check myself, then expect changes from
others” His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama
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THE BUDDHA’S HEART ESSENCE COURSE
The core of this journey is the Buddha’s Heart
Essence course, which provides a mixture of
authentic Buddhist meditation and wisdom. We
are privileged that the teachings will be given by
the Venerable Narayan Prasad Rijal.
Venerable. Narayan Prasad Rijal is the Assistant
Holder of the Dharma of the Byoma Kusuma
Buddhadharma Centre, in Bishalnagar where
the teachings will take place. He is also a scholar
of the ancient Sanskrit language.
He has been practicing under the guidance of the
Vidyadhara Acharya Mahayogi Sridhar Rana Rinpoche for over 25 years and is
responsible for disseminating dharma teachings, and guiding new and old
students in their meditation practices.
The Buddha’s Heart Essence course will cover the major aspects of the Buddha’s
teachings:
Who was the Buddha; How he became the Buddha; What did he teach; The four noble truths; Interdependent origination; Karma and its result; Three vehicles and their basics principles; Mahayana and Vajrayana; The six perfections; Meditation and its varieties in Buddhism; Buddhahood and the qualities of a Buddha; Practical ways to apply Buddhist teachings to our lives.
The teachings are totally interactive and you will have plenty opportunities to ask
questions!
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Our meditation and teaching
sessions will be held at Byoma
Kusuma Buddhadharma Centre in
Bishalnagar, Kathmandu.
‘Byoma Kusuma’ means ‘Sky Flower’
in Sanskrit. Sky represents space,
emptiness, and the flower
represents the manifestation of
emptiness. A beautiful flower is
drawn in the sky and as delightfully as it appeared it disappears into emptiness. It
is a moving symbol that calls to mind the insubstantiality and fleeting nature of
phenomena.
Our typical schedule here will be:
10 am – 11 am: Meditation
11 am to 11:30 am: Break
11:30 am to 1:30 pm: Teachings
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm: Lunch Break
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm: Discussion and interaction session
In our free time we will
undertake a multitude of activities like:
Thangka painting demonstrations;
Attend early morning pujas (prayer ceremonies) in
Buddhist monasteries;
Volunteering opportunities.
"The hungry are not satisfied by hearing about food; what they need is to eat.
In the same way just to know about the Dharma is useless; It has to be practiced"
Jetsun Milarepa
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THE FULL ITINERARY: 12TH OCTOBER TO 25TH OCTOBER 2016
Arrival and Orientation
12th October: Arrival at the airport with Nepali welcome and transfer to guest
house in Boudhanath, which is home to the famous Stupa (see front cover photo)
and is the heart of Kathmandu’s Buddhist community.
13th October: Today is the day for sightseeing around the Kathmandu Valley. We
will visit the following places:
Pashupatinath Temple;
Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple);
Durbar Square;
Thamel.
Buddha’s Heart Essence Meditation and Teachings
14th to 20th October: We attend the Buddha’s Heart Essence Course with
Venerable Narayan Rijal in Bishalnagar during this period.
Kathmandu Valley Mandala Adventure Trek
21st October: Drive to Sundarijal. After Sundarijal we will walk about 2.5 hours.
After lunch we will walk for another 2 hours to reach Chisapani where we will stay
overnight.
22nd October: We will continue our journey to Nagarkot, which is about 6 hours
walk, stopping for lunch on the way. We will stay in Nagarkot overnight.
23rd October: Our trek continues from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel, which is a very
beautiful and scenic place with a panoramic view of the mountains. This will be
about 5 hours of walk, stopping for lunch on the way. Overnight stay at Dhulikhel.
24th October: From Dhulikhel we will walk about 2.5 hours to Namo Buddha. From
here we will drive to Panauti, an old and ancient Newari town. In the evening we
will drive back to our accommodation in Boudhanath.
25th October: Free day at Kathmandu and Thamel for shopping/Departure to your
destination / Stay in Nepal for longer volunteering opportunities.
