Buddhism
A major religion in Nepal with a long history. It is closely linked to the Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayan region.
Read the full Buddhism article A single, wiki-style page covering history, beliefs, practices, texts and more.This profile is still being expanded. Some sections are not yet available.
About
Buddhism in Nepal is not just one thing. It includes Newar Buddhism from the Kathmandu Valley and Tibetan (Vajrayana) Buddhism practiced in the Himalayas. This page will grow over time. We will add checked facts about beliefs, important figures, texts, monasteries, and festivals, instead of describing Buddhism as one single tradition.
Beliefs
Buddhists generally believe in ideas like the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, karma, and rebirth. The goal is to become free from suffering — this is called nirvana. Different schools of Buddhism, such as Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, understand these ideas in different ways. They also use different holy texts. Nepal is home to more than one of these schools.
Teachings
Buddhist teachings are passed down through monastery training, study of texts, rituals, and the relationship between a teacher and a student. This can look different depending on the school. Because Nepal has more than one Buddhist tradition, this page does not mix them into one story. We will introduce each school and its teachings on its own, once we have checked facts to add.
Terminology used on this page
Words this profile uses instead of a generic term, so the right local word appears for this religion.
- Buddha / Bodhisattva — used in place of "figure"
- Gumba / Monastery — used in place of "sacredPlace"
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