Old Video Footage of Nepal

Found this website via Anil ji with clips of old video footage from as early as 1950, when Nepal was first opened up to foreign visitors. 

Poor and Land-locked...

Or Resource-rich and Land-linked?

It seems as if the focus of creating a better future for Nepal in terms of economic development and peace is blurred by misunderstanding of cooperation and connection between nation states.  From this article in the Hindustan Times, the leader of the recently created Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN(M)), Mohan Baidya, is unable to face the reality that his country is inextricably linked to the Indian (and Chinese) economies.  It may be in the nation's best interest to play the political game rather than shut the door in India's face - For example, the entire country relies every single day upon cooking gas and other resources brought directly from India and carried up into the hills.

Nepal need not forcibly assert its independence from bordering nations, but realize the reality of interconnectedness. 

But, that's not what's happening, unfortunately. 

Nepal's Struggles Continue

Constituent Assembly dissolved: May 27, 2012.  New elections set for November.  Why did Bhattarai dissolve the Assembly?  There may be a bigger game afoot as the Maoists split.

Read more here.

Sulak Sivaraksha on 'Engaged Buddhism"

"In America and Europe, everyone is very active. But if you become too active, you lose the essence of Buddhism. You only have the Buddhist labels. One must cultivate peace to be compassionate. Without this, what you do, even as an 'engaged Buddhist' is just a lot of activity with no good purpose."

- Sulak Sivaraksa, “In Exile from Siam”

Essential Buddhism

Chhoje Rinpoche

Dialogue and Diplomacy

Why Dialogue is an essential part of listening to interest groups' positions.  Coming to the table to have our own perspective heard but remaining genuinely open to the perspectives of the "other" is the most important part of dialogue - a deeper understanding from which we can make clearer decisions about moving forward in personal conflicts and international conflicts.
See what Jonas Gahr Store has to say:
TED talk on the importance of Dialogue in diplomacy