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YOU ARE IN SAFE HANDS
This journey will be led by www.Ask-Buddha.net founders Nibal Sulaiman and
Shraddha Tandan. Nibal and Shraddha have worked closely with Shambhala
Trekking to bring you this unique spiritual adventure that is not available
anywhere else.
Shambhala Trekking, established by a group of professionals with more than 35
years of experience in the field, is unequalled in its quality service. Its valued clients
are unanimous in their expression of appreciation for Shambhala Trekking's
priorities of client safety and comfort.
Shambhala is run by the pioneer trekking and mountaineering expert Mr. Padam
Ghale, whose vast successes have drawn acclamations from countless persons,
including well-known mountaineers and legendary international trekkers ~ for
more than two decades!
Shambhala Trekking is recognised by the Government of Nepal and is authorised
to conduct international business in tourism related activities. They are registered
with the Nepal Government with a license number: 441 – 723 / 067, issued by the
Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Industry Division. Their PAN Number is: 500071829
and their Nepal Government Company Registration No. is: 10204 / 055.
Shambhala Trekking is authorized by the Nepal Rastra Bank (the Central Bank of
Nepal) to deal in foreign currency and recognised by the Tourism Board of Nepal,
Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal and Mountaineering Association of Nepal.
It is also associated with the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA).
Shambhala Trekking is proudly associated with the following trekking safety
organisations:
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THE NEXT STEPS
This amazing and sacred journey has been specifically designed and organised for
Ask Buddha by Shambhala Trekking Company of Kathmandu.
IT IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE!
To get the most out of this journey we recommend that you attend the entire
programme. However, we can tailor the journey to your availability.
For further information contact us on:
“The secret of happiness lies in the mind's release from worldly ties”
The Buddha
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APPENDIX I: MORE FREE TIME? WHY NOT VOLUNTEER!
For those who have more time to
spend in this wonderful country,
there will be many opportunities to
undertake volunteer work.
You will get an opportunity to actually make a real difference
to people’s lives
Volunteering and giving your time,
energy, and skills can be one of the
most rewarding things you can do
when done with the right
motivation and with an open heart.
This form of ‘selfless’ giving is the
main motivation behind
Bodhisattva activities taught in
Buddhism
Byoma Kusuma is assisting many
rural communities near
Kathmandu that were affected by
the devastating earthquake of
April 2015. Whatever your skill sets
are you will have the opportunity
to make a real difference to people
affected by this natural disaster.
Contact us on [email protected] to discuss tailored volunteering activities to
suit your skills and time scales.
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive”
His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama
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APPENDIX II: NEPAL OVERVIEW & OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
What is Nepal like?
Nepal, home to Mount Everest, is
reputed as the world's most
imposing country with 80 percent of its
territory is occupied by the dramatic
peaks of the Himalayas.
Nepal is a multi-cultural, multi-
linguistic and multi-religious country. It
has a population of more than 20 million, who belong to
dozens of different ethnic groups.
Religion is not just a set of beliefs and accompanying rituals handed down from
generation to generation; rather it is a complex intermingling of traditions,
festivals, faiths and doctrines that have permeated every strata of Nepalese
Society in such a way as to become the very heartbeat of the nation.
It is an intricate and beautiful tapestry formed by the interweaving of Hinduism,
Buddhism and other beliefs. Religious tolerance and harmony such as is found in
Nepal, is perhaps a unique example to the world.
The Hindu religion is the first religion of Nepal, and Buddhism is second. There are
other religions as well such as Shamanic based ones and Islam amongst others.
People of all religions have been living in harmony and with mutual respect for a
very long time.
The majority of inhabitants make a living from subsistence agriculture, and the
capital Kathmandu is the largest city, the political, cultural and economic centre
of the country.
What languages are spoken in Nepal?
Nepal is an incredibly diverse country with respect to culture and language. There
are 125 different documented languages spoken in Nepal.
www.ask-buddha.net P a g e | 10
The primary language is Nepali. However, many of the locals speak English to
varying degrees of proficiency.
