Buddhism is the religious system founded by Buddha, one of the most prominent doctrines of which is that Nirvana, or an absolute release from existence, is the chief good. According to it pain is inseparable from existence, and consequently pain can cease only through Nirvana; and in order to attain Nirvana our desires and passions must be suppressed, the most extreme self-renunciation practised, and we must, as far as possible, forget our own personality.
In order to attain Nirvana eight conditions must be kept or practised. The first is in Buddhistic language right view; the second is right judgment; the third is right language; the fourth is right purpose; the fifth is right profession; the sixth is right application; the seventh is right memory; the eighth is right meditation. The five fundamental precepts of the Buddhist moral code are: not to kill, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to lie, and not to give way to drunkenness. To these there are added five others of less importance, and binding more particularly on the religious class, such as to abstain from repasts taken out of season, from theatrical representations, etc. There are six fundamental virtues to be practised by all men alike, vizcharity, purity, patience, courage, contemplation, and knowledge. These are the virtues that are said to 'conduct a man to the other shore'. The devotee who strictly practises them has not yet attained Nirvana, but is on the road to it.
The Buddhist virtue of charity is universal in its application, extending to all creatures, and demanding sometimes the greatest self-denial and sacrifice. There is a legend that the Buddha in one of his stages of existence (for he had passed through innumerable transmigrations before becoming 'the enlightened') gave himself up to be devoured by a famishing lioness which was unable to suckle her young ones. There are other virtues, less important, indeed, than the six cardinal ones, but still binding on believers. Thus not only is lying forbidden, but evil-speaking, coarseness of language, and even vain and frivolous talk, must be avoided. Buddhist metaphysics are comprised in three theories - the theory of transmigration (borrowed from Brahmanism), the theory of the mutual connection of causes, and the theory of Nirvana. The first requires no explanation. According to the second, life is the result of twelve conditions, which are by turns causes and effects. Thus there would be no death were it not for birth; it is therefore the effect of which birth is the cause. Again, there would be no birth were there not a continuation of existence. Existence has for its cause our attachment to things, which again has its origin in desire; and so on through sensation, contact, the organs of sensation and the heart, name and form, ideas, etc, up to ignorance. This ignorance, however, is not ordinary ignorance, but the fundamental error which causes us to attribute permanence and reality to things. This, then, is the primary origin of existence and all its attendant evils.
Nirvana or extinction is eternal salvation from the evils of existence, and the end which every Buddhist is supposed to seek. Sakya-muni did not leave his doctrines in writing; he declared them orally, and they were carefully treasured up by his disciples, and written down after his death. The determination of the canon of the Buddhist scriptures as we now possess them was the work of three successive councils, and was finished two centuries at least before Christ. From Buddhism involving a protest against caste distinctions it was eagerly adopted by the Dasyus or non-Aryan inhabitants of Hindustan. It was pure, moral, and humane in its origin, but it came subsequently to be mixed up with idolatrous worship of its founder and other deities. Although now long banished from Hindustan by the persecutions of the Brahmans, Buddhism prevails in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, China, Indonesia, and Japan, and its adherents are said to comprise about a third of the human race. Research Buddhism
The ISO (International Standards Organisation) assigns a two character code to each country name. These codes are used by Internet 'whois' databases (these two character abbreviations are the whois country codes) and also other applications.
The Clouded Leopard or Clouded Tiger (Neofelis nebulosa) is a large species of wild cat ranging from Nepal to eastern Borneo. It has a relatively large head, short legs and a long tail and its pattern consists of large, black-edged dark patches. It is about two metres in total length and weighs around 20 kg. It lives in the forest feeding on birds and small mammals, but is not closely related to either the leopard or the tiger. Research Clouded Leopard
The Red Panda, also known as the Lesser Panda or the Common Panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a tree-dwelling nocturnal - spending the day sleeping in tree branches - mammal of the Racoon family and closely related to the familiar GiantPanda, though it looks very different. The Red Panda is about 50cm long and is coloured black and chestnut, with white ears and a long bushy tail. The Red Panda is found in the mountainous forest regions of western China, northern Burma, and Nepal where it lives at higher altitudes where the temperature is cooler, and feeds mainly on bamboo shoots, grasses, roots, fruit and acorns supplemented by occasional eggs, insects, young birds and small rodents. Little is known of the habits of Red Pandas in the wild, though observation in captivity suggests they are gentle and perhaps live in family groups. Research Red Panda
The Snow Leopard (Unciauncia) is an endangered species of Leopard found in the higher, colder, snow-covered mountains of parts of Mongolia, Russia, China, Bhutan, northern India, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan. The Snow Leopard is has long thick fur, yellowish grey in colour, marked with dark blotches or rosettes and a long tail that affords some protection against the cold, being wrapped over the face when the animal sleeps. A generally solitary animal, Snow Leopards may be seen hunting in pairs and feed on mountain goats, ibex, gazelle, boar and smaller mammals and birds which they hunt at night and in the early morning. Because of the scarcity of prey, when they have a big kill Snow leopards will gorge themselves so as to survive until the next successful hunt. Research Snow Leopard More pictures of Snow Leopard
The Gurkhas are a Hindu mountain people, descended from Brahmins and Rajputs, living chiefly in Nepal, where they achieved dominance after being driven from India by the Muslims. They are a fierce warrior people, many of whom serve in the British army where they are renowned for their bravery, courage and discipline. Research Gurkhas
Mongols are any of the various Mongol (or Mongolian) ethnic groups of Central Asia. Mongols live in Mongolia, Russia, Inner Mongolia (China), Tibet, and Nepal. The Mongol language belongs to the Altaic family; some groups of Mongol descent speak languages in the Sino-Tibetan family, however. The Mongols are primarily pastoral nomads, herding sheep, horses, cattle, and camels. Traditionally the Mongols moved with their animals in summer to the higher pastures, returning in winter to the lower steppes. Research Mongol
The Paharia are a people of Nepal. Their society is divided into four castes: Brahmin (the highest or priestly), Chetri (the warriors), Vaishya (traders and farmers) and Shudra (the untouchables or lowest). Religiously they are mainly divided into Hindus and Buddhists. Research Paharia
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Abbreviations
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