What is Nepalese currency?
The Nepalese Currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR; symbol Rs). Notes are in
denominations of Rs 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.
Banks and cash points are numerous in Kathmandu and other main cities like
Pokhara. However, these facilities disappear rapidly in remote areas and small
villages.
You are always advised to take cash in the local currency with you when and keep
it safe in anti-theft bags.
The Government of Nepal has banned the use, import or export of 1,000 Indian
rupee and 500 Indian rupee notes so please do not attempt to bring this currency
into Nepal.
What is Nepalese climate like?
The Nepal climate is moderate, which means the winters are dry and the summers
are hot. But because of the huge range in altitude and landscape, Nepal climate
differs considerably throughout the country.
The Nepal climate in the lower plains is (sub)tropical. Summers are hot and humid
and temperatures can soar to 40°C. It's the same heat that covers Northern India
at this time of year and the months before the monsoon hits can be particularly
hot and sticky (May and early June). Winters in the lower plains are mild and dry
with temperatures averaging between 10°C - 17°C.
The mountains and valleys in the Himalayan foothills have a moderate climate
with warm summers and cool winters. As it lies at relatively southern latitude, the
Nepal climate is even pleasant at altitude, and the tree line is quite high. Average
temperatures vary from 10°C in January to 24°C in July. In winter, the Nepal
climate is (as you might imagine), pretty chilly. Temperatures drop and nights can
be very cold, although they rarely sink to below freezing. In Kathmandu, from April
- September, temperatures can climb to 28°C with nights averaging around 20°C.
www.ask-buddha.net P a g e | 11
The high mountains of the Himalayas which run along the northern border, above
4000m, have an alpine Nepal climate. Temperatures remain below 0°C and the
landscape is covered with snow and ice.
Monsoon season is approximately from the end of June to the middle of
September. About 80% of Nepal's annual rainfall is during that period, so the
remainder of the year is pretty dry.
Nepal Visa
With the exception of Indian passport holders, all visitors to Nepal will require a
tourist visa to enter the country.
Visas can be obtained upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in
Kathmandu where you will need some passport sized photos and some money to
process the application.
However, we recommend that you obtain your visa from your country of origin so
you don’t have to queue for too long especially after a long flight!
Do I need any special vaccinations before I head to Nepal?
It is recommended that you visit your GP (General Practitioner or Personal
Physician) to obtain advice on immunization and general health requirements for
the countries to which you are travelling. It is your responsibility to ensure that
you have all the recommended vaccinations and take any prescribed or advised
medication.
A good internet based reference tool for vaccine recommendations that we
would also recommend is:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/home-and-travel/a5789/nepal/
However, we do highly recommend that you consider getting the following
vaccinations before you come to Nepal:
Hepatitis A Typhoid
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Do I Need to Bring Any Special Equipment?
Due to the changeable nature of the weather conditions and the fact that we will
be undertaking an adventure trek as part of this journey, we would recommend
you bring the following clothing and equipment with you.
This list mainly applies to the trekking Element though the correct equipment will
be useful on all the elements of the journey.
Recommended Clothing List
Waterproof walking boot, ideally walked in for 2 weeks minimum;
A rainproof jacket with hood or a poncho;
Lightweight, waterproof trousers as jeans are unsuitable to wear on
treks.
Other Equipment and Accessories
Duffle bag or kit bag to carry to gear while trekking;
Sleeping bag with a seasonal comfort rating of -15°C minimum;
Water bottle;
Sunglasses;
Lip balm and hand cream;
Wallet and /or money belt with compartment for coins;
Small headlamp and/ or torch with spare.
What are the ages of the other people I will be journeying with?
This sacred journey is aimed at anyone who is genuinely interested in Buddhism
and spiritual journeys in general.
As such, this journey is open to all ages.
However, since there is a trekking element it is advisable that all participants to
have a reasonable level of fitness.